The Retirement Detox Program

Great quotes - On remaining connected

The New Retirementality means we keep ourselves connected to the community and the world around us.... Retirement doesn't mean we're tired of living or absorbed in our own decline.  Purpose does not leave with age. The flow of activity can someday slow to a trickle but it will not turn off.  We can stay engaged to our dying breath, and by virtue of being engaged, we will prolong that breath for many years.

Mitch Anthony, The New Retirementality:  Planning your life and living your dreams... at any age you want

Are my savings safe?

Following the collapse of US bank, Bear Stearns and the uncertainty caused by the 'credit crunch', Uk Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis, has written some timely advice for UK savers in his email newsletter which is out today:

'Bank collapse was once easy to dismiss - then the credit crunch bit, global market turmoil hit, and logic was turned upside down. The UK government soon found itself bailing out Northern Rock; and not long after similar treatment by the US authorities followed for even bigger bank Bear Stearns. Add to this the Farepak debacle and every sensible saver should be asking themselves, "Is my money safe?"

If you have any worries about your savings, Martin has written an article about this subject which contains a full savings safety-check up and Q&A, showing you how to ensure you're protected, how to maximise your safe savings, and the pitfalls to avoid.  Find the article on his website at www.moneysavingexpert.com.

The impact of retirement on relationships

When Psychologist, Michael Longhurst, conducted a research program with 200 Australian retirees about the challenges that adjusting to retirement brings to a relationship, he discovered that the top 3 relationship needs that recurred regularly were:

1. Your own space
2. Being free to do your own thing
3. Not being taken for granted

Michael suggests that reading and discussing his article in Your Retirement, Your Life, with your partner can serve as an introduction to examining ways in which to improve your understanding of each other and how best to communicate and enjoy your life together in retirement.

Why women walk out

Why do a small but significant number of mature women choose to leave a boring and unsatisfying marriage, despite the upheaval, anger and upset this causes amongst their family and friends?  This report from the Australian website, Your Life, Your Retirement examines the emotions behind this growing phenomenon.

Do you need to step up your fitness?

How many miles do you need to cover during the course of a day in order to be able to call yourself 'active'?  Head over to the RealAge website and discover whether you deserve to wear the 'active' label with pride or whether you need to consider dusting off those hiking boots now that Spring is just around the corner. And, whilst, you're there, do yourself a favour and have a good look around the site - I'm a big fan.  One of the doctors on the RealAge Scientific Advisory Board is Mehmet C. Oz, MD - the famous Dr Oz from the Oprah Winfrey show.

Check out the free RealAge test which aims to calculate whether you are biologically younger, older or the same as your birthday age.  This is calculated by assessing over 100 different health factors from lifestyle to genetics to medical history.

About an hour after you have taken the test, a personal plan is delivered to your email box which contains complete information about how to make yourself feel younger, together with a list of the factors that are actually making you feel younger or older.  The link you need is www.RealAge.com.

Great quotes - on getting stuck

Don’t let yourself get stuck! There is … ALWAYS … something little you can start/do in the next thirty minutes to make a wee, concrete step forward with a problem/
opportunity. 
Tom Peters

Recognising depression

This week, the UK media has been full of news of a major new study which has found that anti-depressant drugs don't work for the majority of people who take them.  However, as nearly 32 million prescriptions for anti-depressants were written last year in the UK alone, the study will leave many people wondering what will help them if anti-depressants won't...

In this article for MSN Lifestyle, Dr Pam Spurr takes a look at the subject of depression and examines why so many anti-depressants have been prescribed if they don't work.