4 Aug 2009, Comments (0)

Getting older

Author: Susan Kersley

It’s a strange thing about getting older. You don’t notice it that much yourself until you catch a quick glance of yourself in the mirror and notice a few more lines or a few more grey hairs. One of the tell-tale signs is mentioning something that happened what seems like yesterday and being greeted with a blank look by the other person. Mentioning the name of an actor and similarly the other person doesn’t know to whom you are referring.

How can you remain as fit and healthy as possible for as long as possible?

Eat healthy food, every few hours; exercise regularly,  walking is one of the best ways to achieve this; read and learn; drink lots of water; have a positive mindset; don’t smoke; learn to relax when you feel tense and have enough sleep. Keep your brain active  too.

Let me know other tips in the comment box!

28 Jul 2009, Comments (0)

What about cholesterol?

Author: Susan Kersley

I’ve had my cholesterol checked annually and this year as before it’s raised. However my GP told me I don’t have to take statins which I’m pleased about as I don’t like taking long term medication unless absolutely necessary. Apparently a high cholesterol is not so worrying for women and a cardiologist may even take some women off their statins. More important is whether or not you smoke, have high blood pressure, have heart disease or a strong family history of heart disease. My only risk factor is being  overweight and I hate diets! However what I do like is the way of eating advoted by the Food Doctor. www.thefooddoctor.com I love all his books and recipes. When I eat the way he suggests I don’t feel like eating sugary foods.

7 Jul 2009, Comments (0)

Exercise is vital

Author: Susan Kersley

Make sure you keep body and mind flexible and moving. What is the best way to exercise? My favourite is walking the cliff paths in Cornwall, lots of ups and downs to help keep a good balance, while exercising and connecting with the wild sea and scenery. Even walking for half an hour from your own front door along the street or local park will do you a power of good. For some people having a dog motivates them to get up and get moving each day.

What will motivate  you? Remarkably aches and pains disappear when you exercise although they may have been the excuse not to exercise

Click HERE for exercise tips for boomers

30 Jun 2009, Comments (0)

Retirement sentiments

Author: Susan Kersley

‘It doesn’t seem such a bad life, being retired,’ said my son glancing through my latest copy of SAGA magazine.

There are lots of benefits: free bus travel, fee swimming sessions, reduced train fares and reduced entrance into museums and shows!

But disadvantages too: as I’m recovering from a sprained ankle and realise I can’t yet get back to doing what I was just less than a week ago – It’s all rather frustrating!

So the mixed pleasures of seeing my grandchildren and then not being able to climb down the rocks to be on the beach with them yesterday. However gratitude that my injury is minor and by this time next week I will throw down my crutch and climb down the clff path with renewed agility.

26 Jun 2009, Comments (1)

I sprained my ankle

Author: Susan Kersley

Yesterday I was on my way to the dentist to have a tooth out and didn’t notice there were 2 steps to go down from the room where I do yoga because I was lost in thought about the tooth extraction and whether or not I would have a local anaesthetic to have the tooth out when I suddenly found myself sprawled on the floor with several people asking me whether I wanted rescue remedy, comfrey or report the accident in the accident book (I was in a public building).

I said I was fine and when the  acute pain of a sudden fall wore off I hobbled down the road to the dentist to have my tooth out. I had a local anaesthetic which was great, I didn’t feel anything wxcept for my painful ankle. By the time I got home I had a hugely swollen ankle and wondered what to do to treat the sprained ankle. My husband knew what to do – he applied a crepe bandage and found me a crutch and even explained how to use it.

You have to hold the crutch with the arm on the opposite side to the injured ankle. Then walk like ‘Jake the peg with his extra leg’ bad leg forward at the same time as crutch forward. Good leg forward and crutch and bad leg back. Brilliant . I’ve noticed how lots of people don’t seem to get how to use the crutch!

Of course there are all sorts of things that can act as crutches – something which can offer a bit of help during a difficult time for example. The important thing to remember is a crutch is not for always, it’s a way of enabling you to get through a difficult patch.

My book ‘Get ready for retirement- how to have a life after work‘ can do that too because many people find the transition into retirement needs the support of a crutch for a while until you get used to the change of identity and new lifestyle.

8 Apr 2009, Comments (0)

Grey surfing

Author: Susan Kersley

Be inspired by the man written about here:   

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/article824052.ece

You too can keep your grey cells active by learning mkore about the internet and grey surfing in your retirement.

Computers and the internet make life so much easier in many ways: keep in touch with friends and family by email. Get information about whatever you want to know by putting your questions into search engine such as google or yahoo.

Whatever you decide to do remember that your brain as well as your body needs to be used when you are retired. So, to have a life after work and to help you with your retirement planning take a look at www.getreadyforretirement.co.uk You can sign up for a free report about the 6 essential things you need when thinking about retirement.

17 Feb 2009, Comments (0)

Adapting to a new life after retirement

Author: Susan Kersley

While on holiday in Itacare, Bahia, Brazil I copied the footwear of the locals: flip flops. My feet unaccustomed to the new pressures of the flip flop's straps. My feet more used to being enclosed in socks and town shoes, have reacted to the flip flops with several blisters. However I know that in a few days the skin will heal and the skin will adapt to their new footwear.

Life after ( or even before) retirement can be like adapting to flip flops too. At first doing something different may feel strange and you may be tempted to stop as I almost decided to abandon my flip flops. However when you persist the scars heal and you adapt to the new situation. As you prepare to retire or adapt to the transition called retirement, there will be many opportunities to do something different. Be brave and go ahead. Take the opportunities which retirement brings to do something different, even if it seems at first as though you won't be able to adapt. Most things need repeating or doing 21 times to become automatic. So keep your goal in ind and don't give up too soon,

For more useful strategies to have a life after work read my book 'Get ready for retirement – how to have a life after work' available from LULU

7 Feb 2009, Comments (0)

Time to get fit again

Author: Susan Kersley

The panic about New Year Resolutions is past so now it's time to decide on goals for the longer term. Exercise is definitely my number one priority. I did an interesting exercise (no pun intended) using the GROW model with Coach BobGriffiths http://www.bobgriffiths.com the other day.

I found it extremely interesting that going through the GROW model in relation to my wish to lose weight I found that what I need to do is more exercise. So with this in mind I went to a totally toning class at the local leisure centre http://www.leisurecentre.com/ and feel great though somewhat aching (just a bit, because of using some muscles which have been neglected for some time!)

So new intention to go to the leisure centre regularly and get the result I want!

Whatever you want, define your goal, be clear about your reality, look at your various options and then decide on your way forward…and doing something you have neglected or not done before may hurt a bit too at first but keep motivated, keep your goal in sight and keep going and you will succeed!

31 Jan 2009, Comments (0)

Be clear about what you want

Author: Susan Kersley

Stephen Covey in his book The Seven Habits of Highly effective People' suggests that you begin with the end in mind. This is so important when you retire as it's too easy to while away the days getting very little done. But come to terms with the fact that you may not get things done quite as quickly as you did when you worked; you may be much better at mixing leisure with tasks/ 'work'/things to be done.

Make the plans, develop the big vision. Decide what might stop you and what your very first steps must be. Then commit yourself to doing those first steps….you are on your way to having the life you want after work!!

When you have recently retired you can be very active and do so many things, so get moving, get going with them while you have time and energy on your side.

14 Jan 2009, Comments (0)

Are the medical investigations really necessary?

Author: Susan Kersley

Years ago I read an article called 'the cascade effect' It was about people having medical investigations as a result of which further tests were indicated and as the tests got more complicated and the person may experience side effects from the tests themselves.

If you are asked to undergo some tests make sure you really understand the pros and cons of doing so. Look on the internet too to find out how effective the test is in diagnosing something and if there is a positive result does that mean you have to proceed to a more invasive test.
I am not saying 'don't have a test' just be really clear why and for what it is being suggested.

I'm writing this because I've just jumped off a cascade of tests which were getting more and more complicated when I suddenly thought to myself 'why am I agreeing to all this when I don't understand why I need these tests?'

Many times I suspect further investigations are suggested because of the doctor's concern about litigation. So if you decide to refuse a suggested investigation you do need to discuss the pros and cons thoroughly so you come to an informed decision!

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