Let That Fresh Air Fuel You
4 Tips to Make Getting Outside Easier
Hunkering down and waiting for the dark and chilly winter season to pass sounds pretty nice. But the reality is, if we deprive ourselves of time outside, we do ourselves a big disservice both mentally and physically. Staying indoors all day affects your energy and mood, which makes it hard to get anything done, so here are four easy tips to make it easier to get a little fresh air. 1. Make it a priority. Getting outside means making the conscious effort to do so. If you want to reap its benefits, you have to decide to make it a priority in your day-to-day schedule. If you make the act important to you, you have more motivation to actually do it.
studies have shown that natural light helps decrease your melatonin production, which means you feel ready to face the day sooner. So, set yourself a second alarm to head outside and take a quick walk around the block just after waking. Don’t even wash your face or grab coffee. Just get out there. 3. Take your work outside. If you’re working from home, take some work outdoors. Phone and virtual meetings are a great outdoor option, especially if you’ll just be an active listener and aren’t required to do any work simultaneously. Attach a note to your meeting reminders to get yourself set up outside five minutes before you start.
outside, but you easily get wrapped up in activities and overlook breaks, and these reminders are exactly what you need. Start with 10-minute blocks three times a day. If you stick to them, soon you won’t need a schedule to get outside anymore. Winter weather may be cold, but even when you’re bundled up under a jacket and scarf, just 5–10 minutes outside can do wonders for your mood and energy for hours.
2. Use mornings effectively. Waking up and getting the day started can be hard. But
4. Create a schedule. It might feel strange to set reminders throughout the day to step
HOWWILL YOU FIND FULFILLMENT IN 2021?
A New (or Old) Hobby May Hold the Answer
We talk a lot about health, wealth, and fulfillment. Going into the new year, this is the perfect time to think about how you want to be fulfilled in the coming months. January is also National Hobby Month. As people think about 2021 and setting goals, those goals often include trying new hobbies or getting back into old ones. Hobbies are not only fulfilling but also healthy, especially in retirement. They’re a way to have fun and a great way to spend time, whether by yourself, with your spouse, or even with the grandkids. There are many
studies that show hobbies extend your years and help you feel — you guessed it! — fulfilled. On top of that, new hobbies help keep your brain sharp as you learn and try new things. But here's one question that comes up from time to time: Can you, or should you, turn your hobby into an additional source of income? It could be as a post-retirement career (or part-time career), or as a simple extension of the hobby itself. Can you? Sure! Many hobbies translate well into part-time (or even full-time) work, depending on the hobby and what you want to get out of it. Should you? That’s entirely up to you. Some people find additional fulfillment in treating their hobby as a job. Others want to keep “job” out of the equation. Another thing to consider is that some hobbies are self-sustaining and, with a little work, pay for themselves and may put a little extra cash in your pocket along the way. One
common example is gardening. While most retirees don’t intend to turn gardening into a post-retirement career, you can get more than just fruits and vegetables from your efforts. For example, in retirement, people often expand their backyard gardens. They may turn their yard into a full garden space or they may invest in a greenhouse or two. When you have such a large garden, what do you do with all those fruits and vegetables? You can sell them at farmers markets or privately. Or you can also simply give back to the community. There are many options. Gardening is just one of many examples of hobbies turned into post-retirement careers. Other popular examples include photography, writing, teaching, baking, carpentry/woodworking, arts and crafts, pet care, antiquing, car restoration, and so on. If you’re thinking about jumping into a new hobby (or an old one), go for it! Even if you don’t turn it into a mini career, it’s a great way to find fulfillment in retirement!
2 • CampbellWealth.com
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