Contemporary Retirement
Retirement is changing. The type of retirement that their parents enjoyed is no longer enough for the baby boomer generation. Today’s retirees are younger, richer, fitter, healthier and better educated than previous generations of retirees. They also have much higher expectations. The aim of this blog is to help you get the vital, healthy, prosperous, productive and fulfilling retirement that you really want (and deserve).Thursday, November 30, 2006
Arthritis drug dangers explained - BBC News article
Scientists from the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College, London, have discovered why some arthritis drugs such as Vioxx can cause strokes and heart attacks. Apparently, Cox-2 inhibitor painkillers stop an enzyme producing blood-thinning agents - which leads to a greater chance of blood clotting. The discovery could now lead to the development of Cox-2 drugs which do not produce these side-effects. Get the full story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6192468.stm.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Everything you always wanted to know about toupee tape (but were afraid to ask)!
Who'd have thought that someone would feel the need to devote a Squidoo Lens (that's a mini-website) to toupee tape? I bet you can't resist having a look though, can you? Okay then, here's the link: http://www.squidoo.com/toupeetape/.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
The future of TV in the UK: What does it all mean?
Between 2008 and 2012, the analogue TV signal will be switched off in the UK, which means that the country's TV viewing will become 100% digital. If you live in the UK and you're not sure what this means for you, have a look at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6142998.stm, which may help you to understand this new technology.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Smart homes a reality in South Korea
Imagine if your fridge could provide you with recipes which use the ingredients inside it. Or if your wardrobe mirror could help you select your clothes each morning and offer you style advice.
Well, okay, that sort of technology isn't available just yet, but already over 100 homes in South Korea contain the technology that can pay your power bills for you and tell you when your washing machine has finished and who has knocked at your door whilst you've been out.
Read more about it in this article by Dan Simmons, a report for the BBC Click Online series: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/6179868.stm.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Better Alzheimer's test developed - BBC News article
Researchers at the Washington School of Medicine have developed a new test to help them understand why the toxin, Amyloid Beta Protein, builds up in the brain of Alzheimer's patients. This, in turn, could help them determine which drugs to put forward for clinical trials and at what doses. Read the full story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5109510.stm.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Wise words
An old Navajo was telling his grandson about the fight that is going on inside himself. He said, "It is between two wolves: one is evil (anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, superiority, etc) and the other is good (joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, empathy, etc)".
The grandson thought about it and asked, "Which wolf wins?"
The simple reply, "The one I feed."
Taken from Partners in Life Couples News issued by The Relationship Coaching Institute
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
What we can learn from dogs
I received the following in Philip Humbert's weekly newsletter. Philip acknowledges Rita Haehnlein for sending the list to him originally:
If dogs were the teachers, you would learn stuff like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and never hold a grudge! Run right back and make friends.
Delight in the joy of a long walk.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.
Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
Monday, November 20, 2006
British 'reserve' costing lives - BBC News article
According to a study by the British Heart Foundation, lives are being lost because, rather than call 999 upon experiencing chest pain, we 'reserved' Brits prefer to 'wait and see what happens'. You can read the full story by clicking on the following link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6153402.stm.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
How to make more friends
We all need all the friends we can get - especially when we are getting older. The more friends we have, the better we tend to feel about ourselves (and the less likely we will be to die and lie there for weeks before anyone finds us - morbid, I know, but I bet it's nothing you haven't thought about before, is it?). However, the simple truth is that you won't make new friends unless you put some effort into it. You know what I'm going to say don't you? That's right - join a club, take a course, attend social activities in your neighbourhood or at your local church or volunteer for a good cause. (I know you've been hearing this all your life, but that's because it's true, and you WILL meet new friends if you do any (or all) of the above and you make an effort to be an interesting (and interested) person. This is what Ernie J Zelinski has to say on the subject of making friends:
If you struggle because you never know what to say when introducing yourself to people you would like to get to know better, get some tips from the following article by relationship coach, Michael Myerscough. The information contained in the article will be applicable whether you want to get to know someone romantically or just as a friend: http://www.therelationshipgym.com/newsletters/post/20.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Determine if you're at risk for Osteoporosis by Dr Elizabeth Shane
Detecting and treating Osteoporosis can lead to a more active life. Dr. Elizabeth Shane of New York Presbyterian Medical Center, offers her advice in this MSNBC article, which includes a list of characteristics to determine if you are at risk for developing Osteoporosis and tips on maintaining good bone health: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15624843/.
Monday, November 13, 2006
A good night's sleep by Michael Neill
Charlotte Bronte
If sleep researchers are to be believed, the vast majority of us are sleep deprived - that is, we are functioning below our full capabilities because our bodies aren't getting enough sleep. Current estimates suggest that it takes as much as 9 to 10 hours of sleep each day to fully regenerate and renew our body, mind, and spirit.While I'm sure a few of you will be cheered by this news, and happily share it with all those misguided fools who thought you were just being lazy :-), for many of us, the thought of "losing" even more of our precious time to sleep each day can be daunting.
In fact, we tend to sleep least when we need it most, working round the clock to manage a crisis, run a company (or country!), or even just to make ends meet.
As someone who has spent years resisting sleep as an annoying interruption to my otherwise productive life, here are some of my favorite bits of research on why sleep is a good thing, especially when times are hard...
1. More Sleep = More Productivity
One of the common arguments for voluntary sleep deprivation is the need to find more hours in the day - i.e. "the less I sleep, the more I get done". But a study at the University of Michigan found that when people increased their average nightly sleep cycle by only one hour, their ability to focus the next day increased by 25% - in other words, one extra hour of sleep brought the equivalent of an extra 4 hours of productive time the next day.
2. More Sleep = More Safety
Recent Canadian research into sleep deprivation showed that every Spring, on the day nearly everyone loses an hour of sleep due to daylight savings time, there is a 7% increase in traffic accidents over the daily average. Perhaps unsurprisingly, every Fall, when the clocks "fall back" and people gain an hour of sleep, traffic accidents drop by 7% below the daily average. This is believed to be due to a measurable increase in "reaction time" in sleep deprived drivers, somewhat akin to that experienced by drunk drivers.
3. More Sleep = More Health
Here's a short list of health problems known to be related to sleep deprivation:
*Higher risk of infection
*Abnormalities of bowel habit
*Higher risk of diabetes
and most commonly,
*Depression
4. "Power Naps" really are powerful
The good news is that sleep deprivation doesn't have to be cured all at once - a rule of thumb is that you can "make up" lost sleep at a ratio of nearly 1:3 - i.e. you only need an extra 20 minutes of sleep the next day to make up for a lost hour in the night.
The secret to a good power nap is all in the timing. Researchers suggest you make sure your naps are either less than 20 minutes or more than an hour. This will prevent you from waking up "sleep drunk" - that uncomfortable, groggy feeling which many people associate with a mid-day snooze.
5. Resting before you sleep makes your sleep more restful
Strange as it may seem, research has shown that five to fifteen minutes of relaxation before bedtime, be it through a hot bath, deep breathing, gentle stretching, guided imagery, or any other form of meditation, leads to a more productive and rewarding sleep cycle.
And for you contrarians out there...
6. Early to bed and early to rise doesn't actually make any difference
A study in Great Britain tested the efficacy of Benjamin Franklin's famous advice on how to become healthy, wealthy and wise. They compared a test group of "Larks" (people who went to bed before 11pm and got up before 8am) and "Owls" (people who went to bed later and got up late) to see if there were any measurable differences in health, wealth, or wisdom (measured by a standardized IQ test).
The results? Sorry, Ben - the only statistically significant difference was a slightly higher median wealth score amongst the "Owls".
---------------------Today's Experiment:---------------------
1. Take a short "power nap" during the day today. Remember, you'll get the optimal benefits by setting your alarm for 20 minutes or less. (Both Salvador Dali and Thomas Edison were rumored to nap by sitting in a chair with a fork balanced in their hand. When they fell asleep, the fork would fall, waking them almost immediately!)
2. Create a bedtime ritual for yourself by doing this "relief breathing" exercise adapted from an original design by intelligence researcher Win Wenger:
1. Think of a difficult situation from today - something you struggled with at the time or are still struggling with now.
2. Imagine you are wearing a hot, heavy, clammy suit of armor. Feel it begin to weigh your shoulders down, compressing and constricting your body.
3. Now, imagine removing the armor and enjoy breathing in a huge sigh of relief.
4. For the next minute or so, breathe each breath as if it is your first breath free of the burdensome weight of the armor.
5. Check back in with your situation. Chances are, it no longer feels like such a burden. You may even find yourself with new insights and a renewed sense of energy and vigor.
6. Repeat with any other stresses or struggles from the day.
Have fun, learn heaps, and...well, I'd come up with something clever but I've got to get some sleep! :-)
Michael
For more information about Michael Neill, please visit: http://www.geniuscatalyst.com.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Stem cell jabs for heart patients - BBC News article
There appears to be a bit of a health theme going on on the blog this week... but I make no apologies - one of my main aims as a retirement coach and trainer is to help you to have the healthiest retirement you could possibly have!
Doctors at Bart's Hospital in London are launching a trial to discover if injections of a patient's own stem cells, given within five hours of a heart attack, can be used to repair the damaged heart muscle and prevent subsequent heart failure. Read the full article here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6121868.stm.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Logo shows 'approved' drug sites - BBC News article
According to an article on the BBC News website, patients who buy medicines over the Internet will shortly be able to look out for a Royal Pharmaceutical Society logo which will assure them that the site they are buying from sells genuine, safe medicines, rather than counterfeits. Read the full article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6120138.stm.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Hunger Management: 19 ways to fight food cravings and win the war on flab by Ted Spiker
I found a thought-provoking article about weight management on the excellent AARP website. Read it for yourself at: http://www.aarpmagazine.org/food/Articles/19_ways_to_fight_food_cravings_and_win_the_war_on.html
Monday, November 06, 2006
Speaking a foreign language by Sue Johns
Many people express the desire to learn a foreign language once they retire. If this sounds like you, here are some tips from Sue Johns of the Kingsway English Centre that might help you out:
Speaking a Foreign Language is about Successful Communication
Grammar is the most important factor to consider when speaking a foreign language. Get the grammar right and everything else falls into place. Wrong!
This comes as a surprise to anyone who studied a foreign language at school in the 20th Century. Lessons in those days involved conjuring with conjugations, getting tense about tenses and endlessly trying to get your endings to agree. You were lucky if you actually heard the language being spoken and exceptional if your teacher was a native-speaker.
No wonder that your 'O' level French didn't allow you to feel relaxed in a French restaurant - you were more bothered about whether you'd got the correct past participle than whether you had ordered an endangered species for your main course.
If this was your language learning experience then you probably think that, if you couldn't master a language in your youth, you won't be able to in the full-bloom of maturity. Wrong!
Best practice in language teaching these days emphasises successful communication. Successful is different from perfect or accurate. It means you understand the gist of what someone is trying to tell you or that they understand what you are trying to tell them. So what if you use the imperfect tense imperfectly? Maybe that is why it was so named!
Grammar is important but, in the early stages of learning a language, there are more important things to grapple with, especially if you want to communicate verbally. Firstly you need vocabulary and secondly you need to know the basic rules of pronunciation.
Recently one of my English language students produced the following grammatically perfect sentence: " I couldn't find the bus-stop" . However her pronunciation of 'could' was 'cold' and 'bus' became 'booze' so it sounded like she wanted some cold booze. I'm tuned in to learner errors so I didn't offer to share my G& T with her, but what if she had approached a stranger in the street? Would she have been directed to an off-licence and then left wondering how that was going to get her home?
Unfortunately many teachers (and many learners) believe that the ability to master the full range of tense forms is the key to communicating in a foreign language. Wrong! Some years ago I was on a French course in France and one of the participants was desperate to perfect his use of the subjunctive. The teacher was happy to show off her knowledge when really she should have picked him up by the lapels and said (in French of course), " Look matey. The subjunctive is the least of your problems. Your pronunciation is incomprehensible, you lack elementary vocabulary and you probably don't understand what I'm saying now!"
So if you want to be able to get by in a foreign language I have a few pieces of advice:
1) Listen to as much of the target language as possible. This could be in the form of tapes, CDs, videos, TV/radio programmes or native speakers speaking to each other. Listen without worrying about understanding. Listen for the stress and rhythm of the language. Let the language wash over you and get a feel for it.
2) Learn the vocabulary appropriate to the situations you are likely to be in. Find a text book with accompanying cassette/CD so that you learn the words and the correct pronunciation at the same time.
3) Learn words and their natural partners at the same time. For example the nouns 'salt' and 'pepper' are often found together as are the verbs ' stop' and 'go' or the adjectives 'black' and 'white'.
4) Learn common phrases or sentence beginnings eg " Could you tell me the way to..." or " I'd like to rent a car" . This will be quicker and more accurate than trying to construct something yourself.
5) Before signing up with a teacher or school, ask them about their approach to teaching elementary level students who need the language for living/holidaying in a foreign country. Use some of the points above to find out if they worship at the altar of grammar. If they do, is that what you want?
Then it is just a question of letting go of your inhibitions! Your confidence will build each time you have a successful exchange in the target language. Go for it!
Sue Johns is a Partner at Kingsway English Centre in Worcester. Kingsway specialises in short, intensive courses for adults who need to communicate in English.
See http://www.kingsway-english.com/
This article was featured in the Village Vita newsletter for November 2006. For more information about Village Vita, click on the following link: http://villagevita.com.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Are you a gofer or a glam?
Are you a GOFER (Genial Old Fart Enjoying Retirement) or a GLAM (Greying, Leisured, Affluent, Married)?
Do you have KIPPERS ((Kids In Parents' Pockets Eroding Retirement Savings) or CRAFT moments, where you go into a room to do something and come back out without doing it, saying that you 'Can't Remember A F****** Thing!)? Or do you SKI (Spend Kids Inheritance)?
If you come across any more acronyms like this that you feel our readers would enjoy, you will let us know won't you?
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Hope for Alzheimer's blood test - BBC News article
UK scientists are developing a blood test which may be able to pick up signs of Alzheimer's disease before people start to show symptoms.
The team from the Institute of Psychiatry found levels of two types of protein in the blood were only present if people had the condition.
The study was published in the scientific journal Brain.
Alzheimer's researchers said being able to diagnose the condition would mean treatments could be given much earlier.
It is currently difficult to diagnose dementia, which affects around 750,000 people in the UK.
Researchers compared protein levels in the blood of 500 Alzheimer's sufferers and compared them with healthy older people.
They used a process called proteomics - the study of proteins - and found that those with Alzheimer's had greater levels of certain proteins in their blood than healthy people.
Professor Simon Lovestone, from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, who led the study, said: "This is definitely good news.
"We found some evidence that there are protein differences in the blood of people with Alzheimer's. "This raises the prospect of a blood test for Alzheimer's disease."
Professor Lovestone said further research was needed to confirm their findings.
Early treatment hope
Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "We are delighted to be funding what could be a breakthrough study in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's."
Professor Clive Ballard, director of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said: "As new treatments that target the early stages of Alzheimer's disease are developed, it is very important that we find a way of diagnosing this disease as early as possible.
"Although there have been promising developments in spinal fluid analysis and specialised brain scanning, there is currently no simple way of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease until clinical symptoms emerge.
"A blood test could help people receive treatments before symptoms develop, allowing doctors to give patients treatment that can help stabilise a person¿s condition much earlier."
He added: "Research is still in the early stages and more funding is now needed to ensure that this important research can be done as quickly as possible."
To read the article (and its related links) on the BBC website, use the following: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6098826.stm.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Free courses from the Open University
The well-respected, UK-based Open University has set up OpenLearn, a new site which will allow anyone to access, download and use some of the OU's educational resources for free. All the online learning material is taken from Open University courses and uses videoconferencing and instant messaging technology to get students interacting and learning.
If you are, or are about to become, a carer, you might want to take a look at the
'Care' courses in the Health and Lifestyle section, otherwise the link you need to access the site is: http://openlearn.open.ac.uk.
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