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Work-Life Balance after Retirement

/ Leave a Comment / Life Activity Balance after Retirement, Managing Retirement, Relevance of Work-Life Balance after Retirement, Work Life Balance / / , , , , ,

Updated on September 21st, 2022

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work life balance after retirementRelevance of Work-Life Balance after Retirement

When one talks about work life balance, one is generally referring to balancing the time spent on work to the demands of one’s personal life. Is the work life balance relevant after Retirement? One may argue that once the person stops working, then where is requirement of a balance when the entire time is available towards personal life.

But the fact is that after Retirement, you do not stop working, but continue to work, with a difference that now you only work for yourself. The nature of your activities undergo a change. You are no more under obligation or binding and you do not take orders from others but are your own master.

There is a lot that you can do after retirement like creating something new that you are proud of, serving others, building your community, making strong relationships, and countless other forms of pursuits that are deeply rewarding. At times people become more busy after retirement due to their engagement in activities which they love and like. So, after retirement, what is required may be termed as Activity-Life balance instead of work-life balance.

Activity-Life Balance

But time is a finite resource and needs to be closely monitored and effectively utilised. If not judiciously used, it passes fast without you realising it. The days will pass into weeks, weeks into months and months into years, when you look back as to what you have achieved during the golden period of your time. The great contradiction of the retired life is that there appears so much time, and yet so very little of it. Retirement, after all, marks the beginning of your final phase of life.

Activities after Retirement

Productive Activities

Some retirees  take up a part-time job just to supplement their income or if they do not have adequate pastimes. Some others spend  their time in productive and creative activities  like reading, writing, blogging, painting, cooking, gardening, learning new skill etc. Your daily physical exercise, work out and meditation etc also forms part of this group.

Pastimes for Pleasure

Activities for Pleasure and Entertainment through hobbies, pastimes, holidaying and adventure. It includes your time taken for playing your games, watching movies, listening to music, taking a walk with your dog etc

Socialisation

Activities which involve socialisation and spending time with near and dear ones. These are mainly group activities.

Pre-occupation with Electronic Devices

Of late, an additional activity which takes away a good chunk of retiree’s time is their pre-occupation with electronic devices like smart phone, tab and laptop etc.

How to Balance Life after Retirement

There is a need to balance all the groups of activities mentioned above to get the most out of the time left in your life after retirement. Any imbalance in activities would result in devoting too much of time in one at the cost of other.

Spending too much of time on your productive engagements may be at the cost of your entertainment and socialisation. Similarly, spending too much of your time on activities like Golf, would leave very little time with your family and children/grandchildren. Over-socialisation may take a toll on your health and may deprive of your productive activities like  exercise, stimulation of your mind and other creative endeavours. Addiction to your electronic devices may result in  spending a disproportionate time on social media, messaging and other apps, thereby leaving little time for other activities.

Therefore one must make a conscious effort to track one’s time and spend it on a mix of activities which gives satisfaction and sense of fulfilment.

Structure your time

Schedule your time by laying down broad time-slots for each group of  activities. Structure it, but not strictly as it was being done for your working life. Have built in flexibility.

Have a Routine for everything

To name a few, you may have a morning routine which includes exercise, meditation, breakfast etc. Working routine which includes your time for productive and fulfilling activities, routines for socialisation, pastimes and entertainments, routine for your social media and messaging apps,  bedtime routine and so on. Routine forces you to stick to your plans which you have laid down for yourself. This way you are able to make the best use of your time. At the same time you do not miss out any activity which you are required to do.

Club your activities to get the best out of your time

Try and club activities which can be enjoyed with  family and friends such as hiking, playing games, swimming, dancing, cooking etc. Travel Frequently. It breaks the monotony of your routine life and brings in excitement and positivity in you life.

Devote time for adequate Rest

Taking rest is a productive activity as it rejuvenates and renews you. It is a kind of investment to improve your productivity and wellbeing.

Track & Fulfil you Bucket List

Make a Bucket List, if you do not have one. Make all out efforts to achieve all items in it before it is too late. Your list may include places to travel, skills to learn, people to meet, and doing anything else that matter to you most. Life is not endless, and you may not have the adequate strength to achieve many of the activities, if you postpone them indefinitely.

Use Technology to your advantage

Don’t be averse to Technology, but make use of it effectively. It  can automate many of your activities and add to the quality of your life. Your apps can help your manage your time. At the same exercise caution.Technology has literally increased the time on screen leaving very little time for outdoor activities and face to face socialisation. Switch off and detach from you devices at times and  take a break. Observe ‘Internet Fasting’ once in a while.

Develop a Habit of Writing a Diary

Writing a dairy is a good habit and helps you in analysing how you are doing. You probably want to know what you’re going to do when you wake up in the morning. So make a list of the important things which matter. At the end of the day, take a stock of what worked and what didn’t, what went wrong and how can you can set it right. Introspect by self-examination and self-analyses with the aim to improve.

“Everyone must learn to analyse himself dispassionately. Write down your thoughts and aspirations daily. Find out what you – not what you imagine you are! – because you want to make yourself what you ought to be. Most People don’t change because they don’t see their own faults.”

Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda

Discover your Purpose of Life

One of the important challenges in the golden period is finding purpose and meaning in life. Having a clear purpose of life is the  key to achieving  contentment and eventually peace of mind. Embrace Spirituality. Spiritual People  have a clear purpose which makes their lives meaningful. They are clear on: “Why am I here?” and “What kind of Impact do I want to make in the world?”

Leave a Legacy

Remember, you have only one life and so make the best of it.  Have you ever thought as to what would people say about you at your funeral. What legacy are you going to leave behind after you depart this world. I am sure you always would like to leave a legacy behind to be remembered for your values and deeds which mattered to people close to you. So, there is a need to make a conscious effort towards this and try to leave a legacy which keeps your memories alive even after you leave this world.

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Making the Best of your Ageing

/ Leave a Comment / Coping up with 0ld Age, Life after 60, Managing Changes after age 60 / / , , , , ,

Updated on September 25th, 2022

Coping up with old age
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Growing Old

Who wants to die early? No one. Every one wants to live as long as possible, but yet fears the old age. It is because old age comes with its problems. Incidentally, there is no definite age when you are termed as] old. Officially too, there is no defined age for being considered old. 

In the process of ageing, one really does not realise that when he has grown old. Practically speaking, you are as old as you think and feel and not as old as you look. The feeling of becoming old comes when one starts observing changes like wrinkles and sagging skin, shrinking body due to loss of muscle mass,  greying/balding of hair etc. 

As you grow old, certain age related ailments, life style diseases and sickness etc will may visit you as unwelcome guests which you cannot avoid. So accept them as a hard reality, look after them and be prepared to cope up with them effectively. 

Take Aways

–you are as old as you think and not as old as you look.

-Age-related diseases may visit you as you grow old. So, be positive and accept them. Your Positivity will help you get over them.

What You Can do to cope up with Ageing

Give Highest Priority to  Nutrition

1. You are what you eat.  Concentrate on  vegetables, fruit, legumes, beans, whole grains, nuts and fish. Aim for at least five servings of fruits & vegetables each day.

2. Make your meals nutrition-dense.  Pack as much nutrition into each meal as possible by concentrating on a diet which gives you maximum nutrition with less calories. Include ‘Super Foods’  in your meals.  It is the most important factor for 50 plus. A Wholesome Breakfast can be a good way to start the day to get the essential vitamins and minerals and required amount of fibre. As a fifty plus, never miss your Breakfast. Consume foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids.

3. Add more Proteins, Vitamin B12, B6, Calcium, Folate and Vitamin D to your meals, the natural way. They are essential to slow muscle loss, keep the bones strong and to slow cognitive decline. Even mild deficiency of Vitamin B12 can put older adults at risk for dementia.

4. Avoid Dehydration at all cost. Always stay hydrated as dehydration causes tiredness, dizziness and constipation.

Take Aways

–Include maximum ‘Super Foods’  in your meals.

–Have at least five to seven servings of fruits & vegetables each day.

-Never miss your Breakfast. It is The most important meal for 60 plus.

– Consume food containing all essential vitamins and minerals.

Working Out/Exercise comes next

Exercise will keep you Young. Regular exercise improves your overall health and longevity. It speeds up your metabolism and help you lose weight and build up muscle and bone mass.

Include Aerobic activity.  Moderate intensity exercises such as walking, swimming or cycling get your heart pumping and are easy to perform. These will build up endurance, improve lung and heart health, stamina and  benefit the circulatory system.

Undertake Strength training. It helps build muscles and bone density and also improves the functional fitness. Older adults should start with the exercises using their own bodyweight like Squats, Push-ups, Sit-ups etc and build up on it subsequently.

Do Stretching. It keeps the body flexible and helps in continuing doing everyday tasks with ease. Yoga is a very safe and useful stretching exercise which is ideal for fifty plus.

Duration of Exercise. At least 150 minutes of aerobic activity, strength training and stretching exercises (all put together) every week is recommended.

Take Aways

-Be regular in exercising. It will keep you active and healthy.

–Your exercise regime must include aerobics, stretching and strength training, as per your capacity.

Boost your Mental Health

Remember that mental health has an impact on physical health and vice versa. Stimulate your brain by undertaking activities like crossword puzzles, playing cards, building your vocabulary, learning new skill, painting, playing music etc. Always keep Learning something new. Learning builds your brainpower, keeps you sharp and extends your life. Every time you learn something, your brain grows new cells. It will always keep you young, no matter what your age is. Your experience, knowledge and wisdom will decay if you don’t boost it by continued learning.

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”

Henry Ford

Make yourself Emotionally Strong

Keep your mind in check. Your mind is generally engrossed in unwanted thoughts, mostly concerning regrets of the past or fear of the future, which adversely affects your physical, mental and emotional health. Always try to be  Positive. See the glass half-full rather than half-empty. Be grateful for what you have than feel bad about what you don’t. Stop Worrying and Control your Stress. Practise Meditation.  It pacifies your mind and helps in managing stress.

Find a Purpose and meaning in life

One of the important challenges in the golden period is finding purpose and meaning in life. Having a clear purpose of life is the  key to achieving  contentment and eventually peace of mind. Embrace Spirituality. Spiritual People  have a clear purpose which makes their lives meaningful. They are clear on: “Why am I here?” and “What kind of Impact do I want to make in the world?”

Socialise

Socialising with like-minded people keeps you young and adds to the quality of your life. It makes your life worthwhile and enjoyable. If you do not have many friends in near vicinity, using social media is a good alternative. You can always find and connect to people of ‘your type’ just with a click on your computer or smartphone.

Make yourself useful to others

Volunteer and be of service to someone. With your experience and inclination you can always find areas in which you can be of help to others. Consider activities like coaching and mentoring to help others. Even simple things like participating in activities of your resident welfare associations will make you feel better.

Get a Good Sleep

We generally under-estimate the importance of a good night sleep. Getting a good sleep is as important as healthy diet and exercise, if not more. Both quantity and quality of sleep are important. If you want to improve your overall health (physical, mental and emotional), a good night’s sleep is of utmost importance. Lack of sleep can have serious health problems. Healthy sleep habits can make all the difference between good rest and restlessness. You can get a plenty of tips on how to get a good sleep on the web. 

Monitor your Life Style

Maintain a good balance between productive engagements and leisure. Find time for your Grand Children, hobbies & pastimes. Be socially active, move more and  stay physically active. Try and achieve ideal weight. Alcohol, if at all, should be consumed in moderation.  A healthy person age 65 or older  should drink no more than seven alcoholic drinks in a week, or three drinks in any given day. Don’t neglect yourself. Get regular medical check ups.

Make Ageing a Good Experience

If you take care of your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being, you may not only live well in your golden years but may also be able to reverse your age. It is not unusual to find a person of 60 yrs with an agility and fitness of a 40 yrs old.

If you ignore your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual routines, the reverse may also hold true.

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Coping up with age after Sixty

/ Leave a Comment / Ageing Gracefully, Life after 60, Managing Changes after age 60, never too old to enjoy, Senior Living / / , , ,

Updated on September 25th, 2022

Changes in Life after sixty
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Ageing is inevitable and everyone has to go through it. With improved health consciousness and medical facilities, the Life Expectancy has increased across the world and the definition of becoming old has undergone a change. Today, 60 is the new 40. One has nearly 30 to 40 yrs more to live after 60. With age one goes through certain physical, mental and psychological changes. One needs to be aware about these changes and accept them gracefully.  Enjoy your golden years of life by taking good care of your  physical, mental and emotional health.

Changes after Age 60

Changing Priorities after 60

So your priorities in life change after 60. Till 60, you are presumably employed and have a busy life. Your priorities generally are your job, career, health and your family, in that order. However, after retirement when reaching 60, your priorities change to Health, your post-retirement finances, living life meaningfully, staying relevant, being socially active and fulfilling your Bucket List.

Physical Changes after 60

With ageing, You will gradually start seeing changes in your body. Don’t get disturbed when you observe wrinkles, sagging of skin or shrinking body shape due to loss of muscle mass,  increase in weight, greying/balding of hair etc. There will be other physical changes too which happen gradually as we age like  painful joints, stiffening of arteries, loss of hearing and change in your vision.  Accept these changes positively as a part of your ageing process. Do your best  and take  care of your body by staying physically and mentally active.

Mental Changes after 60

There are mental changes too. You may realise that you are not mentally as sharp as you used to be. You may have difficulty in recalling names, recognising people and remembering facts.  Stimulate your brain by undertaking activities like jigsaw puzzles, playing cards, building your vocabulary, learning new skill, painting, playing music etc. Remember that mental health has an impact on physical health and vice versa. Use your  experience, knowledge and wisdom effectively to stay mentally active and arrest you cognitive decline.

Psychological changes after 60

Gradually, one also starts to feel the loss of identity, the purpose of life and how to be meaningfully and productively occupied.  The feeling of ageing with fear of sickness and health also start haunting, at times. The older you grow, the more isolated you become.  There are  times when you are anxious, worried and lethargic for no specific reason. Life appears worthless to you. This is when one starts having bouts of anxiety and stress which further harms both the physical and mental health.The main causes of these psychological effects are:

Availability of more time for yourself after retirement than before and the freedom to pass this time the way you want to do

Reduction in disposable income with stoppage of regular monthly paycheques and fear of losing out on finances

The realisation of the need to make your life relevant by being helpful and contributing to society in any manner.

The greater need for a fulfilling social relationship and feeling of being wanted.

The realisation of Living life Meaningfully with a Purpose.

The need to rework your Life-style-activity plan factoring lower income and increasing expenditure on health and wellness in future.

Desire to engage in productive activities so as to leave a mark behind when you depart from this world

What 60 Plus must do to cope up

Maintain a good Health

Always remember, you are an asset to this world so long as you enjoy  a good health or else you become a liability. Your holistic health includes physical, cognitive, emotional and spiritual health.

Keep a check on your Biological and Subjective age to remain younger than your age.

There are three ages, chronological, biological, and subjective or psychological. The first is calculated based on our date of birth; the second is determined by the health conditions and the third is how old you feel you are. While we don’t have control over the first, we have some control over the later two. You can reduce your Biological age with Exercise, Nutrition, Emotional State and control over stress levels. A positive attitude and optimistic thinking can reverse the third age. It  makes you feel younger. Lower ‘subjective age’  or ‘psychological age’ has a significant effect on your  physical and mental health.

Add balance, flexibility & strength exercises in your daily  routine. It improves your balance, posture, and the quality of your walking. It also reduces your risk of falling or fear of falls.

Always keep Learning something new

 Learning something new  adds value to your life and keeps you sharp. Learning builds your brainpower, keeps you sharp and extends your life. Every time you learn something, your brain grows new cells. It will always keeps you young, no matter what your age is. Your experience, knowledge and wisdom will decay if you don’t boost it by continued learning.

Monitor your Finances

Most retirees have mainly retirement corpus, pension and social security (in some countries) to live on. You may have income from any part-time job that you may undertake or rental income, if any. You have not only to preserve your nest egg but also make efforts to make it bigger through investment to last your entire life.

Be Relevant through Meaningful engagement

After Retirement, it is easy to while away this time by sleeping late, watching TV, doing household chores or playing with your grandchildren. These activities may keep you busy but will not give you a sense of fulfilment. So engage in activities which add value to your life like learning a new language or skill, starting a new venture or doing something which contributes to the community. Before departing from this world, you must leave a mark, create a memory or make as many people happy as possible.

Have a Good Social Life

It gives you a sense of belonging and makes you feel wanted. It makes your life worthwhile and enjoyable. It provides support and help keeping your stress levels in check.

Make & Fulfil your Bucket List

Make a Bucket List, if you do not have one. Make all out efforts to achieve all items in it before it is too late. Your list may include places to travel, skills to learn, people to meet, and doing anything else that matter to you most. Life is not endless, and you may not have the adequate strength to achieve many of the activities, if you postpone it indefinitely.

Modify your Life Style

Make a routine which balances leisure and entertainment with activities which give you a feeling of fulfilment. Your routine  must cater for time for your wellness activities, your productive pastimes, entertainment and socialisation. 

Exploit your Experience and Knowledge

Volunteer and use your knowledge and experience for the benefits of others. Consider activities like coaching and mentoring to help others. Your mind will always remain sharp.

Have a good night sleep

Sleep is as important after sixty as in childhood. You need 7 to 9 hours of slumber every night. 

Overcome the fear of death

by going spiritual. Spirituality frees you  from the psychological fear of dying which is a common cause of worry and anxiety.

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What makes Retirement the most important Life Changing Activity

/ Leave a Comment / Managing Retirement, Retirement, Retirement, the most important life changing activity / / , ,

Updated on October 15th, 2022

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overcoming post-retirement anxiety

Retirement is a fairly new concept

Retirement is a fairly new concept instituted in the late 19th century with the aim of providing relief to workforce which cross the age of 60-65 on one hand and vacating positions for the new generation to fill on the other. At that time, the average life expectancy was close to the retirement age, with very few living up to that age. With improved life expectancy, today, a person retiring at the age of 60 has nearly 20 to 30 years more to live. Today people take retirement not because they are incapable of working due to age,  but because having worked for nearly 30 to 40 years, people look forward to time for leisure and enjoyment.  As far as productivity is concerned, at age 60, one is still productive as unlike olden days one had to perform primarily physical work as against predominantly mental work today, requiring experience and wisdom.

Retirement is one of the most important life changing activities.

It can be compared to another important life changing activity like getting married and calls for a lot of planning (courtship) and adjustment into the new life. The process starts with planning of retirement itself. The major plans that one has to make include Financial plan, deciding the place of residence, the social circle,  health, medical and wellness issues and plan for activities, hobbies and pastimes to keep one busy.

The Excitement of Retirement 

From  just  short of retirement and stretching up to the Retirement date, is the period of excitement for a retiree. It all includes final touches to the plans already made, the send off and farewell speeches where your contribution to the organisation, are highlighted (some genuine, some exaggerated). One is made to feel important and honoured with gifts and niceties. One is excited to enter into another phase of life where he can now enjoy a life of leisure and freedom. Initial period of Retirement is full of relaxation and enjoyment with free time for Golf, socialisation, travel and enjoyment. This period can be equated with the ‘honeymoon period’ immediately after marriage. This may continue for few months after which one realises that the pleasure of everyday golfing, frequent travel, socialisation and entertainment was waning out. The boredom starts to set in. The physical limitation and other health related issues also start showing up. One realises that It is not easy to hack daily Golf, frequent travels and social entertainments due to physical limitations which were not envisaged earlier. Also while one was busy and fully occupied during  his working life, certain minor physical  ailments were not felt or often not noticed. But after retirement, these issues become prominent and a concern.

Facing the Retirement Blues  

Gradually, one also starts to feel the loss of identity, the purpose of life and how to meaningfully and productively fill the ample time available at his disposal. One start realising that the experience of Retirement so far was not as one had envisaged. At times, one starts feeling  guilty of having too much of leisure. The feeling of ageing with fear of sickness and health also start haunting, at times.

The older you grow, the more isolated you become. Your number of social contacts will start to diminish. Many younger people who used to admire you when you were in position will have no or very little time for you now. There would be other times when you are not at your best. You are anxious, worried and lethargic for no specific reason. You fell low and lack energy. Life appears worthless to you. This is when one starts having bouts of anxiety and stress which further harms both the physical and mental health. The current pandemic has added to the woes of Retirees. The lock down, isolation, higher vulnerability and uncertainty about future has added to the anxiety and has led many on the verge of depression.

Everyone retiree goes through this experience, although the degree and effect may vary. It is important to identify this phase  and make necessary amends to get over it. So, it is important to face and accept the hard realities of life and re-orientate yourself by making necessary changes to your life style and routine.

The need to Re-orientate

Re-schedule your time and create a Routine. Make a routine which balances leisure and entertainment with activities which give you a feeling of fulfilment. Your routine  must cater for time for your wellness activities, your productive pastimes, entertainment and socialisation. If you are able to achieve a healthy mix of activities at the end to the day, you will feel satisfied. This makes you look forward to the next day. The benefit of routine is that it makes you feel relevant and wanted. The day  or the moment you have to wonder as to ‘what should I do now’, you are not making a good use of your time. At times it would be well in order to take a break from your set routine and have a feeling of ‘Let Go’. Do things that you feel like doing even though it is not strictly a part of your routine. 

Develop Hobbies and pastimes. Everyone knows that  having pastimes and hobbies is a good way of utilising time, but there are many retirees who do not have any specific hobbies to follow. So, create Hobbies and Pastimes, if you have none. Just see what you love doing. It could be a simple thing like reading, listening to music, gardening, watching documentaries, cooking and so on. 

Join a community of like-minded people and socialise. Even using social media to connect with others is a good option. You can always find and connect to people of ‘your type’ just with a click on your computer or smartphone.

Make yourself useful to others. Volunteer and be of service to someone. With your experience and inclination you can always find areas in which you can be of help to others. Even simple things like participating in activities of your resident welfare associations will make you feel better.

Always try and Learn something new. This will exercise your mental faculties and prevent cognitive decline. Even a small thing like learning and mastering tips and tricks of using your smart mobile phone will give you a good boost. In this high tech age, there is a lot which retirees need to update on. So, do not ever feel that you are too old to learn.

Stay in Shape. Do regular work out right for your age and and stay in shape. Exercise will help you releasing endorphins which will trigger a positive feeling in the body. Also pay attention to nutrition and eat right for your age. Keeping the right weight is a sure shot  insurance  against all life style diseases.

Find a Purpose and meaning in life. Don’t think that you have to do any thing fancy and special to discover your purpose in life. Simply engage in activities which you love and be kind and useful to others. This will make your life meaningful and give you satisfaction.

Keep your mind in check. Your mind is generally engrossed in unwanted thoughts, mostly concerning regrets of the past or fear of the future, which adversely affects your physical, mental and emotional health. Meditation pacifies your mind and helps in managing your stress and  prevent negative thinking.

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Most Creative Pastimes after Retirement

/ Leave a Comment / Creativity after Retirement, Life Activity Balance after Retirement, Work Life Balance / / , , ,

Updated on February 22nd, 2023

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Travelling is a creative pastime
Online learning is a creative pastime
Yoga and Meditation- a creative pastime after retirement

Ten Creative Pastimes

Whiling away time after Retirement is easy, but what is important is to spend time wisely on activities which give you a personal satisfaction and a feeling of accomplishment.   We all have liking for some activities which make us feel relaxed and give us enjoyment. Retirement gives you ample time and  opportunity to do such activities which you have always loved, but had no time or little time to  do it earlier. There are certain activities which are creative, which energise your mind and give you a feeling of contributing something to this world. Such activities not just keep you busy but are good for your overall wellness. I recommend the following seven most creative activities  which any retiree can undertake as  pastimes without the need of any additional gear or resources.

1. Reading, Writing and Blogging

  1. Reading. These may be separate activities but I have clubbed them together as they are closely related. Reading non-fiction books is a very good creative pastime which can be undertaken at anytime, at anyplace and at any age. It stimulates your mind and generates interest in the subject that you are reading. You generally read on the subjects which you like. Reading constantly exercises your mind and helps you to learn something new in your life.

    An e-Book reader is a good investment. The advantage of eBook reader is its easy access to millions of books some of which may be free. Using an E-book reader you can even start reading a number of books simultaneously on a time sharing basis. At the same time you carry your entire library with you wherever you go.

  2.  Writing. Nothing can be more creative than putting your thoughts on the paper. Writing anything,  which adds value to the existing pool of knowledge, is a challenging task and requires you to read a lot and carry out a research on the subject. Retirees have an advantage of having a wide experience which gives them adequate practical and useful knowledge  for sharing it with others. As you will always write on the subject which you love, writing becomes a very interesting and productive pastime. It forces you to think, gives you confidence and boosts up your self esteem.
  3. Blogging/Publishing. Your writing is of no value unless you have audience who would read your work. To reach your target audience, either you can write articles in periodicals and publication or compile your writings and publish a book or use the electronic media for publishing your work as Blogs. Blogging is the fastest means to reach your audience and it is also the cheapest. You have an option to monetise your blogs if you start building an audience base.

2. Watching thought provoking Documentaries and listening to Podcasts and stimulating talks.

A study has indicated that most retirees spend an average of  2 to 4 hours daily on watching TV. This time can be best utilised by watching interesting documentaries and inspiring talks. Documentaries cover important topics in a captivating way and give out comprehensive information with different points of views. Watching documentaries is a good way of combining entertainment with knowledge. The purpose of a documentary is to document with evidence something that has actually happened. There are many good documentaries which you can directly stream from applications like Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube etc. Similarly watching stimulating talks like TED talks give you a lot of insight in to what others are doing in the area of science, education, environment, productivity, business, technology, etc. Subscribing and listening to useful podcasts is another option. There are a variety of are thought provoking talks which add to your knowledge base without straining your eyes.

3. Travelling and Exploring the World.

Another creative pastime for retirees is to travel and explore the world. While in your active working life, you probably did not have adequate time to plan and undertake travel trips to exciting places which you always wanted to see. After retirement, one has adequate time to plan and travel for recreation, rest and relaxation. Resources are also generally not an issue, presuming that one has planned his/her retirement well.

Travelling recharges you and brings about a change of environment. Retirees who take vacations and travel often are comparatively  healthier and live a long life. Do not postpone your travel plans. Remember that after retirement you are ageing, and if you postpone it, you may not have the energy to undertake such trips. You don’t even have a certainty that you will live till you are old.

4. Exercise, Yoga & Meditation

We all undertake exercise is an essential requirement for our  body to keep us physically fit. Combining exercise with yoga and meditation makes you not only physically fit  but also emotionally, mentally and spiritually strong.  It is a very productive pastime which will boost your energy, help keep you calm and improves you concentration. This pastime is a good investment of time. Meditation is a known scientific technique for focussing and concentrating your mind on higher spirit, Once you feel the cosmic power flowing within you, the joy and positivity that you get will be far higher than any material pleasures of life.

5. Cooking Nutritious Meals

Cooking is one activity which is again a necessity for everyone at all ages. As you age, your requirement of nutrition becomes more critical. If you cook your food at home rather than ordering from outside, you can ensure that you always have good food which is rich in nutrition and supplies you with all the nutrition your body needs. It saves you money, keeps you in good health and makes your family happy as you are contributing effectively in the household tasks. Combining taste with nutrition makes this pastime a very rewarding one.

6. Gardening

Gardening is an enjoyable and relaxing outdoor pastime  that benefits both mind and body. Scientists have discovered that the mycobacterium, a bacteria found in soil improves brain functions. Being outdoor in sunshine and fresh air with nature helps you in reducing stress. Interacting with nature help release Serotonin hormone which acts as a mood stabiliser and makes you happy. Even if Retirees do not have vast expanse of land, they can do gardening through potted plants. Whether it’s flowers, fruits or vegetables, you can grow them all on your terrace or balcony.

7. Online courses

Learning something new which you like, makes you feel good, lifts your self-esteem and adds excitement to your life. Every time you learn something, your brain grows new cells.  It always keeps you young, no matter what your age is.  There is a wide variety of courses available today to choose from depending upon one’s interest and inclination. Today, professionally made videos give you a near-classroom effect. You can do these courses in the comfort of your home in your own time. There is no real pressure of time as most of these courses are paced comfortably. Many of these courses are free and and do not put any financial burden on you. It is never too late to learn anything new and you are never too old to do it. “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”– Henry Ford

8. Volunteering:

It gives fulfillment in giving back to their community. There are many opportunities to volunteer with organizations such as hospitals, schools, and libraries that you care about by donating time, money, or resources. Also consider mentoring young people,or offering your expertise to a non-profit organization.

9. Socializing:

    Retirees often have more time to spend with family and friends. Participating in social activities such as book clubs, card games, and community events can provide opportunities to connect with others.

    10. Artistic pursuits:

      Retirement can be the perfect time to explore your creative side. Consider taking up painting, drawing, photography, music or other artistic pursuits that can provide a sense of accomplishment and personal expression.

        Undertaking these ten activities would provide you with a feeling of physical, mental, emotional, social and environmental well being, which is considered essential for a happy long retired life.

        Most Creative Pastimes after Retirement Read More »

        Improving Quality of Life for Seniors

        / Leave a Comment / Life after 60, Quality of Life, Senior Quality Living / / , , ,

        Updated on October 21st, 2022

        Improving Quality of Life after Retirement
        View in Hindi हिंदी में देखें

        Improving Quality of Life is a Continuous Process

        Important to have a Sense of Fulfilment

        In addition to having a comfortable material life and a reasonable health, one of the most important needs for enjoying good quality life is to be engaged in activities which give you a sense of fulfilment. Seniors who have hobbies and pastimes like playing golf, cards, reading, writing etc have a better sense of well being. If you do not have any pastimes, it is essential that you cultivate some hobbies which keep you busy and help improve Quality of your life.

        Health and Wellness is  Most Important

        Let us face it, the most important factor for enjoying the best quality of life is your health and wellness state. When we talk of health, we refer to the holistic health which includes physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. Any deficiency in any of these aspects would affect the quality of your life. For your physical health, good nutrition and regular exercise are important. When we are young, we generally take our health for granted and are very casual about it. It is only when we start facing issues which restrict our full physical potential do we start caring for it. So, as seniors, the highest priority needs to be given to one’s health and wellness. If health is under control, other aspects for improving quality of life can be managed. Negligence in this regard may prove costly.

        Guarding  against Depression

        Apart from gradual deterioration of their physical health due to aging, seniors are at a risk of being affected by Depression. The feeling of losing relevance in life and not being useful anymore, makes them feel unwanted. It is important to check this feeling by being socially connected. Also, for a strong emotional health, one should be stress free and have a positive attitude. Techniques like Yoga and Meditation have proved to be quite effective in achieving the right balance. To ensure a good mental health, seniors must always keep exercising their mind. Never stop learning something new everyday.

        Travel to explore the world

        Travelling brings in excitement in life and improves physical, mental and environmental well being.  Seniors who do not have any serious mobility issue must travel to explore the world. This will make them energetic, adventurous, happy and significantly add to the quality of their life.

        Include Senior Friendly Features at home

        Your standard of your living definitely impacts your Quality of Life. Make necessary changes at residence by including senior friendly features like non skid tiles/stones in washrooms, railings for support at appropriate places, slopes with low gradient instead of stairs etc.  Remember that senior friendly features are good for all ages.

        Technology can play an important role

        Technology is another area which helps in improving Quality of Life of Seniors. Today, the technology has a lot to offer in terms of senior health care, home automation, medical advice on line, alarms and reminders for medicines etc. Smart speakers such as Amazon Echo and Google home are a boon for elders.

        1. Routine Activities.

        Today, the technology has made it possible do a variety of routine activities through tabs and smartphones. Easy availability of Digital Personal Assistants (Alexa, Google Home, Siri and Cortana) which are packed with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and can perform many routine tasks with a fairly high degree of reliability just by voice commands. They are a boon for elders. The smartphones and digital personal assistants can help elders with :

        • Reading/Listening News (in any language)
        • Setting Alarms and Reminders (possible by voice command)
        • Making a ToDo list and shopping (through voice)
        • Giving current information about weather and traffic (by voice)
        • Assisting in Fitness and Meditation Routines through audio and video Apps.(also possible through voice commands)
        • Playing music and movies/videos for entertainment (possible through voice commands)
        • Social Connections – Video Chat and social media Keep Seniors in touch with their near and dear ones irrespective of distance.
        • Home automation like switching on/off lights, TV and other appliances.
        • Remembering your Passwords and places where you kept your things.
        • Assisting in shopping on line and even booking cabs online.
        • Help fight against loneliness and isolation.
        • Online Learning and exercises to prevent cognitive decline.

        2. Medication. Reminding you to take medicines in correct dosage on time. Getting medical advice and information including doctor reports, test results. There are a number of smartphones apps which make this possible.

        3. Security & Safety. Seniors living alone can get help with the Push of a Button through Personal Emergency Response System (PERS), a device which allows the wearer to call for help with the simple push of a button. For seniors who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or the ones who are prone to wandering, a number of GPS tracking devices can monitor a senior’s location and send alerts.

        3. Senior Work Out and Exercise. A number of video apps assist seniors’ in getting their bodies and minds moving are available today

        4. Health Tracking. Smartphone apps and information tracking systems can help seniors in keeping their medical history, physician contacts, medication schedules etc updated which can be accessed by relatives, caretakers and physicians.

        Smart speakers can do a lot for seniors

        Improving Quality of Life for Seniors Read More »

        Change your Lifestyle. Live the Natural Way

        / Leave a Comment / Diet and Nutrition, Health and Wellness, Living Natural Way, Natural Life Style, Work Life Balance / / , , , ,

        Updated on September 21st, 2022

        Change your Lifestyle to live with nature
        View in Hindi हिंदी में देखें

        Nature Created us to be Healthy

        Man is born in this world without anything, in birthday clothes. Nature has created everything for us to survive and live a healthy life. It has made the world very beautiful with all the flora and fauna, crops, clean air and sufficient water –  everything that human beings need for a healthy and happy living. In olden days people were enjoying unprocessed fresh food, clean air and water.  Their lifestyle was close to nature. Living the natural way made their bodies capable of curing themselves by providing it the right immunity against harmful organisms. 

        Exposure to natural surroundings not only makes one  feel energetic but also improves his physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. The feel of fresh clean air, the chirping of birds and scenic beauty of natural life rejuvenates you.

        Modern Technology has moved us away from nature

        Today, we  are living in an artificial world and rarely find access to natural clean, hygienic and fresh air, food and water. Vast stretches of natural vegetation and lakes have been converted to concrete jungles. We have polluted everything without taking into account its’  side effects. Pesticides and chemicals used to enhance yield have resulted in compromising the nutritional value of food. Food has become processed and artificially flavoured. The promotion of pharmaceutical industry has made us dependent on drugs and supplements to make good the deficiencies in nutrition, which nature would normally otherwise provide. The life has become competitive, fast and materialistic resulting in high stress levels. The information revolution and our addiction to computers and cell phones has made the matter worse. All this is the reason for all our ill health and so called ‘Modern Day Life Style Diseases.

        How can you make your lifestyle closest to nature.

        Aim for Holistic Wellness

        For holistic health, we must treat both mind and body. Scientific studies have established a connection between mind and body. All diseases are a result of multiple causes pertaining to mind and body. Therefore it is important to apply an approach to life which provides  for overall wellbeing of physical, mental and emotional health. A balanced diet, appropriate physical exercise and movement and natural measures to manage and control stress are important measures to live in a manner the nature wants us to live. The healthy lifestyle should be according to the laws of nature. Adhering to its principles will improve your immunity, resist disease and give you live a long, healthy and useful life.

        Food is the most important medicine

        Hippocrates said, “Let food be our medicine.”  Our body is a chemical processing factory, the raw material for it is food. Most of us aren’t getting the nutrients we need. A good diet is essential to  produce high quality of nutrients. Living with nature advocates balanced diet made from raw and unrefined foods life vegetable and fruits, sprouts, wholemeal bread and salads. Live naturally, eat plant based diet, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. These will improve your digestion and give you all the energy you need.

        Move and Exercise more

        Mechanisation and automation have resulted in lack to movement and exercise. To exercise body and keep it toned, the techniques Lake yoga, breathing exercises, stretching weight training are Important. In olden days, people  used to get adequate exercise by doing their daily chores, walking, cycling and so on. Today, people have to take out dedicated time for necessary exercise and workout for the body needs.

        Control your Mind

        Manage stress Naturally. Stress is the by-product of modern day living. Some stress is good for you but  too much can cause anxiety and poor health. A mild stress is acceptable as it gives your necessary motivation and strength to accomplish your tasks, but in today’s competitive world, the heavy demands are placed on you which far exceed your resources and capability and is leading to early burn out. There are natural methods you can use to control your mind to help you in stress relief like meditating, deep breathing and yoga.

        What you can do

        1. Get back to the basics of living in harmony with nature

        2. Buy Local ; Buy Organic

        – Buy organic products grown locally and directly from source as far as possible. Wherever possible, grow your own vegetables and fruits. Always cook your own meals and avoid eating outside.

        3. Be predominantly Vegetarian. 

        —Remember, Humans are anatomically designed to be Vegetarians. Therefore try to be predominantly Vegetarian. Restrict the intake on non vegetarian food, if you can’t avoid it altogether.

        4. Always stay Hydrated

        —Make it a habit to drink at least 2 to 3 litres of water everyday.

        5. Spend more time outdoors

        —Look for natural ways to stay fit. Spend more time outdoors and opt for  walking and cycling, whenever going for short distances. Use the staircase over the lift. Park your vehicle at a distance from your destination and enjoy the scenery as you walk. Take out time to play your favourite sport. Play with your children outdoors. Make it a point to find time to stretch every day.

        6. Embrace Naturopathy

        —Embrace Naturopathy as it includes exercise like Yoga, breathing exercises, meditation, oil massages, sauna etc and host of other natural treatments which aid the body’s natural healing process while helping to release toxins from the body. It has no side effects.

        —Make yoga, breathing exercises and meditation your daily habit. These natural approaches are designed to minimise stress and make you feel more peaceful.

        —Include natural immune boosting foods, herbs and essential oils that help you protect your body from become sick.

        —Avoid products made from chemicals and all the factory produced packaged and processed food, as far as possible. 

        —Treat Yourself with Natural Body Massages.  These massages relax the muscles and helps in rejuvenating the body cells

        7. Embrace Spirituality

        –Studies have proved that spiritual people enjoy a better health and live longer. Such people are always calm, mentally strong and have a better immunity to cope up with illness and suffering

        8. Stay in clean and pollution-free environment

        —If you can help it, stay away from cities at a place which provides you clean and pollution-free environment. Improved living environment resulting from reduced toxin exposure, safer and green surroundings not only adds life to your years but also  adds years to your life.

        9. For Self Care use herbal & natural products

        For self care, use of artificial/chemical cosmetics, lotions, deodorants, lipstick, soaps etc can harm human skin and other parts of body. Use non-toxic cosmetics, herbal skin care products and toiletries. You may even use normal edible oil like coconut, olive or mustard oil in lieu of expensive lotions for personal care.

        10. Internet Fasting

        –In addition to occasional food fasting, periodically, switch off and detach from all your electronic devices for a while and take a break. This fasting will improve your performance.

        11. Plant a tree every year

        –The least we can do to repay to Mother Earth is to take a vow to plant at least on tree every year.

        12. Implement Environment-Friendly Measures

        –Use Solar energy extensively and green building concept to get natural lighting and air, where possible.
        –Use Electric Vehicle, Car-Pool or Public Transport
        –Always use Energy_Efficient appliances.
        –Conserve Electricity by switching off lights and appliances when not in use.

        Our Gains: Lasting Wellness at Lesser Cost

        Thus, apart from keeping the planet green, natural living helps in improving health and wellness.  The healthy lifestyle should be according to the laws of nature. Adhering to its principles will improve your immunity, resist disease and give you live a long, healthy and useful life. As an additional benefit, natural living costs less than the alternatives provided by modern technology.

        Change your Lifestyle. Live the Natural Way Read More »

        Should age 50 be considered being “over the hill”?

        / Leave a Comment / Are you Past your Prime at age 50?, Life after 50, Relevance of age 50 / / , , ,

        Updated on October 2nd, 2022

        ageing

        View in Hindi हिंदी में देखें

         

        “There is a general feeling that at 50 you are going over the hill. Is this feeling well founded?”

        Are you Past your Prime at age 50?

        To consider that age 50, you are old and past your prime is a matter of judgement. To someone else age 40 or may be age 60 may be considered as being over the hill. It has more to do with ones mindset rather than than physical or cognitive decline.

        Stages  of Life

         Every human being has go through infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, mid-life and old age.   Ageing does bring some inevitable changes which are gradual and do not happen suddenly on reaching a certain age. It is a universal fact that there is a period in life during which you are at your prime and thereafter a gradual decline takes place. It is possible to arrest or delay this decline by adopting a healthy lifestyle but decline cannot be prevented. Despite that, at any age or stage of life, you don’t become irrelevant or useless to the society. Therefore, one should not consider oneself as being over the hill at any time.

        Relevance of People after 50

        If you are a job seeker, in a competitive race for a job, younger individuals may get a  preference over 50 year old. It may make you feel that your market value has gone down. But this is not always true, there are jobs where experience is valued more than you physical attributes.

        In todays competitive world, sometimes, the high stress levels cause an early burn out and prompt people take an early retirement,  if they have amassed adequate fortune which can see them through their remaining years.

        Life expectancy has increased and so has the fitness levels and quality of life. The retirement age is increasing gradually and so is relevance of people above 50. At age 50 you still have a long useful life left to live. Most of the times, at 50, you are most productive and effective.

        Age brings along knowledge, experience and wisdom which compensates for the physical decline to a great extent. Age is only numbers and it does not lay down limits on what you can and what you cannot.

        People well beyond 50 have achieved Remarkable Feats

        There are a large number of examples where individuals have achieved remarkable feats at an age which is well beyond the retirement age:

        • Fauja Singh began running seriously at the age of 89.

        • Grandma Moses began painting at the age of 78.

        • Colonel Sanders was 65 years old when with his chicken recipe, he started Kentucky Fried Chicken.

        • Socrates, one of world’s greatest philosophers, understood he could still learn and started on music in his 60s.

        • At age 95, Nola Ochs, an American woman, became the oldest college graduate when she received a bachelor’s degree in 2007. She didn’t stop there ­– she went on to pursue a Master’s degree as well.

        Age is only a mindset

        There’s no particular age. It’s all about your health and your mindset that lays down you limits.

        So, to consider that you have crossed the hill at age 50 and are now rolling down on the other side is only a state of mind and may not be correct. 

        From age 50 to sixty

        • Generally at 50, one is at Direction or Conceptual level
        • Likely to be at a fairly high level of seniority in an organisation.
        • The balance of years from 50 to retirement can become the most fruitful and rewarding  years and must be made use of accordingly.
         

        Things to ponder when you reach 50

        Should age 50 be considered being “over the hill”? Read More »

        Travel can helps you live longer

        / Leave a Comment / Health and Wellness, Travel for Health and Long Life / / , , ,

        Updated on October 5th, 2022

        View in Hindi हिंदी में देखें

        Live a Long Life

         

        DIRECT LINK BETWEEN TRAVEL & WELLNESS

        Travelling for rest, recreation and change of environment has always been an essential part of our life. But are you aware that people who take vacations and travel often are comparatively healthier and live a long life. There is enough evidence to prove that there is a direct link between leisure activities associated with travel and overall health and wellness.

        TRAVEL RE-VITALISES YOU

        The primary reason is that travel promotes and exposes you to exciting activities which make your happy and add years to your life. It is important that we must periodically travel to rejuvenate and re-energise ourselves from time to time. Take the example of Mr Thomas.

        Mr Thomas had a busy corporate life. His hectic schedule had left him exhausted and stressed. Unable to maintain a desirable work life balance, his relation with his spouse were not at its best and monotony had set in both his work and family life. It is at this stage, he undertook a week long vacation abroad with his spouse. The trip did wonders to him. It rejuvenated him and brought back excitement in his life. He got back to his work with new zeal and interest. His bonding with his spouse improved. Recalling his trip always makes him feel positive about life.We all feel energetic and revived after an eventful holiday trip. We all cherish the memories of such trips for life. We feel good whenever we recall the enjoyable and quality time spent during such trips.

        TRAVEL IMPROVES YOUR QULITY OF LIFE

        “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page..” -Agustine of Hippo

        “Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.” – Dalai Lama

        Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have travelled.” – Mohammed

        The quotations above amply bring out the impact that travel can have on our Life.Travel brings about an overall improvement in our Physical, Mental, Emotional, Environmental and Spiritual well being.

         

        TRAVEL IMPROVES YOUR PHYSICAL WELL BEING

        On your travel trips, your physical activity increases as a result of walking and strolling on sightseeing, shopping etc. You exercise a lot more during your travel trips than at home. On one such trip, my health tracker showed me that I had covered 15,000 steps on a day without being conscious about it.

        Travel invokes a spirit of adventure. On tours, people do undertake some unplanned adventure activities like para sailing, scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, trekking etc after getting motivated by seeing others. These activities combine exercise with recreation.

        With improved health consciousness, people undertake Wellness and Medical tourism for the purpose of promoting health and well-being through medical, physical, psychological or spiritual activities.

        TRAVEL IMPROVES YOUR MENTAL WELL BEING

        The general feeling of enjoyment, happiness, excitement and positivity contributes to your mental fitness. Our exposure to the new things in various places makes us more creative and productive. Travel gives us an opportunity to meet new people make friends, see new cultures and experience a new way of life. Helps us make social connections which are considered to be good for mental health.

        TRAVEL IMPROVES YOUR EMOTIONAL WELL BEING

        It is a known fact the the life in today’s materialistic and competitive world has become stressful. Travel allows our mind to get away from the daily stresses of life, refreshes our mind and brings in joy and excitement. The time spent together with your family during vacation for enjoyment is never forgotten. It keeps the family happy and united.

        TRAVEL IMPROVES YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL WELL BEING

        We all are exposed to heavy pollution in the city life, be it air, noise , water and lately the Radiation Pollutions (where we are exposed to electromagnetic radiations from cell towers and all our electronic devices) which all have a adverse effect on our health in the long run. Travel to places away from cities in the midst of nature gives us the much needed relief.
        In corporate culture, people are mostly tied to their office chairs glaring at their computer screens and have a very little opportunity to move about. Travel gives them a break from the monotony from their routine and brings in a welcome change with the new environment with an opportunity to do lots of new things.

        TRAVEL IMPROVES YOUR SPIRITUAL WELL BEING

        Taking time for yourself to travel to a comforting place can do wonders for your mind. When you are at a place where your mind can keep out distractions, you will have a better connection with yourself. This allows you to set your mind on the right path for overall wellness. Some activities to take part in when on a trip can be spiritual discourses, meditation, yoga or taking a temporary vow of silence to discover yourself.

        TRAVEL TO EXPLORE THE WORLD

        So, what are you waiting for? Get out of your comfort zone, identify new places, plan your trip and venture out to improve the quality of your life by travelling to new places. Explore the world and lead a life full of energy, adventure, excitement and happiness.

        Travel can helps you live longer Read More »

        अपने रिटायरमेंट(सेवानिवृत्ति) का आनंद लें

        / Leave a Comment / Retirement, आप सेवानिवृत्ति का आनंद लें, पचास के बाद जीवन, सेवानिवृत्ति / / ,

        Updated on September 21st, 2022

        अपनी सेवानिवृत्ति(Retirement)का आनंद लें

        सेवानिवृत्ति(Retirement) वह अवधि है जब आप एक निश्चित उम्र तक पहुंचने के बाद औपचारिक रूप से काम करना बंद कर देते हैं।। इसका निश्चित रूप से यह मतलब नहीं है कि आप पूरी तरह से काम करना बंद कर दें, एकांत में पहुंचें और मरने का इंतजार करें। इसका केवल यह अर्थ है कि आप अपनी औपचारिक स्थिति या असाइनमेंट से काम करना बंद कर दें।

        जीवन में जाने के लिए और साल


        सेवानिवृत्ति के समय आपके पास अभी भी कम से कम 20 से 35 वर्ष है जो कि किसी के जीवन में एक महत्वपूर्ण अवधि है। सेवानिवृत्ति आपको अपने लिए काम करने का मौका देती है। यह उन चीजों को करने का समय है जो आप हमेशा से चाहते थे लेकिन ऐसा करने का समय नहीं था। तो इस समय का सबसे अच्छा उपयोग करें और आनंद लें।

        अपनी सेवानिवृत्ति की योजना बनाएं

        हम में से अधिकांश एक ऐसी स्थिति से सेवानिवृत्त होते हैं जो आपके कैरियर के चरम पर होती है जहां आपके पास कई भत्ते और विशेषाधिकार हैं जो अचानक बंद हो जाते हैं। याद रखें कि यह उस अवस्था में होता है जब आपको इसकी सबसे अधिक आवश्यकता होती है।

        एक सक्रिय जीवन से सेवानिवृत्त जीवन के लिए संक्रमण एक चुनौती है जिसके लिए आपको तैयार रहने की आवश्यकता है। आपके शारीरिक और मानसिक संकायों के धीरे-धीरे कम होने और समर्थन को कम करने की उपलब्धता के साथ, आपको अपनी उत्तेजकता को बनाए रखना होगा। थोड़े प्रयासों से, आप सेवानिवृत्ति के बाद जीवन को सार्थक रूप से जी सकते हैं।

        यदि आप अपनी सेवानिवृत्ति को सबसे अच्छा समय बनाना चाहते हैं, तो आपको रिटायर होने की तारीख से पहले अच्छी तरह से सेवानिवृत्ति की योजना बनाना शुरू करना होगा। अपनी सेवानिवृत्ति की योजना के दौरान, अपने जीवनसाथी को शामिल करें क्योंकि यदि आप नहीं करते हैं, तो आपकी सेवानिवृत्ति की कई योजनाएं काम नहीं कर सकती हैं।

        रिटायरमेंट के बाद फिजिकली फिट रहना


        याद रखें कि सेवानिवृत्ति के बाद, स्वास्थ्य आपकी सबसे महत्वपूर्ण संपत्ति है और उसी के अनुसार प्राथमिकता दें। ऊर्जा के स्तर में गिरावट के साथ, रोज गोल्फ खेलना, पार्टी करना और बहुत बार दौरा करना तब तक टिकाऊ नहीं हो सकता जब तक आप अपने स्वास्थ्य का ध्यान नहीं रखते। पोषण और शारीरिक श्रम का विशेष ध्यान रखें। हर छह महीने में एक बार अपनी मेडिकल जांच करवाएं।

        सेवानिवृत्ति लंबी छुट्टी की तरह दिखाई देती है

        प्रारंभ में, सेवानिवृत्ति एक लंबी छुट्टी की तरह दिखाई देती है जहां आपको अपनी पसंद के अनुसार करने की स्वतंत्रता है। थोड़ी देर के बाद, एक भावना आती है कि निष्क्रिय गतिविधियों में समय बिताना जैसे टीवी देखना या संगीत सुनना कुछ समय के लिए ठीक है, लेकिन जो महत्वपूर्ण है वह समय सार्थक और रचनात्मक रूप से व्यतीत करना है। आप जो कुछ भी करते हैं वह आपको एक उपलब्धि का एहसास दिलाता है।

        प्रारंभिक वर्षों के दौरान अपने व्यय को देखें

        एक लंबी छुट्टी के रूप में अपनी सेवानिवृत्ति को देखना आसान हो सकता है। यात्रा और अपने शौक का पीछा करने के कारण प्रारंभिक वर्षों के दौरान व्यय अधिक है। इसलिए सावधानी बरतें और अपने खर्च पर कड़ी नजर रखें।

        जीवन को सार्थक रूप से जिएं

        पूर्ति और उद्देश्यपूर्ण सगाई की भावना आपको अपने सेवानिवृत्त जीवन में रखने के लिए महत्वपूर्ण है। गतिविधियों में एक संतुलन होना चाहिए जो आपको खुशी, तृप्ति, उद्देश्य, वांछित होने की भावना और कुछ सार्थक करने का मौका देता है।

        पोस्ट रिटायरमेंट को अपने जीवन का सबसे अच्छा समय बनाएं

        इसलिए, सार्थक रूप से जीने के लिए, अपनी गतिविधियों के लिए समय बदलने की आवश्यकता है। जबकि शौक और भूतकाल जैसे गोल्फ खेलना, बागवानी करना, फिल्में देखना आदि दैनिक दिनचर्या में अपनी जगह बना सकते हैं, इसके लिए आपका पूरा दिन नहीं भरना चाहिए। आपको शारीरिक व्यायाम के साथ-साथ मानसिक संकायों का अभ्यास करने की आवश्यकता है।

        अपने जीवन का एक उद्देश्य परिभाषित करें

        अपने आप से पूछें my मेरे जीवन का उद्देश्य क्या है?। जीवन के अपने उद्देश्य को खोजें और परिभाषित करें, यदि पहले से नहीं किया गया है। एक उद्देश्य होने से आपको अपनी ऊर्जाओं को केंद्रित करने और अपने जीवन को महत्व देने में मदद मिलेगी। आपका उद्देश्य एक टॉनिक की तरह काम करेगा जो आपको सेवानिवृत्ति के बाद संतुष्ट और व्यस्त जीवन जीने के लिए पर्याप्त शक्ति देगा। यह आपको रिटायरमेंट के बाद खुशी हासिल करने में मदद करेगा।

        सीखना कभी भी बंद न करें

        ऐसे कई विकल्प उपलब्ध हैं जहाँ आप अपने ज्ञान को जोड़ सकते हैं और रिटायरमेंट के बाद अपने जीवन में मूल्य जोड़ सकते हैं।

        – आप सीखने के लिए कभी भी बूढ़े नहीं होते हैं। ’आपकी रुचि के क्षेत्र में एक ऑनलाइन कोर्स करना एक अच्छा शगल है और समय का निवेश है। ऐसे कई संस्थान हैं जो विभिन्न प्रकार के पाठ्यक्रम नि: शुल्क प्रदान करते हैं। Coursera, edX, Class Central, Udemy, Open University आदि जैसे संस्थान ऐसे कई मुफ्त ऑनलाइन पाठ्यक्रमों की पेशकश करते हैं। कई और विश्वविद्यालय और संस्थान हैं जो ऐसा ही करते हैं। इन पाठ्यक्रमों को करने के लिए आपको बहुत कंप्यूटर जानकार नहीं होना चाहिए। आपको केवल कंप्यूटर का काम करने का ज्ञान होना चाहिए। ये पाठ्यक्रम आपको अपने पाठ्यक्रम के एक हिस्से के रूप में कई चर्चा मंचों और अपने साथियों के साथ मूल्यांकन अभ्यास में शामिल होने का अवसर प्रदान करते हैं।

        -पढ़ना(Reading) एक और अच्छा रचनात्मक पास टाइम है। मैं हर रिटायर को ई-बुक रीडर में निवेश करने की सलाह दूंगा। ईबुक रीडर का लाभ लाखों पुस्तकों तक इसकी आसान पहुंच है, जिनमें से कुछ मुफ्त हो सकती हैं। ई-बुक रीडर का उपयोग करके आप एक समय साझा करने के आधार पर एक साथ कई पुस्तकों को पढ़ना शुरू कर सकते हैं। उसी समय आप जहाँ भी जाते हैं अपने पूरे पुस्तकालय को अपने साथ ले जाते हैं।

        उपयोगी पॉडकास्ट का वर्णन करना और सुनना एक अन्य विकल्प है। विभिन्न प्रकार की विचारोत्तेजक बाते हैं जो आपके ज्ञान के आधार को जोड़ती हैं।

        ध्यान (Meditation)करना सीखें

        ध्यान एक निवेश है
        आपको ध्यान (meditation)और माइंडफुलनेस(meditation) जैसे व्यायाम करने के लिए माइंड स्टिलिंग / कंट्रोलिंग एक्सरसाइज के लिए भी समय समर्पित करना होगा। समय समर्पित धीरे-धीरे बढ़ाया जा सकता है। ध्यान पर बिताया गया समय एक निवेश है। रिटर्न बढ़े हुए ऊर्जा स्तर, कम तनाव स्तर और बेहतर एकाग्रता के रूप में हैं। यदि आप एक शुरुआती हैं, तो आप ‘ध्यान सीखें: मेरा अनुभव और सबक’ Learn to Meditate पोस्ट के माध्यम से जा सकते हैं।

        एक गतिविधि योजना(Plan of Action)बनाएं

        अपने जीवन-शैली की योजना को अपने साथी के परामर्श से परिभाषित करें और उसका पालन करें। योजना के लिए अतीत, वर्कआउट, सीखने और मनोरंजन के लिए जगह होनी चाहिए। एक बाल्टी सूची बनाओ। एक बाल्टी सूची बस उन चीजों की एक सूची है जिन्हें आप अपने जीवन में पूरा करना चाहते हैं।

        सेवानिवृत्ति एक व्यक्ति के जीवन में एक अद्भुत अवधि है। रिटायरमेंट के लाभों को पुनः प्राप्त करने के लिए, अपने दिनों की अच्छी तरह से योजना बनाएं। दिन की शुरुआत में, एक व्यापक गतिविधि योजना बनाएं कि आप दिन के लिए क्या करना चाहते हैं और दिन के अंत में उन सभी का जायजा लें जिन्हें आप प्राप्त कर सकते हैं।

        रिटायरमेंट के बाद व्यायाम करना महत्वपूर्ण है

        उन गतिविधियों के बीच का समय साझा करें जो आपके स्वास्थ्य और फिटनेस में योगदान करती हैं, आपको शौक और भूतकाल का पीछा करके खुशी देती हैं, आपके मानसिक विकास / व्यायाम में योगदान करती हैं, जो गतिविधियां आपको सामाजिक बातचीत और गतिविधियों के माध्यम से महसूस करना चाहती हैं जो आपके दिमाग को शांत / नियंत्रित करने में मदद करती हैं।

        अपने परिवार के साथ अधिक समय बिताएं

        परिवार के साथ अधिक समय व्यतीत करें। एक बार जब आप रिटायर हो जाते हैं, तो आपके पास बहुत समय होता है। अब आप परिवार के साथ अधिक समय बिताने का संकल्प कर सकते हैं।

        रिटायरमेंट के बाद अपने जीवनसाथी की मदद करें

        सेवानिवृत्ति के बाद घर पर अपने जीवनसाथी का साथ पाना महत्वपूर्ण है।

        -एक पहलू जो आपको याद रखना चाहिए कि आपके रिटायरमेंट का मतलब है आपके जीवनसाथी पर अधिक भार और यह आपकी नैतिक जिम्मेदारी है कि आप भार साझा करें। अब आपके पास इसे न करने के लिए कोई बहाना नहीं है।

        अक्सर रि-जुवेनेट करने के लिए यात्रा करें

        रिचार्ज और कायाकल्प के लिए यात्रा
        यात्रा हमारे जीवन में मूल्य जोड़ती है। आपकी सबसे अच्छी छुट्टियों की यादें आपको अच्छा और सकारात्मक महसूस कराती हैं। छह महीने में कम से कम एक बार यात्रा की योजना बनाएं और इस समय का सबसे अच्छा उपयोग करें। अपनी दूर और साहसिक यात्रा की योजना सेवानिवृत्ति के बाद शुरू करें क्योंकि स्वास्थ्य बाद में एक प्रमुख मुद्दा बन जाता है

        अपने लाभ के लिए प्रौद्योगिकी (Technology) का शोषण करें

        अपने फायदे के लिए टेक्नोलॉजी को अपनाएं
        अपने लाभ के लिए प्रौद्योगिकी का उपयोग करें। आज अधिकांश सेवानिवृत्त लोगों को कंप्यूटर और मोबाइल आधारित अधिकांश अनुप्रयोगों का कार्यसाधक ज्ञान है। यदि आपके पास बुनियादी ज्ञान की कमी है, तो कंप्यूटर अनुप्रयोगों पर एक बुनियादी पाठ्यक्रम लेना एक अच्छा विचार होगा। यह आपको प्रौद्योगिकी का अधिकतम उपयोग करने में सक्षम करेगा ताकि आपके जीवन को आसान बनाया जा सके। अगर अच्छे से उपयोग किया जाए तो स्मार्ट फोन फिफ्टी प्लस के लिए एक वरदान हैं।

        अपने वित्त की अच्छी योजना बनाएं

        अपने रिटायरमेंट कॉर्पस को अच्छी तरह से प्लान करें
        अपनी रिटायरमेंट कॉर्पस / संचित बचत की योजना इस तरीके से बनाएं कि आप अपने रिटर्न को अधिकतम करने के लिए संतुलित जोखिम लें। पेशेवर सलाह लेने के लिए हमेशा बेहतर होता है ताकि आपको मुद्रास्फीति के लिए खानपान के बाद बेहतर रिटर्न मिले।

        स्वयंसेवी / अंशकालिक नौकरी पर विचार करें

        यदि आपको समाज को वापस देने के उद्देश्य से समुदाय के लाभ के लिए समाज सेवा या गैर-लाभकारी संगठनों के लिए स्वयंसेवक का अवसर मिलता है, तोह फिर अवसर को स्वीकार करो

        रिटायरमेंट के बाद पार्ट टाइम नौकरी करना एक विकल्प
        रिटायरमेंट के बाद पार्ट टाइम / फुल टाइम जॉब करना तब तक अनिवार्य नहीं है जब तक आपको पैसों की ज़रूरत न हो और अपनी जीवनशैली को बनाए रखने के लिए अपनी आमदनी को सप्लीमेंट करना हो। हालांकि, भले ही आप आर्थिक रूप से मजबूत हों, आप व्यस्त रहने के लिए पर्याप्त शौक और शगल नहीं हैं, तो आप एक व्यवसाय कर सकते हैं। यह आपके आराम और मनोरंजन के लिए पर्याप्त समय छोड़ना चाहिए।

        उत्पादक व्यस्तताओं के साथ अपने अवकाश को संतुलित करें

        इस प्रकार एक विशिष्ट पोस्ट-रिटायरमेंट पोर्टफोलियो के लिए कुछ काम, शौक, चल रही सीख, मनोरंजन, यात्रा, परिवार और दोस्तों के साथ फिर से जुड़ने और वापस देने का संतुलित मिश्रण होना चाहिए। लक्ष्य के लिए सामाजिक जुड़ाव, उद्देश्यपूर्ण गतिविधि, उत्पादक संलग्नताओं के माध्यम से आत्मसम्मान और जीवन के समग्र आनंद का विस्तार करना है।

        अपने रिटायरमेंट(सेवानिवृत्ति) का आनंद लें Read More »

        50 साल की उम्र महत्वपूर्ण क्यों है?

        / 50 से 60 के बीच आयु, Life after 50, पचास के बाद जीवन, सेवानिवृत्ति / / ,

        Updated on September 23rd, 2022

        50 से 60 के बीच आयु महत्वपूर्ण है क्योंकि यह एक सक्रिय जीवन शैली से सेवानिवृत्त जीवन की ओर बढ़ने का संक्रमण काल ​​है। सेवानिवृत्ति की आयु विभिन्न देशों में भिन्न होती है, लेकिन यह आम तौर पर 60 से 65 वर्ष के बीच होती है। इस अवधि के दौरान, किसी को यह सुनिश्चित करना होगा कि कामकाजी जीवन से सेवानिवृत्त जीवन तक संक्रमण सुचारू है। जीवन प्रत्याशा में हर जगह सुधार हुआ है और हम सुरक्षित रूप से मान सकते हैं कि सेवानिवृत्ति के बाद जीने के लिए लगभग 15 से 35 वर्ष अधिक हैं। यह अवधि किसी के स्वास्थ्य की स्थिति, जीवन शैली और चिकित्सा सुविधाओं तक पहुंच के आधार पर और भी अधिक हो सकती है।

        महत्वपूर्ण सवाल जो किसी को सेवानिवृत्ति से पहले पूछना चाहिए:

        इसलिए 50 साल की उम्र में अपनी उपलब्धियों और असफलताओं, किसी की संपत्ति और देनदारियों और भविष्य की योजनाओं का जायजा लेने की जरूरत होती है। इस उम्र में अभी भी 10 से 15 साल की कामकाजी जिंदगी के लिए चीजों को सही तरीके से सेट करना और जरूरत पड़ने पर बदलाव करना है।

        -मैं खुद को शारीरिक रूप से फिट और अच्छे स्वास्थ्य के लिए पर्याप्त रूप से कर रहा हूं जो अगले 25 वर्षों तक मुझे देखेगा?

        -क्या मैंने सभी पहलुओं पर विचार करने के बाद अपने रिटायरमेंट की योजना बनाई है

        -क्या मैंने रिटायरमेंट के बाद भी अपनी वर्तमान जीवन शैली को बनाए रखने में सक्षम होने के लिए आर्थिक रूप से मजबूत होने का ध्यान रखा? क्या मैं अपने रिटायरमेंट के लिए पर्याप्त बचत कर रहा हूं?

        -क्या मैं अपनी वित्तीय प्रतिबद्धताओं को पूरा करने के लिए 65 के बाद काम किए बिना खुद को बनाए रख पाऊंगा?

        क्या मेरे बच्चे अच्छी तरह से बस गए हैं और आर्थिक रूप से स्वतंत्र हैं? यदि नहीं, तो क्या उनकी आवश्यकता को पूरा करने के लिए मेरे पास योजनाएं हैं?

        -मैंने उस जगह का फैसला किया जहां मैं स्थायी रूप से बस रहा हूं? क्या मेरा खुद का घर है?

        -क्या मेरे पास सेवानिवृत्ति के बाद रचनात्मक और सार्थक तरीके से अपना समय बिताने की योजना है?

        -क्या मेरे पास सामाजिक रूप से सक्रिय रखने के लिए एक सामाजिक नेटवर्क है?

        -क्या मेरे पास शौक हैं जो मुझे सेवानिवृत्ति के बाद व्यस्त रखेंगे?

        -मेरे पति /पत्नी और मेरे निकट और प्रिय लोगों के साथ मेरा रिश्ता कैसा है?

        -मैंने अपने जीवन के उद्देश्य को समझा और परिभाषित किया है?

        -क्या मुझे योग, ध्यान आदि तकनीकों के माध्यम से समय-समय पर अपने मन को शांत करने की दिनचर्या है?

        ये कुछ ऐसे सवाल हैं जो जीवन की स्पष्ट दृष्टि बनाने के लिए रिटायरमेंट की दहलीज पर खुद को पूछने की जरूरत है। अगर इन सवालों का जवाब सकारात्मक है, तो आप जीवन की दूसरी पारी खेलने के लिए तैयार हैं। हालांकि, अगर इनमें से कई सवालों का जवाब नकारात्मक में है, तो यह आपके लिए आवश्यक संशोधन करने के लिए एक जागृत कॉल है। समय पर योजना और सकारात्मक कार्रवाई से जीवन के लुप्त होते वर्षों को आपके जीवन का सबसे अच्छा समय बनाया जा सकता है।

        50 साल की उम्र महत्वपूर्ण क्यों है? Read More »

        Are you a Victim of Information Overload?

        / Leave a Comment / Digital Addiction, Overcoming Information Overload / / , , , , ,

        Updated on April 26th, 2022

        What is Information Overload?

        In today’s world, we cannot survive without information. We all seek information on matters related to our profession or business, as a consumer, for health, for knowledge, for personal growth, for socials, to keep abreast  of what is happening in the world and so on.

        Today, the volume, the speed of creation and sharing of information far exceeds the  processing capability of any human being. Inability to process information as fast as it arrives creates a condition of  information overload. If not handled properly it can affect your physical health, peace of mind and productivity.

        Are You a Victim of Information Overload? To know, answer these 14 Questions

        1. Are you distracted every now and then by notifications of emails or text messages that come on your devices?

        2. Are you being bombarded by hundreds of pages of information everyday through emails, text messages, social media and  so on?

        3. Are you receiving information of which most of it is irrelevant and of no use to you?

        4. Are you habituated to checking your mobile phone at every  now and then to see what is new?

        5. Does the digital exposure make your feel fatigued and exhausted at the end of the day?

        6. Has the screen time on your mobile increased over a period of time?

        7. Do you find it difficult to get adequate time to pursue your outdoor activities like playing games?

        8. Is your socialising more online than face to face?

        9. Is your sleep cycle disturbed. Are you finding it difficult to get a good sleep for 8 hrs?

        10. Do you always feel short of time to complete you important tasks?

        11. Has  your working hours increased without corresponding increase in productivity ?

        12. Are you tempted to go to unintended but attractive web pages while surfing the internet?

        13. Are you a member of multiple Social networking and messaging groups and you are unable to cope up with the number of posts you receive?

        14. Have you ever taken your devices to the toilet when going for the big job?

        If the answer to any of these 3 and more questions is “Yes”, then you are definitely  a victim of Information overload. First step is to identify and admit that you are a victim of Information overload. The next is to manage all the information that you receive and prevent it from harming you.

        Are you a victim of Information Overload?

        Extent of information overload

        -We have created more information in the last 10 years than in all of human history before that.

        -90% of all the data in the world has been generated over the last two years 

        -Nearly 500 hours of new video is uploaded to YouTube every minute.

        -Only 0.5 percent of all data is ever analyzed or used.

        -By 2020, 1.7 megabytes of new information will be created every second, for every human being on the earth.

        -By 2020, some futurists predict information will double every 70 days.

        Adverse Effects of Too Much Information

        -Easy access to internet and the competition to create and share more and more information ahead of others has resulted in emphasis on quantity rather than quality. 

        -Easy availability of Information you need and use is a boon but being bombarded by information, 95% of  which is not relevant to you is a curse. 

        -Human brain is not designed to handle this uncontrolled flood of information. Human beings have limited cognitive capacity. The information one is expected to handle far exceeds brain’s processing capability and this adversely affects the decision making.

        – Huge volume of information is a double-edged sword. There is no simple method for quickly comparing and evaluating information sources. Efforts to do so increases the stress levels. It adversely affects our  health and limits our ability to perform our tasks.

        -People who claim to do more through multi tasking are actually fooling themselves. Trying to do too many things simultaneously practically amounts to task switching which actually reduces attention and thereby efficiency and productivity.

        -Even after Filtering and segregating information you are faced with a problem of  how do you identify true and genuine information from the rest. There are conflicting views, contradictory opinions and inaccurate or unverified pieces of information which leaves you more confused than before.

        -Constant browsing and switching sites has resulted in poor concentration leading to very short attention span. People have lost the habit of serious reading. We are in a age of constant distraction

        -Expectations regarding response times have changed dramatically.  Laptops and smartphones have enabled us to continue working from home when not in office. Now we’re expected to respond almost instantaneously. The demands placed on us have grown exponentially.

        15 Steps to Manage Information Overload 

        1. Unsubscribe from the sites which are not relevant or useful to you. Always ask “Does the information from this site contribute to my professional or personal growth” in any way.

        2. Restrict your membership to the number of social media and messaging sites like WhatsApp, Facebook etc 

        3. Do not open your email first thing in the morning. Fix time slots for handling your emails and text messages everyday. Segregate and Prioritise  them into which requires action, which is only for information and which can be easily ignored. Always create filters on your e-mail inbox and in your searches to reduce the amount of information you get. 

        4. While seeking information, give more importance to quality than quantity. 

         5. Spend time in identifying genuine and trustworthy sources through research and keep this number limited. Always subscribe to these source for your information needs.

        6. Collect more information only after you have analysed, assimilated and digested the information already available with you.

        7. Do not add to information load of others by forwarding messages and emails which you feel are not absolutely relevant

        8. Lay limit to you total screen time for social media. Do not exceed this time

        9. While sifting information always put your mental filters on and ignore the irrelevant information straight away. Focus on what adds value. 

        10. For News, get feed from a news feed or news aggregator site which gives you filtered news of your interest.  

        11. When on internet, fix your goal and time limit. Seek information which impacts your work, life or goal within the limits fixed.

        12. Follow the need to know principle. Concentrate on “must know stuff’ and ignore “may know” information

        13. Your information in useless unless it is converted into action. Keep a check on your information collection and  concentrate on your action plan. Therefore your information gathering must stop somewhere and lead to action. 

        14. Switch off and detach from you devices for a while and take a break

        15. Exercise self control while dealing with information. Be the master to technology and not its slave. 

        If you follow these 15 steps meticulously, you will, in all likelihood, be able to able to float and even swim in the ‘Flood of Information’

        Are you a Victim of Information Overload? Read More »