By now, you’re probably tired of hearing about healthy aging. Every article says you should eat specific things and exercise regularly, but what if you’ve never enjoyed going to the gym or jogging? You’re probably not going to start running marathons, lifting weights, or joining a sports club at this point. It can make you wonder if other options exist to add more physical activity to your daily routine. The answer is yes. Instead of going to the gym or running through your neighborhood, you can find creative activities to provide extra movement to your day. Even better? You’ll improve your physical and mental agility. Here are two creative aging activities you can explore. TAKE THE STAGE Acting is an excellent activity for anyone to start, but it becomes even more beneficial to aging Americans. Through acting, you’ll notice improvements in your concentration and memorization. Depending on the play, you may be required to stay moving, which will benefit your physical health. Plus, you’ll get many opportunities to socialize with your castmates. Many local theaters actively look for aspiring actors to audition. BUST A MOVE You may have fond memories of dancing in clubs, at weddings, or during special events, but the opportunities to boogie become rarer as we age. Thankfully, dance classes and studios love sharing the enjoyment of dance with people of all ages. Whether you like salsa, tap, waltz, swing, or some other type of dance, you can find a class or group ready to welcome you. AGE GRACEFULLY WITH MOVEMENT YOU ENJOY No Gym Required!
ESTATE PLANS FOR THE DIGITAL AGE Family Ties, Online Treasures
For insight into how much technology has impacted our everyday lives, simply look back to the ancient days of 2005.
A mere 20 years ago, social media was in its infancy (who remembers Friendster?), and most offices still had fax machines and scanning equipment. Conversations were held via flip phones, and world news was disseminated at neighborhood newspaper or magazine stands. Nowadays, virtually everything in our lives is stored in the smartphones in our pockets, and millions of people chronicle every significant event of their lives through social media status updates and videos. Now that “the cloud” has replaced file cabinets and storage boxes as the repository of our most precious moments, it’s essential to investigate how current technology may affect your plans for asset distribution upon your passing. Now is the time to consider including “digital assets” in your estate planning. DIGITAL FOOTPRINT FUNDAMENTALS Put simply, a digital asset is created every time you turn on your smartphone or boot up your laptop. Facebook, X, Instagram, PayPal, Dropbox, online gaming sites, and email accounts are just a few examples of where your cyber footprints are recorded. If you used your phone to record your granddaughter’s college graduation or wrote a personal blog about your father’s military service or your family’s love of fishing, those would also be considered digital assets. Since so much digital content is produced under your name, determining what can and can’t be transferred to beneficiaries is tricky. Generally, transferable digital assets include any media you own (music, videos, photos, etc.), funds accumulated on online platforms (web-based marketplaces, bank accounts, PayPal, etc.), and cryptocurrency. Conversely, subscription service accounts (Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.), mobile phone apps, and social media accounts are typically not transferable. A STORYTELLING SANCTUARY Perhaps most significantly, cloud-based technologies allow you to preserve your history. Your estate plan could include links to online storage spaces that contain photos, digitally preserved verbal or written stories of your lineage, or videos where you describe an endearing moment from the early days of your marriage. With cloud-based technology leading the way, the possibilities for leaving something truly valuable behind for your loved ones to experience are endless. —Jason Mackey
MEDICAREBLUEPRINT.COM
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