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Retirement Wisdom

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Retirement Wisdom

Screen Time: How to Make the Most of Yours

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By Bev Bachel

With social distancing limiting our ability to connect in person, most of us—whether working full or part-time or already retired — are spending considerable time in front of our screens, which are increasingly becoming our primary way of engaging with the world. Unfortunately, all that screen time, which even before the pandemic averaged 11 hours per day for adults, is straining our eyes, destroying our posture and stressing our 50-, 60- and 70-year-old spines. 1

So how can we ensure a healthy relationship with our screens as we do our work, enjoy our hobbies, write our memoirs, binge our favorite TV shows, organize our recipes, take classes and stay connected with family, friends and colleagues?


To find out, I asked ergo pro Vivienne Fleischer, president and cofounder of Performance Based Ergonomics, how those of us 50+ can manage screen time safely and productively.

Here’s her advice:


Tip 1: Get serious about your set up. However tempting it may be to use your laptop or tablet on your lap, couch or bed, Fleischer recommends a “tech trio” made up of your screen and an external keyboard and mouse. “That way, your screen can be at eye level, with your body upright and balanced, your arms close to your sides and your eyes looking straight ahead,” says Fleischer. She also advises placing your equipment on a flat surface such as a desk, a kitchen counter or an ironing board.


Tip 2: Use an external monitor. Monitors built into laptops are inherently problematic because they require looking down, which can strain eyes and cause headaches. That’s why Fleischer advises getting an external monitor or placing your laptop on a riser. Either way, center the screen within one arm’s length of your body and slightly below eye level (unless you wear progressive lenses, in which case you’ll want it positioned several inches lower) so that you don’t have to look up, down or to the side.


Tip 3: Be kind to your eyes. “To avoid eye fatigue adopt the 20-20-20 rule,” says Fleischer. “Every 20 minutes, look away from your screen at something that is at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.” Also, be sure you have ample lighting. Last but not least, consider blue-light glasses or screen filters to spare your eyes from the blue light screens emit.


Tip 4: Perfect your posture. Make sure you sit back in your chair and that your chair has good support. Pull your shoulders back and keep them in a relaxed position, neither lifted nor hunched. Put your feet flat on the floor. If necessary, add a footrest or a ream or two of paper to ensure your feet lay flat. 


Tip 5: Break it up. At the top of every hour, even if you don’t have a sit/stand desk, get in the habit of switching it up by alternating from sitting at your desk to standing at a counter for at least 10 minutes.

Also, be sure to take breaks throughout the day. “Whether you participate in Zoom meetings, FaceTime with friends, or spend your afternoons researching places you’d like to retire, give yourself at least 10 minutes every hour to stand, stretch, rest your eyes and drink a glass of water,” says Fleischer.

Keep these tips in mind and you’ll not only reduce your pain and increase your enjoyment, but you’ll also find yourself more productive and engaged as well. For more ergo-friendly tips and helpful hacks that help you make the most of your screen time, visit Fleischer’s blog.

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Twin Cities freelance writer Bev Bachel has mastered the art of working from home, something she’s been doing for more than three decades. A lifelong goal setter, she’s the author of What Do You Really Want? How to Set a Goal and Go for It: A Guide for Teens.

1 https://www.scripps.org/news_items/6626-how-much-screen-time-is-too-much

Ready, Set … Connect

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By Bev Bachel

Are you at a point in your life where you’re wondering what’s next? If so, you may want to power up your ability to connect.

According to Richard Lieder, life purpose guru and coauthor of Life Reimagined: Discovering Your New Life Possibilities, connecting is one of six guideposts that can help you navigate your way into what’s next, whether that’s an encore career, part-time employment or retirement.

And while meeting in person isn’t possible right now, there’s never been a better time to connect virtually. Whether it’s via a professional association webinar, a Zoom happy hour with colleagues or an online yoga class with neighbors, each connection offers an opportunity to network.

Get your fun on

According to Susan RoAne, author of How to Work a Room: The Ultimate Guide to Socializing in Person and Online, the most effective networkers know how to have fun.

Teresa Thomas agrees. The author of Win/Win Networking: Your Guidebook for Confident and Effective Connections and the founder of 50 Fun Things, Thomas strives to put fun into every networking event, even now as we shelter in place. For instance, she hosts a virtual Happier Hour each Friday afternoon. The price of admission? A fun beverage for yourself and a willingness to share one joy with others.

Fun is the name of the game for Carolyn Herfurth as well. A one-time stand-up comic who readily admits that belly laughs are an occupational hazard of working with her, Herfurth used to host BAMs—Bistros After Midnight—in front of her New York City apartment. “I’d set up a café table and four chairs and invite who ever wandered by to sit down and chat. The stories people shared were amazing. So were the connections people made.”

That’s one reason Herfurth is still bringing people together, though she’s now doing so virtually via Onward, a new podcast she developed to get more women to share the good, the bad and the ugly of their entrepreneurial lifestyle stories.

Be intentional

The purpose of networking isn’t only to meet people and share stories. It’s also to drive results. To do so, author and speaker Sam Horn advises adding a little “POP” to your networking:

  • Purposeful. With just 60 to 90 seconds to prove why you’re worth making time for, make your case by clearly stating who you are and why you want to meet and/or need help.
  • Original. Horn suggests that you “tell ‘n sell” by comparing who you are and what you do to popular books, movies and products. Here’s a fill-in-the-blank formula that can help: “What _____ does for _______, I do for you.”
  • Pithy. Set yourself up for success via brief, yet persuasive statements. Horn suggests using seven or fewer words, which is what many advertisers do when developing memorable slogans such as “Diamonds are forever” (De Beers) and “Just do it” (Nike).

Horn’s POP formula is even more relevant now that the coronavirus has moved so much of our lives online, in part because it’s much tougher to make a good, let alone lasting, impression when you’re doing so virtually.

Making the most of the moment

Regardless of why you’re networking or where you are in your own retirement journey, here are three more tips to help you forge stronger connections:

  • Let others shine. When networking, give others a chance to share their passions and showcase their expertise. They’ll remember you took time to listen, and you’re likely to learn more than you would otherwise.
  • Give yourself permission to boast. While you don’t want to go overboard, sharing accomplishments you’re proud of can go a long way toward making a positive, lasting impression.  
  • Add flare to your thank yous. While first impressions matter, so do last impressions. So how can you make a final impression that is memorable? Send a thank you card, post a LinkedIn recommendation, amplify someone else’s social media posts or write a review of your favorite podcast are just ways of doing so.

Bev Bachel is a Twin Cities freelancer who enjoys networking, especially when Happier Hours are involved. She is the author of What Do You Really Want? How to Set a Goal and Go for It.

Podcast Episodes You May Like

Why People Make a Career Change with Purpose Top of Mind – Chris Farrell

With the Freedom to Retire, Where Will You Plant Your New Tree? – Don Ezra

Retired, But Not Done Yet – Dr. Cynthia Barnett

How Life Hacks Can Help Make Your Retirement the Best Time of Your Life – Sam Horn

Will You Be an Entrepreneur in Your Second Act Career? – Dorie Clark

Aging Well in a World of Avocado Toast & Insta-Everything.

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By Juanita Pienaar

Aging well is so much more than just taking care of your physical body. While eating well and exercising is essential, taking care of yourself mentally and emotionally is a powerful way to live your very best life as you get older. Spending time to learn new skills and doing the things that keep you engaged in life can make a massive difference in how you approach this new phase of your life.

Embrace change.

The world is a very different place from 20 years ago. It is a very different place even from just five years ago. Things are changing rapidly, and it might sometimes be a bit overwhelming to keep up. You don’t need to, but staying up to date with new developments and technologies or different ways of doing things can contribute to aging well. Not only does it encourage you to continue learning new things, but it can also maybe even make life a bit easier.

One of the best, and most fun, ways to learn about these new things is to spend time with younger people. They usually have their fingers on the pulse of everything new and useful. Don’t underestimate the very young people – it is amazing what a 7-year-old can teach you about your smartphone and probably even your TV!

Eat right.

We can all agree that young folks did not invent avocado toast, but they sure are onto something with it. There is a rise in demand for food that is organic, healthy, and nutritious. Aging well includes eating well. Today there is a diversity of healthy and delicious options to include variety in your diet. Don’t be afraid to try a new and trendy meal, and be sure to include a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables into your meals each day.

Have a plan.

Life does not stop once you retire or when you get older. John Rowe and Robert Kahn stated that Successful Aging included decreasing the likelihood of developing disease and disease-related disabilities, keeping your mind and body strong and healthy, and engaging with life.

The best way to not become stagnant and aging well is to keep making plans, set goals, and to do the things that you have always put off for later, for when you were less busy. Yes, there are the mundane tasks like grocery shopping and doing laundry, but focus on achieving things that give you a sense of satisfaction. Take up a new hobby or learn a new language. Make a list of goals or achievements that you would like to accomplish and do something every day that would move you closer to obtaining it.

Do things that make you feel most alive.

For some people, this could mean jumping out of an airplane or going diving with sharks. For others, it could be standing outside, feeling the wind in their hair and on their face. Or it could simply mean sitting in your favorite spot with a good book and a cup of tea or spending time with the younger members of your family. Aging well means finding the joy in each day.

There are plenty of stereotypes ascribed to older adults. Many of them hold the ideology of aging well, from grannies who are famous for their cookies and pies to granddads who teach their grandchildren to ride bikes.

Defy the stereotype.

There are also many negative stereotypes connected to growing older. Holding these negative stereotypes can influence your physical health. People who have a negative view of getting older, on average, live 7.5 years shorter. They have poorer memory and cognition and have a lower chance of recovering from severe disability.

Here is the secret to aging well: Our expectations of what it would be like to grow old – those negative stereotypes – are not true for the majority of people.

Prioritize self-care.

Aging well means taking care of yourself. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. Spend time each day doing something that makes you feel cared for, which makes you feel nurtured and cherished. Take a long hot bath with candles and some Epsom salts or essential oil, or spend time with your pets. Pursue activities that make you your soul feel full.

Getting older is a massive transition period, and it could become a bit overwhelming at times. Taking care of your body, mind, and soul is integral in aging well and living a healthy and fulfilling life. Spend time on the things that make you feel joyful and alive. Take time for yourself and spend time with those who inspire you to learn and grow. Most of all – focus on enjoying this space that you are in – you have earned it.

Juanita Pienaar is a writer in Johannesburg. An honours graduate in Psychology, she spent 5 years living and traveling abroad, is an Hatha yoga teacher and a retired scuba dive instructor.

Related Resources You May Like

Your Greatest Retirement Asset Could Be Your Attitude

What Can You Do to Age Better? – Anna Dixon

Retirement Planning Includes Getting Good at Getting Older – Rabbi Laura Geller

How Can You Be Better with Age? – Alan Castel

Buddy Up for Success

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By Bev Bachel

Lost your goalsetting mojo now that the coronavirus has you stuck at home? Get it back with the help of a goal buddy.

A goal buddy is a person who cares about you and your goals and offers you the tools and support you need to succeed. A goal buddy benefits from your support, too.

A Joint Effort

Take Bobby and Mary Ann Gast, for instance. Married and in their mid-60s, they are goal buddies in recovering from surgery; Mary Ann had her left knee replaced in January, and Bobby his right knee in April.

In addition to caring for one another post-surgery, the two have buddied up to set physical activity goals. “The other day we went to a local state park and walked a nature trail that was both rocky and hilly,” says Mary Ann. “It challenged our knees, but we cheered each other along the way and that really helped.”

The two also encourage one another to eat healthier. “We’ve been following the keto diet for three years now,” says Mary Ann. “By holding ourselves and one another accountable, we’ve both lost weight and lowered our blood pressure and cholesterol levels, goals we wanted to achieve before Bobby retires in the next year or two.”

Found in Translation

While Mary Ann and Bobby share the same house, goal buddies Fred and Lourdes don’t even share the same continent. What they do share, however, is a goal of becoming more proficient in another language.

Fred, who grew up speaking Italian and now lives in San Antonio, wants to improve his written Spanish, while Lourdes, whose native language is Spanish, wants to improve her ability to read and write Italian.

They buddied up several years back via ConversationExchange.com, an online platform that pairs native speakers of one language with native speakers of another.

“It’s been great,” says Fred. “We’re not only helping one another achieve our language-related goals, we’ve become friends.”

Ready to Buddy Up?

Here are seven tips to help you find a goal buddy and ensure the success of your buddy-ship:

Tip #1: Zero in on your goal. Choose something that is both specific and measurable. A goal such as “I want to volunteer four hours a month” is a better goal than “I want to make a difference” because it makes it clear exactly what you plan to do. Also establish a deadline, a specific date by which you’ll be able to say, “I did it!”

Tip #2: Seek a like-minded buddy. Your goal buddy should be someone you trust and respect, a goal-getter who is serious about his or her own goals and willing to help you be serious about yours. Ideally, you should have enough in common so that you can relate to what’s going on in one another’s lives, yet be different enough that you don’t feel in direct competition.

Tip #3: Be open with your goals. Be willing to share your specific goals with your goal buddy: when you’d like to retire, if you plan to launch an encore career, where you’d like to live, how much time you want to spend with the grandkids, new hobbies you’d like to try, even your concerns about money. Also talk openly and honestly about how you’d like to see your life unfold, even if what you envision seems pie-in-the-sky today.

Tip #4: Agree on the rules. Will you check in once a week or once a month? Via Zoom, phone or email? Will you focus on career goals, family goals or both? What happens if one person needs a time out?

Tip #5: Track your progress. Whether you give yourself a gold star every time you crawl into bed without your phone or keep a running list of all the people you conduct informational interviews with, making your progress visible will keep your goals top of mind.

Tip #6: Ask for help. Talk to your goal buddy about your progress, what’s going well and what’s holding you back. Also ask for—and offer—help.

Tip #7: Celebrate success. Have you or your goal buddy reached an important milestone? Congratulations! Be sure to celebrate your success in whatever way is meaningful to you.

Bev Bachel is a freelance writer and editor, and the author of What Do You Really Want? How to Set a Goal and Go for It. She’s tapped into the power of her goal buddies to learn Spanish, pay off debt and run a marathon.

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Business Insider’s List of Innovative Career Coaches

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Need to revamp, recharge or even re-invent? In times like these, standard approaches just won’t do. Career coaching can have a big impact.

Joe Casey, an executive coach in Princeton, NJ, who also helps people create meaningful second careers, was included in a piece in Business Insider of innovative career coaches who are making a difference.

All good things eventually come to an end – and that may include your primary career. The good news is that indeed there is life after the corporate world. However, when you’re pivoting to a second career in turbulent times, you’ll need savvy planning. And you’ll want to explore the range of options where your skillset can be leveraged. Finally, you’ll want to ensure that your next venture fits well with your priorities and values.

Mid-career professionals face an increasingly challenging work environment. And it’s been compounded by the extra headwinds of 2020. It’s time to take ownership of your future. And that means thinking beyond your job. You’ll need a holistic approach that takes the full scope of your life into account.

If you’re a mid-career professional who’s planning your next move or someone pondering a second-act career or portfolio life, going it alone is always an option. But working with the right partner can help you move forward with clarity and confidence. Find the coach that’s best for you.

MOLDING GREATNESS: Meet 23 career coaches who helped shape leaders into stars at the likes of Goldman Sachs and Google

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Read the full article on Business Insider:

https://bit.ly/2HAxG6U (Premium Content)

Excerpts:

Source: Business Insider in MOLDING GREATNESS: Meet 23 career coaches who helped shape leaders into stars at the likes of Goldman Sachs and Google – September 24th, 2020. https://bit.ly/2HAxG6U (Premium Content)