As we get older, we learn to put up with life’s little aches and pains. Even if we have avoided major injuries and chronic health conditions, we probably feel a little stiff from time to time. “It’s ok,” we think to ourselves, “that’s just a part of aging.”

The problem with this perspective is that it often prevents us from taking the necessary steps that could help us to improve our well-being after 60. This is especially true when it comes to our sleep.

For example, because of the way that the aging process is portrayed in movies and on TV, many of us have the false belief that disturbed sleep is “normal” for older adults. We may even think that we don’t need as much sleep as we used to. After all, if we still needed 7-8 hours of sleep, why would we wake up at 4:30 am?

The truth is that poor sleep is not an inevitable part of getting older. In my other sleep articles, I have discussed the dietary and environmental changes that you can make to sleep better. Now, I’d like to talk about the single most important piece of furniture in your house – your mattress.

Is a Good Mattress a “Luxury” or a “Necessity?”

There is no doubt that managing your budget is difficult after 60. This is especially true for those of us who are living on a pension or working part-time. As a result, our purchasing patterns tend to shift away from “luxuries” and towards “necessities.”

This approach is perfectly rational. The only challenge comes when we mix up the two categories. For example, I know people my age who insist on having a car, even though they rarely use it. Many of these people insist that they don’t have money for a new mattress, even though they are suffering from lower back pain and wake up feeling miserable.

I’m not saying that you should sell your car and buy a new mattress. I’m simply saying that good sleep is not a luxury. As a result, you may want to reprioritize the most important item of furniture in your house – your mattress.

That said, how do you know if you even need a new mattress? The best answer to this question is that you need to listen to your body. Do you wake up stiff and sore? Does your lower back feel worse in the morning than in the evening? Is your mattress 10+ years old? If so, it may be worth considering a new mattress.

Here is a selection of 5 mattress types to consider after 60.

Innerspring Mattresses

Innerspring mattresses are one of the most popular types of mattresses. They’ve been around for ages, and there are tons of options to choose from. Getting an extremely high-end innerspring mattress, with an abundance of coils, won’t necessarily give you a better night’s sleep than a mid-range mattress.

That said, if you are sleeping on an old innerspring mattress, it may not have enough coils to support your weight evenly.

Lux Estate Cassatt

The Lux Estate Cassatt mattress is designed with IntelliCoil® HD that provides perfect support for your body, and the HD memory foam creates a responsive feel that’s easy to melt into.

The Allswell Luxe Hybrid

The Allswell has individually wrapped coils plus a gel-infused memory foam topping. It comes with a 100-night risk free trial period, 10-year limited warranty, and free ground shipping.

Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam mattresses have become increasingly popular in recent years. They have many features that appeal to those of us in our 60s.

For starters, they tend to do a good job of evenly distributing your weight. This helps to reduce pressure points and may prevent you from disturbing your partner – and vice-versa.

On the other hand, memory foam mattresses can be a bit on the warm side. So, if like many women in our community, you still suffer from night sweats, they may not be the best option.

Saatva Loom & Leaf Mattress

Saatva offers a 180-night home trial period, free white glove delivery, and it comes with a 15-year non-prorated warranty.

Layla Memory Foam Mattress

The Layla Memory Foam mattress is made with copper gel that reacts to increased pressure with a firming response. It stays soft and huggy overall, but provides ample support around deep compression areas where you need it most.

Latex Mattresses

If your health professional has told you to try a firmer mattress, a latex mattress may be a good option. These mattresses have many of the properties of memory foam mattresses, but they tend to be a bit firmer. If you suffer from back pain and are worried about overheating at night, a latex mattress may be the best way to go.

Avocado Latex Mattress

The Avocado Latex Mattress provides gentle, stable, cool, motion-isolating support with just a touch of gentle give.

Pure Green Natural Latex Mattress

The Pure Green Natural Latex mattress is made of natural latex that provides a simple but high quality mattress. It is comfortable, durable, and safe.

Air Mattresses

Do you and your partner have very different mattress needs? Then you may want to consider an air mattress. These mattresses use inflatable chambers and can provide very different conditions for each partner.

If you choose an air mattress, make sure that it’s firm enough. Otherwise, you may inadvertently make your back pain worse!

Air Pedic 800

The Air Pedic 800 offers pressure reducing innovation for the ultimate in plush comfort. The gel responsive surface layering gives you a more reactive and lower-temperature comfort all night long.

Sleep Number 360 p6 Smart Bed

The 360 p6 Smart Bed provides adjustable comfort and firmness on each side (your Sleep Number setting) and responds to your movements and automatically adjusts firmness if required individually to each side.

Adjustable Beds

Adjustable beds are a good option if you can’t get comfortable lying flat. Most of the women in our community don’t have trouble getting out of bed yet, but this is something that may happen as we get a little older. If you suffer from sleep apnea or acid reflux, talk to your doctor about whether an adjustable bed might help.

Casper the Adjustable Pro

The full-body adjustability of Casper lets you raise your head or feet to any degree. Preset positions help relieve pressure and prevent snoring

Saatva Solaire Mattress

The Saatva Solaire mattress offers individual controls and lets you set the firmness level that’s right for you. The air chambers adjust firmness incrementally, and the hidden pump operates quietly.

Getting the Most from Your Trip to the Mattress Store

At the end of the day, there is no “best” mattress for older adults. Each of our bodies is different. Once you have an idea of the types of mattress that may be good for you, it’s time to venture out to your local mattress store. Here are a few tips to help you get the most from your visit.

Spend a Few Minutes Thinking About How You Sleep

If you haven’t already, start a sleep diary. This can help you to get in touch with your sleep patterns. Are there specific parts of your body that hurt in the morning? Are you suffering from any specific medical conditions?

Have you talked to your doctor about what kind of bed might work best for you? Write down the answers to these questions to make your shopping experience easier.

Decide How Much You Can Spend on a New Mattress

While it is important to get a high-quality mattress, spending more will not always guarantee better results. As WebMD points out, “Salespeople may try to sell you on the idea that more coils mean more comfort, but that’s not necessarily true.”

Take Your Time

If you can, avoid shopping for a mattress on the weekend. Go during a quiet time when you can try out each bed without too much pressure. When you lie down on a bed, get into multiple sleeping positions.

Don’t feel like you need to hop up after a few minutes. This may be the most important purchasing decision that you will make all year.

Don’t Leave Your Sleep to Chance

Broken sleep is not normal after 60. At the same time, as we get a little older, sleeping peacefully requires a proactive approach. We may need to deal with the medical complaints that are keeping us up at night.

We may also need to make small adjustments to our diet or sleep environment. If you sleep on an old mattress, or wake up stiff and sore, it may be time for a change!

Have you recently purchased a new mattress? How did you make your decision? Have you found that your new mattress has helped you to sleep better at night? Please share your experience below!

An asset is something that you own, you get to use it and it brings benefits. Assets can also depreciate if they are neglected.

A tangible asset is one that you can touch, feel or see and you can trade. Some examples are your investments, car and house if you own them. If you neglect to do regular maintenance on your house, its value will gradually deflate.

What Is an Intangible Asset?

I first came across the concept of intangible asset in the book The 100-year Life by Gratton and Scott, and to me, it made a lot of sense. It is an asset that you cannot hold, touch or feel and you cannot put a monetary value to it, meaning it cannot be traded.

So what does that have to do with being over 60? Everything. If you want quality of life as you age, you need to take care of your intangible assets and ensure they do not depreciate.

The example familiar to most of us is, when we go on holiday, our fitness and eating regimes tend to go out the window. We also know what it is like getting back to our pre-holiday fitness and cutting out the eating excesses after we have neglected them on holiday!

So, what are your intangible assets? My list is not finite, but it provides the building blocks:

Skills and Knowledge

We come into retirement with a wealth of skills and knowledge built up over the years. It is important to maintain these as well as add to them as we grow older.

If you continue working into your late 60s, even 70s, you will need to keep on top of the new trends in the workplace. When you stop learning, you stop growing and thus stagnate.

Health

Both mental and physical health are vitally important. Most of us in our 60s, have begun to feel the early signs of aging – the stiffening joints, the inability to do what we could 10 years ago and of course the senior moments!

The experts in neuroplasticity say we need to learn one new thing each day to keep our brains agile, flexible and to stave off dementia.

We also need to exercise to stave off the stiffness and keep our joints flexible, and we need to eat correctly to curb that expanding waistline. Perhaps it is time for an annual visit to a health practitioner.

Fitness

I think of fitness as flexibility and agility. In the physical arena, it is about regular exercise in order to push the heart rate up and stretching to maintain joint flexibility. Mental fitness, on the other hand, is about stretching your brain by learning new things or doing activities that stimulate your thinking.

If you look after your body by feeding it healthy nutrients, keeping the weight in check and getting enough sleep, you will find it easier to maintain fitness, illustrating that fitness and health go hand in hand.

Your Social Network

In his TEDx talk, Robert Waldinger tells of the 75-year study on a group of 600 men, which found good relationships to be what kept them healthy and happy. He says, social connection is important and loneliness can lead to death.

I would like to add that you need to ‘work’ your friendships if they are going to be an asset because it is the quality of your relationships that determines your health and happiness. A neglected friendship will not be there when you are in need.

Self-Knowledge

An awareness of who you are and your purpose in life will stand you in good stead as you negotiate the transition to retirement.

Some find they become more spiritual. We do have many years’ experience, but that doesn’t automatically translate to wisdom, it needs awareness as well. A good understanding of how you adjust to change is a good start in the transition to retirement.

Family Relationships

The family have known you longer than anyone else, and are usually still around when you start fading into old age.

As Waldinger states, social connection is important, and good relationships with extended family is a good place to start. Elder orphans need to look beyond their lack of immediate family and draw on more distant relatives and close friends.

Relationship with Partner

When we transition to retirement, our relationship with our partner changes as we leave colleagues behind and spend more time at home.

Many people neglect this relationship because they think there is no problem with it, as it has stood the test of time. But communication lines need to be open with regard to planning for the future so that both partners are on the same page. Also, roles within the home may need to be re-negotiated.

I am sure you will come up with many more intangible assets that require management, in order that they may serve you and not depreciate. This list is definitely not finite, but rather a starting point for you to look at your own intangible assets and how you are managing them.

What are your strongest intangible assets? Which intangible assets do you need to improve in your life? Please share your thoughts below.

Have you ever wanted to sew, but were intimidated or overwhelmed by what project to try first? An apron is a tried and true sewing project that is not only timeless but a useful item. You could even give a handmade one to a baker or gardener friend!

I am laying out a few simple apron projects to try with me! I recently found a few antique sewing books for a couple of dollars. I was pleased to find pattern diagrams inside, along with vintage sewing techniques and instructions for each project.

Here is the book I will be sharing a few apron ideas for us to choose from.

Apron #1: “Square Sewing Apron”

This apron is a simple half apron that ties on the waist. It features a large rectangular pocket with soft gathers at the center bottom (under pocket placement). It’s trimmed in lace (or you can use rick rack).

Only 3/4 yard of fabric is required, along with up to 3 yards of trim.

Woven cotton fabric is best for this kind of apron. Medium to heavier weight as too thin will cause the apron to fall apart once used and washed.

This apron is useful for household chores such as sewing, cooking, cleaning, and gardening!

Apron #2: “Valentine’s Apron”

This style is simply adorable, and frilly. It requires roughly 30″x 36″ voile (or semi sheer, stiffer woven fabric), 4 yards of lace, 1 yard of beading, and 2.5″ of 1/2″ wide ribbon is optional to trim as the photo shows.

This apron features a heart shaped pocket that is trimmed in lace and ribbon. The bib is not shown with a shoulder strap, but you could add one if you like. This apron has soft gathers on the sides. Optional beading can be added over the top of the seams.

This is a great apron for sewing, baking, or for costuming. It might even look cute hanging in your kitchen as decor!

Apron #3: “Sewing Bag Apron”

This functional apron can be turned into a bag by pulling the drawstring of the pocket in the center bottom area.

It requires about 1 yard of fabric.Medium to thicker weights, even canvas, would work for this project. 1″ wide ribbon is required, 4.5 to 5 yards in length.

The small pockets on top are optional, though they add not only design but extra storage. These would be ideal to hold bobbins, or threads – even buttons!

Easy and Useful Project

These three are all relatively easy, especially if you opt out of the excess trimming. All have functional purpose as well as style.

I believe a beginner could finish these aprons in under 6 hours. If you are more advanced, these can be done in just a couple of hours.

Let’s sew an apron!

What was your first sewing project and what did you sew it for? Have you recently sewn something new? What do you think about sewing an apron? Which fabrics and projects are your favorite?

Imagine that I said to you, “I hate your purple hair. It looks terrible on you.” Assuming that your hair is any color except purple, you might wonder about my eyesight but aside from that, you wouldn’t give the comment a second thought.

It would roll right off your back. You wouldn’t ruminate about it, or question whether I was right, or second guess your actual hair color.

On the other hand, if your hair color was purple, you might feel offended.

Do You Fear Being Judged by Others?

Many of us feel obligated to consider other people’s opinions (i.e., judgmental thoughts or comments) before we do or say something. This usually manifests in a formulation such as:

• What will people say if I…?
• I don’t want others to see me as…
• What will the family think of me if I…?
• How will my kids react if I… ?

You have no doubt felt the sting of being judged by others. Sometimes criticism is meant to be helpful; sometimes it isn’t.

• You need to get on with your life.
• You’re not dealing with this properly.
• You are only looking out for yourself.
• You are being overly dramatic.
• You should take better care of yourself.

We fear being judged and we feel hurt when we are judged only when we are in agreement; only when deep down, we are already judging ourselves.

We talk to friends about it and they commiserate with us, telling us how rude and insensitive the comment was, but that doesn’t solve the hurt, because the hurt is rooted deeper. The problem isn’t what another person said (or what they might say). The problem is what we already are thinking about ourselves.

Judgment Presents an Opportunity

Being afraid of being judged or feeling the sting of judgment presents an opportunity to examine our own thoughts; to consider that deep down, we might be in agreement. And then to remember that all thoughts are 100% optional.

Thoughts that cause extra suffering do not serve us. Let’s face it, life can be painful enough. The last thing we need is added suffering.

Examine your thoughts. Are they both true and useful? (Hint: if they make you feel horrible, they’re very likely not useful.) If they are not both true and useful, it’s time to choose other thoughts, on purpose, that are 100% true for you.

Once we stop judging ourselves, we can stop living in fear of being judged by others. We can break free of the paralysis and take action: make the bold move, quit the job, accept the dinner invitation, start the business, be brave enough to be a beginner.

Once we learn to have our own back, judgmental comments lose their sting. We can simply allow other people to be wrong about us.

Does fear of judgment keep you from taking action? Do you agree that judgment only stings when, at some level, we are already judging ourselves? How have you allowed others to be wrong about you? What do you think others might judge you for? Have you tried switching self-criticisms off for the benefit of better thoughts?

I’ve tried a lot weird things for the sake of beauty, from using a lip-vacuum device in attempt to fake a plumper pout to dousing my lackluster locks with a bottle of IPA beer to restore some shine after a bleach job gone wrong. One thing I never imagined doing, however, is spreading warm candle wax on my body with the hopes of achieving supple skin, but alas, here I am.

Before you assume that this skincare-candle hybrid is a product of kink culture or a sexy Valentine’s Day gimmick, hear me out, because apparently skincare candles are the latest thing in the beauty and wellness space. I’m guessing you’re either intrigued or horrified at this point, so I’ll go ahead and get on with my Neom Organics Skin Treatment Candle Review.

To offer some much-needed context here, I’ve been a huge fan of Neom’s luxe candle range for some quite some time now, but I have to admit — when I stumbled upon their Skin Treatment Candle, I was a little hesitant — not to mention kind of confused. But, in the name of beauty (and my job, of course) I figured I had to give it a try for myself. Spoiler alert: it’s not scary, painful, or kinky (unless you want it to be, that is) at all.

In fact, it’s the ultimate me-time selfcare product I’ve been subconsciously dreaming into existence for the past year (I mean, let’s face it: we all could use a little extra TLC after the dumpster fire of a year that was 2020.)

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Basically, you simply light the candle as you normally would, wait 10 or 15 minutes for the skincare-grade wax to soften and pool into a liquid, and then you’re ready to drizzle this yummy skin-enhancing wax-to-oil formula all over your skin — just don’t forget to blow out the flame. Clearly, Neom’s Skincare Treatment Candle isn’t formulated with any old candle wax. The soybean oil base is infused with not only twenty-four different de-stressing essential oils, but also a slew of nourishing skincare ingredients, including jojoba oil, cocoa butter, almond oil and rapeseed oil.

Courtesy of Neom Organics.

Neom Organics Intensive Skin Treatment Candle

It probably goes without saying, but this candle also happen to smell like straight-up heaven on earth — i.e. lavender, jasmine and Brazilian rosewood.

Full disclosure: while I was ever-so-slightly concerned about getting burned, rest assured, it wasn’t an issue. In fact, this is one of the most relaxing nights to myself I’ve had in a hot (pun intended) minute. Neom recommends that you make a night of it too — draw a warm bath, pour a glass of wine, and get ready to have the literal softest skin ever after massage in the moisturizing oil and breathe in the relaxing blend of anxiety-erasing aromas.

Neom offers two versions of their Skincare Treatment Candle: the Scent to De-Stress and the Scent to Sleep. I tried the de-stress version, and as someone with an apparent inability to fully unwind, I found that it really did the trick.

Courtesy of Neom Organics.

Neom Organics Perfect Night’s Sleep Skin Treatment Candle

For all of the restless night owls out there, it’s time to give this sleepy time candle a try. Not only does it smell and feel amazing on the skin, but it also helps you wind down and prepare for some solid shut eye with the help of English lavender, calming sweet basil, and jasmine.

Buy: Neom Perfect Night’s Sleep Candle $46