Almost all of us want to reduce the stress in our lives as we enter retirement. After decades of screaming kids, performance reviews, road rage and social pressure, we are finally ready to relax and take it easy a bit.

On the one hand, this is a perfectly natural desire. After all, stress is bad, right? Why wouldn’t we want to live stress-free lives in retirement?

The reality, as I have discovered by talking with 100s of recent and not-so-recent retirees is somewhat different. Not only can some forms of stress have positive impacts on our lives, but, pursuing the goal of “reducing stress” can actually leave us feeling empty, out-of-shape and poor.

To illustrate my point, I’d like to tell you a story about Piranhas… yes, the little monsters that live in rivers in the Amazon and can strip a cow to the bone in about 30 minutes.

Let’s Throw Some Piranhas Into the Retirement Fish Tank

My son once told me a story about a man who was having trouble keeping his collection of goldfish happy and healthy.

As the story goes, a man walks into a pet store and tells the manager that his fish are dying at a rate of about one a week. They are also lethargic, overweight and they even look depressed. What does a depressed goldfish look like, you ask? We’ll probably never know!

In any case, the pet store manager recommends that the goldfish owner add a piranha to the fish tank to get the goldfish moving again. The goldfish owner is skeptical, but, short on other ideas, he decides to give it a try.

One week later, his fish have come back to life. They are swimming normally, eating properly and swimming together in groups. They even look happier.

Now, let’s ignore the fact that the goldfish owner probably lost a few fish to the hungry piranha and focus on the larger point:

Sometimes, boredom and a lack of purpose are a greater risk to our health and happiness than stress.

This is true at every stage of our lives, but, it is especially true during our retirement years when our bodies are already feeling the effects of the aging process.

So, does this mean that we should intentionally add stress to our lives in retirement? Yes and no. Yes, we should add stress to our lives, but, we should make sure that it is the kind of “good stress” that our bodies and brains will respond to positively.

Not All Stress is Created Equal – Exploring “Good Stress” vs. “Bad Stress” in Retirement

Psychologists recognize that not all stress is created equal. “Bad stress” (distress) is unpleasant, anxiety-inducing and can lead to physical and mental problems. “Good stress” (eustress) is motivating, exciting and can improve performance and our sense of purpose.

So, what does this distinction mean for retirees? How can we use this information to find happiness in the short-term without sacrificing satisfaction in the long term?

For starters, we can start to classify the stressors in our life as either causes of distress or eustress. Then, we can work to actively reduce the causes of distress in our lives while increasing the causes of eustress.

Here are a few examples of negative stressors:

• Losing your partner or a close family member
• Getting a divorce
• Having strained relationships with your friends or family
• Being injured or getting a serious illness
• Worrying about money
• Being forced to retire before you want to
• Seeing your kids or grandkids struggle
• Having legal problems

On the other hand, here are a few examples of positive stressors:

• Going back to school
• Starting a new sport
• Finding a new hobby
• Meeting new people
• Going back to the gym after years of sedentary life
• Putting a financial plan in place
• Getting back into the dating game
• Moving to a new state or even country

Notice that any of the items in the second list could be considered stressful. They ask us to step out of our comfort zones and may require an investment of energy, money, time or social capital.

But, unlike the items in the first list, they lift us up, rather than pulling us down. They help us to feel alive rather than taking us one step closer to the grave. They may make us feel uncomfortable in the short term but they make us happier in the long-term.

As Lee M. Brower once said, “A thriving new beginning can and should be a time for amazing engagement, growth, connections, contributions and amazing possibilities.”

What’s the Right Balance When it Comes to Retirement Stress?

The bottom line is that, when we enter retirement and declare war on stress, we risk throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Instead of seeing retirement as an opportunity to “take it easy” and live “stress-free,” we should see it as an opportunity to live with passion, energy and purpose.

To do this, we should wholeheartedly embrace eustress while working to reduce the causes of distress in our lives. This is the only way to get the most from the best years of our lives.

Do you think that there is such a thing as “good stress” and “bad stress” in retirement? What are you doing to reduce the causes of distress in your life, while increasing the causes of eustress in your life? Let’s have a conversation!

If you were like most people, you probably spent a lot of time in your younger years worrying about your credit rating. After all, this one number had the ability to impact your mortgage, credit cards and car payments.

But, as we get a little bit older, we tend to worry less about our credit rating. I guess we just figure that it just doesn’t matter so much, now that our biggest purchases are behind us.

Well, today, I want to article that there are plenty of reasons to care about your credit rating after 50. Here are just a few ways that having a good credit score can help you, no matter your age.

Refinance Your Mortgage to a Lower Interest Rate

If you purchased your home when rates were high, you may want to refinance your home mortgage to lower your monthly payments.

Of course, you need to have good credit to obtain a lower interest rate on your mortgage because your credit score directly corresponds to the rate you’ll qualify for with most conventional loans.

Talk to a financial advisor to see if refinancing makes sense in your situation.

Get a Reverse Mortgage

A reverse mortgage allows you to withdraw some of your home equity, but, you must undergo a financial assessment to qualify.

The assessment may take your credit history into consideration to determine whether you’d be subject to a Life Expectancy Set-Aside for your homeowner’s insurance and real estate taxes.

In general, the better your credit history, the lower the chances that you’ll be subject to a LESA that could eat into your retirement funds.

Buy a Car (Done Right, This Could Actually Save You Money!)

Whether you’re finally going to buy that convertible, a campervan for a cross-country road trip, or something sensible for getting around town, you’re going to need good credit to receive financing on a new vehicle.

With interest rates currently being so low, several of my friends have decided to sell their big expensive SUVs and to purchase smaller cars at 0% financing.

As a bonus, why not consider an electric vehicle, which may also come with tax rebates or other financial incentives?

Get Better Financing on Medical Bills

Even if you’re perfectly healthy, unexpected medical expenses are a part of life after 50. But if your credit is close to impeccable, hospitals may be willing to negotiate more favorable payment terms with you.

If worst comes to worst, if you have good credit, you can probably take a loan from the bank or get an extension of your credit limit on your credit cards. Of course, no-one wants to be in this situation, but, you just never know what life will throw at you as you get a little older.

If you’d like to boost your credit score in the years leading up to (or during!) retirement,  there are several steps you can take.

Monitor Your Credit Report, and Dispute Errors

One of the most important things you can do to maintain good credit is to monitor your credit report so you know where you stand.

AnnualCreditReport.com allows every user one free copy of her credit report from each bureau (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian) annually. You can elect to check them all at once or check one bureau every four months. If you see any inaccuracies, dispute them immediately.

Lower Your Credit Balance-to-Limit Ratio

It seems counter-intuitive that having a high credit limit might actually improve your credit score, but, this is actually quite common. What’s the catch? You can’t use all of your credit up!

Some experts recommend that you try to maintain a credit balance that’s 50 percent of your credit limit or lower. This shows your creditors that you are not “maxed out” and that you are responsible with regards to managing your finances.

Don’t Close Every Account

At our age, it’s tempting to start canceling our credit cards and lines of credit. Of course, if you have a debt problem, this can be a good idea. But, if you are in control of your financial situation, you may want to leave some accounts open.

Old accounts in good standing can actually help you to maintain a good credit score — even if you don’t use them very often.

For accounts that charge inactivity fees, consider using them to pay a small monthly fee (such as your cable bill) to keep them in good standing.

Pay Your Bills on Time

This may seem obvious, but, one of the easiest ways to achieve and maintain a good credit score is to simply pay your bills before they’re overdue on a consistent basis. To do this, you can set up automatic bill pay or create calendar reminders to help ensure that you always pay on time.

When you implement these tips, you should start seeing improvement within a few months. However, it can take up to several years to fully repair your credit score, depending on the length of your credit history — and the most recent 24 months of credit history have the most significant impact on your score.

No matter your age, having a good credit score should be a part of your overall financial plan. Not only could it help you to save money on the biggest purchases in your life, but, it could also help you to deal with any emergencies that come up in your older years.

Do you think that maintaining a good credit rating is important, no matter your age? Why or why not? 

When we were young parents, in the 1980s and 90s, coupon clipping was still a popular activity (some would say obsession!) I still remember looking through the newspaper for discounts on Tide and other staples… and the small rush that I got when I found a particularly good deal.

Unfortunately, while coupon clipping was fun (ok, addictive), it wasn’t always clear whether it was the best use of my time.

During my active mom years, I must have spent hundreds of hours looking through magazines and newspapers, clipping and sorting coupons and driving extra miles to get to the shops with the best deals. It may have been fun, but, it was also a hassle.

So, after my kids left the house, I abandoned paper coupon clipping and even managed to ignore the wave of digital replacements that took the Internet by storm.

It was only recently that I decided to give coupons another look… and what I found absolutely shocked me! Not only are the latest digital coupon services great at saving you money, but, they also avoid many of the inconveniences that plagued their predecessors.

Here are 3 modern alternatives to clipping coupons that will actually save you money before and in retirement.

Digital Coupon Browser Plugins: Save at 1,000s of Stores with Honey

Normally, I would save the best for last, but, Honey is just so good, that I can’t wait to talk about it!

What I love about Honey is that it integrates seamlessly into your Internet browser (I use Chrome). This means that you don’t need to visit coupon sites in order to copy and paste digital coupons.

Honey searches for coupon codes in the background so that you can focus on productive shopping instead of coupon chopping.

For example, let’s say that you have just added a new Conair Ceramic Hair Dryer to your cart on Amazon. You find the best price and add the item to your cart.

Then, when you visit the checkout page, Honey will tell you if you have a good chance of finding a coupon code that can be applied to your purchase. If you tell Honey to search for coupons, it will do all of the hard work, looking through thousands of potential offers to find the best deal for you. And, all of this happens without you having to leave Amazon’s website.

But, Honey doesn’t stop there! In addition to searching for coupons at check-out time, the plugin also allows you to add items to your “watch list.” Once an item has been added to your watch list, Honey will send you a notification when the price drops. This means that, if you are willing to be a bit patient, you can almost always get a great deal on the products you need.

So, how much does Honey charge for finding you the best deals out there? Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Instead, the company makes money by partnering with big companies who want to advertise their offers to Honey’s millions of users.

Pro Tip! If you want to save BIG with Honey, use it during the biggest shopping days of the year. I have personally saved 50% of more on my big-ticket items just by waiting until Black Friday or Cyber Monday to do my shopping.

Digital Coupon Sites: Coupons.com and RetailMeNot.com

Honey is great at finding “low hanging fruit” coupons quickly and efficiently, but, if you have a little extra time, it makes sense to check out the more traditional digital coupon sites too.

Two of my favorite digital coupon sites are Coupons.com and RetailMeNot.com.

Coupons.com – Good for Online Coupons, Great for Paper Coupons and Local Deals

In addition to providing digital coupons, Coupons.com also offers printable coupons, which is great, because, not all of the items on your shopping list are going to be available online.

From buy-one-get-one-free deals on popular snack foods to discounts on laundry detergents and shampoos, Coupons.com has one of the widest ranges of printable coupons out there.

In another nod to local businesses, Coupons.com also allows you to enter your ZIP code to find deals in your local area.

RetailMeNot.com – Good Coverage and a Useful Rx Search Tool

RetailMeNot is another popular website that offers both digital and paper coupons. They work with thousands of retailers in the United States, both online and offline.

In addition, RetailMeNot has a Rx coupon search tool that is perfect for older adults like us. The tool, called RxSaver, allows you to enter the name of a prescription drug that you are taking and compare prices at popular pharmacies in your area. You can also print out coupons to take with you to save even more.

Local Coupons: LivingSocial

In a world where Amazon.com has taken over online shopping and Walmart seems to own everything else, it’s great to see a website that is focused on helping you to find local deals.

When you visit their website, LivingSocial automatically detects your location and shows you deals in your area. Or, you can enter your location manually, which can come in handy if you have a trip planned to another city.

Living Social has offers at spas and fitness clubs, restaurants and zoos… and everything in-between!

When I last visited the website, I came across a deal for 41% off of a meal for two at The Melting Pot, a fantastic restaurant in Seattle, where I spent much of my career.

So, if you are looking for local deals and want to do your part to support the businesses in your area, LivingSocial is a great place to start.

Saving Money Isn’t as Important as Investing it!

If using coupons helps you to save just $3 a day, you would save over $1,000 over the course of a year. But, while saving money is great, investing it is even better.

Consider the following scenario…

If you were 55 now and decided to invest the money that you saved using coupons for your old age, you could have as much as $25,000 more by age 67 (assuming a 10% annual return). If you continued to save until age 77, you could have $80,000 more saved, just when you really needed it.

Digital coupon websites aren’t magic. By themselves, they aren’t going to change your future. But, if you put your savings to work, they could help you to reach your retirement goals faster.

Do you remember cutting paper coupons when you were younger? Have you tried any of the next generation coupon sites listed in this article? Which ones? Let’s have a conversation!

Whether you’re still staying at home as much as you can, fully engaged in your local protests, or commuting to work every day, the recommendation hasn’t changed—wearing sunscreen is advised. And now that summer weather has arrived and the official start of the season is just over one week away, you might as well make sure you have all the best SPF products on deck. Chances are you’ll forget to put on traditional sunscreen here and there anyway, so having a foundation, lip balm, or body lotion with built-in protection certainly wouldn’t hurt.

In recent times, there have been debates and research done to ponder the importance of SPF protection, period. How much of it do we actually need? Do those needs depend on your skin tone? For skeptics, there are plenty of questions that still need answering, but until then, I think you’re better safe than sorry. Plus, our growing dependence (and addiction, TBH) on phone, television and computer screens has made us more vulnerable to damage caused by exposure to the blue light emitted from these screens. Thankfully, the beauty industry has gotten a head-start on tackling both UV rays and blue light exposure with products that some level of protection against both.

Now, we have virtually no excuse to skip this crucial step of our daily beauty routines, no matter how minimal or extensive they may be. So without further delay, here’s just a sampling of the best SPF products that also happen to be affordable; under $20, to be exact.

La Roche-Posay.

La Roche-Posay Double-Repair Face Moisturizer UV

A dermatologist-approved is formulated with prebiotic-rich thermal water that feeds and improves microbiome, aka the substance that helps make up the surface of the skin.

Buy: La Roche-Posay Double-Repair Face Moisturizer UV $19.99

Maybelline.

Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Fit Me Foundation

A dermatologist-tested foundation that transforms the appearance of blemish-prone skin to make it look smooth and luminous.

Sun Bum.

Sun Bum Sunscreen Lip Balm

Choose from seven fruity flavors, all of which contain aloe vera and cocoa butter to moisturize and soothe dry lips.

Formula 10.0.6.

Formula 10.0.6 Picture Perfect Day Moisturizer SPF 15

A daily moisturizer that contains vitamin C to brighten the skin and guava to refine the appearance of pores.

Buy: Formula 10.0.6 Picture Perfect Day Moisturizer SPF 15 $10

Maybelline.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream 8-In-1 Skin Perfector

A one-and-done, barely-there skin enhancer that combines the benefits of makeup and skincare for a healthy-looking glow.

Buy: Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream 8-In-1 Skin Perfector $6.55

Bare Republic.

Bare Republic Mineral SPF 50 Sport Sunscreen Stick

A reef-friendly and water-resistant sunscreen that will save you application time without sacrificing an adequate amount of UV protection.

L’Oreal.

L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Foundation Makeup

A 45-shade range that took 10 years to develop so each shade seamlessly blends with your unique skin tone and undertone.

Buy: L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Foundation Makeup $8

Ulta.

Ulta SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm

A shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut oil-infused lip balm available in three good-enough-to-eat scents.

Physicians Formula.

Physicians Formula Triple Defense Multicolor Stick SPF 20

An all-over color stick for your eyes, skin, and lips that contains an exclusive complex made to protect the face from sun rays, blue light, and pollution.

Buy: Physicians Formula Triple Defense Multicolor Stick SPF 20 $11.49

Aveeno.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen

A fragrance-free and derm-recommended body lotion that provides protection against UVA and UVB rays.

Buy: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen $7.97

ChapStick.

ChapStick Total Hydration Complete Care SPF 15 + Color

A tinted lip balm that combines sun protection, color, and moisture.

Maybelline.

Maybelline Dream Urban Cover Flawless Coverage Foundation SPF 50

A creamy, lightweight foundation enriched with antioxidants (and SPF) to protect the skin against pollution and sun exposure.

Buy: Maybelline Dream Urban Cover Flawless Coverage Foundation SPF 50 $10.18

Neutrogena.

Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture SPF 15

A gentle hypoallergenic face moisturizer that delivers hydration and sun protection without a heavy, greasy finish (and inevitable irritation).

Buy: Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture SPF 15 $9.58

Differin.

Differin Oil Absorbing Moisturizer SPF 30

A daily moisturizer made specifically for acne-prone skin to keep the face hydrated while also absorbing excess oil.

Buy: Differin Oil Absorbing Moisturizer SPF 30 $10.49

Babo Botanicals.

Babo Botanicals Daily Sheer Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30

A lightweight, non-greasy tinted moisturizer that contains a unique “Nutri-Firm Complex” made up of antioxidant-rich fruit oils and vitamin C.

Buy: Babo Botanicals Daily Sheer Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 $14.95

Sun Bum.

Sun Bum Sunscreen Scalp Spray SPF 30

A lightweight sunscreen made specifically for the scalp and suitable for all hair textures.

Klorane.

Klorane Protective Oil with Ylang-Ylang Wax for Sun-Exposed Hair

A nourishing hair protectant made with ylang-ylang wax, a naturally-derived ingredient that acts as a shield against sun rays.

Pacifica.

Pacifica Sea & C Glow Bronzing Oil SPF 20

A body illuminator made with vitamin C and naturally-derived extracts to brighten and hydrate the skin.

NYX Professional Makeup.

NYX Bare With Me Cannabis Sativa Daily Moisturizing Primer SPF 30

A pre-makeup, skin nourisher that combines sun protection and hydration (along with extending makeup wear).

AKT Therapy.

AKT Therapy Lip Balm & Face Stick

A two-fer balm made with natural ingredients (avocado, calendula, cocoa butter, and more) to moisturize and protect the face and lips.

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.

After I feel sadness, anger, and overwhelm, I usually come back to this question: “How can I be of service?”

Globally, we are living through the pandemic. In the United States, we are witnessing or participating in a movement for more equality and justice, and many are fighting to protect our free speech. Many of you are witnessing and participating in our US struggle from your homes in other countries.

This question, “How can I be of service?” is front and center right now in my heart and mind.

I imagine that many of you are also feeling sad, angry, and overwhelmed. Most of the time, I write about ways to move your body well and to create a life of joyful health. Today I must recognize that it’s all connected… we need to take care of body, mind, spirit, AND community.

“How Can I Be an Instrument of Peace?”

Some people are called to be on the front lines of protests, and/or feel a moral duty to be there. They are standing for peace in the place of most danger.

For some, the protest line is not appropriate because of health, family responsibilities, or mind/body constitution. Please know that my suggestions are not at all intended to downplay the importance of public protests. But for all of us, peace starts at home.

Home = Community

What gifts and talents can we share in our communities, even while social distancing, to foster unity and support?

Home = Family and Friends

How can we reach out to support a loved one with tangible help, words, or just to listen?

Home = Our Bodies

Our bodies are the homes for our minds and spirits. What can we do today to take care of our body-homes, so that they are strong and energized to do what matters?

Home = Clear, Calm Mental State

What can we do today to calm our minds so that we can think clearly and take purposeful action?

Get in Your Zone of Genius

In The Big Leap, author Gay Hendricks encourages us to live in our “zone of genius.” When we are in our zone of genius, we are using our skills and talents for the greater good, with the biggest impact.

Each of us has many skills in our zones of competence and excellence. But when we are in our zone of genius, we feel we are “right where we are meant to be.”

Here are some examples of being in your zone of genius to help create peace at this time:

• Do you love to cook? Make meals for neighbors, family, or friends who are overwhelmed right now.
• Are you creative with music, words, or visual art? Use your creative powers to sing a song, make art, uplift others, and inspire peace with your words.
• Do you have a powerful voice and a truth to speak? By all means, speak it! We need to hear about injustice so that we can change it.
• Do you have a strong faith and spiritual practice? Dedicate your spiritual practices to emanating peace for all, without exception.

Body First, Service Second

I recently started following Kate Northrup, author of Do Less. She teaches entrepreneurs to practice “Body First, Business Second.” She states that when we put our bodies’ health after business, errands, chores, and others, eventually all areas of life suffer.

When we put our bodies first, in the form needed at the moment, we can thrive in all areas. Be more mindful of your body at this time. Stress and tension wreak havoc on muscles, digestion, and sleep. Take care of yourself! Then step up, speak up, and serve others as an instrument of peace.

I invite you to download a free Weekly Health Habits Tracker from my website, to help you keep your wellness plan simple and doable.

My intention is to help you align your body and your life to match your values so that you can DO WHAT MATTERS.

How are you being an instrument of peace at home in your community, family, body, and mind? How can you serve from your zone of genius? We’d love to hear from you!