There is something to be said about that moment of enlightenment where you realize you’re feeling sad or anxious and you don’t know why, and then, bam, it hits you!

Oftentimes our bodies can physically manifest feelings of stress and anxiety before we even realize that is what’s happening – upset stomach, headaches, increased blood pressure, tense muscles and back aches. It’s not pretty.

So, what might be stressing me out, you ask? Here are a few common sources of stress that all women over 60 face from time to time.

Clutter

Literally, you may be covering your stress with “things.” An untidy home may not just be a reflection of lack of time to clean but rather your own emotional health. Physical items in your living environment can serve as symbols that embody specific feelings or memories you can’t let go – regret, loss, grief.

The presence of clutter, from piled up bills and papers on the dining room table to intrusive pieces of furniture you don’t even use, perpetuates ongoing reminders of those feelings and experiences you’re holding onto. Your home should be the open, friendly and welcoming environment you thrive in. If it’s overwhelmed with clutter and literal emotional baggage, stress will ensue.

Recovery

Coming back from an illness, injury or surgery can be tougher in your 60s than it was even in your 50s. Getting treatment to help you live a healthier life, or surgery to address pain will in itself combat the stress from those causes; however, the anxiety during the recovery process can sneak up on you.

Not feeling as mobile and independent as you are used to creates feelings of frustration or stress – and even anger. Having to rely on others for extra support pulls on your heartstrings of shame and guilt. The underlying (and sometimes unconscious) fear of not getting better or of recovery taking longer than expected can catch you off guard as well.

Social Media

The Facebook Phenomenon might be very real for you. Are you spending time on social media daily and taking in images and posts of friends experiencing great adventures, bragging about their kids or doting on their spouse? The feelings of envy and fear of missing out (FOMO) can quickly translate into a surprising amount of stress for you, whether you realize it or not.

As well, volatile political climates and world events play out every second on social media and can be hard to avoid. A constant barrage of negative, even painful, news stories can affect your overall mental state and sense of well-being. All these factors add up to social media being a big source of stress.

Other People’s Stress

Perhaps your relationship with your spouse is strong, you don’t have any health issues and your kids called just last week. So why are you feeling stressed? If you are the rock friends and family lean on when they are experiencing their own trauma or frustrations – like a sibling going through a divorce or a friend experiencing a great loss – you can take on the burden of their stress and find yourself carrying it around unknowingly.

Digital Devices

Find yourself checking your phone right before bed and then again when you wake up? The hand to phone connection is a hard one to sever, but it could be a major factor of a stress for you – not getting a good night’s sleep.

You know that blue and white light your phone or laptop emits? Studies have shown that type of light actually prevents your brain from being able to release melatonin, a hormone that helps you fall asleep. Additionally, checking email or news stories before bed can leave the brain wired thinking about everything but falling asleep.

What Can I Do About It?

Chronic stress can have lasting ramifications on your health, so be proactive in recognizing the hidden sources that might be causing you undue stress. Not-so-great habits, external negativity and your own recovery can be alleviated by:

Refocusing Your Thoughts: Pick up a hobby that helps you refocus your thoughts in a creative, productive and calming way – like gardening, coloring, knitting or even yoga.

Practicing Self-care: Find daily activities that infuse your five senses with rich flavors, soft touches, soothing sounds, calming scents and beautiful sights.

Get Help: Short of finding a robot butler, even the smallest bit of assistance can help you manage stress. If you’re recovering from surgery, assistive tools like a rental knee scooter can enhance your mobility and independence. Looking for an assistant? Why not a virtual one? See what Alexa (by Amazon) can do for you.

Tidy Up: Spend small, manageable amounts of free time decluttering your living space. Maybe it’s giving away gently used clothes you barely wear. Or finally going through all the junk drawers in the kitchen.

No matter what you do, your approach to self-actualization and body awareness will be your main key to picking up on and addressing these “undercover” stressors. Check in with your own mind and body regularly, especially if you’re feeling pangs of stress, sadness or anxiety – and don’t forget, focusing on you every once in a while is a good thing!

What are the biggest sources of stress in your life? What do you do to deal with chronic stress and to change the habits that are silently making you feel anxious? Please share your thoughts to help other women in our community.

After Billie Eilish rocked the Grammy Awards, TikTok was aflutter about her hair. At first, it didn’t look different but many believed she was actually wearing a wig to hide her new hair color. Now we know that was true. Eilish just debuted her blonde hair on Instagram and even broke a record with how many likes she got so quickly. Yes, it’s that good.

We knew a hair transformation was coming. In an Instagram story back in December, she told fans a hair change would come after the release of her Apple TV+ documentary, The World’s A Little Blurry. “It will be the end of an era,” Eilish said in her story. “I’m gonna give you a new era. I have announcements to make, I got some shit to put out.” Most people thought she was rocking red hair under her wig or another bright color.

No one seemed to expect Eilish to turn into a blonde bombshell complete with trendy curtain bangs.

Source: Instagram

The choppy cut gives the bright blonde a rockstar feel. It’s a huge change for the musician, who has had green and black hair for a year. “Did you guess correctly?” she asked on Instagram while shaking her hair to show all the hair. There’s something about going blonde that changes a person and brings out a ton of confidence.

Still, I can’t help but think this platinum hue is a step towards something different. Often a celebrity will go for a blonde base before debuting another colorful shade. But either way, Eilish looks stunning and you can tell she’s feeling herself.

Source: Instagram

Famous friends are losing it over this change. Storm Reid wrote “obsessed” while Skai Jackson said, “omgggg I love it.” As excited as we all are over this major transformation, we also know it’s because new music is coming and that definitely deserves a celebration.

After Billie Eilish rocked the Grammy Awards, TikTok was aflutter about her hair. At first, it didn’t look different but many believed she was actually wearing a wig to hide her new hair color. Now we know that was true. Eilish just debuted her blonde hair on Instagram and even broke a record with how many likes she got so quickly. Yes, it’s that good.

We knew a hair transformation was coming. In an Instagram story back in December, she told fans a hair change would come after the release of her Apple TV+ documentary, The World’s A Little Blurry. “It will be the end of an era,” Eilish said in her story. “I’m gonna give you a new era. I have announcements to make, I got some shit to put out.” Most people thought she was rocking red hair under her wig or another bright color.

No one seemed to expect Eilish to turn into a blonde bombshell complete with trendy curtain bangs.

Source: Instagram

The choppy cut gives the bright blonde a rockstar feel. It’s a huge change for the musician, who has had green and black hair for a year. “Did you guess correctly?” she asked on Instagram while shaking her hair to show all the hair. There’s something about going blonde that changes a person and brings out a ton of confidence.

Still, I can’t help but think this platinum hue is a step towards something different. Often a celebrity will go for a blonde base before debuting another colorful shade. But either way, Eilish looks stunning and you can tell she’s feeling herself.

Source: Instagram

Famous friends are losing it over this change. Storm Reid wrote “obsessed” while Skai Jackson said, “omgggg I love it.” As excited as we all are over this major transformation, we also know it’s because new music is coming and that definitely deserves a celebration.

Is it true that downsizing is a natural part of aging? If so, I’m in trouble.

Back in 2017, my husband and I moved into the house we designed, situated on five acres of rural property. It’s the largest space I’ve ever lived in. We chose to go bigger. I’ve felt quite fearless and completely terrified along the way.

So, what is the “right size” for this season of life? I’ve learned “It depends.”

Downsizing or Upsizing, Your Surroundings Reflect Your Inner Life

It’s certainly been an inside-out job.

While I do believe that less is more, I also know that your surroundings are a snapshot of your inner self, a portrait of the inner work you’ve done and have yet to do. My inner life had been expanding rapidly. I’d become devoted to self-development, forging a post-retirement work path, deepening my relationships.

I wasn’t surprised that an expanded living space felt right.

Admittedly, there are a few prerequisites that made this choice easier. I called them Divine Green Lights: good health, a partner who’s in alignment with your thinking, an ability to do the upkeep, comfort with going against the grain while your friends move into the high-rise condos of their dreams.

And I learned that “living larger” requires other guidelines, too.

Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day

Careful planning makes upsizing less daunting. You start with clarifying what you mean by “larger.” Is it an extra bedroom? A bigger garden? More closet space or a spot for a piano?

We spent 11 years planning and executing before the moving truck finally pulled up to our new front door. Cities have been built in less time. But it was critical that I first became crystal clear on my intentions for our new home and how I wanted life in it to feel.

For example, I saw 12 people sitting comfortably around a table in a room where they couldn’t see the kitchen (lovely though it is). A space where they could linger over a glass of wine and have lively conversations.

I envisioned guests who stopped by for the evening or who’d traveled a distance feeling equally welcome, with enough room for privacy or togetherness. Lately I’ve referred to these as “tribal gatherings.” Time will tell where that idea has come from.

Our Things Should Bring Us Joy

Belongings should lift us up, not weigh us down. I felt this way long before Marie Kondo asked us to fall in love with our socks.

Many treasures I’ve collected bring a smile, remind me of an adventure, call to mind a special conversation. And many make life a little easier – think electric wine opener.

I wanted to hold onto a lot of them.

But my husband and I pledged that if we weren’t going to be delighted when we unpacked something, it wasn’t coming with us. Admittedly, we each used a couple of “free passes” during the stress of the move. And we still got rid of about a third of what we owned.

I also promised myself I’d store things within easy reach. If I had to “dig” for them, or stand on a stool to reach them, they were out. I wanted our belongings to have space, too.

And I promised to use them. Now is the time we’ve been saving them for.

Rooms Have a Life of Their Own

Some friends have an entire floor of their home reserved for spiders and their cobwebs. People haven’t inhabited it in years. An expanded life doesn’t mean maintaining abandoned rooms. Ideally, each living space has a purpose.

If you love to cook, then that chef’s kitchen will get a workout. If you’re yearning to learn to paint, then you need at least a spare tabletop. If you delight in what you do in a space, you need that space.

I’m grateful every day that we’ve been able to bring the vision of our dream home into reality. It’s a blessing that all six of my lifetime pals can visit comfortably on the same weekend. Life gets shorter all the time.

And we have a spot for the piano.

How does your living space reflect your inner life? What spaces do you feel belong in your home? Do you feel drawn to upsize, downsize or stay right where you are? Join the conversation!

If you’re the type of person whose calendar is filled with activities from walking groups to webinars and the thought of spending a night in front of the TV sends you into a complete tailspin, then keep on doing what you’re doing, because it seems all that socialising is good for your brain!

Studies conducted in the UK suggest socialising provides our brain with the same sort of stimulation and health benefits that exercise gives our bodies.

The magic lies in the human connection, whether in person or online. Our conversations and human interaction are the key to stimulating and activating our brain. The simple act of talking with people or sharing a comforting cup of tea creates a sense of togetherness that the brain recognises.

For many people, conversations and educational activities, whether in person or online, can challenge our point of view, ignite a passion and help the brain with associative recall. All of these things can trigger the cognitive part of the brain and like every other muscle in the body, the more you use your brain the better it will serve you.

Of course, not everyone was created with a desire to be surrounded by people. Some people genuinely like their own company and prefer to be left alone. If you are one of those people who struggle with getting out and being social – here are some tips for you to optimise your brain health and your memory:

Call One Person on the Telephone

To everyone out there who has ever been labelled a chatterbox, keep on talking; it’s an excellent natural remedy for your brain. For those of you out there who may not necessarily enjoy conversations – set yourself a goal.

Start small and try calling one person a week – make it a weekly occurrence, then either increase the frequency of these calls or add one more person to the schedule so you have two calls a week. Up this until you have one phone call every single day. Remember, you don’t have to talk for hours, you just have to say something.

Read a Book

We know that puzzles and crosswords are excellent brain exercisers, but if you don’t enjoy them, a good old fashion book is a great way to keep your mind and brain active. Reading stimulates the brain to remember, to recall and to visualise. On top of all of that, it is a very relaxing past-time!

Walk

Taking a daily walk will boost and improve memory. When you go out walking take some time to inhale and exhale, to absorb your surroundings and every so often take a different route – this really puts your brain to the test! Studies conducted at the Mayo clinic indicate that the effects of exercise on the brain can help reduce memory loss.

Remember that a fresh and healthy approach to nutrition coupled with the right supplements including Vitamin B6, Folic Acid and Gingko Biloba can also benefit your brain health.

We all have the potential to live healthy lives, and it is up to us to take the steps to protect our health and our memories. Explore the options that are best suited for you and consult your health care consultant for advice.

Have you lost your social connections because of the pandemic? Or are you staying in touch with your friends and loved ones? How often do you have a chat with a friend? Do you intentionally stay in touch? Please share your thoughts with the community!