Finding Happiness and Resiliency

Finding happiness and resiliency is about having balance across three areas in your life: community & connection; health & wellbeing; and meaning & purpose.

Wait! Here’s Why You Should Keep Giving This Holiday Season

29/12/2019 by Marie

Another Christmas is over and for many people this means they have a lot more stuff they don’t need or want. But did you know that donating your unwanted Christmas stuff will make you happier and sexier?

With an increased awareness of the impacts of global warming on our planet, it’s no surprise that this year has seen an explosion of zero-waste, DIY and minimalist Christmas gift tips.

Despite being far more conscious of the ecological impact of our Christmas shopping, in Australia $980 million in presents will not be used, and in the UK it is estimated that £2.2 billion worth of presents are unwanted, whereas in the U.S. Americans return nearly $90 billion worth of gifts every year.

So, as you start to pack down your Christmas tree, box those decorations for next year, and vacuum the tinsel from the corners of every room, it’s a great time to also do a clean out of your wardrobe, garage and cupboards to see what you could donate.

Decluttering is good for the soul

As bestselling author and tidying expert Marie Kondo says, if it doesn’t spark joy, let it go.

The Konmari method aims to help people live a life that sparks joy by making room for meaningful objects, people and experiences.

“Tidy your space, transform your life.”
Marie Kondo

In our house, we have a one-in-one-out motto for non-essential items, which means that for any item of clothing, entertainment or decoration that we buy, we have to let go of an old item. It’s amazing how this has changed how I shop. I used to pick up items I liked off a shelf and if I could afford it, I’d buy it. Now, I often find myself picking up an item off a shelf and saying, “It’s nice, but I don’t need it.” …much to the amusement of my husband who always thought that way.

I also don’t find myself at shopping centres as often, and find I am more content with what I have. It’s also far easier to clean my house when there’s less stuff lying around.

So, while you’re already cleaning up and packing down after Christmas, why not take a look at what you received this Christmas, and what you already have, and see what you could let go of.

Giving also makes you sexier

If the above reasons aren’t enough to convince you to donate, then consider that being altruistic makes you sexier to the opposite sex. A 2016 study by the British Journal of Psychology found that participants who were given $100 in potential monetary winnings and who were willing to donate that money, also reported having more lifetime and/or casual sex partners over the previous year. In short, altruists get more sex.

Here are some fabulous charities that could use your ‘gently-used’ donations

Dress for Success improves the employability of women in need by providing free professional clothing, a network of support and the career development tools to help women achieve self-sufficiency. Donate your work clothes to give a woman a new start.

The Red Cross* provides clothing for victims of natural disasters, and the Red Cross Shops sell new and donated clothes, accessories and homewares to raise funds to help people in need.

The Salvation Army* serves 130 countries around the globe. It is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church which aims to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. Donations help serve the most vulnerable members of your community.

Ronald McDonald House* was an absolute saviour for my family, allowing my mother to stay for free within minutes of the hospital at which my 12-year-old sister was being given the treatment she needed to save her life. These homes away from home serve all types of families, so your donated games, toys and household items could go a long way to bringing some joy to these families during a tough time. Make sure you call ahead before dropping off goods.

*Australian links provided, but you can Google these charities in most countries around the world.

Leave a comment below if you know of other worthy charities!

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In 2020, we’ve got a jam-packed editorial calendar of science-backed content on topics like ‘the power of being bored’ and ‘the importance of finding ‘flow.’’ There will be reviews of books and TedX talks in the positive psychology space, and we’ll be launching a new podcast called Happiness for Cynics. Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss out!

How to make New Years’ resolutions you might actually keep

23/12/2019 by Marie

Have you ever set New Year’s resolutions but after a few days, weeks or months, forgotten all about them or let them drop because they’re too hard to maintain? You’re not alone.

According to research by the University of Scranton, only eight per cent of people actually achieve their New Year’s goals, with 80 per cent failing to keep their New Year’s resolutions altogether.

With such depressing stats, you might be thinking about giving-up on the whole institution altogether, right? No!

Goals are really important for mental health

Research shows that people who are making progress toward or are achieving meaningful goals are happier. Whether they’re health and fitness goals, or family goals, or work goals, the key is to be making progress.

“Happy people have more self-esteem, sense of control, optimism, and a sense of purpose derived from having goals,” says Michael Argyle, author of The Psychology of Happiness.

Setting goals you’ll keep

The first of January is only a random date in a calendar and there’s nothing that says you can’t set goals at any time of the year. But if you’re going to set New Year’s resolutions, you have to do the right thinking and planning before that day to set yourself up to succeed.

Here are some proven techniques you can implement to give yourself the best chance of succeeding…. And the best thing is that you can start this process at any time of year.

Commit to your goals. If you want to succeed, you must have input and take ownership for achieving your goals. Write them down and even tell a few people around you, this helps you to truly commit to your goals and leads to greater motivation.
Make them SMART goals. Being specific about what you want to achieve is critical. Your goals should be: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely (SMART). If your goal is to ‘lose weight’, instead try to define what that means, maybe it’s something like “I will only eat dessert on weekends and special occasions (birthdays or public holidays). On weekdays, I will make myself a cup of herbal tea to replace my mindless TV eating.”
Plan for incremental change. It’s not realistic to expect to be a marathon runner overnight if your usual level of activity only involves walking to the car and back. But if you plan for incremental change, over time, who knows what might happen? Remember it’s better to do 10 minutes of exercise a couple of times per week, instead of starting with 60 minutes of exercise five times per week then quitting. Start with small incremental actions that will lead to larger change over time. Once you’ve mastered the small steps, add more complexity or challenge to give you motivation when things get boring or too easy.
Aim for Goldilocks goals. Your goals shouldn’t be too easy or too hard. If your goal is too easy, you can easily lose motivation and give up. If it’s too hard or complex, it can be overwhelming. A goal that’s challenging but achievable is just right to keep you motivated throughout the year.
Be forgiving. If your goal is to write 3,000 words per week for your new novel, but you don’t achieve your goal that week, then forgive yourself and catch that up at the end. Don’t add more work to your following week as it will only add more stress and might lead you to give up altogether.

It’s about the journey, not the outcome

Goals will help you to set a path, but remember it’s about the journey, not the outcome. Enjoy the challenge and set your mind to a task or activity, but remember to be mindful and enjoy the moments. Otherwise, you may end up setting and achieving goals and always waiting for the achievement of the goal to bring happiness, and the next one and the next one.

Remember that having goals allows you to enjoy the process and take satisfaction in daily or small accomplishments along the way, it’s not only about achieving the goal.

If you’re looking for some inspiration for goals to set next year to be happier, have a read of this article on Three Habits of Positive People, and don’t forget to share your SMART New Year’s resolutions in the comments below!

What’s coming up in 2020?

In 2020, we’ve got a jam-packed editorial calendar of science-backed content on topics like ‘the power of being bored’ and ‘the importance of finding ‘flow.’’ There will be reviews of books and the top TedX talks in the positive psychology space, and we’ll be launching a new podcast called Happiness for Cynics!

Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss out!

5 Easy Projects to Rediscover Your Christmas Spirit

18/12/2019 by Marie

Life’s busy, and it gets even more busy toward the end of the year. As the calendar switches to December, the demands on our time seem to double overnight. From the catch-ups with old colleagues and office Christmas parties, to trying to get something personal and meaningful (and appropriately priced) for everyone on your list, to trying to tie up everything at work while planning travel arrangements for the family, while juggling the usual life to-do list. Quite simply, it can all just be a bit much, and what should be a happy time of year with friends and family can turn into a burden to ‘get through’ as quickly as possible so life can return to normal.

It’s a shame though. Consumerism aside, there are so many good things about the Christmas holidays, regardless of your faith. It teaches gratefulness and giving, and it strengthens social connection, which are all scientifically proven to increase your happiness and mental wellbeing.

Christmas is also the perfect time to dust off those craft supplies, or buy some new ones, and immerse yourself in an activity for a few hours while creating something for others.

The good news is that it doesn’t take much to re-centre yourself and start feeling those Christmas happy vibes. In positive psychology, the state of flow, coined by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi in 1975, is when a person is fully immersed in performing an activity that gives them a feeling of energized focus, full involvement and enjoyment in the process of the activity.

So, find your flow! Here are five easy and cheap homemade gift ideas to help you find your Christmas mojo and rediscover your appreciation of the festive season.

Self-Care Box

If you have friends who are going through a tough time, or who might have to spend Christmas alone, what better way to show you care than making them a self-care box. Charleigh at Charleighwrites recently posted a few ideas you could try.

Mason Jars Succulent Box

Why not build a box filled with a selection of budding plants. This versatile gift will brighten up someone special’s place or it’s also a relatively safe gift for someone you don’t know well. LifeStorageBlog has a great tutorial for making these, and it’s a great way to reuse old glass jars.

Flavoured Vodka

Throughout the year, keep all your empty glass bottles and jars so you can make some flavoured vodka gifts bottles. These are great as economical thank you gifts during the festive season for all those parties you’ll be going to! Make sure you also create your own bespoke label for your new vodka inventions, so people know what’s in there. Check out this GoodFood article for tips.

Scented Candles

Candles are another easy and cheap project you can tackle to create a personalised present for someone these holidays. Just pop into your local craft or hobby store or go online to buy the ingredients and supplies. All you need is a few leftover crayons from the kids to colour the wax, or about 10 to 15 drops of essential oil per pound of solid wax for fragrance. Watch this great video from Jami Ray Vintage with some insider tips to help first-timers.

Christmas Cookies

Nothing says homemade Christmas present like a plate of Christmas cookies. This is a great activity that you can also do with family and the kids, with everyone getting to express their creative side while decorating the cookies. Check out I Am Baker’s list of the 40 best Christmas Cookies for inspiration.

Do you have other ideas for activities to get into the Christmas spirit? Let us know below!

5 Ways to Teach Kids Resiliency and Happiness

12/12/2019 by Marie

Change is here to stay. In fact, the rate of change is only going to get exponentially faster, leaving the unprepared feeling burnt out and frazzled. We’re living in a Change Storm. That’s why it’s so important to teach our next generation about how to cope with the ever-evolving world we live in.

Think about it. We teach kids to read and write, we teach math, science and history, but nobody teaches kids how to deal with the complicated business of existence itself. Who is teaching kids the social and emotional skills needed to navigate life in a mentally and physically healthy way?

Sorry, I don’t have the answer for you, but I do have 5 great products that can help your kids develop the mental and emotional skills needed to become resilient, emotionally mature and happy adults.

The Big Life Journal

The Big Life Journal is a kids’ workbook that is designed to help kids develop a growth and resilient mindset so they can face life’s challenges with confidence. The activities in the book encourage better self-esteem and resilience, while infusing a love a learning and an openness to taking on new challenges. Find this on Amazon.

Awesome Ends In Me gratitude journal

Awesome ends in ME is a guided gratitude journal which teaches kids how to get the most out of practicing gratitude. The book also includes activities so kids aged 5-12 can learn to manage emotions, create a growth mindset, focus on their strengths, create meaningful connections, and maintain healthy habits to live a happy life. Available on Amazon or check out the AwesoME Inc website for some great adult products too.

Superhero Strengths: Card Game

This is a fun game for kids and teens aged 6-14, teaching skills in strength, coping, feelings, resilience and relationships. Kids play the role of superhero collectors while learning to identify their strengths, deal with feelings, build coping skills, and improve resilience. Available on Amazon.

The Tower of Self Esteem

This game helps kids learn to choose positivity and while boosting self-confidence and social skills with creativity, problem solving and teamwork. Kids work with family and friends to build a joint tower in additional to a personal tower using cards that instil positive thinking. For ages 6 and up, available on Amazon.

No Waries Social Emotional Game

This fast-paced game for kids and adults ages 5+ is based on the classic game called War. It helps kids learn new feeling and emotion words, gaining an understanding of a variety of emotions so they can acquire and apply social emotional skills. Visit Amazon to puchase.

UPDATE: New product!

Snakes and Ladders: Climb to Emotional Maturity

Since posting this article, I have also come across a great game by The School of Life which teaches kids about emotional life. They’ve reworked the old Snakes and Ladders game: the ladders represent all those moments when you learn how to be more of a grown-up, the snakes the times when you end up acting, against your better nature, like a tantrum-prone toddler. Visit The School of Life’s website to order the game.

Comment below! Do you have other recommendations for great products that can help children develop the skills to be happy and resilient adults? Tell us below in the comments.

How Caregivers Can Stay Resilient

08/12/2019 by Marie

There’s a special place in heaven for caregivers.

With an ageing population, caregiving is something that more and more of us will have to step into at some time in our lives. It’s an often-thankless role, involving putting one’s own needs aside, neglecting oneself even, to focus solely on the care and comfort of a loved one.

Who is Caring for the Caregivers?

Looking after others, particularly if they’re approaching the end of their lives, can be the hardest thing a person can go through. Yet, all the focus is often on the person who is sick.

The simple fact is that the psychological, social and health impacts of caring for others can take its toll on even the most resilient and positive of people, and more often than not, the role of caregiver also ends with devastating heartache.

When I was in hospital following a motorbike accident, my husband took time off work and was constantly by my side for weeks. He eventually had to go back to work, or risk losing his job, but he continued to visit me every evening as soon as he could and would stay until the nurses told him to leave for the night.

After leaving the hospital, he would go home and start the household chores, which had suddenly all fallen to him. He’d cook and prepare meals for the week, he’d do the laundry, clean the house, pay the bills, feed the cat and take her to the vet for vaccinations. He lived among a pile of boxes for months, as we had only just bought our first apartment and hadn’t yet moved in when the accident happened.

His life revolved around me… my doctors visits, my surgeries, my recovery. But in some ways, he was lucky, because he could escape the banality of my hospital room and the stress of the situation and go to work for 9 hours a day. He got a small reprieve every day – granted it was only work – but many don’t. Still, it was hard on him, I could see it.

The good news is that research shows us that caregivers who practice positive emotion skills benefit greatly, with increases in positive moods and ultimately less depression.

Caring for the Caregivers

Researcher Judith Moskowitz explains that building moments of positivity into caregivers’ weeks can help to cope with the stressors of caregiving and can build your resiliency to deal with what’s going on in your life.

“We’re really clear in this intervention—or we try to be—that this is not about pretending like things aren’t bad or difficult, or that you’re not distressed or stressed. It’s about understanding that you can experience positive emotion alongside the negative. The negative is what it is; it should be acknowledged and addressed if it’s at high levels that are unsustainable,” said Judith in an interview with Greater Good Magazine.

Here are three types of interventions, backed by Judith and her team’s research, that you can take to help bring more positivity and resilience into your life as a caregiver:

Being thankful: Take the time every day to notice the positive things you have in your life. Every evening before bed, write down 2-3 things that you are thankful for and, over time, watch your outlook on life change.
Mindfulness: Adapted from Buddhist practices, everyday mindfulness is about being self-aware and accepting of our thoughts. It is proven to reduce stress and can help to make you feel better. There are plenty of resources online to help you develop mindfulness practices.
Goal setting: Make sure you set some goals outside of the immediate needs of caregiving and work to achieve them. Having goals and something to work towards give additional meaning to your life and is critical for This could be as simple as planning and going on a picnic or a weekend getaway, or you could focus on developing or mastering a skill.

So, please, take the time to look after yourselves too caregivers! And if you think you don’t have time to dedicate to yourself, then let me leave you with the most important takeaway from Judith’s research: people who were happier were better caregivers.

Related content: Read Moving On article Resiliency Is About Recharging And Self-Care, But Are You Doing It Wrong? , listen to our Podcast: Positive Affirmations (E29)

If you’re enjoying this blog, I’d really appreciate you clicking a button below to share on Twitter or Like this post. Also, don’t forget to subscribe by popping in your email address on the home page, and I promise to treat your personal information with respect and not spam you with stuff you don’t want or need.

Seeking Interviewees

06/12/2019 by Marie

I am currently looking for people who can spare 30-minutes for a Skype interview sometime over the coming months. In particular, I am looking for people who fit the following criteria and have struggled with the transition:

Former professional athletes, who retired from their sport more than 1-year ago
Former military personnel, who transitioned out of the military more than 1-year ago
People who have had a significant trauma or illness that led to prolonged treatment and or hospital stays, who have been in remission or recovered for more than 1-year
People who have retired from full-time work, who have been retired for more than 1-year

Background

I’m currently doing research for a book I’m writing on transition and change. The idea for this book is close to my heart. You see, while the physical trauma and pain following my motorbike accident was hard, my darkest days were after I got to go home from hospital.

Since then, I have been questioning why I wasn’t prepared for the transition from hospital to ‘real life.’ After speaking to many other people who have gone through major life transitions, I found that this response to these types of life transitions is rather common, yet so many people are not prepared, and as a result, many people struggle with the change.

So, this book will look at why a period filled with so much hope for the future often turns into one of the hardest, most mentally and emotionally challenging periods in a person’s life, why there is a disconnect between expectation and reality, and how people can be better prepared for these transitions.

Please note: I am looking for people who have gone through significant change, not trauma or grief – although I acknowledge that change often comes as a result of trauma and grief. While my heart goes out to you if you’re currently dealing with trauma or grief, I am not a trained councillor or psychologist, and this is not the focus of my research.

How will the information be used?

All information will be anonymised, so no one will ever know it’s you (except me)
If I use any quotes from you in my book as a case study, I will change your name and ensure no one can recognise you (such as changing your profession or gender), and I will send you the text for your approval before publishing

What to expect

A 30-minute Skype conversation, that will be taped. Alternatively, if you’re in Sydney, I’d be happy to meet you face to face. If you’d like to contribute to this important work, but are uncomfortable or unable to meet or call, I can send you some questions via email if you’re more comfortable with that.
I will be asking you to be open and share your story so others can learn from your experiences – this may bring up old memories and feelings for what was potentially a difficult period in your life. At any point if you would like to stop talking, or you need a break, you can just let me know to stop.

Please contact me or share

If you are interested in talking to me, please shoot me an email on marie.skelton@gmail.com.

Or, if you don’t fit the requirements, but know someone who does, please forward this to anyone in your networks who might be interested.

I hope that this book can help others to navigate their next life transition better than I did, and maybe together, by telling our stories we can make a difference in someone’s life. Thank you in advance for your support.

How to Make Cooking Fun Again

01/12/2019 by Marie

It’s True, I Find Cooking Boring

Here’s my truth: I hate cooking. My food never looks as good as the photos in Women’s Day (eg. see above for how good my food never looks), and it certainly doesn’t taste as good as the food in restaurants. I lack inspiration almost every night, and often just give up and order take out.

When I do cook, I reuse recipes that work, oldies but goodies that I know are quick and easy and even I can’t mess them up. But even then, the day to day struggle of deciding what to cook for dinner can suck all the enjoyment out of the task. I never thought deciding what to cook for dinner could be such a source of stress!

After working all day, my thought process generally follows this pattern:

Me: oh crap what are we going to eat tonight? Hmmm, what’s in the fridge, oh yeah we have lettuce and half a tomato that need to be eaten, maybe we can have tacos…. it’s quick and easy and cheap too, But we had tacos a few days ago… I’ll just swing past the shops and see what inspires me, I’m sure there’s something at the supermarket that will give me a better idea.

Significant other *coming into the kitchen an hour later* Tacos again?

Me: Yep

Let’s be honest, after doing the same thing every evening for any number of years, most tasks would likely fail to inspire. But, the other day, I invited some friends around for dinner and the whole experience was new and fun again. I got to googling and planned a meal, picked some wines, set the table, kicked my hovering husband out of the kitchen, and got to work creating my masterpiece.

When Did We Stop Inviting People Over For Dinner?

You see, this was a rare occasion in our house. We always have good friends over, and being Australian BBQs are a stable part of our lives, but having a sit down dinner with people around a table and copious amount of wine…? Well, not so much.

I can’t for the life of me work out why we don’t have people over for dinner more often. I can still remember my mum cleaning off the orangey-brown fondue set for when guests would come over. I remember the three courses she’d serve up after hours of prep time in the kitchen. I remember being on my best behaviour and sitting quietly at the table otherwise I wouldn’t get dessert, then being excused as quickly as I could to get away from the boredom of adult conversation which flowed, along with the wine, until late in the evening.

Cooking For Friends Is Good For The Soul

Somewhere along the way, I lost that inclination and with it the joy that it brings. So, the other night, with sore cheeks from laughing and my friends sitting around the table, I thought “I need to do this more often. It’s so good for my soul.”

And there is actual science to back-up my new-found inspiration. You see, cooking is a way of nurturing people and sharing a meal is a great way to create deeper social bonds.

Cooking is also a form of self-care, and if you’re mindful and take the time to enjoy the process, you can reap the benefits of preparing a meal for others.

I’m still no chef, and I still don’t like cooking, but it was a surprisingly fun night, with great friends and lots of laughs, and despite my fears, the plates were all clean in the end.

Related content: Read Moving On article What You Didn’t Know About Practicing Kindness

If you’re enjoying this blog, don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss out on our weekly posts!

3 Habits of Positive People

25/11/2019 by Marie

Robert Collier, one of America’s original self-help authors who believed happiness and abundance were achievable by everyone, once famously said “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”

What if positivity was the same, and all you had to do was repeat the same few habits and you could be a happy person?

Well, the research shows that’s exactly how it works. You can train your brain to be more positive and happier! Here’s the science backed way to do it.

1. Practice Being Grateful, Every Day

Write down 3 things you’re grateful for each day.

“In just a two-minute span of time, done for 21 days in a row, we can actually rewire your brain, allowing your brain to work more optimistically and more successfully,” says psychologist and CEO of Good Think Inc., Shawn Achor, in his Ted Talk The Happy Secret to Better Work.

Shawn and his team have worked with a whole lot of companies, and by the time they’ve finished this simple exercise people’s brains are starting to retain a pattern of scanning the world for the positive first, not the negative. If that doesn’t work for you, try making it a habit to talk to your family each night about one positive experience you’ve had that day – this allows your brain to relive it. 2.

2. Exercise Regularly

This one is tried and true. We’ve heard it all our lives, do exercise, it’s good for you in so, so, so many ways.

There are a whole lot of YouTube videos for 10- and 20-minutes exercise sessions you can do before work or bed each day. Make sure you start small and work your way up. Remember it’s better to do a bit somewhat regularly, rather than a lot all at once then quit.

If you’ve never really been into exercise in the past, I recommend starting in your lounge room, with a 10-minute exercise like this one for beginners or for a more intense cardio workout try this session from Brookes. Try doing this three times per week for a month, then try making this a regular pre- or post-work habit and doing it five times a week. After a few months, or when it becomes too easy, move to a 15-minute session.

3. Make it a Habit to be Nice

And finally, be nice. If you make being nice or kind a habit, you become more positive and see more niceness in others’ actions and around you.

On top of that, according to Dr. Ritchie Davidson at the University of Wisconsin, being nice makes you nicer too! “It’s kind of like weight training, we found that people can actually build up their compassion ‘muscle’ and respond to others’ suffering with care and a desire to help,” says Ritchie.

Check out these other studies that show the benefits of being nice. There are so many easy and free things you can do to be nice, such as writing an email to thank a colleague for a job well done, or leaving positive comments on a blog or online article. For more inspiration and resources, visit https://www.randomactsofkindness.org.

The research is conclusive and shows you can train your brain just like you train your body. Life’s too short to not be happy with it, why not put these 3 things into practice today?

Related content: Read Moving On article TED’s top 11 positive psychology talks

Tell me what you do to stay positive in the comments below!

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If you’re enjoying this blog, don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any posts! Just pop in your email address on the home page, and I promise to treat your personal information with respect and not spam you with stuff you don’t want or need. NOTE: I receive no payment or endorsement for this post. It is my opinion only.

Keep your mind sharp to live longer, says study

16/11/2019 by Marie

A recent study has shown that early retirement can accelerate cognitive decline. Specifically, the study found that early retirement led to poor memory or recall, which is an early predictor of dementia.

Now, I don’t want to work forever, but I am also banking on a good quality of life for at least a few years after retirement. So, what to do?

As a side note, the researchers did point out that retirees’ sleep and other physical health measures improved in retirement. But mental health… not so much.

It seems we tend to decline in brain function after retiring, unless you do these two things that positively impacted retirees’ cognitive function: maintain and foster good relationships and do things to keep your brain active.

Keep your mind sharp in retirement

“Social engagement and connectedness may simply be the single most powerful factors for cognitive performance in old age,” the study reports. “Policymakers can introduce policies aimed at buffering the reduction of social engagement and mental activities.”

So, the good news is that there’s a solution that should keep your body healthy (just retire) and your mind healthy (stay social and keep learning) well into your older years. Retirement is a good stress reductor, and if you work on having strong relationships and take a lifelong learning approach to life, you will keep your mind active and alert.

It’s not about books and classrooms

In fact, lifelong learning has been all the rage in corporate offices around the world over the past couple of years, and there’s an increasing body of evidence that we should all be focusing on lifelong learning, at every stage in our lives, not just the first 20 years.

But what if you were never really good at school to begin with? Or you made it through with flying colours but could think of nothing worse than going back? What if you never liked school or learning just isn’t your thing?

It’s true that the old adage ‘use it or lose it’ applies to our brains, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend your retirement auditing university courses. In fact, the great news is that ‘lifelong learning’ isn’t about learning at all. It’s about curiosity, which simply means wanting to learn, explore, discover and understand.

There are plenty of activities that you can do to keep your mind active, and many of them also include the added benefits of being social activities where you can meet others and build relationships too. Here are just a few:

Travel

Plan and book a holiday with family or friends. Research the things you can do and see while you’re away and read up on the area’s history before you go. You don’t even have to go far, why not plan a series of local trips to places you can drive to within 2hrs on the weekend?

Garden

Research the types of plants what would flourish in your garden and then buy the bulbs and plant a garden. Speak to the people at your local gardening store to ask questions and get advice.

Volunteer

Reach out to a local church or national organisation in your area to find a volunteer opportunity that suits your natural talents and interests. If you were a nurse, you could now read to sick kids in hospital. If you were in the Army, you could help at the local Scout hall.

Exercise

There are many activities now for retirees, try asking at your local library, council or reach out to a national organisation to enquire about local programs. If you are new to exercising, you can try low impact activities like Tai Chi, water aerobics, or dancing.

Why not try one of these activities to keep your mind sharp in retirement? Or come up with one of your own? It’s never too late to start incorporating a Lifelong Learning approach into your life.

Leave a comment!

What do you like to do to keep your mind active? Share your ideas by leaving a comment below!

Finding Happiness and Resiliency

Another Christmas is over and for many people this means they have a lot more stuff they don’t need or want. But did you know that donating your unwanted Christmas stuff will make you happier and sexier?

Decluttering is good for the soul

Giving also makes you sexier

Here are some fabulous charities that could use your ‘gently-used’ donations

Don’t miss out! Subscribe today!

Goals are really important for mental health

Setting goals you’ll keep

It’s about the journey, not the outcome

What’s coming up in 2020?

Self-Care Box

Mason Jars Succulent Box

Flavoured Vodka

Scented Candles

Christmas Cookies

1. Five Ways for Workplaces to Support Employee Happiness (Greater Good Science Centre)

2. How a Little Humor Can Improve Your Work Life (Greater Good Science Centre)

3. Resilience Is About How You Recharge, Not How You Endure (Harvard Business School)

4. Ten Daily Habits That Can Actually Change Your Life (Forbes)

5. What causes us to burnout at work? (World Economic Forum)

6. The Unexpected Benefits of Pursuing a Passion Outside of Work (Harvard Business School)

7. The Business Impact of Gratitude (Forbes)

8. Three habits of positive people (Moving On)

9. I Tried the Morning Routines of Oprah, Tom Brady, Melinda Gates and Chrissy Teigen (Thrive)

10. Three ways to bring joy back into your life (Moving On)

11. Five of the best sporting activities for a healthy mind (RedBull)

12. What’s Your Purpose? Finding A Sense Of Meaning In Life Is Linked To Health (MindShift)