Seasonal Affective Disorder.  The truth and fact of our response to low light times of the day are things that many of us experience with negative effects.

Getting outside all day on every day isn’t necessary.  Indoor activities that include other people and a little brain stimulation such as board games, card games or puzzles are inexpensive but therapeutic activity.  If you have a lot of solitude, these activities are valuable as ways to entertain yourself.

Activities to Overcome SAD feelings

I have been using some great software from Serif.com  This company has web hosting too, but I haven’t tried it.  I’ve tried several of the software programs and use the terrific images in the collections.

While other are out chasing themselves crazy for shopping deals, you can score some good software at Serif.  The software is fairly intuitive and makes sense, but I’ve found the guidebooks to be extremely helpful as well.

Image from the Serif image collections

Image from the Serif image collections

The internet is a ‘bonded’ companion for most of us as we have been using the Internet at home or with work for several years. As Boomers move into retirement from ‘the job’, we’re often moving into more activity.

We are entrepreneurial and start new businesses using the Internet as a tool or a marketing vehicle. We are looking for ‘fun’ ways to use our skills – we even have a good time with Angry Birds and other games.

Social media is a great place to renew contacts from long ago with either school friends or family. Facebook seems to be one place that people do a lot of the renewal activity. Plus, our grand children are there too so we can stay in touch with them.

Shopping online is not a new wrinkle for us because it looks a lot like the mail-order catalog shopping we did as children. I still use catalogs a great deal. I must not be alone as too many companies publish catalogs that cannot apply to just one customer.

I like being able to handle business online because of my virtual career. I can work wherever I am able to boot up my computer and get an internet connection.

Brighton Enterprises, a Facebook connection place begun by the Varadys is a shining example of the potential for people who are young at heart, still working or retired to gather. Some of us can share information about the mysteries of computers and the Internet with others. We can shop with people we ‘know’ and learn from one another. The foundation of the Facebook page is the online store at Brighton Enterprises Online

Studies show that people who are not remotely Internet savvy (usually some of us) lose touch and interest in life much faster. Let’s take our skills from work and make them handy tools to keep ourselves vital. Let’s encourage others who are not familiar with how it all works. We know this isn’t rocket science. And we know, as do our grandchildren, that ‘Use it or Lose it” has incredible application. So, someone didn’t use a certain aspect and forgot how it works. We’ve all been there and can help take up the slack. This is one forgetting that doesn’t reflect ignorance or inability. There are just a lot of little details to keep track of.

Check out Brighton Enterprises next time you are on Facebook and become part of the group.

The links in this post are NOT affiliate links.

Nature will put some aroma therapy opportunities in front of us with the blooming flowers of summer.  Roses, peonies, honeysuckle and others are offering to carry you away for a break from your busy schedule.

There is always more to do when the days are longer and things to be done outside.  Yard projects, picnics, vacations — all wonderful, but all can add to the stress package you already carry.

When you want something different from the flowers in the neighborhood (some of which kick off allergies), you can add some aroma therapy tools to your plan.  Do you know how the scents from the flowers or your favorite scents can provide you with a spiritual get-away?  You can find some suggestions for scents and ways to enjoy them in a neat book entitled Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit.   You can find more aromatherapy ‘gear’ and information at NewBeautySuccess.com Beauty Shop

I would like to hear from you about ways you use aromatherapy in your beauty plan.

Sheboomers has beauty, health, financial and career information for Boomers.

Each of these topics has valid attraction for boomers who are planning their best years.  There are some who say that 60 is the new 40 — beautiful boomers want to be healthy boomers because we know both are closely related.

Finances can be a real issue as jobs either disappear or change.  Fortunately, many boomers have had jobs that kept their technical skills very high.  Boomers who have been layed off or who have seen career changes coming are beginning to exercise their entrepreneurial tendencies and start their own businesses.

Employers are beginning to realize the value of the trained employee who has been faithful over the years.  No longer are people approaching the magic age of 60 plus pressured and encouraged to retire.  Savvy business realizes that these people would be difficult to replace.

As beauty and health are closely connected, careers and finances are interdependent.  Careers can continue to grow for the assertive — they can become a new business or a valuable employee for as long as the boomer can make valuable contribution.  The competition with the younger employee has changed.

Even the presence of websites such as NewBeautySuccess.com and Sheboomers tells you that there is a need for information and community among the boomer population.

Baby boomer women, we have so much to contribute in terms of knowledge, experience and applicable skills that we are really just beginning.

One of the commercials on TV aimed at us is for a pain reliever.   Besides touting their ability to put us into a painless state of being, they encourage movement to avoid some of the pain and accumulated problems.

As we age, exercise becomes more than a body building concept.  Without exercise, nature will begin to cut down on the efficiency of our bodies

• Amounts of oxygen we take in will reduce
• Fluids can accumulate
• Joints almost ‘set up like concrete’.

There are some considerations about exercise, especially if you’ve not been an exercise person or if you have health issues, both known and unknown.  Consult your physician before beginning a vigorous exercise program.   And, enjoy these excerpts from my Baby Boomer e-book,  This is For YOU!

Everyone hates the word exercise, but it is a vitally important component to health and well being. With so many people striving for improved health, there are gyms opening up everywhere. On top of this, you’ll find countless opportunities to do simple exercise at home.

But, when we are talking about the health and wellness of the Baby Boomer, there is much more to it than just a gym membership. In fact, it is essential that you install a plan of overall exercise that incorporates several key types of exercise and movement.

But, we Baby Boomer Beauties weren’t born yesterday! We know there are things that we can do which are pleasant exercises, not necessarily military style calisthenics.

Why Does Exercise Matter?

Since we were children, we were encouraged to get outside and play. Today, the children that aren’t doing this are unhealthy and overweight. Many have problems with learning and attention deficit problems. Much of this can be blamed on the fact that they don’t get out there and play. So, how does that apply to the Baby Boomers? We can set examples for our children and grandchildren. We can just stay healthier and lower risk of being a burden on our families.

As a Baby Boomer, it’s important for you to realize that exercise can do many things for your health and well being. Number ONE — exercise, when done correctly, will actually help you to look and feel younger. Studies show that even moderate exercise; walking and mild weight training or mild aerobics help balance and mobility. (Remember that darned arthritis?)

Exercise could be considered the anti-aging tool of the century because it can be that powerful when done correctly and faithfully.

Have you ever been the type of person who exercised regularly? Then you know that exercising does make you feel good. It makes you healthier too.

• You are stronger and therefore can accomplish more for longer periods of time.
• Your muscles are lean and fit, which means that they are less prone to injury or pain.
• Your body is working at optimal levels which help to keep the immune system working well.
• Your heart is working hard and therefore becoming stronger with each workout that you do.
• You are likely the right weight which means that you have less chance of heart attacks.

There are many ways that exercising makes a difference in the body and the Baby Boomer can not ignore these facts if he or she is going to improve their overall health and well being.

Now, what do you need to do to gain the benefits that exercise can offer to you?

There are actually three key parts of the exercise regimen that you want to install into your life as part of your regular program. This is not a program that should be done only for a certain time period but over the course of your lifetime as long as your doctor approves of it.

By incorporating these key elements into your lifestyle, you will actually be building a healthier body that will live a longer and healthier life.

The three things that you must take into consideration include these:

1. Your Heart: You need cardiovascular training that is centered on improving your heart’s function.
2. Your Muscles: Strength training is necessary for you. You need to improve the function of your muscles.
3. Your Joints: Flexibility training increases the range of motion and discourages the onset of conditions such as arthritis.

If you don’t believe that it’s important to take into consideration any of these elements, consider these very frightening facts:

When you turn 60, you can look forward to having lost at least half of the strength you used to have. You also won’t be able to count on not breaking a bone if you fall because your bones are much weaker. In addition, your lungs can’t pump out nearly the amount of air as they used to.

But, if you take the time to install an exercise regimen like the one we are encouraging you can completely wipe away these risks and improve your health and well being considerably.

Excerpt from “This is For YOU!”