Become or Get Active

If you are retired, or even semi-retired, it is important that you maintain a level of activity. If you have not continued to be active (or never were), I encourage you to find ways to get active. It is important that you are active - physically and mentally. There are days when I wake up and don't really feel like getting up and certainly don't feel like moving, but those are the days when it is extra important for me to do so. There are days when it could be so easy to lay around much of the day, doing very little. But those are the days when I must encourage myself to move - even if not at full speed. Often when I take a walk anyway, I find that once I get going, I feel better than I thought I did. So, since it is important to keep moving, do what you need to do to keep at it. The body seems to be a lot like the brain and math - if you don't use it, you lose it.

And that brings up the other part of the keep moving - your brain. Not only with math, do you lose the ability to handle it, once you stop, other tasks become more difficult if you don't regularly exercise your brain. Find ways to keep your brain active that are things you at least somewhat enjoy doing. Working jigsaw puzzles or word puzzles are a good exercise for your brain. Playing cards and other kinds of games can keep your mind stimulated. Putting something together and other kinds of creative activities are also good for the brain. Reading and writing are also good ways to use your brain. Learning something new is a very good way to keep the brain fully functioning. It does not even have to be through a class, although that is a good activity. Many colleges offer classes at a reduced rate for senior citizens or have non-credit bearing courses that may be of interest to you. It may not be too late to sign up for a course for this fall.

Don't let your muscles get too relaxed and unstimulated. To maintain or achieve better health, keep or get active!


Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including a career or job change, planning for non-retirement, coping with job loss, preparing to return to work or school, and other life planning issues. She meets with individuals in-person and at a distance to help them develop solutions to life transition issues. Mary Ann is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association, and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information on her services.

To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential voice message or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.