Active Lifestyles
Living apart together (LAT): gaining popularity among 50- to 60-year-olds
Meeting, falling in love and moving in together is the traditional path for many couples. However, relationships are changing, especially among people in their fifties and sixties. Proof of this is a growing trend of a different type of arrangement: living apart together, or LAT.
Concept
LAT refers to a relationship in which the life partners are committed to one another but do not live together. Like partners who prefer separate bedrooms, LAT couples
choose to live in separate homes. Many people who are separated or divorced and find love again opt for this arrangement.
Advantages
Living separately offers several benefits, especially for parents of teenagers or young adults who still live at home. Finding love again as LAT partners allows each person to enjoy a committed relationship without forcing daily cohabitation on their children, which can help reduce friction.
Having their own home also lets each partner maintain their own privacy. They can decorate as they like, do their household chores when they want and more. This arrangement often allows for more freedom and fewer arguments. Finally, many people who choose this lifestyle say that a bit of distance helps keep the relationship vital. Do you feel youāve found your soul mate but donāt want the challenges that come with living together? The LAT approach may offer the perfect balance.
4 stimulating activities for a healthy brain after 50
Have you passed the 50 mark and want to keep your mind sharp for as long as possible? Experts agree that you can slow cognitive decline by stimulating your brain every day. Simple, fun activities are sure to help. Here are four to explore.
Games
Sudoku, crosswords, brain teasers and chess all require strategy and concentration. They challenge your brain and keep it active. Board games give you the chance to play with your children, grandchildren or friends. The social aspect boosts your mood while you exercise your mind.
Foreign languages
Are you looking for a challenge? Learning a new language will surely put your brain to the test. Mobile apps and online courses can make it easy for you to explore Spanish, Italian, German and more. Why not set yourself the goal of practicing to become more fluent before your next trip?
Volunteering
Giving your time to people in need or an organization that shares your values is also a great way to keep your brain active. Meeting new people with similar interests can help break the cycle of loneliness and reduce anxiety and depression. Contact your local community center to find out what options are available to you.
Reading
Whether you prefer books, magazines, comics or newspapers, reading offers many benefits. It stimulates the imagination, strengthens focus and sharpens visual processing. Most importantly, reading has a direct impact on memory. Visit your neighborhood library, join a book club or read your local newspaper.
Stay healthy with mental stimulation! Itās one of the best ways to enjoy all the wonderful things life has to offer for many years to come.
Enjoy this summer hiking adventure with friends and family! Choose from two activity levels, so everyone can join in at a pace that feels right.
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Build ļ¬exibility, strength, and body awareness through gentle yoga. Modiļ¬cations are offered to ensure comfort and support for every participant.
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Connect and explore on guided nature walks. A relaxed pace makes it easy to enjoy the scenery and socialize along the way.
Our ļ¬tness center welcomes individuals of all ļ¬tness levels. The certiļ¬ed staff can create exercise plans tailored to your unique needs. A sense of belonging helps members connect and stay motivated.
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For information: Call (360) 854-0247 or visit UnitedGeneral.org/Active-Living Scan me
Explore the world without exhausting yourself: try a mini cruise
Seeing new places and enjoying fresh air are wonderful ways to unwind and recharge your batteries while traveling. However, the experience can be demanding, especially as you grow older or manage health challenges. Fortunately, thereās an option that lets you experience adventure without wearing yourself out. Discover the advantages of a mini cruise.
Shorter excursions
Whereas a traditional cruise can last anywhere from several days to several weeks, a mini cruiseāas the name suggestsāis a shorter alternative. These short excursions are typically based around a single city, making them an ideal option for families with young children or people with reduced mobility. Most are affordable and last anywhere from forty-five minutes to a few hours.
Varied and fun options
Mini cruise organizers offer a wide range of excursions. Depending on your preferences or thirst for adventure, you might choose:
ā¢ A gourmet cruise, to enjoy a delicious brunch or dinner while taking in fabulous views of a large modern city or picturesque town
ā¢ An educational cruise, to learn about historical sites or monuments, with interpretation by professional guides
ā¢ A wildlife viewing cruise, to admire marine mammals or unique bird species
These short excursions are the perfect way to travel without getting exhausted. Contact a local cruise company that offers mini cruises and set off on your next adventure.
Clubs, associations and company: find yourself a new friend group
Has retirement caused a void in your social life after youāve spent most of your life devoted to your work? Have your children grown up and moved out of the house, leaving your days a little too quiet? Do you find yourself newly single and facing long evenings alone? Joining a group of people who share your interests can change all that.
Countless possibilities
Believe it or not, life after 50 offers many chances to forge new connections
with people united around a cause or a hobby. You have many options, such as:
ā¢ Associations
ā¢ Clubs
ā¢ Committees
ā¢ Boards of directors
ā¢ Leagues
ā¢ Groups
Being part of a group is a great way to make new friends after 50. Regular meetups create a sense of belonging. Many people say their group feels like a second family. It can help you break
isolation, stay mentally active, feel a sense of accomplishment and share your skills and knowledge. Itās a win in every direction!
No matter your interestsābird watching, walking, computers, caregiving, bowling, photography, heritage, health, education, ecology, card games, fighting poverty, music and moreāyouāre sure to find a lively group of like-minded people in your area. Give it a go!
Building muscle after 50 is a win-win!
Once youāre over 50, incorporating strength training into your routine offers real health benefits. Hereās why. First, maintaining strong muscles helps you stay active, protects your bones and reduces your risk of falls while enabling you to move more comfortably during your day-to-day activities. However, muscle mass naturally decreases with age. The good news is that regular weight training can significantly slow this process.
Thatās not all! Strength training also boosts your self-esteem. Feeling your body become stronger and more toned increases your confidence and contributes to your overall well-being. Week after week, each bit of progress is a source of pride and motivation. You donāt have to spend a fortune to build muscle. For example, you can easily train at home with a few dumbbells and resistance bands. Would you prefer professional
guidance? Join a gym that offers training programs designed for adults 50 and over, or sign up for group or individual classes.
In short, consistent strength training done at your own pace is a smart way to support both your physical and mental health.
Do you have any health concerns? Talk to your doctor before starting a new training program.
Ideas for nurturingāor rediscovering!ā your inner child
As you get older, it can become harder to maintain a sense of wonder or approach life with a lighthearted attitude. Worrying about what others think about you or the fear of appearing āunseriousā can hold you back. Is it still possible to let your inner child shine? Here are a few ideas to explore.
Spend time outdoors
Hiking in the mountains or walking in the park are excellent ways to refocus on the present moment. A connection with nature allows you to engage your senses the way you did as a child. Take a moment to smell the flowers, listen to the birds singing and touch the bark of a tree. Youāre sure to feel younger.
Indulge in a sweet treat
Children love sweets, and for good reason. These foods
activate the brainās reward system. If your health allows, go ahead and indulge. Does a particular treat remind you of family outings or friends from school? Savor it fully to relive those wonderful memories.
Revisit an old hobby
Remember how you loved to sketch and doodle when you were younger? Were you quite skilled at playing the guitar or piano? Set aside a few moments throughout the week to explore an activity youāve left behind over the years. It will boost your mood and help nurture your creative side, two essentials for keeping your mind sharp. Finally, spending time with children and playing alongside them is another great way to stay young at heart. Itās up to you!
Trendy hobby Try mushroom picking to stay in shape
Looking for a unique way to get some exercise without going to the gym? Discover the joy of mushroom picking, a wonderful way to combine physical activity and learning after 50.
A booming leisure activity
Mushroom picking clubs are popping up across the country, and itās easy to see why. It offers countless benefits: you learn to identify various species and their habitats while enjoying a relaxed, social atmosphere that brings together people from all walks of life.
Since it takes place in the forest, mushroom foraging naturally involves walking on uneven terrain. This activates your leg muscles and even gives your cardiovascular system a boostāthis is especially true if the coveted mushrooms are at the top of a hill. The movements required to harvest mushrooms, such as bending over, stretching and reaching, also help improve flexibility.
Proper preparation
Dress for comfort on your outing by wearing several layers of clothing that will help you adjust easily to changing temperatures. Itās also a good idea to learn about mushroom picking from an expert who can teach you proper techniques and safety practices.
Since some mushroom species are poisonous, be very careful! Never eat any unless youāre absolutely certain theyāre edible. That said, if you arenāt accompanied by a professional, never go out without a field guide from a bookstore or a trusted mobile identification app to double-check your finds.
You can find mushroom picking clubs in your area online or by contacting your local council to learn what opportunities are available near you. What delicious mushrooms will you pick? Will it be morels, chanterelles, puffballs, or some other fascinating variety? Find out what types grow near you.
Working part-time after retirement: for the paycheck, yes, but mostly for the fun!
Have you heard the saying, āWork is good for your healthā? If youāve recently retired, or even if youāve been retired for a few years, you may still miss the satisfaction you got from a good dayās work. Even if your financial situation allows you to maintain a comfortable lifestyle, a part-time job can brighten up your days while also providing a little extra income.
In fact, countless testimonials from retirees who have returned to work say the āfunā factor is one of the biggest reasons they decided to take the plunge. An empty schedule and diminished social life can quickly lead to boredom and loneliness.
Having fun at work
Sharing projects, joking around with coworkers, having lunch together or chatting with customers and suppliers all
infuse your days with more vitality. It boosts your mood and puts a smile on your face.
With todayās skilled labor shortages, employers know that fun matters when it comes to recruiting. Thatās why many employers now offer enticing working conditions, such as flexible hours, paid time off and regular social activities to help teams socialize and have fun.
Want to enjoy the benefits of a part-time job? If you want to feel useful, supplement your income and have some fun, update your resume and start your search today.
Why hire retirees?
Are you an employer? Hiring experienced workers has several advantages. In addition to being competent, independent and loyal, theyāre often more resilient and better at managing stress.
4 ideas for keeping fit while babysitting your grandchildren
Many young grandparents provide childcare for their grandchildren these days, especially if the parents work irregular hours. If youāre one of these babysitting grandparents, that time with the little ones can be an opportunity for you to keep active and get some exercise. You have several options, depending on your grandchildrenās ages. Take some inspiration from these ideas.
Partner classes. Many āparent-childā classes work just as well for active grandparent-grandchild pairs. Aqua fitness, stroller cardio, yoga, dance and karate all offer you the chance to move together. Find out about classes offered near where you babysit and get the parentsā permission before signing up.
Active games. Games like tag, musical chairs, dance video games (like Just Dance) or movement-based virtual reality
games help you burn calories while having fun.
Outdoor sports. As long as the weather is pleasant, you can take advantage of outdoor sports. Skating, hockey, baseball, soccer, biking or playing Frisbeeāthere are so many ways to get your heart pumping in the fresh air.
Friendly battles. Snowball fights, water-gun battles, foam-dart games, laser tag or even pillow fights can leave everyone very out of breath and laughing. Make sure everyone stays safe with the right protective gear, such as goggles or helmets.
Whether your grandchildren are eight months old or 12 years old, getting active with them on a regular basis helps them develop healthy lifestyle habitsāand it keeps you feeling younger too. Ready, set, go!
Dancing: an unexpected remedy for the ailments of aging
Older adults are frequently reminded how important it is to keep physically active, maintain social connections and look after their cognitive health. Is there one activity that can support all three goals? According to some experts, dancing is a surprisingly effective option.
Physical benefits
Whether itās salsa, contemporary dance, cha-cha-cha, line dancing or swing, dancing is widely recognized as an excellent way to keep the body moving. Not every style dramatically
boosts cardiovascular fitness, but all forms of dance work the joints. Dancing engages the feet, legs, hips and arms, helping to improve flexibility, strengthen muscles and support bone health.
Cognitive benefits
Every time you coordinate your movements to the rhythm of the music, your brain stays active and alert. Combined with the positive emotions that music brings, this sensory stimulation strengthens neural connections. This is a major protective factor for maintaining cognitive
function as you get older.
Social advantages
Loneliness is a harsh reality many seniors face, but gathering in a group one or more times a week for an enjoyable activity fosters a sense of belonging and helps prevent social isolation. Staying connected with others helps keep you mentally and physically healthy, proving the old saying true: āHealthy mind, healthy body!ā Do you want to stay active and age well? Contact a local dance school or community recreation center.
