If you Hate to exercise, Read this

No matter where we go in the world and talk about Rewiring Your Future, exercise seems to be top of mind.  Sometimes it is scary to hear people say they are going to run a marathon, but haven't done any exercise in years.  Yes, we have actually heard this.  We always tell people to STOP and GO SLOWLY.  The only people who benefit from strenuous exercise like running a marathon without significant preparation are doctors and undertakers. 

No matter what age you are, creating an exercise plan for yourself should be a thoughtful process and include input from professionals including your doctor.  The goal should be to improve your health, your life expectancy and the enjoyment of doing something positive for yourself.     Improper exercise results in pains, strains, torn ligaments, and other more serious injuries.  No pain, No gain may work for some, but we don't recommend it..

We tell people if you have an exercise routine that works for you, keep it up.  If you are bored with your routine, add some new exercises that make it more interesting.  Trying new things makes it a lot less boring and new challenges can be very rewarding once you master them. Not addressing exercise boredom  leads to no exercise at all.

Now for the good news: there is a great article out this week in the New York Times by Gretchen Reynolds.  We love the title: The Right Dose of Exercise for a Longer Life.  The article talks about several new studies that gathered information on over 600,000 middle-aged adults They analyzed 14 years of death records for this group and came up with very interesting findings about exercise and fitness.

For those who hate rigorous exercise, there is hope.  You don't have to run a marathon, swim the English Channel, or climb the stairs of the Empire State building to get and stay in shape.  All you have to do is have a modest plan and stick to it.  According to the studies cited, "The Sweet spot for exercise benefits, however, came among those who tripled the recommended level of exercise, working out moderately, mostly by walking, for 450 minutes per week, or little more than an hour per day.  Those people were 39 percent less likely to die prematurely than people who never exercised."
That sounds good to us.

There is no time like the present to get rewired.  Now that winter is behind us, there is no excuse that it is too cold to go for a walk.  Even if it is cold and raining, there is always the indoor mall or the gym.  Put on your headset, listen to the music that motivates you, and strut your stuff.  You will be glad you did and so will those who love you!!

Open Your Eyes: Possibilities Abound

We are an odd nation of individuals; there are those who make things happen; those who watch things happen and those who after everything has happened say: “WOW! What happened?”  At this point, you should be asking yourself…Which one am I?

We hope you are in the first category, or at least can get yourself there. Why? Because your life will be more fulfilling…and fun…if you can make things happen for yourself.  There are thousands of self help books out there…and maybe you have read some but stop reading and let’s get into action. 

First, identify a real goal or something you are ready to pursue or at least investigate.

A recent retiree who we have been working with to rewire decided it was time to get some fitness into her life. She now had the time, freedom, flexibility and desire to “get in shape."   She had a gym in her apartment building, but didn’t like going there so our question to her was…why not?  What do you want to get out of a workout? What do you want to do and where do you want to do it? This may sound really simple and obvious but it isn’t always and it is a part of a person’s rewiring.

At our suggestion she “talked to herself” and through her own assessment discovered:

·        She didn’t want to work out alone.

·        She didn’t want the pressure or to pay for a personal trainer.

·        She wanted to try a variety of classes like Spinning and Zumba.

·        She thought she also might like to learn to swim.

·        She wanted a convenient friendly gym that wasn’t too glitzy but still “cool.”

…and then she started throwing up roadblocks. And that’s when we said STOP!

Get on Google; put in your desired neighborhood; identify your desire for a pool or fitness

classes and see what happens!

She is now a member of Asphalt Green on the Upper East Side in New York City.  A non profit community center that is 20 blocks from her home, where she had gone by hundreds of times in the last 20 years but never visited, and in the end she even joined during a special promotion!  The point is….she never opened her eyes and looked around to see what was right in front of her!

Lesson: At this stage of life particularly open your eyes and your mind to new possibilities! 

We've met several fishermen, who love their sport, and have found a way to expand their interest to make lives better for others.  We know a dynamic Texan who is volunteering with Reel Recovery (www.reelrecovery.org) a national non-profit organization that conducts free fly-fishing retreats for men living with all forms of cancer.

Another individual we met is with Project Healing Waters, www.projecthealingwaters.org)  which offers services and programs to injured military service personnel and disabled veterans throughout the country.

We have also seen situations where people took their passion, made a real business out of it and it wasn’t so much fun anymore because it had become work.  On the flip side we have seen successful passions become great businesses where owners say,  “This isn’t work…I’m living my dream!”

Of course as with any idea…only invest what you can afford to lose.  It can be a great way to create a next act that makes life very interesting and as well as fulfilling.

PART 1: USING YOUR PASSION FOR PROFIT OR PURPOSE

As the authors of Don’t Retire, REWIRE! we continue to travel the globe “preaching” the importance of rewiring yourself after all major life transitions. The retirement boom is on and eager audience members are trying to figure out how to get the most out of their futures! There isn’t one pathway for the future, but many. You just need to choose what you would like to pursue.

Some people told us they only want a future of fun, fun, fun…until they either get bored or they run out of money! Others say that they want to work but in jobs with less stress and less responsibility. Some want to try the entrepreneurial route but don’t have any ideas, and a good number are viewing their hobbies as possible pathways to new businesses or volunteering opportunities(look for blog number 2 on this subject coming soon.). The possibilities are numerous but to capitalize on them you have to use your imagination, and your curiosity needs to be in gear.

To give you an example of what we are talking about…look what happened when some mahjong players looked at the game with a new set of eyes! I took mahjong lessons several years ago with a group of friends, having never been exposed to the game before. We did it for fun; the bonus was seeing our friends with more regularity.  We thought it would be great for the brain! And it has been just that on all counts.

 But something else emerged from our playing mahjong.

Two of the women, who have always been interested in art, became intrigued with the artistry of the “tiles.” They started collecting antique mahjong sets and I am thrilled to report that they have just come out with their first book from Tuttle Publishing, MAH JONGG, The Art Of The Game. The book is a collector's guide to mah jongg tiles and sets, and the photography is sensational. They are speaking on the topic to a range of audiences, both experienced players and beginners (or want to be players as well as art afficianados).  A third player in our group has started teaching the game, with the goal of teaching mahjong on cruise ships!

Remember… we were just playing mahjong and look what happened! Let your imagination go wild!

But lest you think that this is just one group, I discovered that there is a club of avid mahjong players in the Philadelphiaarea (almost 120 at the time of this writing). Several of these women created a training/members site entitled mahjonggmentor.com/. The site includes over 50 videos and is a supplement to teachers as a standalone teaching tool, and as a great info resource for beginners and players alike.  

Remember …what was first and foremost an interest and hobby for these women has now turned into much more. It’s a business.

In both of these scenarios these women rewired and are working, just differently.

The Age Busters Power Summit for Boomer Men is Coming!

It’s always a good thing to get insights on topics that are near and dear.  There is a great opportunity coming which will provide important information to Boomers.  The Age Busters Power Summit for Men is a virtual event broadcast on the internet Beginning October 17 and running for 2 weeks.  The cost is exceptionally good:  It’s free.  This very unique program will offer tips and strategies on retirement, health issues, wellness, relationships, social security, lifestyle changes and financial issues for men over 55 years old.  They have already done a successful event for women.  This should be another good one.

Jonny and Jodye Friedman, a husband and wife team, are co-founders of Age Busters.  They provide information, advice and services to help people “dazzle within” as they call it.  They have taken it upon themselves to interview experts in a variety of areas important to the over 55 set. Rick was interviewed on the subject of finding a new job when you are a mature worker.  Jonny did the interviewing.  Jonny is exceptionally passionate about getting good information into the hands and ears of Boomers who are either looking forward to retiring, already in it, or looking to cycle back in to new work opportunities.  He has selected and interviewed some great experts in the field.

Each interview lasts about 45 minutes to one hour and will be available on line by going to the following link:  The Age Busters Power Summit

You can tune in any time 24/7 during the offering period to get valuable strategies, insights, and reflections on the things that matter during this key life stage.  It will be well worth the time investment!!  You don’t have to be a man to listen.  Anyone who has a guy in their life: father, brother, son, husband, partner, etc.  may get some very helpful info to pass along.  Don’t miss it. 

 

 

Is Globetrekking For You?

Overseas travel is a huge topic for retirees.  Everyone's Bucket List, or whatever you call yours, seems to have several places they want to visit.  Forbes.com recently published an article by Judy Martel titled: Globetrekking: the new retirement. The article features our friends and fellow authors, Tim and Lynne Martin.  Their new book, Home Sweet Anywhere, highlights their retirement, and it isn't what you would typically imagine.  They had a dream for adventure.  After selling their home in California, they have been living in a variety of cities around the world.  Their retirement is not for the faint of heart.  They are very flexible, adventurous, and are inspirational for anyone who has a travel bone in their body.  The book is a great read, but a lot more than that.  It is full of insights on how retirees (or anyone with courage) can cast off the lines and head for parts unknown.  Globetrekking has become another way Boomers are breaking the mold.

We were interviewed for the article because as authors of the book, Don't Retire, REWIRE! and as "rewiring experts" to get our views on how people execute on their dreams.  We think that not only do Lynne and Tim know themselves well, but they know their drivers---what motivates them.

We highly recommend you read the article and apply it to the many aspects of your life...not just travel.  Yes, packing it all in and leaving the country on an adventure is extreme, but you have to have some idea what's there when you arrive that will give you driver fulfillment.

If you read the article with an open mind, be prepared to have it stretch your thinking and to be challenged to dare to imagine different things for yourself.  Ask yourself..."Do I envy Lynne and Tim, or do I think their retirement choice is too extreme? Or am I somewhere in the middle."

It takes courage to do what they.  All we can say is BRAVO!!!

When a Vacation is More than a Vacation

Travel can become a big part of any retiree’s life.  Whether you are a current retiree or about to become one, you probably have some travel destination on your TO DO or BUCKET LIST.

Recently we met some retirees who said they weren’t sure where they were going to travel next, because they had already seen most of the places they had longed to see. We were a little surprised because some of these people were only in their late 60’s and early 70’s, and could have a long longevity runway in front of them with no place to go.

We decided to turn the idea of travel on its head and challenged people to REWIRE their thinking and attitude when it came to seeing new places and experiencing new cultures. …and we are happy to report that it worked! People began to use a new set of eyes when they looked at their vacations!  

A retired engineer told us that he was not eager to visit another beautiful cathedral (or ABC to seasoned travelers) but after visiting Chartres Cathedral he decided that he was going to figure out how Chartres Cathedral was built! One day it just hit him that rather than just look at beauty, he would turn the cathedral into a project for himself when he got back home. A fellow traveler suggested that he begin by reading Ken Follett’s book, PILLARS OF THE EARTH, to jumpstart his interest.

Or how about the couple who took an unplanned food tour in Parisand couldn’t believe how much enjoyment they got by learning about a culture through its food. They decided that looking at a city through a “food lens” was going to be their new travel criteria.

Other examples included a woman who visited Vienna, attended an opera against her will, and loved it! Or the person who saw a Santiago Calatrava bridge in Seville, Spain, and said “when I get home I’m going to Google him to learn more! Maybe we’ll visit his other works around the world!” Who knows….maybe there are architectural tours for non-architects? If not…maybe there should be!  There are countless stories of people traveling the world…Asia, South America, Africa…..who discovered new interests   simply by being curious and asking questions.

Travelling and acquiring new experiences and making new memories are powerful ways to be engaged in life. Rewiringhow you look at travel can make your future trips more fulfilling and rewarding in ways you never dreamed.  It will be no surprise that you will also meet new friends along the way who may even become traveling companions.