Unretirement Project

Retirement Redefined

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Archives for Health and Aging

Examining the New Normal After COVID-19

June 17, 2020 by Keith Lauby 2 Comments

this is your moment sign in Atlanta implying the new normal

You have probably been reading and hearing the term “new normal” a lot lately. Wikipedia indicates that “new normal” became popular as a business term to describe the financial conditions following the 2007-2008 financial crisis. Today, the term is frequently used to describe the period following the COVID-19 pandemic – specifically, as we emerge from shelter-in-place restrictions. It references the social and economic changes that will impact most of us moving forward.

But what can we expect from this “new normal”?

Clean is the new green – we’ve learned since childhood that cleanliness prevents illness and that message was abundantly clear as COVID-19 spread across the globe. Experts agree that simple precautions such as sneezing and coughing into your elbow, frequent hand washing, and cleaning frequently used surfaces will continue as areas of focus. Consumers may even be even more critical of business cleanliness when they decide which restaurant or hotel to use. Some like immunologist and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci think this may even be the end of the handshake.

Age in place, but with a little more space – it’s possible that retirees who had been considering downsizing to age in place may be rethinking that strategy in the new normal. Smaller condominiums or apartments which offered a little cost savings may be viewed as undesirable due to density of population in those structures. That also extends to the location, as less populated rural settings are being viewed as more attractive over urban or even suburban settings.

“Economic Darwinism” for some but a rebirth for others – Economic Darwinism is the concept that there will be an economic elimination of antiquated industries. For example, while many have been holding onto their paper magazine or newspaper subscription, that option may be a little closer to extinction. Though digital media also has expense limitations, it is far more cost effective in the new normal. Another casualty may be the buffet restaurant as diners steer clear of exposure to multiple hands. And though the neighborhood multiplex theater may be closed, many areas are seeing new interest in drive-in movies which provide built-in social distancing.

Staying home or the new travel – as sheltering restrictions are lifted, we have the opportunity to venture out. But will we? And, if we do, what will that look like? Cruise lines are still grounded, and most expect to stay that way until late July or August. Rental shares like Airbnb are being overlooked in favor of hotels with more rigorous cleaning protocols. Given all that, many are simply choosing to stay home. In fact, home goods stores are reporting significant growth as homeowners try to fix their place up.

One thing we know for sure right now is that things are changing. And they may change again with the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19 cases in the fall and winter. Fortunately, medical professional are working on treatments and vaccines, but that could take months or even years.

If you are a planner like us, you probably already know that we’re not going back to the way things were. And you might feel a little frustrated by the speed of change as we begin our entrance into the post COVID-19 era. But we can focus on our lessons learned to protect ourselves and our loved ones. It’s a bold New Normal, but we’re up to the task!

Filed Under: Health and Aging, Home and Lifestyle, Wellbeing Tagged With: health, home, well-being

Forget Boomers and Get Ready For the Young Old

June 10, 2020 by Sharlyn Lauby 1 Comment

Anthony Bourdain quote I don't have to agree with you like the young old or YOLD

I ran across an article in The Economist titled “The Decade of the ‘Young Old’ Begins”. It’s an interesting read worth checking out. “Young Old” – also known as YOLD – is the group of individuals between 65 and 75 years of age. The reason that the group is being called “young old” is because, while their age is in the traditional retirement range, their lifestyles aren’t. 

YOLD individuals are working longer, staying healthier, and represent a significant consumer market. This should not be a surprise to anyone. Regardless of the unemployment rate, organizations need the best talent and YOLD individuals are willing to work a few more years because they want to, and they can save up a few extra dollars. 

There’s research that says remaining in the working world is helping people stay healthier longer. The article cites a study that shows a positive relationship between cognitive abilities and working, which makes sense. And finally, because YOLD people are staying in the workforce longer, they can afford to do some of those things on their bucket list (i.e. spending money on travel).

While this all seems logical, organizations are behind the times when it comes to recognizing YOLD individuals and their value. Here are three areas of focus that businesses should consider:

  1. Ageism. I wish I could wave a magic wand and erase ageism, but I haven’t figured that one out yet. Ageism exists and organizations need to figure out how to create more inclusive workplaces. Not just because it’s the right thing to do. Selfishly, they need the talent and YOLD workers are one of the groups that can bring it. It’s time for companies to realize that inclusionary workforces bring positive results. 
  1. Health Care. Speaking of working longer, if organizations want to enjoy high performance from their employees, then it pays to keep employees healthy – regardless of age. Now, I will admit that some of the responsibility for health falls to the individual – eating right, exercising, and preventative care. But organizations are in a position to make health care affordable. 
  1. Retirement. This is one of the reasons that Keith and I started this blog. Thanks to YOLD, retirement is changing. Yes, at some point, we all will want to stop working and retire. But people want a modern retirement. Since Social Security and Medicare have been enacted, there have been numerous technological and societal changes. Retirement programs need to be updated to reflect the way we live our lives today. 

I understand that YOLD is simply a euphuism. It’s something new and catchy, especially in the wake of “Ok, Boomer.” But YOLD does raise some good points about aging and work, health, and retirement. Not only do businesses need to pay attention but so do individuals. Are you supporting legislators who agree with your YOLD philosophy? Do you support businesses that respect YOLD individuals? And if you’re thinking that you’re so far away from retirement that this doesn’t matter, think again. How does this impact older friends and loved ones?

The time to think about how you want to spend your YOLD years is now. Because you want to spend them your way. 

Filed Under: Careers, Health and Aging, Retirement Planning Tagged With: aging, encore career, retirement planning

Loved Ones Must Know Your Health Care Wishes

June 4, 2020 by Sharlyn Lauby 2 Comments

wall art heart showing for health care let all you do be done in love

I’m sure that no one wants to read today’s article, but I’m hoping you will. 

This is not an “older person” article. It’s also not a “pandemic” article. It’s also not about having a will – although that’s a good idea. It’s not meant to cause alarm or panic. But if there was ever a time to say to ourselves, “If I got sick, do my family and friends know my health care wishes?” now would be that time. 

I’m saying this a bit tongue in cheek, but when Buzzfeed…you know, Buzzfeed as the source for all of those cutesy quizzes that fill our Facebook page…when Buzzfeed publishes an article titled “The Four Legal Documents that Everyone Needs to Plan for Their Future”, then pay attention. I don’t want to give the whole article away, but here are three of the documents they mention:

A living will is a written statement detailing how you would like your medical and health care treatment to be handled in the event that you’re unable to express it yourself. 

A healthcare proxy is a document that says who can make healthcare decisions on your behalf, when you’re not able to do so. 

A power of attorney is a written authorization for someone to represent you or act on your behalf when it comes to business or financial affairs. 

As you can see, these documents are very inter-related. It might take some time to figure out how you would like your health care treatment handled and who you would like to be your spokesperson. You also have to figure out if the person making the decisions about your medical treatments should be your power of attorney. And then of course, there’s the decision of backups in case your first choice isn’t willing or able to take on this responsibility. 

The point being, the process of putting these documents in place takes time. It’s also recommended to have an attorney create these documents for you, so you have to budget for that. The ideal time to do all of this is when you’re not under the pressure of having to do it. This requires careful consideration.

I’ve probably mentioned this before, but my father-in-law was the ultimate planner when it came to his health care and final wishes. He talked to us for years about it. When his health started to decline, we all knew his wishes and there were no questions. There were no squabbles amongst family members about decisions. Everyone was focused on the same things. 

As a result of COVID-19, I have a few friends who have already begun conversations with their children about their medical wishes should they become ill. I realize that no one wants to do this. But it can be a big relief to everyone to have these health care conversations and draw up these documents so there’s no confusion about what to do and who will be in charge of decision making. 

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of Gainesville, FL

Filed Under: Health and Aging, Law and Legal, Wellbeing Tagged With: aging, health, law and legal, well-being

The Pros and Cons of Being a One Car Household

May 6, 2020 by Sharlyn Lauby 7 Comments

one car or many cars on the road in an urban setting

One of the things to consider in retirement is transportation as in, “How much do you want to drive?” The answer might prompt you to take some action like moving from the suburbs to a more walkable community. Or maybe downsize vehicles to something smaller and/or more fuel efficient. Or you might do what we did and simply become a one-car household. 

I must admit that Keith and I didn’t reach this decision quickly. We were very concerned because we had always been a two-car household. But once we were both working from home, we realized that we were really only using one car. In fact, we had to jump the battery our second car twice because we simply weren’t using it. That’s when we realized that we needed to make a decision about cars.

We’ve been a one-car household for about eight years now. Honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way. Here are a few of the advantages and disadvantages we’ve encountered.

Pros –

Cost. This is an obvious one. Depending on how you buy cars, having one car payment is nice. Having zero car payments is even nicer once you pay it off. There’s also not having auto insurance for two cars, maintenance for two cars, and putting gas into two cars. 

Space. What I mean here is space in the garage, carport, or parking spaces outside your residence. It’s very nice having the extra space. And depending on your taste in automobiles, trying to get two vehicles side-by-side in a garage can be challenging. 

Upgrade. Downgrading to one car could mean an upgrade in the type of car you own. Or the same type of car, but you splurge on a few features that you might not normally get. Another option is to save those dollars for something else. 

Cons –

Coordination. One vehicle does mean having to occasionally coordinate schedules when it comes to doctor’s appointments, meetings, etc. It’s not a huge deal for us because we simply make notes on our Outlook calendars so the other person knows they can’t have the car. The rest of the time, it’s first come first serve.

Rentals. That being said about coordination, we’ve run into a couple situations where we both absolutely needed wheels. And we rented a car. The cost of a rental is significantly less than buying and maintaining a second car. I’d say we rent a car 1-2 times a year (max).  

Personalization. Keith and I are fortunate that we’re roughly the same height, so our car seat and mirror settings are the same. But I could see where this might be an issue for others. Every time you get in the car, having to adjust seats and mirrors can be a PITA.

As we age, transportation is something we need to think about. It can be helpful to have these conversations early so no one is caught off guard. If you’ve been used to driving your own car and having that type of freedom, being able to control your future transportation needs will be important.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of New Delhi, India

Filed Under: Health and Aging, Home and Lifestyle, Travel Tagged With: home, retirement life

What We Are UP To: Quarantine Life Edition – #Unretirement Project

April 15, 2020 by Sharlyn Lauby Leave a Comment

wild wall art during quarantine life

Like many of you, Keith and I are still sheltering in place this month. But we’re making the best of our quarantine life. I know, it’s not really a quarantine. Here are a few of the things we’ve been doing during this wild time. 

Watching | Zombieland 1 & 2

> I’m sure this movie choice sounds a bit offbeat given what’s going on, but they are really fun movies. Neither of us are into scary or gory films. Don’t want to give away the storyline, but I will say that I loved the list of rules for surviving the zombie apocalypse. Especially number 32. You can look it up. 

Reading | AARP Memory Activity Book

> I bought this book a while ago because I wanted to see what types of activities were being encouraged to stimulate our brains. I believe brain health is important, so I was curious. The book contains dozens of individual activities that a person could do on their own (like creating a song playlist) or with others (playing a team sport). Even if you’re not dealing with memory loss, there are some fun things in the book to occupy your time. 

Remembering |Great Recession

> No, I’m not looking back on the Great Recession with fond memories. But with all of the talk about recession these days, we are looking back at what happened to see if there are some lessons that we need to remember or ideas we should incorporate into our lifestyle sooner versus later. Better to plan ahead.

Working On | Hanging Pictures

> Living the quarantine life is giving us the time to do a few small projects around the house like hanging pictures. We did a few right after moving in to make the house feel more homey but it’s time to finish the project. When you’re spending more time than usual inside, it is nice to have beautiful things on the walls. 

Feeling | A bit of FOMO

> FOMO is an acronym for “fear of missing out”. It’s often associated with the anxiety of not doing something such as going to the hip new restaurant or buying the latest trendy item. In our quarantine life, I think it’s attached to making the latest culinary trend like Dalonga Coffee, a South Korean drink made from instant coffee and sugar served over milk. It was tasty and a fun distraction to make. 

Planning | With Blueberries

> One of the benefits to living in North Florida is the number of blueberry farms in the area. And we love blueberries! The season just started, and we were able to get a summer’s worth of blueberries. Good thing they freeze well. LOL! That being said, I’m on the hunt for really good blueberry recipes. Quarantine life is the perfect time to try then out. 

Loving | Pigs in a Duvet Cover

> When we lived in Cincinnati, one of our favorite places was Skyline Chili. We were very fortunate when we moved to Fort Lauderdale that they had not one but two Skyline Chili franchises. Well, now that we’re in Gainesville, we’re not as fortunate. Luckily, we can buy Skyline online. We saw this recipe for ‘pigs in a duvet cover’ and decided to try it with some mustard, Skyline chili, onions, and cheese. OMGosh, it’s a deconstructed cheese coney! Delish. 

Geeking | Fiasco

> A favorite podcast of mine is Slate’s Slow Burn. It’s a well-researched look at significant events in our history. The original host of the podcast, Leon Neyfakh, has recently gone out on his own and created another podcast documentary called Fiasco. I’m listening to season one about the contested 2000 election between Al Gore and George W. Bush. If you enjoy politics and the news, check it out. 

What’s UP with you? How are you passing the time in quarantine? 

Filed Under: Fun, Health and Aging, Home and Lifestyle, Money, Wellbeing Tagged With: home, well-being, wellness

Social Distancing: 5 New Things You Can Do

April 8, 2020 by Sharlyn Lauby 3 Comments

bar sign saying it's 5 o'clock somewhere for the purpose of social distancing

Depending on where you live, you’ve probably been practicing social distancing for at least a week or two. Maybe longer. It’s important for us to help flatten the curve and I’d like to believe that, by now, everyone knows that. 

But let’s be realistic. Social distancing is hard. Keith and I work from home, socialize very little, and even we think this is hard. We’re cutting back on the few things that we enjoyed going out and doing. So, I can only imagine what others who are used to much more active social lives are feeling right now. 

Like many, when we first heard about social distancing, it was an opportunity to dust off the to-do list and tackle some projects. We cooked at home. Started organizing the garage. Watched a few movies we’ve been looking forward to seeing. After that, a little bit of social distancing boredom sets in. We still need to stay at home but now we need some new activities to occupy our time and our mind. So, I’ve come up with a list of five things you might want to consider working on while you’re still at home.

  1. Take a MOOC (massive open online course). If you’re not familiar with MOOCs, these are free online courses taught by some of the best universities in the world. In the past, I’ve taken a course on the science of happiness from Yale. Keith and I just finished one from Harvard on meteorology. Think about a topic that you’ve been saying that you want to learn more about – like investing – and see if there’s a course available. BTW – there is an interesting financial markets course offered by Yale.
  1. Update your social media accounts. This is the perfect time to update your social media profiles, avatars, etc. Think of it as a social media audit. Be sure to also review the privacy settings for each platform as well. In addition, if you’ve been waiting for some free time to learn newer social media platforms like Instagram, this could also be a good time to slowly ease into it. That could lead to discovering even more activities such as Instagram’s “Photo A Day” – which is very fun.  
  1. Research the candidates running for office in 2020. Oh, and sign up for a mail ballot. For some, the last thing you might want to do right now is pay attention to the news but let me toss out another point of view. Now is when we get to see how political candidates handle the tough times. We get to see if they really act effectively and in our best interest. In addition, it will only take a few moments of your time, but find your supervisor of elections website and sign up for mail ballots. That way you know that you will be able to vote in the primaries and in the general election. 
  1. Attend a virtual event. Everything I’ve mentioned so far you can do on your own. If you’re missing human interaction, consider attending – or even hosting – a virtual event. You can sign up for a free account from Zoom and coordinate a virtual coffee meeting or happy hour. Netflix has a “party” feature where you can watch shows or movies with friends. Social distancing doesn’t mean we can’t see our friends, we’re just going to have to wait a little longer to be in the same room with them. 
  1. Stay healthy. Finally, don’t forget about your own health and wellbeing. I know that in many places, we can’t go to our hair stylist or a day spa. Keith and I have found it challenging to get fresh fruit and vegetables at the grocery store. Gyms, health clubs, and exercise studios are closed. But that doesn’t mean we’re not trying new foods and new ways to get activity. We just discovered an app called “The Walk” (available for Apple and Android devices) that coordinates activity with a story about saving the world just by walking. Oh, and you will ultimately be walking the length of the United Kingdom. 

My hope is that today’s post offers a bit of creative inspiration to keep your social distancing activities interesting. This is a tough time – even for a mega introvert like me. If you have some tips or resources for keeping things from getting too boring, share them in the comments. We’ve love to hear them.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby just off Duval Street in Key West, FL

Filed Under: Health and Aging, Technology, Wellbeing Tagged With: technology, wellness

Retirement Savings Boost Due to Relaxed Rules

April 1, 2020 by Keith Lauby 1 Comment

wall art help with retirement

We don’t write a lot about retirement finances – preferring to leave that to the experts. But there are some recent changes worth knowing about regardless of when you plan to retire. And it’s definitely something you should know if retirement is a relatively short time in your future.

Of course, I’m referring to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the Coronavirus Relief Bill as it’s commonly called. Just signed into law, this new measure is designed to stimulate the economy and offer economic aid to those negatively impacted by this global pandemic. 

The most visible benefit of the new bill is a direct, one-time payment to most adults. The actual amounts of each stimulus check depends on age and reported income so be sure to read up on the details. Best of all, the bill includes language that allows Americans receiving Social Security to obtain a stimulus payment as longs as they received a Social Security benefit statement (SSA-1099).

The aid package provides three provisions that can benefit your retirement financing.

  1. You can delay taking your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for most defined contribution plans when you reach the applicable age as indicated in the SECURE Act. This new law suspends those RMDs for all of 2020. It’s particularly good news since cashing out securities in a depressed market is not ideal. Of course, withdrawals are still allowed if you really need to make them.
  1. The bill allows you to borrow more against the money you have already saved in your contribution plans. Typically, you could borrow up to $50,000 or 50% of your vested account balance, whichever is less. This new measure will double that and allow you to borrow up to $100,000 against your existing savings.
  1. The Coronavirus Relief Bill allows struggling savers to take hardship distributions of up to $100,000 from retirement plans and individual retirement accounts in 2020 without the 10% early withdrawal penalty if you are under age 59 ½. Smart investors know that this early withdrawal is never ideal – but it is available if needed.

Planning your finances for retirement is not easy even in the best of times. As global economies struggle to deal with the outcome of this pandemic, many workers are rethinking their retirement plans. The hope, of course, is that recovery will be quick. These relief measures are expected to help those who need it the most.

Qualifications directly related to COVID-19 may apply so, before taking any actions, we recommend that you discuss them with your financial professional.

If you are looking for additional resources to help you during these difficult times, AARP has a few great articles including regular updates as significant events happen. Caregivers can find information on taking care of a sick relative or friend. Best of all, they include some great tips on how older adults can reduce their risk of illness. Stay safe out there!

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of Havana, Cuba

Filed Under: Health and Aging, Money, Retirement Planning Tagged With: money, retirement planning

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Next Page »

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Stay Updated!

Sign up to receive news, updates, and tips delivered right to your inbox!

Top Unretirement Articles

  • Thanks for Unretiring with Us!
  • two business people talking using their business acumen Business Acumen: 6 Ways to Improve Yours
  • life matters, graffiti, unretirement project, UP, Kate Spade, Anthony Bourdain, June What We Are UP To in June 2018
  • break the rules, stars, break rules, retirement, unretirement, journey Is It Possible to Flunk Retirement
  • wall art Lovin Life for caregivers Caregivers Get Help from Amazon Alexa Care Hub

Copyright © 2022 Unretirement Project · A division of ITM Group, Inc.

Copyright © 2022 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in