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Originally posted at: Tamra Judge’s Pink Hoodie

After four decades of regular workouts, my body has decided to defend itself by developing osteoarthritis. Every workout is now a rousing game of Will It Hurt If I Do This? Oh, what fun.

But unlike a real game show, no prizes are awarded, no audience cheers me on and Door Number 2 does not hide a new sports car – or even a booby prize of a bucket of oats and a donkey. If only. Nope, the only reward is no pain if I win, pain if I lose.

I have two types of topical analgesic products to ease the discomfort. One is a roll-on. The other day I found myself rolling the soothing gel over both knees, my left thumb, my right toe and my right hip, all of which had decided to hurt for no reason whatsoever.

I started laughing as I realized I would gladly pay money for a head-to-toe roll on if it could erase every ache and pain.

In reality, I could skip the hilarity, throw myself a pity party (everyone’s invited!) and simply give up and lie on the couch, feeling sorry for myself. I could lament about the “good old days” when I could do lunges without pain, all while whimpering into my Chunky Monkey.

And to say I’m never tempted to do just that would be less than honest.

But here’s the thing. Aging happens. Everyone does it, whether they want to or not, whether they try to hide it or not.

Mother Nature has her way with all of us in one way or another.

Yes, even Madonna, Cher and every other woman in show biz, who pretends not to age, isn’t hiding from Mom Nature, I assure you. You can’t fake out your hormones, no matter how many rounds of Botox or full body lifts you endure.

Making fun of myself and these changes has been my lifelong way of coping. And, it turns out, I was onto something.

Laughter goes beyond simply good. Here are a few ways laughter boosts health.

Improves Memory

A 2014 Loma Linda University study found that humor may reduce brain damage caused by the stress hormone, cortisol, which then helps improve memory.

After watching a 30-minute humorous video, learning ability improved in the 60- to 70-year-old participants by nearly 39 percent. Scientists believe this occurs due to the ability of laughter to lower cortisol.

Raises Hopefulness

An earlier study by Texas A&M researchers shows humor increases hopefulness by relieving stress and producing a general sense of wellbeing.

Increases Heart Health

Research from the University of Maryland shows that an ability to laugh can even protect against heart disease.

The study found that people with heart disease responded less humorously to everyday life situations (even positive ones). They displayed more anger and hostility than those who did not have heart disease.

Numerous other research demonstrates the ability of laughter to lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormone levels and boost your immune system.

What’s Not to Love?

Problem is, if you’re Crabby McCrabby Face, it may take some work to turn that frown upside down.

Though keep in mind, I’m not talking about making light of serious situations. Sadness and other negative emotions are often warranted. We all go through tough situations in life that are not and never will be funny no matter how much time passes.

But on ordinary days, when your computer crashes, you’re stuck in traffic, or the cat barfs up a fur ball in the middle of your dinner party, putting things in perspective not only helps you move forward, but lowers cortisol and potentially avoids a whole heap of health issues.

When you’re having “one of those days,” at least one or more of the following tips should trigger your funny bone to do its thing.

Tap into Your Environment

Manipulate your environment on a daily basis by setting aside time to watch funny movies or videos or sitcoms. Think about what you find funny and schedule time for play or fun every day. Clown noses, funny cat videos or watching a favorite standup comic all work.

Create a Fun List

Jot down at least 10 things that bring a smile or a laugh. Your list should include things you can do when you’re feeling depressed or tired – times you’re typically least able to think of something fun to do.

Maybe it’s a Nerf ball you can throw at the wall, a Dave Barry book you can read for perspective or simply watching your cat play with a ball of paper.

Listen to Humor

Use audios of comics and humor writers on your iPhone, or other mobile device. Look for humorous podcasts, videos of standup comics on YouTube or others. Brian Regan and Jim Gaffigan are two of my favorite comediennes and appeal to a lot of people.

Call a Funny Friend

We should all have that someone who makes us laugh (my friends tell me I’m that person for them). Call him or her to talk about your frustrations. By the end of the call you should feel much better simply from talking it out and sharing a laugh.

Use Social Media

Do searches for “humor” on Pinterest, and you’ll find boatloads of funny quotes and cartoons. You can also look up this great list of funny quotes.

Decide to Laugh at Yourself

Case in point: I just returned from a dentist appointment after writing half this blog. Part of my lip was still numb, so when I attempted to drink water out of a bottle it ended up pouring out down the front of my shirt and into the waistband of my jeans. I laughed and went in the bedroom to change clothes.

I assure you, that whole story will end up as a topic for a future blog.

In the meantime, be sure to take action and make that funny list ahead of time, so it’s ready for the next time you’re tempted to let a bad day get the best of you.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

How do you incorporate humor into your life? Do you have any funny movies, websites or social media groups that make you laugh? Please share a funny story that happened to you recently!

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Originally posted at: Katie Ginella’s White Button Front Vest

Seen Also in White

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Originally posted at: Tamra Judge’s Black Collared Bodysuit

Already retired or thinking about retiring? Once we are over 60, most of us likely fall into one of those two categories. No matter which one you are in, I encourage you to ask yourself if there has been a whisper in your mind that you have been ignoring?

Dr. Caroline Leaf has a podcast that I listen to regularly. I find it really hits the nail on the head as I help individuals with retirement planning. I find that some folks have no difficulty turning the page when retirement starts and others do. Dr. Leaf points out that sometimes what shifts everything (retirement or otherwise) doesn’t always require a massive breakdown, it can be a little whisper.

Pausing to Create Awareness

When you start to pause and think about retiring or what you want to do now that you are retired, she reminds us that the pause is not indecision, it’s intelligence. Awareness creates the shift that brings you into a state of “malleability” which means your brain can be re-wired and so your situation CAN be changed. It makes sense to be aware of and listen to whatever your whisper might be telling you.

Sometimes one of the most helpful things you can do, whether it’s related to retiring or a relationship or a job, etc. is to admit that it’s time to do something new. That takes courage. Yet it’s really no different than the analogy she uses of watering a plant. You stop watering a wilted plant and choose to redirect that water to something with roots.

The Financial Side of Change

A common denominator for most life changes, a move, a new job, etc. has at least some financial component to it. I would love for all women to take the emotion out of their financial life by treating it as a checklist to be taken care of and then moving on to enjoy the fun and meaningful aspects of life once that financial checklist is complete. Retirement is no different.

We all enjoy more peace of mind when we know the financial aspect of our life is not a worry. Thinking about and taking action on pre- and post-retirement aspects of our finances is no different. We are all ready for different steps at different times, based on our individual circumstances, so I’ve developed a variety of retirement checklists to get women started on whatever they need and are ready for in the moment.

Our Mind Is in Control

Depending on our childhood and our past relationships, acting on the financial tasks may come easily or not. Even though I am in the financial industry, I see over and over again that it is the “mind” aspect of our behaviors (not just financial behaviors) that we most often fail to realize is in control.

Dr. Leif is a Neuroscientist, and she does a great job of reminding us that our mind is in control, not our brain. Our mind thinks, feels, and chooses how our brain rewires. So walking away from something, retiring for example, is a disruption that we can choose how to “start over.”

Even when the retirement decision isn’t always our choice, we still have choices we are in control of. Research continues to confirm that about half of Americans end up retiring 3-5 years earlier than they had anticipated. Most often that is due to uncontrollable factors like health issues or job loss from employer changes.

Our mindset should not be about erasing who we have been but about updating what no longer fits and adding some new learning/growing opportunities. I overheard two women talking the other day about retiring. One had retired four years ago, and the other, two days ago. They were discussing the difficulty of letting go of the worry about who would replace them after they left. The former encouraged the latter to let that thought go sooner rather than later as it was no longer in her control.

So I think the best news for all of us to remember is that our brain does not think. It just responds to your mind. And you are totally in control of your mindset. My wish for you is Less Worry, More Life! I challenge you to get the financial peace of mind behind you so you can focus your mindset, time and energy on the enjoyment of the new learning and growth opportunities that await you in retirement.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What have your retirement thoughts or experiences been like? Any mindset shifts you are experiencing or found helpful or challenging? How about any tips for women thinking about retirement or already retired? Let’s share!