There was a time when I felt sure that I would continue working until age 70 or beyond. In fact, I often joked that one day I would simply resign from my job at the nursing home where I worked as an RN and move myself into the assisted living facility next door.

But then friends a bit older than me began to retire in their early 60s, and I saw how much they enjoyed their new-found freedom. I realized that I, too, wanted time to enjoy life, especially while I’m in good health.

What Is a Bridge Job?

Then I learned about what is often called a “bridge job.” This is defined as a part-time job that bridges the transition between a long-term career and retirement.

After much consideration, I decided a bridge job might be a good option for me. So, five years ago, I left my job as a nurse manager in the nursing home where I worked for over 20 years, and  started working part-time in the field of corporate wellness nursing.

Knowing then what I know now, would I make the same decision? Absolutely! But there are lots of pros and cons to a bridge job, and it’s important to consider each of them before taking the plunge.

Pros and Cons to Taking a Bridge Job

For most people, switching from a full-time job to a part-time job means a drop in income. Of course, there may be some savings, too, such as lower transportation expenses and the need to buy fewer clothes for work.

When I worked full-time at my previous job, I could count on a consistent pay check every week of the year.

Although this won’t be the case for everyone, my hours now vary throughout the year. Some weeks are super busy, and others are very slow. This means that I now must watch my budget more carefully than ever before.

Benefits of Working Part Time Before Retirement

Most part-time workers are not eligible to receive health insurance through their employer. I’m grateful to be able to get insurance through the Healthcare Marketplace. However, to keep premiums down, I chose a plan with a much higher deductible and fewer benefits.

Of course, a bridge job also affects contributions to a retirement account. I can no longer afford to contribute as much as I did in the past, and I’m no longer able to benefit from the employer match in my 403b account.

Other benefits are affected, too, such as vacation, sick time, dental/vision insurance and healthcare spending accounts.

Giving Up Status

For many years, I worked in a managerial role. This position held a certain amount of status, and it also meant that I had a lot of decision-making ability. In my bridge job, I occasionally fill in as a team leader, but I’m usually one of the regular staff.

I’ll admit that at first it was a bit difficult to give up the managerial mindset. For one thing, I was used to supervising a number of people. In my bridge job, I’m supervised by other people, most of whom are younger and have less experience than me.

But there’s a positive side to this, too. As a salaried manager, it was not unusual to stay late or take work home, and I always felt like I was accountable for what went on in my unit 24/7.

Today, I’m free to leave at the end of my assigned shift, and I don’t need to think about my job again until the next time I’m scheduled to work. My job is a lot less stressful these days.

A More Flexible Schedule

In my previous job, I usually worked Monday through Friday during the day. That’s an unusually nice schedule for a nurse. Now that I’m in a bridge job, I’m back to working a variety of different hours.

The trade-off is that I can pick and choose my shifts.

My employer sends out a list of available shifts, and I sign up for the ones I want to work. I love the flexibility, and the extra time I can spend with family and friends is priceless. This also allows me to engage in hobbies and other activities that previously took a back seat to my job.

Transition Time

I’ve known people who devoted an enormous amount of time and energy to their jobs. Then the day came to retire, and they truly didn’t know what to do with themselves.

A bridge job has provided me with an opportunity to pick up new hobbies and get involved in volunteer work. I’ll carry these activities with me when I finally retire, and I know this will help me make a smooth transition out of the workforce.

Are you considering a bridge job, or have you already made the change? What do you see as the pros and cons of this option? Please share your observations in the comments below.

Summer officially starts in just a few days and as expected, there are plenty of new Ulta products launching this month to replace all of your winter must-haves. The New Arrivals section of the store website is constantly updated, but those transitional weeks between seasons is my favorite time to peruse the pages and pick up the fresh launches that will inevitably sell out later. In the case of this year’s spring-to-summer transition, I’m stocking up on sunscreen, tinted moisturizer, and maybe a couple of tinted lip balms. (“No makeup” makeup never goes out of style in my world.)

Because there are literally dozens upon dozens of new products already on Ulta shelves and more to come before the end of June, it would take me until the middle of July to share each and every one here. So instead, I’m streamlining in a major way. Trust me—it was hard to limit my favorites to just 14 products, but as far as I’m concerned, these are totally worth the double-take and a random splurge. From a DC Comics-inspired soy candle to a classic perfume with a twist to a set of stylish social distancing-friendly face masks (yes, seriously), here are the best products to launch at Ulta this month.

ROC.

ROC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Daily Serum

A fragrance-free skin brightener supercharged with vitamin C and peptides, clinically proven to restore elasticity and firmness in one month.

Viktor & Rolf.

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Dew Eau de Parfum

It’s Flowerbomb—the remix! This version includes a dewy rose top note meant to mimic the aura of a “luxurious rosebud grown in water.”

Milani.

Milani Ludicrous Matte Lip Crayon

A hydrating shea butter, jojoba, and avocado oil-infused lippie that delivers a non-flaky matte finish available in 13 different shades.

TonyMoly.

TonyMoly Minions Eucalyptus Calming Night Mask

An overnight treatment TonyMoly’s Minions-inspired collection that soothes, moisturizes, and provides anti-inflammatory properties to the skin.

Perricone MD.

Perricone MD Acne Relief Retinol Treatment & Moisturizer

A nourishing post-cleansing night treatment that heals blemishes and balances sebum production without over-drying the skin.

Hempz.

Hempz Bery Punch Snow Cone Herbal Body Moisturizer

A summer body lotion that sounds good enough to eat and is enriched with all-natural hemp seed oil to hydrate and soften the skin.

Ulta.

Ulta x Wonder Woman 1984 Scented Soy Blend Candle

Ulta’s capsule collection inspired by the upcoming film Wonder Woman 1984 includes a candle that smells like a mash-up of white peach, nectarine, briar rose, and sandalwood.

Riviera.

Riviera Crepe Top Knot Headband

This lime green color is my top pick from the line of top knot headbands that just landed on Ulta shelves.

Kitsch.

Kitsch Disposable Face Mask Set

Kitsch’s latest launch is a product literally made for current times: non-woven, one-time-use face masks made with non-woven, comfy-wear material.

Maybelline.

Maybelline Color Strike Cream-to-Powder Eyeshadow Pen

Here is the brand’s first-ever cream-to-powder eye product, available in 10 colors, all of which are ophthalmologist-tested and smudge-resistant.

Maybelline.

Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream

A new version of the brand’s cult-favorite BB cream made with 2% salicylic acid to treat acne-prone skin.

Kiss.

Kiss Limited Edition Pride Lashes

Standout multi-color, tinsel-like lashes created just fo Pride month.

Dermalogica.

Dermalogica Retinol Acne Clearing Oil

A multitasking night treatment made with time-release retinol, salicylic acid, and multiple natural oils to nourish, plump, and smooth the skin.

No Mo-Stache.

No Mo-Stache Facial Razor

A pocket-sized, stainless steel tool for nixing peach fuzz instead of your standard disposable razor.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Have you caught yourself doing something in one area of your life that you would never even dream of doing in another?

For example, most of us do not buy “one-size-fits-all” clothing, shoes, or even bedding. If we wear a size 11 dress, size 6 shoe, and have a king-size bed, we shop for and purchase a size 11 dress, size 6 shoe, and king-size sheets. This, of course, makes total sense.

Then why, I would ask, do so many of us Boomers do exactly the opposite when it comes to making sure that our bodies are getting the nutrients we need – and in the right amounts – to protect our health?

The Healthy Diet Habit

While we may not want to admit it, I would bet that most of us try to eat what we would consider a “healthy diet” and then take a multivitamin and mineral supplement to “fill in any gaps” just in case we aren’t getting enough micronutrients.

The problem with this approach, however, is that we are assuming that everyone needs the same nutrients in the same amounts to stay healthy. But by following this philosophy, we are giving ourselves a false sense of security.

The truth is that no two people have the same nutritional needs for protecting their health (which is even more important given the times we are living in). And in any event, more than 90 percent of Americans consume less than the RDA for many nutrients.

An analogy to this “one-size-fits-all” concept is body temperature. For the longest time, we were taught that 98.6 F (36.6 C) is the norm and any deviation from this reading was something to be concerned about and possibly treated.

We now know that not only do our body temperatures vary throughout the day, but that there actually is a range of normal body temperatures. What is considered normal to me may be high to you and low to someone else. The same applies to nutrition.

Minimum and Average

While RDAs for various nutrients are a good starting point for knowing how much of any given micronutrient we need, they are designed to indicate the minimum amounts an average person needs to stay healthy.

The key words here are minimum and average. When it comes to my health, I go out of my way to do more than the minimum, and I hate to think of myself as average. As Boomer women, we also need to remember that our nutrient needs change as we get older.

For reasons such as physical changes due to aging, reduced appetite as we age, medications or chronic illness such as metabolic syndrome, or gastrointestinal surgeries, our bodies may not absorb nutrients as efficiently as they did when we were younger.

We also may have genetic factors that make our bodies need more of a given nutrient than other women.

No matter the reason, if we just follow the RDA for any given nutrient, the odds are that we are going to come up short. This, in turn, can negatively impact many of our bodies’ systems as well as make us more vulnerable to pathogens or worsen any chronic conditions we may have.

In fact, about 80 percent of preventable diseases may be attributed to nutritional deficiencies. Given this percentage, you can see how doing the “minimum” when it comes to nutrition may not be the best idea.

Examples of Nutrients of Special Concern to Boomer Women

There are some nutrients that we really need to focus on as Boomers to help protect our bodies – or at least minimize the impact from age-related conditions such as osteoporosis, weaker immune response, and even reduced cognitive function. So, you may need more than the RDA of the following:

Zinc

Zinc is important for boosting your immune system and protecting against respiratory illness. It can be found in green vegetables, nuts, beans, and dark baking chocolate.

Vitamin D

One compound important for bone health is vitamin D since it helps your body absorb calcium. It also helps with blood pressure and immune response. Good sources are fatty fish, cheese, and egg yolks. The best source, however, is sunlight.

Calcium

Calcium is important for building and maintaining strong bones and avoiding osteoporosis. It is plentiful in milk, cheese, and other dairy as well as green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin B12

Another important compound for healthy brain function and making red blood cells is vitamin B12. Good sources of this vitamin are lean meat and seafood as well as poultry and dairy products.

Potassium

For a healthy heart, nervous system, and muscle function you need potassium. You can get this nutrient from fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids can lower heart disease risk and are found in cold-water fatty fish, plant oils, nuts, and seeds.

Magnesium

Magnesium is an important nutrient that helps boost your immune system, keeps your bones strong, and promotes cardiovascular health. Good sources are whole wheat, green leafy vegetables, dark chocolate (in moderation), and avocados.

Iron

If you are concerned about anemia, adequate iron intake can help you with that. It can be found in fortified breakfast cereals, beans (lentils, soy), dark chocolate, spinach, and organ meats.

Protein

Protein is key in muscle building and repair. You can get protein from low-fat yogurt, seeds, eggs, lean meats, fish, tofu, and beans.

Just as there is no “one-size-fits-all” to best determine your nutritional needs, there is not a “one-size-fits-all” diet for attaining proper nutritional balance. So, while your best friend may swear on veggie burgers and oatmeal-and-mango smoothies, your ideal mix of foods will depend on your unique needs.

Even identical twins will process the same foods differently. The good news here is that there are literally countless possibilities for developing your diet.

Testing and Trending

I have two other recommendations to better personalize your nutritional goals and your diet. The first is to consider a more comprehensive nutritional test and analysis than the one your doctor most likely gives you during your annual physical.

Routine tests at the doctor’s office will only measure what I call the “hit parade” of nutrients, such as calcium, potassium, and vitamin D, but will usually not include other important nutrients such as zinc and magnesium.

Armed with the result of a more comprehensive test, you and your healthcare provider can develop personalized nutritional goals along with a diet plan to achieve them.

The second recommendation is to start tracking the results of your nutritional tests to better help identify your baseline and trends. With this information, you and your healthcare provider will be able to more readily identify possible nutritional issues before they can impact your health.

For example, a vitamin B12 level of 350 picograms per milliliter is in the normal range, and if a single blood test reports this amount, you would probably assume everything is fine. But if your previous three tests were all around 600, then this sudden drop to 350 would be something to look at. (To give perspective, the normal level is between 190 and 950).

Remember, one size does not fit all!

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult with your doctor to get specific medical advice for your situation.

Do you have a general idea of what nutrients your body needs to stay healthy? Have you and your doctor ever set nutritional goals for you? Do you have a diet that helps you achieve them? Where do you get your nutritional information from? Please join the conversation.

Staying six feet apart from friends and relatives has given a whole new meaning to the term “six degrees of separation,” popularized in connection with actor Kevin Bacon. It suggested that any actor could be connected with Bacon in a maximum of six handshakes with a friend of a friend.

Now, the Internet and Covid-19 prove that we are all connected. We are only a breath away from one another.

Back to Walden Pond

There are many things we gave up during what I think of as our Back to Walden Pond days. Our ability to travel was one of them. Once again, our quest for an extensive road trip was stymied.

Everything I love about my community ended. There were no café visits with friends, no Choir practice or local theatre productions, concerts or music festivals. Even our local parks were closed to us for a couple of months.

For many of us, it felt like we were living in suspended animation. We were frozen in time.

And then, I transitioned into revisiting the philosophy of Henry David Thoreau, whose book, Walden, is an ode to solitude, contemplation, and nature.

Thoreau wrote Walden as a reflection on simple living in natural surroundings. He expressed the spiritual benefits of a simplified lifestyle when we eliminate aspirations of luxury and the quest for the American Dream.

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

Whether you have read his book or not, many of us followed his example as we simplified our own lives.

Un-Voluntary Simplicity

Many of us went kicking and screaming into our un-voluntary simplicity before we settled into domesticity. Everyone I know is baking more often – sourdough bread-making is a big hit these days.

We have planted a vegetable garden for the first time in 10 years, and many of my neighbors have done the same. Our Farmer’s Market has gone online, and we seek out more local products.

We have more time to be more thoughtful about everything, including our shopping lists.

Wearing a mask has turned from a requirement to an artistic statement as local artists are now designing them. Initially, we hated being told to wear a mask, but now we accept them as a sign that we care about the health of others.

In fact, we are contemplating wearing a mask during future cold and flu seasons as a way to control the spread of viruses as is a common practice in other countries.

Our Connection with Nature

When the cars abandoned the roads, the planes deserted the skies, and the cruise ships ceased sailing, we saw plants and animals thought to be extinct return. And when the smog cleared, we had clearer vision and the ability to breathe more deeply.

We began to reflect on our connection with nature and went deeper into communion with the natural world.

With the busyness of the modern world reduced, my neighbors and I noticed more. We started watching the birds more closely and saw that the deer were less timid. Plants were thriving and nature was in full bloom around us. We really noticed it this past spring – as if for the first time.

We are finding pleasure in the little things – bird song, frogs croaking, harvesting edible wild plants, watching the deer at play and the turkeys fanning out their feathers as they strut around in their red, high-heeled shoes.

How We Remain Connected

Like many others, we have been on Zoom. It is lovely to see the smiling faces of Choir members – even though singing online is less uplifting. I’m part of a weekly group that meets online to share music and readings to lift our spirit.

I have two chairs on my front deck that are spaced just over six feet apart. It’s a space for conversation with a friend who drops over for a chat.

Each night at 7:00 PM, we join many others who step outside and play a musical instrument, drum or bang on pots and pans to express our appreciation for our front line workers who have toiled to keep us safe these many weeks we’ve been in isolation.

We Are All Connected

The dichotomy of six degrees of separation is that the virus is bringing us together by showing us how we are all connected – even while separated. I don’t need to explain forced isolation, mask-wearing, or hug depravation to you. You already understand.

When I tell you I’ve been in self-isolation for months, I’ve been obsessively hand-washing, and staying six feet away from friends and strangers – you don’t give me a quizzical look. You need no further explanation.

We were more separated before – when we were each going buzzing about in our own separate ways. The virus is proof of how connected we really are. What happens to one can impact another. The virus does not respect any borders.

The Butterfly Effect

On an intellectual level, I’ve always understood the notion that when a butterfly flaps its wings in one part of the world, it can contribute to a tiny change in the atmosphere that could alter the path of a tornado somewhere else. The virus has made me feel this effect.

It has caused us to slow down and go inward. We are looking closely at our values and ethics and learning to separate our wants from our needs. We are beginning to recognize our inter-dependence with each other and the natural world.

We are not separate. We are all connected.

The world is going through the same experience we are. We realize the old ways haven’t worked for many of us and that we need to create a new world that works for everyone.

Soon, we will pack our camper and head out for a couple of days in a National Park to enjoy a staycation close to home. We look forward to a change of scenery, gazing at the ocean and the Milky Way while we ponder our place in the world.

Our friends will have the campsite next to us. It will be good to connect with them in person once again. I hope you get to do the same.

In your opinion, what has been the relational impact of our time in isolation? Do you think the pandemic separated us or connected us more deeply? What further thoughts can you add? Please join the conversation.

The beauty of Black hair is the spectrum of textures that can be manipulated into a myriad of styles, from the tiniest of braids to the smoothest of silk presses. And while Hollywood certainly isn’t the only place to gather inspiration, we’d be lying if we said famous women like Lupita Nyong’o and Solange Knowles were not only killing the mane game but forcing us to rethink our basic ’dos as well. These Black celebrity hairstylists provide unless inspiration.

We have the trusted hairstylists within their glam squads to thank for these iconic styles. Some are seasoned pros and others are new kids on the block. But what they all have in common is a penchant for delivering hair moments we’d frame and post on our walls. Some of these looks we remember years and years later and for good reason. Ahead are the stylists you should be following on Instagram for a steady stream of inspo (if you haven’t already).

From Tokyo Stylez and his bold wigs, to Ted Gibson and his way with curly bangs, to Nikki Nelms’ ultimate creativity, you’ll double-tap your feed like crazy after following these artists. Trust us. Many of these hairstylists share their exact tips and tricks so you can attempt to recreate them at home. Plus, many of these entrepreneurs have launched haircare brands and hair tools so you can shop right while you’re scrolling and support Black-owned brands.

Source: Instagram

Lacy Redway

Clients include Laura Harrier, Zazie Beets and Tessa Thompson.

Source: Instagram

Vernon Francois

Clients include Lupita Nyong’o and Amandla Stenberg.

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Ursula Stephen

Clients include Ciara and Zendaya.

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Felicia Leatherwood

Clients include Issa Rae and Lena Waithe.

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Nai’vasha Johnson

Clients include Yara Shahidi and Logan Browning.

Source: Instagram

Vernon Scott

Clients include Danai Gurira.

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Tymothe Wallace

Clients include Taraji P. Henson, Skai Jackson and Mary J. Blige.

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Andre Walker

Clients include Oprah Winfrey.

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Oscar James

Clients include Tiffani Haddish and Eva Marcille.

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Shani Crowe

Clients include Solange Knowles.

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Kendall Dorsey

Clients include Teyana Taylor and Selah Marley.

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Tokyo Stylez

Clients include Cardi B and Teyana Taylor.

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Chuck Amos

Clients include Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Hervey of Lion Babe and Jourdan Dunn.

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Larry Sims

Clients include Gabrielle Union and Zendaya.

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Tippi Shorter

Clients include Alicia Keys and Amandla Stenberg.

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Kahh Spence

Clients include Normani, Kehlani and Ella Mai.

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Kim Kimble

Clients include Nicki Minaj and Beyonce.

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Kiyah Wright

Clients include Ciara, Nicole Ari Parker and Angelica Ross.

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Ted Gibson

Clients include Tessa Thompson and Serena Williams.

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Johnny Wright

Clients include (formerly) Michelle Obama, Samira Wiley and Angela Rye.

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Nikki Nelms

Clients include Janelle Monae, Zoe Kravitz and Solange Knowles.

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Takisha Sturvidant-Drew

Clients include Kerry Washington, Naturi Naughton and Leona Lewis.

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Yusef Williams

Clients include Rihanna.