Healthy, Wealthy and Wise! Energy, Nest Eggs and Ego!
We have officially kicked off summer this month–and it’s no big secret that it’s a busy, active time of year, but we can still do things that will help us be “Healthy, Wealthy and Wise”!
There’s nothing quite like the happy exhilaration and the delirious exhaustion of working hard at summer play…I guess that’s what makes it so much fun!
“Summertime passes by quickly, so you better hurry up and enjoy it!?!” CagleCartoons
Each summer brings its own unique brand of fun–but I think we can all agree that it takes a certain amount of high-octane energy to really enjoy it!! As I get a little older, using my energy wisely has become part of my summer game plan, and as a nurse I’m always looking for smart ways to help me keep pace with busy hospital schedules so I can give good patient care, while still maintaining my own health and well-being!! Recently in a “Simple Living” magazine article, I came across some great ideas on finding ways to get an extra energy boots when needed.
The key to having a good energy level is ramping up your metabolism, and with these few practical reminders, it’s much easier to adjust than I would have ever imagined!
♦ Drink plenty of water. Water is the purest way of removing toxins from your body to help revitalize it!! (At the very least, I’ve had to make it a habit to drink a big glass of water before each meal.)
♦ Reduce meal sizes and incorporate a few healthy snacks into your daily diet. Eating this way can help you maintain energy by eating more frequently and avoiding the sluggish feeling you get from heavy meals; include higher protein snacks with less sugar and carbohydrates. When I eat a boiled egg or natural peanut butter on some whole grain crackers instead of sugary snacks, I notice a huge difference in my energy level. It takes some planning when you go to the grocery store, but it is worth it when you feel so much better! (More healthy snack ideas coming soon.)
♦ Exercise in short bursts throughout the day. There’s no doubt that strenuous exercise burns a lot of calories, but when you break your exercise into smaller, more frequent periods of activity, your metabolism will also increase without causing a spike in your appetite. Shorter exercise sessions can help build and maintain lean muscle mass easier and save wear and tear on joints! (I’ve tried doing a couple of 20-30 minute exercise sessions each day and have found I feel more energized afterward–they’re a nice change from my usual routine.)
♦ Get the sleep your body and mind need. It’s definitely easier said than done, but the average person should aim for 7 hours of sleep at night, and try to maintain a consistent sleep schedule, even on the weekends.
“It’s a happy talent to know how to play well!” Ralph Waldo Emerson
June seems to be a popular month for people to retire…after all, why not get your summer underway knowing that it is the beginning of your extended leisure living time! (My parents used to say, however, that they were never so busy than when my dad retired.)
A good friend of mine just retired at the age of 70 as the head of the blood bank department at the hospital where I work–he was a hard worker and did his job well; I once teased him that he kept working because he wouldn’t know what to do with himself if he retired, but he told me that it had simply been poor retirement planning on his part that kept him on the job longer than expected.
As I’ve mentioned before, my husband is a financial consultant and he will often review a few questions with his clients based on a Kiplinger Personal Finance Quiz when they are considering the best plans for their retirement “nest egg”!
Here’s a few of the questions to consider:
$$ Considering the many financial variables, what percentage of your gross income, including employer contributions, should you strive to save for a comfortable retirement?
$$ If you postpone claiming your social security benefits beyond the regular retirement age, how much will future benefits be increased for each year you delay until age 70?
$$ Should you wait until your retirement to shift your investments to a more conservative allocation?
$$ Recent cutbacks in employer-provided health care benefits means many who retire will be paying more for their medical care out of their retirement savings. To cover out-of-pocket medical costs during a 20 year retirement, not including long-term care, how much would a 65-year-old couple need to have?
Get answers to the above questions and take the full “Are You Saving Enough For Retirement” Quiz by clicking here.
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started!” Mark Twain
If you turn your television on to any news station now days, it’s more than likely you’ll find yourself besieged with commentaries on a myriad of political viewpoints as yet another presidential race season gets underway!
Recently, I discussed with my husband that considering the less than amicable environment of the current political arena, it was pretty amazing to me that anyone would want to run for office…he just chuckled and responded in a rather matter-of-fact way, but what he said gives you real food for thought, irregardless of your party affiliation:
“Try to consider the person’s true character the best you can, along with their confidence vs. ego quotient as they present a viable plan for following through on what they’ve committed to do.”
That my friends, is sensible politics 101…and seemingly applies to all aspects of life! I suppose any major accomplishment in life takes a bit of fearless confidence and humble ego. Dr. Ben Carson, former head of pediatric neurosurgery at John Hopkins Medical Center and author of the book, “Gifted Hands” wisely stated:
“I actually don’t think I’m that much smarter than anybody else, I’m just willing to study hard and do the work required to solve a problem, and therein lies wisdom!”
“Truly knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom!” Aristotle
I would love to know what advice you’d give to help others have a healthier, wealthier or wiser summer.
–Mary