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What We Are UP To – Working From Home Edition

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Atlanta airport artwork clean hands and cover sneeze when not working from home

Given the COVID-19 news, many employers are asking employees to start working from home right now. I realize this could be a PITA, but it could also be an opportunity to test drive what working from home is like. If being a freelancer or consultant is part of your unretirement strategy, use this time – however long it may be – to see what you think about working from home.

Keith and I have been working from home for over a decade. We’ve learned a lot about how we like to work in the process. So, here’s what we’ve been up to this month along with a few tips about working from home. 

Reading | About Social Distancing

> Until recently, I had never heard the term “social distancing”. Now it seems to be all we’re reading about. And it’s one of the reasons that employees are being asked to work from home. I found this article on The Atlantic titled, “The Dos and Don’ts of Social Distancing” to be very interesting and helpful.

Feeling | The Need for Balance

> One of the biggest challenges of working from home is creating balance between your work life and your home life. It’s so much easier when you work in an office to leave the work behind. Find a way to shut the door – both literally and figuratively – to your work and enjoy being at home. 

Watching | Jumanji

> I’ve mentioned before that we seem to be gravitating toward funny movies lately. We rented Jumanji and Jumanji: The Next Level starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan. Very funny and a nice message about the importance of teamwork. 

Remembering | To Practice Self-Care

> I’ll admit it. Sometimes the news can be overwhelming. Especially when we’re working from home and can tune into it all day long. It’s important to take breaks, have a nutritious lunch, and practice self-care. And it’s okay to take 5 minutes to solve The New York Times Mini Crossword then go back to work. 

Loving | My Herman Miller Chair

> Another aspect of working from home that’s worth mentioning is your posture. I’m very fortunate to have a Herman Miller Embody chair. My back thanks me every day for it. When you’re working from home, find a place where you can be productive and kind to your body. Ergonomics matters.

Working On | Cleaning Everything

> One of the nice things about Gainesville, FL is all of the trees. Unfortunately, it also means we’re in the middle of pollen season. So in between work, we’re tackling a few cleaning projects. That’s a nice thing about working from home. It’s easy to throw in a load of laundry or set up the Roomba while you’re answering emails. 

Geeking | Silicone Muffin Tins

> Since I haven’t been traveling much lately, we’ve also been using our time to do some meal prep. One thing in particular we made was chicken stock. I like to freeze stock in muffin tins and then just use what I need. We purchased a silicone muffin tin and it’s fabulous! I have no idea why we didn’t buy one sooner.

Planning | Regular Walks

> Last month, I mentioned that we were starting up Pilates again. And we love it. But with all the COVID-19 talk, we decided to take a break from going to a group workout space. But we’ve discovered that we can take a lap in our neighborhood and it’s exactly one mile. So far, we’ve walked a mile every day. 

What’s UP with you? Any questions about working from home? Let us know and we’ll try to get some answers. 

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, GA

Aging In Place: 7 Things You Can Do to Prepare Your Home

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fenced yard in New Orleans for aging in place

When Keith and I were making the decision to move to Gainesville, Florida, we also talked about staying put in South Florida and renovating our current home. It was the live version of “Love It or List It” with David Visentin and Hilary Farr. LOL! Deciding whether to stay and renovate or move is a big decision. Especially when you consider aging in place.

Ultimately, we decided to move. But as we were building our current home, we kept in mind that this was going to be a place where we wanted to age comfortably. This played a role in many of the decisions we made during the construction process. 

As you talk about your aging in place plans, think about your home. It could be done as part of a renovation to the home you have right now. Or building something new. Maybe a bit of both – buying a new home and then renovating it. Regardless, here are a few things we learned along the way when it comes to aging comfortably at home.

1. Appliances: I’m specifically talking about refrigerators, washers, and dryers. I know the current trend is to have the refrigerator freezer on the bottom. But that means bending over all the time! Same with front load washers and dryers. Think about how much bending you want to do all the time and are there options to have the latest while saving you some back pain.

2. Bathrooms: Three things to consider: adult height vanities (again, be kind to your back), “comfort height” toilets, and shower bars. If you’re not ready to look at shower bars in your bathroom, it is possible to have them pre-blocked during construction. Then that support structure can be utilized later. 

3. Ceiling Height: We love high ceilings. They can make small rooms look very spacious. But changing out light bulbs and smoke alarm batteries can mean climbing very tall ladders. At some point, we must decide how many times we want to climb up on ladders when we’re 60, 70, or older. I hate climbing on ladders now and want to do even less of it when I’m older. 

4. Drawers and cabinets: Just like ceiling heights, tall cabinets look fabulous. But depending on how tall those cabinets are, it might involve using a step stool to reach those top shelves. And our builder told us to focus on drawer pulls versus knobs. The idea being to minimize the amount of gripping we would need as we age. And as lovely as some drawer pulls look, they also suggested steering away from ones that might accidentally grab or snag clothing.

5. Flooring: This is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can be helpful to have all wood or tile floors so there are no thresholds to possibly trip over. But then again, if we put rugs on the wood or tile floors, we run the risk of tripping over them. I wish I had an answer. It’s definitely an important conversation to have. 

6. Landscaping: I love beautiful landscaping. I’m not a fan of yardwork. Keith likes yardwork. He finds it cathartic. We spent a lot of time talking about how much yard would give us the beautiful part we love without being a huge burden. While Keith loves doing the yardwork today, there might be a time when he doesn’t want to, and he shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

7. Lighting: Our home in South Florida was filled with natural light. We rarely turned the lights on during the daytime. Yeah, in the evening we turned lights on but not during the day. Gainesville is different. The natural light isn’t the same. Lighting is important because we need it to read, clean, etc. Not only do we need to plan for built in lighting, but we need to consider additional lighting in terms of lamps, night lights, outdoor lighting, etc.

I don’t know that anyone should duplicate what Keith and I did on our home. But I put this list together so you can have the same conversations and make the right decisions for you. I’d like to think that most of us want to enjoy our homes as we age. That means planning for both form and function when it comes to aging in place.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of New Orleans, LA

Older Drivers: Learning Technology Can Extend To Your Car

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drivers and their old cars on the streets of Havana, Cuba

At some point, Keith and I are going to have to think about getting a new car. Years ago as drivers, we became a one-car household. And our current car is over 15 years old. Having a reliable vehicle is important so we shouldn’t wait until we have to buy a car.

But you can see where I’m going with this. Today’s automobiles have a lot of technology! Our old car has a GPS system. Which of course we don’t use because it’s easier and more accurate to use our phones and Google Maps. But 15 years ago, GPS technology was fancy and a luxury! Since we tend to keep cars for a while, it’s important that we get the right technology that’s going to help us have a better driving experience. And what I mean by that is drive more safely.

If you’re not aware, AARP has a 90-minute self-guided online workshop about today’s smarter vehicles. It covers technologies like assistive parking systems, blind spot warning systems for drivers, and crash mitigation systems. The purpose of the workshop is to help people understand what these technologies do (and don’t do) so we can make educated decisions about the types of technologies we want to include in our vehicles.

As we age, one of the things that remains important to our wellbeing is having the ability to still get around. I think it’s fair to say that we don’t want to have to rely on people to drive us around for errands, etc. While those activities aren’t the most exciting, they do represent being mobile. And I’m sure we want to be independent as long as we can.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) talks about how older drivers need to be aware of the changes that happen to our driving skills as we age. Falls and motor vehicle crashes are the two leading causes of injury and death in older adults. The good news is that the latest technologies can help. They’re not designed to be a replacement for our driving skills, but they can offer assistance. If you know about them and you know how to use them properly.

While we’re talking about driving, there are other resources out on the Interwebs that can help you with your driving skills as you age.

  • AAA has a Senior Driving site which includes each state’s licensing laws, a driving health check-up, and how to have a conversation with an older adult about their driving.
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers something similar to AAA with videos and resources to support older drivers including how certain medical conditions can have an impact on driving abilities.

Having a conversation about driving is very difficult. Many of us have been driving for decades. Maybe we haven’t had a traffic ticket in years. That doesn’t mean we can let our guard down about our driving skills – or those of other drivers on the road. And when it comes time to replace our current vehicles, we need to understand the latest automobile technologies so we buy features that make sense for our situation.

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

What We Are UP To – The Grateful Edition

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sign saying this is a good day next to a graffiti heart being grateful

Thank you so much for being an Unretirement Project reader. We’re grateful for your support. We’ve been UP to lots of exciting things in November. 

Feeling | Excited (and Exhausted!)

> Five years ago, we decided to move from Fort Lauderdale to Gainesville. Three years ago, we put a deposit on a house. Last week, we finally started moving into our forever home. To say it’s been a rollercoaster is an understatement. But we’re grateful to be spending our first Thanksgiving in our mess of a new home. 

Working On | Unpacking

> Needless to say, it’s all about the unpacking right now. And we’re tackling a few boxes a day. After having most of our belongings in storage for the past few months, it’s quite a treat to open a box and say, “Yea! I found it.” And “OMGosh, I forgot we owned this!” When we put our things into storage, we were wearing shorts. Today, we’re grateful to find our sweaters. Ha.ha.

Watching | Football

> Thanksgiving is a day for being grateful. But it’s also a day of celebration. We like to spend ours watching parades, football, and the Turkeys Away episode of WKRP in Cincinnati. We lived in Cinci years ago and always loved how the city embraced this wacky show and episode. 

Reading | Warranties and Manuals

> It’s not the most exciting reading. But it’s essential. While appliances are usually very intuitive, they also have more features. The hardest part is figuring out how to store all of these documents. In our last home, we created a file for each room and stored the manual for the item in the room’s folder. Very efficient and easy to locate the manual when necessary.

Remembering | Past Thanksgivings

> I don’t know why but holidays are always a time for remembering past holidays. This one will be particularly special since we’re in our new home. But last year, we took a cruise and it was fun. I guess what makes a holiday special is who you spend it with not where you spend it. 

Planning | Alton Brown’s Aged Eggnog

> I read an article recently on the Serious Eats blog about Alton Brown’s aged eggnog. We like eggnog. It’s a once a year treat. So now that we have a home and a new refrigerator, I thought that I would break it in by making fresh eggnog and aging it for one year. Ask me this time next year if I’m grateful for it. LOL!

Loving | Versed

> I’ve mentioned before that taking care of my skin is important. Especially as I’m aging. But I will admit that I’m not interested in having a 20+ step skin care regimen. Thankfully, I recently discovered Versed. It’s a Target-exclusive skin care collection that’s free of toxins, added colors, and fragrances. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free. Lastly, each item is under $20. 

Geeking | MOTILE Backpack

> I love traveling with a backpack and recently found one with a charger. Walmart’s MOTILE brand includes a laptop backpack with a wireless powerbank and a wallet with a Qi wireless charger. I decided to give them a workout on a recent trip and loved the storage. It’s great when form and function come together. 

We are truly grateful that you join us in this project. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. And let us know, what’s UP with you?

What We Are UP To: Nostalgia Edition

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Fall pumpkins and nostalgia

While I love technology and all the modern advancements we have today, there are moments when I become nostalgic. And according to this article from Scientific American, nostalgia is good for us. This October, I’ve spent more than my fair share of thinking about icons, the classics.

Watching | Downton Abbey: The Movie

> I got hooked on the BBC period drama years ago and it was a bit disappointing when the show ended. But I must admit that the movie did a great job of giving me my Downton Abbey fix. I won’t spoil the plot, but the cast did a great job of bringing back the nostalgia and magic to the big screen.

Reading | The Newspaper

> I know! Some of you might be saying, “What’s that?!” LOL! We’ve realized that it’s important to consume the news from a variety of resources. With an upcoming election, Keith and I want to be educated about the issues. So, in addition to new media sources like the internet, we’re also paying attention to those “old school” sources such as television and the newspaper. 

Remembering | A “Traditional” Thanksgiving

> I ran across this article on Eater titled “Don’t Host a Traditional Thanksgiving. Skip the Turkey and Try This Instead.” It lays out the case for abandoning some traditions and introducing new ideas during the holidays. It made me think about how we’ve spent our holidays and ask the question, “Are we ready to change things up a little?” Honestly, I’m not sure. I still like parades, turkey, and football on Thanksgiving Day – nostalgia or not.

Working On | Boston

> Actually, it’s more correct for me to say that I’m working “in” Boston, one of the oldest cities in the United States. I love working downtown. It allows me to walk past all the historic buildings and monuments on my way to the office. And I’m enjoying some local classic foods like stews, pot pie, lobster rolls, and Boston Cream Pie. 

Feeling | Fashionable

> A couple of blogs I’ve been reading have been talking about fall fashion trends that I would consider to be classic pieces – like plaid jackets and snakeskin. Maybe it’s me, but those options have been around for years. Obviously, I missed them the first time around, so I’ve been looking for ways to incorporate those “new” trends into my “old” wardrobe.

Planning | Homeownership

> It’s hard to believe our very long and very frustrating house building project might be coming to an end. The builder is starting to talk with us about “closing activities” – yea! After years of moving, renting, storage, and temporary housing, it appears that we might be homeowners again very soon. Let’s hope we remember what that feels like. Ha!

Loving | Dr. Martens

> Founded in 1947, this UK footwear company makes some of the most iconic shoes in fashion. I’ve only recently discovered them but quickly become a fan. I never wear heels, so it’s nice to find a shoe with some personality that’s also very comfortable. 

Geeking | Autumn Weather

> I must admit that autumn is my favorite time of year. I love sweaters, soup, and cool (not cold) temperatures. When we lived in South Florida, we didn’t get much in terms of fall weather. Now that we live in North Florida, we do experience cooler temperatures. It’s nice not to be making chili when it’s 90 degrees outside. Some of you know exactly what I’m talking about. 

What’s UP with you? Got any holiday plans?

10 Tips For Working Caregivers

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this is what commitment looks like airport sign relating to caregivers

As we get older, one of the things we have to think about is caregiving. Not just caring for ourselves, but being caregivers to other persons. While we might initially think of caregiving as taking care of our parents or a spouse, it’s also possible that caregiving could extend to our siblings or other relatives. In fact, it’s possible that we might provide caregiving to a person who isn’t a blood relative but nonetheless a person very dear to us.

According to AARP, over 40 million people provide caregiving in some form. This translates to approximately 17% of today’s workforce. Because caregiving is such an important topic that affects a lot of people, AARP recently conducted a two-part webcast on “Tips for Working Caregivers from Working Caregivers”. It was a very interesting session that offered some things to consider. My big takeaway from the first session was to think about creating a caregiving guide. I can see where this isn’t one of those things that you should hold off until you need it.  

  1. Be prepared for the possibility of caregiving. You know your family situation. Is there a family member that might need caregiving at some point? Has there been discussions about how caregiving will happen? And who will be primarily responsible for it? All questions that are better asked and answered before the need arises.
  2. Talk to your employer. During the AARP webcast, they said that over 56% of caregivers have to make accommodations in their work, especially when it comes to time. Talk with your manager. Let them know your needs and give them some reassurances that your performance will not suffer as a result.
  3. Research caregiving-friendly companies. If you’re considering a job change, look for employers that offer caregiving benefits. At minimum, look for employers that are open to offering flexible schedules. Additional benefits might be available through health care insurance or the company’s employee assistance program (EAP).
  4. Understand the legal aspects. At some point, caregiving might include being responsible for the care recipient’s financial affairs and medical directives. Make sure any required legal documents are in place and that, as a caregiver, you have the confidence of everyone around.
  5. Set expectations with care receivers. I think this is an important one. Care receivers need to understand some of their responsibilities, like possibly wearing a monitoring device. Or if you’re a caregiver and work from home, that you aren’t there to entertain the receiver. Boundaries are important in care giving.
  6. Use technology to your advantage. This is another aspect that applies to both caregivers as well as care receivers. Care receivers might enjoy some freedom by learning how to use apps like Facetime, where they can quickly check-in and let a caregiver know they’re okay. Or allowing an internal camera to offer some peace of mind.
  7. Discuss finances. According to AARP, the average out of pocket expense for a caregiver is $7000/annually. While it’s possible that some community resources can provide financial assistance, there should be a discussion about how expenses will be handled.
  8. Get some medical education. You don’t have to earn a medical degree, but you do want to know some basics like how to move people from a wheelchair to a car and vice versa. The good news is that AARP offers some videos on how to handle everyday activities in their “Home Alone” section of their website.
  9. Be open about how you feel. Caregiving can make you feel overwhelmed and frustrated. It can also be an honor and very fulfilling. You’ll find that there are other individuals in the same position. Just having someone else to talk with can be a huge stress reliever.
  10. Learn how to ask for help when you need it. And, how to accept help when others offer it. Talk with the care recipient and your support system about what you’re prepared to do (and possibly not do). And don’t ever forget to take care of yourself. In return, consider paying it forward and helping others who are going through the same thing.

Caregiving responsibilities aren’t something to be taken lightly. No one wants to be hashing out details when a loved one is sick or in desperate need of care. The best time to talk about caregiving is now.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of Atlanta, GA 

What We Are UP To – Trying New Things in September 2019

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analyze change track graphics for September 2019

Disclosure: Occasionally we receive free products for review or include advertising links in posts, but no one impacts the honesty of our opinions. 

Every once in a while, I get on this kick to try new things. Keith isn’t as into this “need to change it up” exercise as I am, but he’s a good sport and occasionally admits that he enjoyed it. Here are the new things we’re trying in September.

Watching | Dead to Me

> I have a few Facebook friends watching this Netflix Original series, so I talked Keith into checking it out. It’s not something we would immediately choose for ourselves, but we’re trying new things this month, and we were immediately hooked! Just the right balance of emotions and lots of plot twists to keep it interesting. Can’t wait for Season 2!

Reading | Rare Breed

> Years ago, I met Sunny Bonnell and Ashleigh Hansberger at an event for women business owners. We’ve stayed in touch and I’m delighted to be one of the initial people to get my hands on their first book “Rare Breed” A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different”. The book includes a quiz so you can determine your “Rare Breed Virtue”. Mine is “I’m weird.” While I’ve always known that, it is a little different to be sharing that with others. LOL!

Remembering | Encore Careers

> We’ve been writing a lot on Unretirement Project about encore careers. It makes me think of my own professional journey. I’ve been a human resources professional for the majority of my career and that’s not changing but I also have this other aspect to my career in terms of HR Bartender and now, Unretirement Project. This September, it’s gratifying to think about the evolution of my career and how fortunate I’ve been. 

Working On | Crochet

> For years, my hobby has been beading. But I must admit that I can only wear so much jewelry. And I find it fun to break my jewelry apart and remake it into something new. So I’m on the search for a new hobby and I saw an article about a knitting/crocheting group that makes items for adults, kids, and animals in need. This seems like a win-win. I get a hobby and others get a needed item. Now I just need to learn how to crochet… 

Feeling | Relieved!

> When we moved from South to North Florida, one of the things we were hoping not to deal with anymore was hurricanes. That being said, Hurricane Dorian decided to test our hurricane prep skills early in September. The good news is that we are just fine. The bad news is we have a pile of non-perishable junk food around the house. ha.ha. Seriously, we hope everyone is safe and if you’re looking for a way to help, check out the Amazon wish list for the Bahamian Red Cross.

Planning | Road trips

> Keith and I usually plan a fall vacation, but this year, we’ve decided to do try something we haven’t done for a while. Instead of one long vacation, we’re doing a few shorter ones. Will probably stay in the state and do some road trips.  It’s nice to be a tourist in your own state. The Florida Turnpike is an easy to navigate highway. It will be fun figuring out where to go and what to see.

Loving | Allbirds

> I’ve been reading all of the hype about Allbirds, the shoe that claims to be the most comfortable things you’ll ever wear on your feet. Oh, and they’re eco-friendly too. They are also pricey for shoes. Comfy shoes are important to me, so I decided to try something different from my go-to sneakers and see if they’re worth the hype. And, yes they are. Allbirds are very comfortable. I did pick up their new socks and they’re kinda meh but the shoes are super comfy. 

Geeking | Apple AirPods

> I splurged the other day and purchased a pair of Apple AirPods. I’ve been worried about buying them because I didn’t want to lose them. But I finally moved past my fears in September and I’m so glad. They are wonderful. Easy to keep charged. Great reception. I’ve actually used them for a couple of podcasts and the tech producers said I sound good. I still haven’t left the house with them, but every day I get a bit more comfortable. 

What’s UP with you?