Perhaps one benefit
of being a boomer is longevity! We tend to live longer and healthier lives than
our grandparents, and in many cases even our parents, did.

In addition
to having more years to enjoy those things that bring bliss to our lives, we
are usually able to maintain our independence well into our 80s and beyond.

For the most
part, this is wonderful news. But longer, more independent living also means
that many of us are living alone – often for the first time in many years – with
friends and family not always nearby.

This
isolation, along with such things as the loss of a partner or the management of
a chronic illness, can put us at high risk for depression, which is more common
than you may think.

According to Mental Health America, more than two million, or roughly six percent, of us will suffer from depression at some point. And, our depression symptoms may go beyond feeling sad and include being exhausted, having trouble concentrating and irritability.

Games May Provide an Effective Depression Prevention or Management Tool

There are many
things you can do, starting today, to help with depression. And as it turns
out, one activity which may help with depression is playing games.

A good amount
of research has come out recently on what benefit, if any, playing games such
as Mahjong, Scrabble and Bingo, or doing crosswords, Sudoku or jigsaw puzzles,
could have on boomer mental health. The answer is, “A lot!”

Mahjong, Board and Card Games

One recent study done by the University of Georgia suggested that
urban residents in China who play Mahjong (a tile-based strategy game) were
less likely to report feeling depressed.

Whether it
was the game itself, or the social interaction it provides, that helped
alleviate depression is unclear, but it most likely was a combination of both.

The benefits of social interaction for boomer
mental health is well known, and the type of strategic thinking
required to play Mahjong has been shown to help keep cognitive skills sharp.

The fun of
playing can also trigger the release of endorphins, the “feel good” chemicals,
in our brains which, in turn, can lift our mood.

Give your brain a boost with our FREE Sixty and Me games! With Sudoku, Mahjong, Crosswords and so much more, there’s something for everyone! Let’s have some fun!

Other games
that score high on helping with mental health – both from a social aspect as
well as exercising our brains – are chess, card games (think Bridge, Rummy,
Crazy Eights and Solitaire), checkers and Backgammon.

Even such
classics as Monopoly, Clue, word search and Wheel of Fortune can help ward off
depression and improve your cognitive skills.

Video Games

What I really
found fascinating is that playing video games may also help reduce depression
and give an overall boost to our mental health even when antidepressants
haven’t worked.

In one report, for example, researchers suggested that
playing certain computer games was just as effective as the well-known
antidepressant Lexapro at reducing depression symptoms.

Even more
surprising was the finding that participants in this study started to
experience positive results in just four weeks rather than the 12 it usually
takes for medication to work.

An added
benefit of playing video games was that participants also showed improvement in
cognitive skills and, specifically, executive functions. So, the next time your
grandkids are playing video games at your place, instead of telling them to
stop, you may want to join them in the fun!

How to Make the Most of Playing Games

Here are a few
tips on how to maximize the value of games for managing or preventing
depression and mental health in general.

Choose Your Favorites

Pick a game
you like and enjoy playing since that will increase the probability you will
stick with it. If you really hate word games, don’t play them.

Diversify Your Choices

Pick a variety
of games – some that you can play alone and some that you can play with others,
either face-to-face or online, to expand your social network.

Try Games You Can Grow with

Look for games that offer different difficulty levels so that you can start out on an easier level and progress to harder ones as you get better at the game.

Make Use of All Game Options

Lastly, keep
in mind that many games have online versions that you can play on your computer
as well as “app” versions that you can play on your smart phone or tablet. With
all the options today, your choices are almost limitless.

Don’t Forget About Nutrition

Playing
games is only one part of what you can do to prevent or better manage
depression. The other is to make sure that your brain is getting all the nutrients
it needs, and in the right amounts, to reduce your risk of developing
depression.

If you
already have depression, a good balance of nutrients may reduce the likelihood
of it getting more serious. In fact, scientists have come up with a scale that
may help you choose which foods to eat for improving
depressive symptoms.

Here
is a short list of brain-essential nutrients for preventing and treating
depression, and foods that are great sources for them:

• Omega-3 fatty acids: fish, flaxseeds, walnuts, kale, brussels sprouts
• Magnesium: dark leafy greens, nuts (cashews, peanuts, almonds), brown rice
• Calcium: dairy products, dark leafy greens, chia seeds, sardines, tofu
•  Fiber: raspberries, pears, whole-wheat pasta, lentils, artichokes, green peas
•  Vitamins B1, B9, B12: 
  • B1: beef, liver, oranges, oats, legumes
  • B9: legumes, citrus fruits, bananas, grain products
  • B12: beef, chicken, eggs, fish and dairy.
• Vitamin D: sun exposure, fortified cereals and fortified OJ, egg yolks, mushrooms
• Vitamin E: sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach, safflower oil

There is
evidence that, as women, we may need a larger spectrum of
nutrients to support mood, compared to men. For boomer women, it’s especially
important to focus on nutrient-dense foods that will help ensure our brains are
getting the right nutrients in the right amounts.

Of course, if
you have been diagnosed with depression, you should not make any changes to
your current treatment program without first talking with your healthcare
provider.

What are you currently doing to avoid isolation,
depression and to keep mentally sharp? Are you concerned about developing
depression and, if so, have you spoken with your healthcare provider about it? Please
join the conversation.

Amanda Batula’s White One Shoulder Tank While Apple Picking

Summer House Season 4 Episode 12 Fashion

In the words of Stassi Schroeder, Amanda Batula’s white one shoulder tank top that she wore on last night’s episode of Summer House is the perfect example of a “next level basic.” Which hopefully come end of summer you’ll be able to wear during one of the best Basic B activities of all time —apple Instagramming picking at an orchard.

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to Shop Her Urban Outfitters Tank in Many Colours

Click Here to Shop Her Dior Sunglasses in a Similar Colourway

Click Here to Shop Them in Black on Sale

“Amanda” Necklace By Ellie M Jewelry

Info: @AmandaBatula

Originally posted at: Amanda Batula’s White One Shoulder Tank

Lisa Rinna’s Black One Shoulder Jumpsuit

Season 10 Episode 2 Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Fashion

Lisa Rinna’s black one shoulder jumpsuit had her acting sassy, but looking classy. We all know we can get a little too sassy for some from time to time—specifically for for me after some wine—but I appreciated the fact she came clean to Teddi Mellencamp about her comments re: her retreat. Not that she was even talking that badly about her relative to other things that are said in the world of BH but I strive to be honest like that with everyone in my life. Though, usually I just try not to say anything at all because confrontation isn’t really my forte.

What is my forte is a black jumpsuit. I mean it’s black which I obviously love. And it’s a jumpsuit which means you can move in all directions and not have to worry about revealing “too much”. Except maybe your true feelings about your friend’s business retreat.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here To See Her Stella McCartney Black One Shoulder Wide Leg Jumpsuit

Photo & ID Credit: @lisarinna

Originally posted at: Lisa Rinna’s Black One Shoulder Jumpsuit

Are you stuck inside
right now? With many parts of the world under quarantine, staying sane
has become even more of a challenge than staying healthy.

Whether you’re
self-isolating solo, as part of a couple, or with your extended family, being
confined to your home can take its toll.

For many of us, it
already has. If you’re alone, you’re craving company and if you’re not, all you
can think about is going for a long walk. By yourself.

Complaining won’t change
the situation. If anything, it’ll only make it worse. So, why not use the time
to do something constructive?

I know, it’s the last
thing you want to hear, but think about it. There are only so many books you
can read, Netflix series you can watch, games you can play, and recipes you can
try out.

These activities might
be keeping you busy, but they’re not keeping you productive. And if all you’re
doing is watching the news, you’re more
than likely feeling overwhelmed and depressed, too.

That’s not a good space
to be in right now. Balance is key. As much as we need downtime to recharge our
batteries, so too do we need periods of busy-ness. (You can’t enjoy one without
the other.)

With that in mind, why not tackle something you’ve been putting off? Like decluttering your house or garage. If you’re like most people, you have way too much stuff. You know you need to get rid of at least half of it, but something is holding you back.

The Many Benefits of Decluttering

Decluttering has some amazing benefits. It’ll save you money, leave you less stressed, and make housework a breeze. It also makes you happier. But then, you already know all that.

The problem isn’t that
you don’t want to declutter. It’s that you can’t seem to let go of your stuff.
How many times have you started decluttering only to find yourself stymied by
an inadvertent trip down memory lane?

Surrounded by your
children’s sports trophies, the ugly vase from your now-deceased aunt, running
shoes you’ve yet to lace up, college textbooks from courses you never finished…

You decide (again) to put off decluttering until you figure out what to do with everything. The sad fact of the matter is, letting go of stuff is hard. We hold onto things for all kinds of reasons.

An item may hold
sentimental value for you. There’s also a chance (albeit a slim one) you’ll
need it in the future. Plus, you spent good money on it and don’t want to be
wasteful.

Understanding the psychology of
clutter is an important first step. Once you know why you’re holding onto something, letting it go will be a whole
lot easier. The next time you decide to declutter, you’ll actually get the job
done.

Forgive Your Impulse Buys

Acknowledge your past impulse buys for the
mistakes they were, and move on. We’ve all been there. Whether it’s buying
running shoes when you hate running or buying a Nutribullet when you can’t
stand smoothies, it happens.

Our minds trick us into
believing the item will somehow change us. We imagine ourselves running or
blending with gusto, but we fail to consider the facts. We don’t run, and we
prefer to eat our calories.

Make a pact with
yourself to be more vigilant the next time that happens. Instead of hauling out
your credit card right away, go home and sleep on it. Better yet, run it by a
friend who knows you well (and isn’t afraid of being honest).

Back to that impulse
buy. Think of someone who would love to own a new pair of running shoes or a
highspeed blender and gift it to them. Knowing how much joy they’ll get from it
will make letting go so much easier.

The Money Is Gone (And That’s
Fine)

There is no point in
keeping something because it was expensive. It’s not going to bring the money
back. You could try recouping some of it on eBay, but either way, you need to
make peace with the mistake and move on.

Instead of seeing it as
money down the drain, view it as payment for a lesson learned. At least now you
know better than to buy something because it’s on sale or because you ‘imagine’
you might use it.

Sometimes, all you need
to do is give yourself permission to let go of perfectly good things. Sell them,
donate them, or give a friend an early Christmas gift. Keeping items you will
never use is only going to remind you of your past mistakes, and nothing good
ever came from that.

Store Your Memories Inside
Yourself

Sentimental items are
memory receptacles. They remind us of a person, place, or event. Learn to
access your memories from your heart rather than relying on some trinket you
don’t even look at, let alone use.

How often do you look at
the photos and videos on your phone? If you’re like most people, once you’ve
shared them on social media (or showed them to your book club buddies), they
rarely see the light of day again.

That Eiffel Tower
keychain your sister bought you on vacation is still in your junk drawer. It’s
too clunky to actually use, but you can’t bring yourself to let it go either.

You don’t need a photo
or trinket to remind you of the good time you had with her in France. Shut your
eyes, and you’ll be right back in that little coffee shop around the corner
from your hotel.

Before you know it the
aroma of freshly-baked croissants will fill your nostrils. The cute barista’s
smile is as clear and bright as it was when you were there. (Wait, did he just
wink at you or your sister?)

We think we need a
physical reminder to help us tap into our memories, but we don’t. All we need to
hold onto the people and experiences we treasure is ourselves.

When you focus on being fully present and immerse yourself in the moment, that person or event will stay close to your heart forever. Resist the urge to pull out your wallet or camera, and simply be there.

Okay, Now It’s Time to Declutter!

Now that you’ve figured
out why you were keeping all that
stuff, you’ll find the art of decluttering to be a breeze.
Why? Well, because you’ve already let go. All that’s left to do is pack the
stuff up and send it to its new home.

Yes, you might still
feel a pang of guilt for regifting the ugly vase Aunt Berryl gave you on your
wedding day. The difference is, this time you’ll put it in the ‘to go’ box
regardless.

You’ll smile, secure in
the knowledge that the good times you had with her with always be with you.
Even better, the vase is no longer destined to spend its life gathering dust.
It’s going to someone who will fill it with flowers.

That said, if the thought of letting go is still tripping you up, you can always enlist some help. Joshua Becker’s popular decluttering course is currently open for registration. Take a look at my Uncluttered review to find out more.

Where are you on the
‘letting go’ scale? Is it easy for you to say goodbye to something you no
longer like or use? Are you overly sentimental, hanging onto love letters and
old sweaters because they remind you of someone or something? Or, do you fall
somewhere in between? Let’s have a discussion!

Daffodils and crocuses are pushing their way through the hard-packed earth. Spring will be here in its full glory! While we don’t know when the Coronavirus “winter” will abate, it will. Humans and our economies are resourceful and resilient.

We get to decide now who we want to be in the midst of this challenging season and how we want to emerge as better people. We have financial choices to make now that will shift the trajectory of our journey from today onward.

There are four overarching themes of your financial life:

• How it comes to you.
• How you share it.
• How you protect and grow it.
• How you spend it.

What are your beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors in each of these areas now, and what do you want to consider shifting, changing, or embellishing on as we move through this time of profound change?

Money Coming Into Your Life

Are you still working? How has the “spigot” of cash flow changed over the past month? You may need to look at turning on other spigots of income. Are you on the cusp of or in retirement? Does money come to you from retirement accounts, a trust, Social Security, rental property, business assets, investments?

I find that many people have a hard time shifting from exchanging work hours for a salary to receiving income from savings built up over time. In our current environment, you need to be very strategic over which “buckets” you tap.

Considerations around lifestyle, liquidity, longevity, and legacy will dictate how you can best use the financial tools you have. The SECURE ACT of 2019 changed when and how you take money or put money into your retirement plans.

Now, The CARES Act has changed yet other aspects. For 2020, you do not need to take your RMD. However, given your personal situation, this may not be the route you want to go.

We are in very low tax brackets right now, and IRA money comes to you as ordinary income. With all the money being “lent” to our economy right now, what do you think will happen with taxes down the road?

Share What You Have

Women are natural givers, but we need to do it wisely. This pandemic has created the great equalizer. It impacts every man, woman, and child, regardless of color, creed, political affiliation, or economic standing.

Giving generously to causes and organizations as well as your neighbors is no longer a luxury of abundance but an expression of sufficiency. There are creative ways to give and the CARES Act has provided a couple new nuances.

For example, there is a new partial above-the-line deduction for cash contributions up to $300 for those people who are not itemizing their deductions.

The CARES Act has also temporarily modified the itemized deduction for 2020 to 100% (up from 60% in the past). You will also be able to carry forward that which is not offset in 2020 to future years.

Protect and Nurture Your Monetary Resources

Now is the time to revisit your estate planning and discern direction of your investments. Do you have a will, medical directives, HIPAA authorizations, beneficiary designations, and Power of Attorneys reviewed, updated, and put in place?

Does your situation warrant creative trusts, or can you keep things simple? Do you have life insurance that needs to be reviewed?

Now is the time to open your statements and look at your investments. Are there companies you want to be a part of or stay away from as a matter of principal? Socially responsible, impact- and faith-based investing are options you can consider in order for your investment dollars to speak for you.

Are there tax loss harvesting opportunities you want to avail yourself of? Now is the time to strategically reposition your portfolios to take advantage of the growth opportunities we will see in the future. Please seek wise counsel as you consider any of these financial facets.

Spend Mindfully with Joyful Intention

Never before have we experienced an opportunity to mindfully spend our money on products or services that are meaningful to us. I make a thoughtful list of items to pick up at the grocery store that will last us for two weeks.

I strive to make purchases based on “soul needs” versus “ego desires.” I don’t have it down pat yet, but an experience with a faulty coffee maker (which the supplier would simply “throw away” instead of try to fix) emphasizes the need to really think through our purchases.

With the time we now have on our hands, many are going through closets, purging things they don’t need. I’ve decided to take a pause and really think things through.

What do I want to change moving forward about how I make purchases? I can appreciate what I already have and find substitutes for things I can’t run out and purchase. We can live in sufficiency and our “enoughness.”

We can find joy in ways that circumvent the consumer world we have been immersed in. We can have economies that grow based on our soul needs and thought-out desires.

I encourage you to spend time to look at these four financial themes in your life and how you want to do your dollars differently moving forward. We are all part of the problems and we are all part of the solutions moving forward to a better world.

I am giving away my book Your Financial Revolution – Time to Recognize, Revitalize and Release Your Financial Power until the 15^th of May. You will need to have an Apple itunes reader or Amazon Kindle reader to open.

In what ways are you doing your dollars differently now? What other changes will you embrace in the upcoming months? What financial decisions are the easiest or most difficult for you at this time? Please share with our sisters and let’s have a conversation.