healthy lifestyle Archives - Page 8 of 54

Seniors: Know a Luddite? How to Get Them to Talk Tech

Young people might think they’ve cornered the market on communicating using technology, but that’s definitely not the case, especially after the last two years. So many older adults are embracing the power that is literally at our fingertips, and staying in touch with loved ones across states, countries, and continents, or just keeping their weekly meetups with friends or grandchildren going no matter what the situation. And we’re incredibly grateful that we have the means to do so! Well, maybe not all of us feel that way: there are plenty of seniors who are a bit tech shy, shall we say, and you probably know a few of them. So how can you get the Luddites in your life to get on board with using technology, so you can stay connected?

Seniors and Tech Can Be Friends!

wifi symbol with a red X over it — *Some studies show that over 40% of older adults don’t have the internet at home.*

Have you ever had a friend say to you, “Oh, I don’t have email,” or “Social media? Nope, not for me?” or even “I don’t do video chatting, I’ll never be able to figure it out!”? If you’re an older adult you’ve probably heard something like that from a friend at some point: in fact, according to some counts, almost a third of seniors don’t use the internet at all, and some studies show that over 40% of older adults don’t have the internet at home.

And the thing is that a lot of younger people, or even tech companies, can’t seem to grasp exactly why that is – or more, accurately, they think they know why, but they might not be getting it quite right. Those who aren’t older adults tend to just brush off some seniors’ resistance to technology as a hopeless inability to learn new skills related to using tech, which is definitely not a helpful way to look at things.

But you know better than that! After all, you’ve learned how to do what you want to do online, and so can your tech-resistant friends. The keys to unlocking their potential? Patience, of course, and a few helpful suggestions, but also a focus on the most important part of that sentence above: you have learned what you want to do online. For many tech-resistant seniors, the issue is not just feeling like they might not be able to learn new tech (although some have that worry), it’s that they need to feel like the tech they’re using

has value for them, and aligns with their values.

So, with those thoughts in mind, how can you give your tech-resistant friends practical advice for learning about tech, as well as get them on board with actually using it?

Dealing with Practical Objections

First things first: let’s take a look at some of the practical issues that your older friends or loved ones might have, and deal with some of their possible objections to using tech.

“I don’t even have the internet at home”

As we pointed out above, some seniors don’t even have the internet at home, and they might feel overwhelmed by the prospect of figuring out how to get it, and/or think it would be too expensive, anyway. Remind them that their cable company can easily add internet service to their package, and a technician will set up everything. Have them ask the technician to show them how to set up their wifi network on their device if they’re worried about getting online once all is said and done!

If they’re worried about the cost of internet service, tell them that, in addition to many cable companies offering bundled deals with cable service, many also offer discounted rates for low-income individuals, seniors over 65, or even anyone who receives Social Security benefits – it’s worth it to help them check out the options in their local service area! In addition, the government was offering a program called the Emergency Broadband Benefit during the pandemic, which has now been converted to a permanent program called the Affordable Connectivity Program that expands the number of people eligible for reduced-price internet service. Check it out here, and talk to your friend/loved one about their eligibility!

If they are absolutely resistant to having internet service at home, suggest they

Visit their local library, which will most likely offer free internet access/computer use;
Talk to them about getting a device that uses data instead of wifi (like a smartphone or tablet; or
Tell them about wireless hotspots in public spaces where they can use a device and connect to the internet

“I don’t know how to use this technology, and I’m not sure how to get help”

Ok, this is the big one, right? Your friend/loved one might be a bit skittish about learning new tech skills, because they’ve been told (maybe not in so many words, but still…) that they won’t be able to, or they come across unhelpful people. In fact, while one survey showed that around 44% of seniors went to their adult children first for help with tech questions, their adult children tended to be unhelpful, impatient, or unwilling to help. Yikes!

So if that’s the case, it’s time to try, try again. The same survey showed that grandchildren were far more likely to be willing to help (although they were more likely to fix an issue themselves and not teach their grandparents more overarching skills). In fact, after some older adults saw that their friends had learned skills from their grandchildren, they then gained more confidence, realizing “If they can do it, so can I!”

Grandchildren not the way to go? Suggest these other options:

YouTube videos – Not confident enough to explain things to your friend/loved one yourself? That’s totally fine – in fact, all you need to be able to do is open YouTube for them! YouTube can actually be a better resource for older adults trying to learn new tech skills than a friend or family member, because it allows them to search for content and watch at their own pace, as many times as needed. And studies show that once older people are past a certain knowledge threshold, they can independently search for information on how to use technology, meaning you’ll have taught them to fish, so to speak.
The local library – Some libraries offer classes on using tech to seniors, which could be a great free, low-pressure, and social option for gaining confidence. If their library doesn’t offer this, a local school, college, or community center might.
Online resources for seniors – This might sound like too much for them if they’re wary of internet use, but there are a lot of websites with blogs and webinars out there that cater specifically to seniors, and often address this topic. Some even have hotlines seniors can call, taking off the pressure to go digital right away. For example, they can try the National Senior Planet Tech Hotline at 888-713-3495 to get some answers to their questions.

Dealing with Values-Based Reluctance

As we pointed out above, and as you might have even felt yourself, some older adults are resistant to using technology because it doesn’t seem to align with their values – it’s just not them. So how can you respond to those types of concerns?

“I don’t see the point of taking the time to learn this stuff”

We think this is the easiest objection to combat. There’s a whole world of advantages out there for seniors who are connected – and the number one is that they can stay connected to you, right? Tell them how you stay connected online to those you love, and how being online could enhance your relationship with them, as well as their relationships with other loved ones. Learning the simple skills it takes to use Zoom, for example, could mean much more frequent “visits” with faraway friends and family, or even loved ones who live close by but don’t get out much!

In addition, if they’re online, they can:

Join online support groups for people with similar medical conditions
Stay engaged with the outside world through news, blogs, streaming platforms, and email, even if it’s hard for them to get out and about all the time
Actually save time once they learn how to download and use apps like Instacart, which would allow them to shop for groceries from home

“Using tech means giving up your privacy, right?”

Some seniors feel confident that they could learn how to use technology, and get themselves on social media or start shopping for their groceries from the comfort of their own homes, but it’s just not worth giving up their privacy. After all, once you post on social media sites, it’s out there for all to see, and companies do track your shopping habits and require using your credit card. There are a few suggestions we can give here, like:

Suggest they use Facebook if they want to stay connected via social media. They can adjust their privacy settings, as well as limit the number of friends they have, so their posts will be seen by a limited number of people.
Use an app like Privacy to create one-time use credit cards
Clear their cookies and internet cache often

“I don’t want to be glued to a device all the time”

A lot of adults look around and see people out in the world glued to their phones, when they should be enjoying the life that’s going on around them, and they find that sad. You probably agree! But there’s nothing that says they have to be constantly connected once they get online or get a device or two. Talk to them about what would have value for them in being more connected, and how they could fit those things into their lives. For example, if it’s video chatting that would be a big draw for them, suggest they make weekly dates with the people they want to talk to, and then only carry their phone for emergencies at other times. Or if it’s seeing their grandchildren’s updates while they’re studying abroad or traveling, suggest they set their social media account to only alert them to updates from them. There are ways to find a balance, and it’s them that controls the tech, not the other way around!

So if you’re a switched-on senior who’s enjoying all the advantages that technology brings right to your fingertips, but you’ve got friends and/or loved ones who are struggling either with the practicalities of being online, or with how they feel about being so connected, know that there are ways to talk to them about joining you in the digital world. Try the above ways to answer their questions and concerns, and remember that you might just be their biggest incentive to get connected! We want to hear from you: do you know a few Luddites who you’d like to bring into the digital fold? Have you tried? Or are you a convert to the world of tech?

14 Sneaky Ways to Get Your Healthy On

Getting healthier. It can sound so…hard. You might feel like you have to completely overhaul your whole lifestyle, find time for an epic workout every day, throw out everything delicious in your kitchen, and slave away at chopping and cooking weeks of healthy meals (and add kale to everything, right?). When you put it that way, sure, getting healthier sounds totally overwhelming and inaccessible, like a life full of sacrifice and discipline.

But it doesn’t have to be that way! In fact, it shouldn’t be, especially when you’re just getting started on a journey to improve your health and fitness. No, the best way to get started is not to dive in at the deep end and go all out (which could set you up for failure), but rather to start off gradually, by tweaking your daily routine with some simple hacks. So let’s get started – now! This week! And by the end of even the next seven days, you’ll probably be feeling much healthier (no slaving away or overdosing on kale required).

1. Downsize Your Plates and Bowls

Want to start really gently? If overeating is a problem for you, try this simple hack: change to smaller plates and bowls. Sound silly, or like it won’t do anything for you? Consider this: in one study, scientists found that people who ate from large serving bowls ate 56% (142 calories) more food than people who ate from smaller bowls, and in an analysis of 72 studies, scientists found that people consistently ate more food when offered larger portions and plates. So it might be time to try tricking yourself with the illusion that you’re eating more, and you’ll most likely be just as full at the end of your meal. And while you’re at it, slow down when you eat: this gives your brain the chance to get the signal that you’re full, so you’re less likely to overeat. And if you take it slow, you’re more likely to think about what you’re eating and make sensible, healthy choices.

2. Take Time for Yourself and Others

We live a lot of our lives online these days, and we’ve also just spent the last few years in periods of isolation, but now is the time to get back to some good old-fashioned time spent with others. And you know what? It’s not about how many people you know, or what you do with them, it’s really just about making connections. It’s these real connections that will make you happier, healthier, and more productive, so go ahead and get some real face time with someone you care about.

3. Have a Little Drink

And when we say “little,” we mean “little.” Too much alcohol will offset the benefits of a daily glass of wine, but that little tipple can actually be good for your heart health, your stress levels, and even your sex life. And you know what else is good for your health? Good sex! Sex boosts your endorphins, improving your mood and reducing stress levels, and can also help with your heart health and lower your blood pressure, among other many other benefits, so sounds like a wild weekend is in store. Ok, not too wild – stick to that one drink (or two for men)!

4. Be Smart about Fats

You might think you know what we’re about to say: cut the fat out of your diet. Nope! What you do need to do is bone up on your fats, and know which ones are actually good for you. Trans fats, which are added to processed foods, are your enemy, but some fat (from dairy, whole eggs, fish, avocado, or nuts, for example) is good for you as part of a balanced diet. And high-fat dairy may even help you lose weight better than low fat, possibly because the fat satisfies your hunger better than other calories.

5. Get Sweaty in the Morning, Take a Walk in the Evening

It might sound like a lot, but remember that studies have shown you don’t have to do a long workout all at once to get the benefits of exercise. So if it works for you, try doing a morning strength routine and then take a walk in the evening. There are benefits to be gained from both. For example, a study conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center found that a.m. workouts can lead to better sleep, which is an important weight loss factor, and according to a study in PLOS ONE, being exposed to direct sunlight before noon reduces your risk of weight gain, as well. But taking a stroll in the evening is great for you, too, and you’re probably more likely to do that than to do an intense workout after work. An evening stroll will also promote better sleep, as well as keep you away from the temptation to snack while watching TV, and allow you to connect with a friend or loved one if you invite them along!

6. Make Things Easy on Yourself

We started out by saying that a lot of people don’t make the effort to get healthier because it seems like just that – a big effort. But if you make things easy on yourself, you’re more likely to stick to your goals and get healthier in the process. We suggest making friends with your microwave (and no, we don’t mean with frozen meals): try things like one-minute quiche in a mug, cinnamon breakfast quinoa, or even a flaky salmon dinner made in a silicone microwave steamer. Not a microwave fan? There are lots of other ways to make healthy meals and snacks with minimal effort: think overnight oats, using a crockpot or instant pot, and making simple swaps like whole grain options for refined carbs. And remember, your healthy meals don’t have to be complicated. You can make amazing 3-ingredient meals, like stuffed sweet potatoes, banana oat pancakes, chili, etc – just remember to combine protein and complex carbs and you’ll be setting yourself up to feel healthier without changing the amount of time and effort you put into eating.

7. Pump Some Iron (and Protein)

Yep, protein is super important, and you should try to include it in every meal, to keep you feeling satisfied, and to help with muscle repair. But you know what else you shouldn’t be skimping on? Iron! In fact, protein is important for muscle strength, but you also have to pump yourself full of iron in order to go pump some iron effectively. Iron boosts muscle strength, making it that much easier to get through the workday and your workout. And not eating enough iron can cause fatigue and even depression, so keep your energy levels high by eating oatmeal, lentils, and lean meats.

8. Get Prepped

Some people groan at the thought of meal prepping, but we’re big proponents of it to keep you on track with healthy eating, and to save precious time on weeknights. But even if you don’t want to go all-out with meal prep, you can still do simple things like making ready-to-blend bags of smoothie ingredients, including fruits and veggies (and while you’re at it, add fruit and veggies to anything you can!), or having emergency healthy snacks on hand. Remember, snacking is ok (in fact, it can keep you from getting too hungry and losing your ability to control what you’re eating), you just need to do it right. Have fruit sliced and stored, individual portions of nuts pre-packed, or cut up cheese ready to go when hunger hits.

9. Make the Most of Your TV Time

We’re totally not judging if you want to spend part of your evenings with some TV time to wind down, but we’ve got a few suggestions to sneak a little healthy even into this part of your day. First of all, it might be time to ditch the binging while binge watching habit. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition linked distracted eating to a long-term food consumption increase. You’ll be better served by doing a quick workout, or even just yoga or stretches, while you fire up the Netflix, and if you stick to this for a few weeks, you’ll soon find that you’ve broken yourself of the habit of mindlessly snacking (and hopefully replacing it with something healthier, even if it’s just going to sleep a little earlier)!

10. Make the Most of Your Workout Time

Some people really enjoy a long workout, and others – not so much. Or maybe you want to get a really intense workout in, but you just don’t have the time. Don’t let either of those things stop you from working out, just rethink what a workout looks like for you. Try interval training, with short bursts of high-intensity activity, which can often be more effective than other types of workouts in a much shorter amount of time, even as little as 20 minutes.

11. Hydrate Before You Die-drate!

Forgetting to sip water throughout the day? While you don’t necessarily need to drink a set amount of water every day, you should hydrate as much as possible. Studies show hydration is important to maintaining proper health and cognition, reducing kidney stone risk, and managing a healthy weight.

12. Ditch Sugary Drinks, and Switch to Green Tea

Yes, we’ve all heard it: stop with the sugary drinks! And we’re here to remind you of that. There is nothing to be gained from drinking sugary drinks (even juices, since you won’t be getting the benefit of the fruit’s fiber), and lots of damage that can be done, including the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Looking for a new drink? Try green tea! It can help to reduce stress, and some studies have even found that it can help with weight loss.

13. Move Throughout the Day

We all probably spend a lot more time being sedentary than we think, and many people think that because they do a workout at some point in the day, they’re doing enough. But that’s not always the case, unfortunately. A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that people who exercise and then sit all day after are at risk of the same negative health issues as people who aren’t hitting the gym at all. Stinks, right? But that just means you need to get up and move any chance you get throughout the day! Take an extra lap when headed to the bathroom, do some yoga poses at lunch time, run up and down the stairs, park further away – whatever you can do to get more movement into your day.

14. Be Positive!

Think a positive outlook only impacts your mental health (as if that weren’t reason enough to think positively!)? Researchers are finding more and more that having a positive outlook actually affects your physical health, as well: according to the World Health Organization, “a happy engaged and fulfilling psychological and social life is not just a consequence of good health, it is what leads people to live a healthy and long life.” In fact, Johns Hopkins researchers have found, for example, that among people with a family history of heart disease, people with a positive outlook were one-third less likely to have a heart attack or other cardiovascular event within 5 to 25 years, when compared to those with a more negative outlook. So when you find negativity creeping in, try to find ways to switch to a positive mindset, and you’ll be feeling better in both body and mind.

There are a lot of things in life that are hard, but making healthy changes to your lifestyle doesn’t have to be one of them. By sneaking in a few little changes, and tweaking a few of your routines, you can be on the road to better health in no time!

Do We Need Pride More Than Ever This Year? A Look at the Fights We’re Still Facing

It’s Pride Month! Time to show how proud we are to be who we are, and to express our individuality, while also celebrating the strides that we’ve made together! But, while one of the things we can be proud of is that our country is a much more inclusive, diverse, and equal place than it once was, we also have to recognize that things are far from perfect. In fact, even though we’re living in the 2020s, we need to come together during Pride as much, if not more, than ever, as the LGBTQ community continues to face and fight a number of battles.

The Battles We Have Won

Maybe it’s not true that we need Pride more than ever before in history, or that we’re living in the darkest of dark times – we can certainly be more positive than that! In fact, let’s take a moment to look at some of the biggest legal battles that we’ve fought and won: the Supreme Court cases that went in favor of LGBTQ rights.

One, Inc v. Olesen (1958)

In 1953, a publisher associated with the Los Angeles chapter of the Mattachine Society, one of the country’s first LGBTQ organizations, released something unique for its time: ONE: The Homosexual Magazine. The magazine is considered to be America’s first widely-distributed magazine for gay readers. Not long after publication began, its August and October editions were seized by the Los Angeles postal authorities, with authorities arguing that the publication violated obscenity laws. In its decision, the Supreme Court tossed out a lower court’s ruling, and established that material aimed at a gay audience was not inherently obscene. The decision validated that people had the right to publish LGBTQ media.

Romer v. Evans (1996)

In this decision, the Supreme Court ruled that laws couldn’t single out LGBTQ people to take away their rights. This case was brought to the Supreme Court after an amendment to a Colorado law banned cities from passing anti-discrimination laws that would protect gay and bisexual people. In a 6-3 decision, the Court ruled that the law didn’t adhere to the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause, because of how it singled out a certain group.

“Even if, as the state contends, homosexuals can find protection in laws and policies of general application,” Justice Anthony Kennedy said in the majority opinion, “[the Colorado law] goes well beyond merely depriving them of special rights. It imposes a broad disability upon those persons alone, forbidding them, but no others, to seek specific legal protection.”

Lawrence v. Texas (2003)

In 2003, the Supreme Court essentially overturned our country’s archaic sodomy laws, with Justice Kennedy noting that the government shouldn’t have much say in what we do consensually behind closed doors. He said that the due process clause of the fourteenth amendment gave the petitioners “the full right to engage in private conduct without government intervention… The Texas statute furthers no legitimate state interest which can justify its intrusion into the individual’s personal and private life.”

Karen Loewy, senior counsel Lambda Legal, which fights for LGBTQ legal rights, says LAMBDA fought for this ruling to emphasize the fact that “public ideas about morality cannot justify infringing people’s constitutional rights.” Loewy says that this was an essential case because “the court really recognized that LGBTQ people are entitled to constitutional protections for intimate conduct. For private, consensual, intimate conduct.”

United States v. Windsor (2013)

In this case, which is seen as a precursor to the full legalization of same-sex marriage, a widow named Edith Windsor who had been married in Canada and then moved to New York (where same-sex marriage was legal), was fighting being denied her right to her partner’s tax exemption for surviving widows. She had bumped up against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) of 1996, which defined marriage as a “legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife.”

But when the case came to the Supreme Court, it was decided that DOMA violates due process and equal protection principles, with Justice Kennedy noting, “DOMA’s principal effect is to identify a subset of state-sanctioned marriages and make them unequal. The principal purpose is to impose inequality, not for other reasons like governmental efficiency.” So Windsor got her tax refund AND brought down DOMA.

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

Here’s the big one we all remember: the Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage. In a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court found for the petitioners, a group of 14 same-sex couples and two men whose partners were deceased, who argued that state officials violated the 14th amendment’s equal protection clause by prohibiting them from marrying or not recognizing marriages performed in other states.

“It is demeaning to lock same-sex couples out of a central institution of the Nation’s society, for they too may aspire to the transcendent purposes of marriage,” Justice Kennedy said in the Court’s opinion.

The court also extended them the benefits guaranteed to opposite-sex married couples, which meant that same-sex couples could begin to receive the necessities that opposite-sex couples had been able to take for granted, like social security and survivor benefits.

Loewy argues that this decision also had a profound cultural impact, because it gave LGBTQ people a “common language” with straight people.

Bostock v. Clayton County (2020)

While it was unclear for a while whether the Supreme Court would agree that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which bans sex discrimination by employers) applied not just to gender, but also to sexual orientation and gender identity, this case finally settled it. This case was actually three cases in one, and in each of these cases, an employer allegedly fired a long-time employee simply for being gay or transgender. Clayton County, Georgia, fired Gerald Bostock for conduct “unbecoming” a county employee shortly after he began participating in a gay recreational softball league. Altitude Express fired Donald Zarda days after he mentioned being gay. And R. G. & G. R. Harris Funeral Homes fired Aimee Stephens, who presented as a male when she was hired, after she informed her employer that she planned to “live and work full-time as a woman.” Each employee sued, alleging sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Supreme Court reversed an earlier decision of the 11th Circuit in a 6-3 ruling, holding “an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII.” This means that we have finally made a big step toward a federal law banning LGBTQ discrimination in the workplace.

The above are just the big, more visible legal battles that have been fought and won: not all of the rights fought for have been won in the highest court in the land. Some were waged on the state and local level; other fights have been less formal, and have been focused on changing attitudes and assumptions. And all of this has been amazing and culture-shaping, but we are not done by any means, and new challenges continue to crop up.

The Battles Still Being Fought

So what is the LGBTQ community still facing? Essentially, a whole lot of bills, mostly in state legislatures that could mean a whole lot of legal battles ahead. Here’s a look at some of the types of bills floating around that are meant to erode the rights of the LGBTQ community:

“Don’t Say Gay”

Around 75 new bills that have been introduced around the country call for bans or severe restrictions on classroom discussions, curriculum, and library books that mention LGBTQ issues. Some of these bills are vaguely worded, making it unclear whether educators or students could even mention their own sexual or gender identity, or that of their parents, on school grounds. This is where the term “don’t say gay,” describing Florida’s bill, which passed the state legislature on March 8, has come from.

Bans on Life-Saving Gender Affirmation for Transgender Youth

woman holding a sign with transgender symbol — *At least 29 bills around the country are seeking to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth.*

At least 29 bills around the country are seeking to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth, which generally involves hormone therapy to delay the onset of puberty or to begin the process of transitioning. Some lawmakers are also trying to make it a crime to provide such care to children and young teens, or to make it a crime for parents to give their consent for this care. This is incredibly worrying, as well as counter to all medical advice, since the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other medical groups endorse the treatments, saying gender-affirming care can help save the lives of vulnerable transgender young people.

“Bathroom Bills”

Thought we were done with fights over who gets to use which bathroom? Nope. There are at least 15 bills seeking to ban transgender students, and sometimes faculty, too, from using the bathrooms in their schools consistent with their gender identity.

Legalized “Outing”

There are at least a dozen pending bills that would require medical care providers and educators who learn of a child’s LGBTQ status to notify parents.

Religious Exemptions

We are also still not done fighting over the “right” to discriminate in the name of religion: at least 15 bills have been introduced to allow religious exemptions to discriminate against LGBTQ people. This includes in healthcare settings, and in foster care and adoption agencies, among other places.

“The Worst Year in Recent History for LGBTQ State Legislative Attacks”: A Call to Action

It’s scary and distressing that 2021 set a record for the most anti-LGBTQ bills passed during a legislative session, with over 100 anti-LGBTQ laws being proposed in 35 states around the country. And now, in 2022, some counts put the number of bills meant to restrict LGBTQ rights pending in state legislatures across the nation at around 240 in just the first three months of the year, 6 times more than the number of bills introduced in all of 2018.

But there’s some good news, too. First, many of these bills are not expected to get very far. Of course, with that being said, just having them introduced means that LGBTQ folks – especially children – are being caught up in political drama, which is exhausting and stressful.

So what other good news is there to hold onto, then? This willingness to openly attack gay and transgender rights with these bills is not shared by most people, according to several recent surveys. A Public Religion Research Institute survey showed nearly 8 in 10 Americans support laws to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in jobs, housing, and public accommodations. The survey also found that 68% of Americans support same-sex marriage, a rise from 54% in 2014.

And you know what else is good news? The LGBTQ community is as strong as ever, and will continue the good fight – we just wish they didn’t have to, and could go back to living their lives. And don’t forget, even if you aren’t a member of the LGBTQ community, we all need to pay attention to what is happening in our states and communities, so we can fight against it. If the numbers are correct, and most of us don’t want to live in a country that discriminates against our friends, neighbors, loved ones, teachers, and children, we need to make our voices heard.

Living Life on the Sunny Side of the Street: Is It Time to Start a “Sunny Day Fund”?

So you’re sitting on a little nest egg, huh? You’ve got some money put aside – good for you! But what are you telling yourself you’re going to use it for? If you’re like a lot of people, that money is earmarked for a “rainy day”: you’re trying to expect the unexpected, and outsmart that unfortunate law of the universe that says that if something can go wrong, it will. So you’ve been saving a little when you can in case of a medical emergency, a necessary car repair, or even a literal rainy day that results in a basement flood.

And all of that is very responsible, but you know what? There’s more to life than rainy days, and shelling out your hard-earned money on the bad things in life. So maybe it’s time to start a “sunny day fund,” and plan for the things in life you want to do, without going into debt.

What’s Your Sunny Day?

While having an emergency fund and a rainy day fund is really important for those “life happens” kind of things, having a sunny day savings fund can help you make the good stuff in life happen. So what kind of things might you want to build your sunny day fund for?

A fabulous vacation – Did you know that the average cost of a vacation for a family of four is around $4,600? That’s well over $1,000 per person, and that’s a whole lot of money to put on your credit card! Not to mention, the interest you’d be racking up while paying off the debt from your trip. Using money from a dedicated sunny day fund will save you from going into debt in order to visit your dream destination.

Time off of work – Around 54% of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck, and many more don’t have the funds to ever take time off from the daily grind. Being in this situation, with no hope of taking breaks from work, can wear you down, but having a sunny day fund could allow you to take a little sabbatical or even mini-retirement somewhere down the road. Having money in the bank could also mean the flexibility to leave a job that you don’t love, and pursue your passion.

An “unnecessary” renovation project – Sure, you have to fix that leaky pipe or roof, get the dishwasher repaired, etc, etc, but all of those necessities can be taken care of by your rainy day fund. Your sunny day fund can be used for something more “fun,” that will improve your quality of life, like an outdoor kitchen, or a new jacuzzi bathtub.

Splurging – Do you find it difficult to treat yourself with your hard-earned money? We get it: you’ve been told to put any extra money aside, and try to forgo all of those impulse buys. But here’s the thing: financial experts actually warn against completely depriving yourself, because that could actually lead to you sabotaging your financial goals – kind of like dieting! So yes, put that extra money aside, but put it in your sunny day fund, and then use it for something – anything – that you really want. And creating a sunny day fund for splurges will do double duty: you’ll have money that will allow you to treat yourself without going into debt, AND you’ll put the brakes on impulse buying. Why? Because you’ll have to save up, which will slow down your purchases and give you time to decide if what you thought you wanted to splurge on is what you really want to spend that sunny money on.

How to Start Your Sunny Day Fund

Hopefully the ideas above got your mind working, and got you itching to start putting some sunny day money aside (or maybe you already knew exactly what you’d spend some extra cash on)! So how do you get started? It’s actually easier than you might think, you just need a plan. Here are some steps you should be following to get you to your goals:

1. Make sure you have a rainy day fund first

Your sunny day fund should not take the place of your rainy day fund – these should be separate. And it’s super important that, before you start splurging, you know you have money to cover both emergencies and unexpected necessities. In fact, financial experts suggest that you have both an “emergency fund” of around $1,000, if possible, and at least 3-6 months of living expenses in case of a more major life event.

The unfortunate fact, though, is that around 46% of households don’t have adequate rainy day funds. So how can you get this money socked away, before you start your sunny day fund? Most experts recommend following the 50/30/20 rule, which means that 50% of your paycheck should go towards necessities, 30% can go toward discretionary spending, and a full 20% should go into savings, some of which can go toward the future, and some of which can go into an emergency fund. If you’re still having trouble figuring out how to balance debt and savings, check out our look at building debt and wealth snowballs here!

2. Figure out your goal amount

woman's hand punching in numbers on a calculator — *Try to figure out how much things cost beforehand.*

Aimlessly daydreaming about tooling around on your boat, taking that dream vacation overseas, or even changing careers is fun, but if you’re really serious about making those things happen, you need to know how much they cost. Knowing at least a ballpark figure will really help you to start saving for your goal. Calculate, for example, a rough figure for airfare, hotel, food, and tourist attractions, or the cost of a boat plus storage, or how much money you’d need to take time off and get a new degree or get a business up and running. Knowing this will also keep you on track and stop impulse splurging: as you watch your sunny day fund grow, you’ll know you’re getting close to that big number that means a wish fulfilled!

3. Break your goals down into smaller goals

Maybe that “big number” will seem a little overwhelming, so try a little psychological trick on yourself. Instead of keeping the number, say, $2,000 in your head, break that goal amount down into smaller goals. For example, if you’d like to have $2,000 in your sunny day fund in six months, look at it this way: divide $2,000 by 6 and you get $333. That means you only have to save $333 a month, or broken down even further, $83 a week (333 divided by 4 weeks in a month) to get to your goal! Sounds much more doable, right?

4. Gamify your saving

Everything’s easier when it’s fun, right? So try and make saving for your goals into a game: try a challenge to keep you on track, like the $5 bill challenge, in which you save every $5 you get, or the weather savings challenge, where you save the number of dollars that corresponds to how high the temperature was that day. There are a number of challenges you can try, so find one that seems fun to you – and maybe challenge a friend to join you, so you can keep each other on track.

5. Try a side hustle

If you’ve got a little extra time, and you really want to jumpstart your sunny day savings, you can take on a side hustle. There are tons of ways to make extra cash these days, with as little or as much commitment, time or otherwise, as you’d like. You can do anything as casual as food delivery or ride-share driving to things that require more skill and time, like writing, proofreading, or graphic design. Check out our handy guide to side hustles here.

6. Pay cash

Finally, try not to touch that sunny day money until you’ve reached your goals. And when you are ready to start spending on the things that you want, use the money you’ve saved, and pay for things in cash. No debt, no stress – just the feeling of freedom that comes from knowing the things you’re buying are already paid for.

We know that splurging is not within everyone’s reach, but we also know that that can start to feel pretty depressing. And that feeling that you’ll never reach big goals can actually lead to impulse splurging that keeps you from saving – and the cycle continues. So, if you’ve got the ability to do it, try creating a sunny day fund for yourself, even if it’s a small one at first. Saving for something that will bring a little joy into your life might actually be the way to get more organized when it comes to your finances, and keep you on top of your budget. And remember: life shouldn’t be only about necessities and fixing the things that go wrong, so we hope that you can fit a little fun into your budget. Don’t forget to tell us what YOUR sunny day goal is!

LGBTQ+ Seniors: Let’s Be Proud of How Far We’ve Come

It’s Pride Month again! But as we watch the parades and see all of the inspiring stories on social media, it’s important to remember that this celebration is not just about the young members of the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, the only thing that’s almost as important as looking to the future is remembering where we’ve come from, and honoring those who have made our present possible. So for all of you LGBTQ+ older adults out there, this is for you: a look at the original heroes of the movement! Just don’t forget to add your stories to these more well-known ones, because you all deserve a place in the rich history of your community.

1. Karl Heinrich Ulrichs

illustration of a person in a suit next to a resignation letter — *Karl Heinrich Ulrichs was forced to resign from his job for being gay.*

You might be surprised to find out that not all LGBTQ activism started in the 20th century. In fact, one of the first people to speak out for LGBTQ rights was a German living in the mid-19th century, Karl Heinrich Ulrichs. Ulrichs was a civil servant who was forced to resign from his job in 1854 for being gay. Amazingly, though, he did not fade into the shadows; instead, he went on to publish 12 volumes of work on sexuality, which included his theory that being gay is an “innate condition,” and not a “learned corruption,” as many people at the time believed. He even spoke out for LGBTQ rights, urging the German government in 1867 to repeal anti-gay laws.

2. Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon

Martin and Lyon had been together for 3 years in 1955 when they founded (along with 6 other women who came to the first meeting) the Daughters of Bilitis, the first social and political organization for lesbians in the United States. They started and were the first editors of the organization’s newsletter, The Ladder, which was widely read by the lesbian community, and earned Martin and Lyon a place as some of the first inductees into the LGBT Journalists Hall of Fame. They also fought against discrimination in the church, became the first lesbian members of the National Organization of Women (NOW), and helped to influence legislation in California outlawing discrimination in the workplace. Martin and Lyon married in 2004, but their marriage was later voided; then, in 2008, they were the first couple to get married when California legalized same-sex marriage.

3. Bayard Rustin

Bayard Rustin is usually remembered as a civil rights leader, and an incredibly important one, at that: he was a close adviser to Martin Luther King, Jr, and a key organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where King gave his historic “I have a dream” speech. He was, though, also openly gay at a time when it was difficult to be so, and, as Walter Naegle, Rustin’s partner for the last decade of his life, says, he was “someone who was working to expand our democratic freedoms and increase our civil liberties and our individual freedoms”.

4. Harvey Milk

Harvey Milk became a gay rights activist when he moved to San Francisco in 1972, before he became the first openly gay person elected to public office in 1977, when he won a seat on the San Francisco City Council Board. He continued to be an activist after his election, tirelessly advocating for rights in an engagingly hopeful way, until his assassination by a fellow city council member in 1978.

5. Audre Lorde

Lorde was a self-described “Black lesbian mother warrior poet.” Her work covered everything from civil rights and sexuality to her own battle with breast cancer, and she inspired Barbara Smith to found Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, the first U.S. publisher by, for, and about women of color. She made lasting contributions to feminist, queer, and critical race theory, using her powerful voice to speak for the voiceless: “I write for those women who do not speak, for those who do not have a voice because they were so terrified, because we are taught to respect fear more than ourselves. We’ve been taught that silence would save us, but it won’t,” she once said.

6. Magnus Hirschfeld

illustration of medical equipment — Magnus Hirschfeld established the world’s first gender identity clinic.

This might be a name you’ve never heard, unless perhaps you’ve seen the movie The Danish Girl. Hirschfeld established the world’s first gender identity clinic, and his clients included Einar Wegener (the protagonist of 2015’s The Danish Girl, who transitioned to become Lili Elbe – one of the first people to undergo gender reassignment surgery). Prior to that, he had been living in Germany as an openly gay man from the late 19th century, campaigning for gay rights.

7. Marsha P. Johnson

The next three names were huge figures in the LGBTQ rights scene of the 1970s and 80s, and will be forever associated with the Stonewall uprising of 1969. Marsha P. Johnson (who would tell people the “P” stood for “pay it no mind”) was an outspoken transgender rights activist who, along with fellow trans activist Sylvia Rivera, helped form Street Transgender Action Revolutionaries (STAR), a radical political organization that provided housing and other forms of support to homeless queer youth and sex workers in Manhattan. She was also an AIDS activist, as well as a drag performer.

8. Sylvia Rivera

As noted above, Rivera was a trans activist along with Marsha P. Johnson, and helped form STAR with Johnson. Rivera endured a traumatic youth: her mother died by suicide and her grandmother threw her out for being too “effeminate,” so she became a child prostitute at the age of 11; fortunately, the local community of drag queens took her in. She also identified as a drag queen, participated in demonstrations with the Gay Liberation Front, and joined the Gay Activists Alliance. While there is some controversy over whether she was actually even at the Stonewall uprising, some credit Rivera with starting it by throwing the first punch – but this has never been definitively proven. Either way, she was an important figure in the LGBTQ rights movement for many years.

9. Storme DeLarverie

A biracial, butch lesbian, DeLarverie is also credited with starting the Stonewall uprising, with other eyewitnesses agreeing with this account of the beginnings of the encounter with police. She worked for much of her life as an MC, singer, bouncer, bodyguard, and volunteer street patrol worker, becoming known as the “guardian of lesbians in the Village.” She is also known as “the Rosa Parks of the gay community.” In addition to her work for the LGBT community, she also organized and performed at benefits for battered women and children. When asked why she chose to do this work, she replied, “Somebody has to care.”

10. Larry Kramer

red ribbon — *Larry Kramer rallied and protested during the AIDS pandemic for the rights and prevention of it in the gay community.*

When the AIDS epidemic struck NYC in the 1980s, Larry Kramer, an openly gay novelist, screenwriter, and playwright, began writing to rally the gay community to action. He became an outspoken activist, calling on his community to embrace their anger, and ended up as one of the most prominent voices in the AIDS crisis, advocating for research, civil rights, and the prevention of AIDS, as well as for care for people afflicted by the virus.

11. Miss Major Griffin-Gracy

Miss Major is a trans woman activist and community leader for transgender rights, with a particular focus on women of color. She herself has experienced homelessness and incarceration, which has fueled her activism surrounding the trans community and incarceration. She served as the original Executive Director for the Transgender Gender Variant Intersex Justice Project, which aims to assist transgender persons, who are disproportionately incarcerated under the prison-industrial complex.

We could go on and on (and on!) when it comes to the history of the LGBTQ+ community, and we encourage you to keep reading and researching. You might even be surprised by the number of amazing people who have shared the same struggles and triumphs with you. Virginia Woolf, James Baldwin, Florence Nightingale, Sally Ride, James Beard, Alan Turing, Barbara Jordan (the first African American elected to the Texas Senate in 1966, and the first woman and first African American elected to Congress from Texas in 1972), and even Oliver Sipple, the man who is credited with saving President Ford from an assassination attempt – all were part of the LGBTQ community, and made changes to the world in their own ways. So this Pride Month, be proud of those whose legacy you share, and be proud of your own place in history!

Sun’s Out, Guns Out: 6 Fun and Unique Ways to Get Your Sweat on This Summer

The summer is here! And you know what that means: sun’s out, guns out! Regretting that you didn’t start your summer body last winter? Don’t worry about it: we think every body is a summer-ready body! But we do want you to feel good, and be the healthiest version of yourself, of course, so it’s never a bad time to work that body and get your sweat on. Hey, you’ll be sweaty anyway, so might as well get some health benefits out of it – and, ok, also feel great about flaunting those strong guns and buns (no matter your size). And now that it’s warm out, it’s a great time to ditch that boring treadmill and head outside for some fun and unique ways to get and stay fit, this summer and beyond!

1. Take a Hike

Maybe you’ve already been doing some rambling in the great outdoors now that the warm weather is upon us, but there are ways that you can take your hiking to the next level and turn it into a cardio, or even a full-body, workout. Take advantage of any hilly or mountainous areas around you, find yourself a nice, steep incline, and walk with strong, bold steps up the incline, and at a slower pace back down 10 times, and you’ll definitely feel your heart rate climbing!

You can also get yourself some hiking poles: adding this equipment to your hike will allow you to work your upper body in addition to your lower body. According to exercise physiologist Kelli Calabrese, MS, when you add poles to your hike, “You move with quicker, smaller steps, your arms are pumping and it’s almost like race-walking. The upper body motion really gets the heart rate going. It’s a great way to add some intensity to your hiking.” So grab a picnic lunch and plenty of water (hauling it around will add to your workout, too!) and get striding!

2. Bring it to the Beach

When we think of summer, we think of the beach – and when we think of the beach, we tend to think of relaxing, right? Not so fast! Before you get lulled by the sound of the waves and start snoozing in the sun, use the sand of the beach as a way to take a walk or a jog to the next level. Again according to Calabrese, “Sand gives you the extra resistance that you wouldn’t have on a treadmill or on asphalt. You can [walk or run] barefooted and you’ll feel a great workout in your feet, shins, and calves.”

And before you do a nice cool down and stretch by the ocean’s edge, turn your walk/run into a full-body cardio and strength workout. Alternate bursts of walking, jogging, and sprinting to get your heart rate into the zone, and then grab your towel and do walking lunges the length of the towel, some push-ups for your upper body, and some crunches for your abs.

Not a fan of exercise that feels like exercise? Get a game of beach volleyball going, or even throw a ball or frisbee around (remember to go long!), and you’ll be surprised how high your heart rate gets just from playing around on the soft sand. Just don’t forget to slather on the sunscreen before you get out there!

3. Make a Splash

Got access to a pool? Great! Lying around on a pool float with a drink in your hand is an excellent way to relax, but you can also use the water as a super effective form of resistance to get your heart rate up and your muscles working. Swimming is an obvious choice for a full-body cardio workout, but you can also get creative and improvise your own water aerobics session. For example, try:

Warming up by walking, then jogging the perimeter of the pool
Doing some strength exercises in the shallow end using the water as resistance, like walking lunges, squats, and leg lifts to the front side and back, holding on to the edge. Finish working the lower body with flutter kicks holding the edge or using a kickboard. Then submerge to the neck and do chest presses, reverse flies, bicep curls, and arm circles to work the upper body.
Floating on your back and your front using only your core and arms to keep you up, or using a pool noodle for balance moves to also work your core.
Ending with some muscle endurance: head to the deep end and tread water for as long as you can, first with just your arms, then just your legs, then both.

You might be surprised how worked out you feel after only a half an hour in the pool – you might even feel so invigorated that you’ll be ready for more!

4. Be a Joiner

Like the idea of getting outside, having fun, meeting people, and getting a workout? Look for recreational sports leagues in your area (yes, adults can play kickball and join a soccer team, too!). All you need to do is head to Google, and see what’s available near you; try to pick something that you’ll enjoy and that will give the most exercise bang for your buck, like soccer, which requires a lot of running (hey, cornhole is fun, but let’s face it: it doesn’t offer a whole lot of cardiovascular benefits).

We also suggest checking out pickleball: it’s fun, and it involves lots of bursts of movement in different directions, which challenges the body in ways that our everyday lives, with their mostly singular plans of motion, often don’t. You’ll find that any sport you choose, though, will up your functional fitness levels, which traditional exercise regimes don’t always focus on.

5. Go to Camp

Nope, we’re not talking about the summer camp where you had your first crush – we’re talking about a serious booty-kicking outdoor bootcamp class. Bootcamp exercise classes can be pretty intense when you do them at the gym, but take them outside and you bring them to a whole new level. There might be hills, potholes, wind, heat, grass, concrete; all of these variables will add intensity and keep your body guessing. So if you’ve plateaued and are looking to change things up, or take them up a notch, outdoor bootcamp might be just what you need.

Don’t want to pay for an outdoor bootcamp class? We don’t suggest going the Bridesmaids route and stealing a class (ha!), but you can create your own bootcamp in your backyard, or even head to a playground and use the equipment you find there. Remember how tough those monkey bars were to master? They haven’t gotten any easier, we promise. Bring a jump rope, do some pull-ups, some lunges, some ab-focused leg raises, etc, and you’ll get a full-body strength and cardio workout, while getting some serious flashbacks of the fun of childhood!

6. Get on Board

Yoga challenges your strength and balance when you practice it on stable ground, but imagine doing it on water! That’s right: if you’re looking to up your yoga game, you can try stand-up paddleboard (SUP) yoga (a yoga practice done while balancing on a paddleboard in the water), or Boga (which also incorporates some cardio exercises on the board). Doing yoga on a paddleboard will increase the intensity of your practice, since you’ll be forced to go with the flow of the conditions around you, and to use your core and stabilizing muscles more to keep your balance.

Not into yoga, but still want to get out on the water? Consider canoeing or kayaking, which also work your core and upper body as you twist and paddle through the water. Want the yoga, but not the water? You can create your own private hot yoga session in your backyard, and do some serious sweating as you literally salute the sun.

Who says you can only resolve to get fit at the beginning of the year? January can be a tough time to get focused, and the idea of going outside even to head to the gym can be a little, well, unmotivating. But summer, with its less pressured atmosphere and warm weather, might be the ideal time for you to resolve to get fit. After all, the opportunities for getting moving in the summer sun are endless – just choose something that is fun for you, and you’ll not only find it easy to stick to it, but you’ll also find yourself fit by the time fall rolls around again!