Seniors Site

At some point in your life, perhaps during your younger, innocent years, you may have fantasized about turning your life’s passion into something worthwhile and hopefully, make a difference or perhaps a name for yourself. As we go along with our lives, we easily found ourselves slowly setting aside our passion and get into mundane, unproductive careers for the sake of normalcy. Well, that’s what life is all about and seldom do we see successful people who just followed their passion and never wavered. Your passion will have to wait until you’re able to support yourself no matter what.
In truth, turning your passion into business is a lot like gambling. You can either win or lose but no one can ever tell what it will be. Some may openly express their doubts about this new venture of yours while others might suggest that you think of it many times before you actually throw everything out the window especially if you are already doing well with your current business. While these people may not help you at all, never bear a grudge for they are only concerned about your welfare, instead, take it as a challenge that old dogs can learn new tricks after all.
That’s the beauty of retirement and golden years. When you retire, it is more or less the same as saying, you are now free to do whatever you want without any kind of obligation or responsibility to the people around you. Retirement gives you the freedom to be yourself and actually own your life. Now is the right time to pursue your passion and hopefully be able to support yourself in doing so. However, seniors should also understand that Rome was not built overnight and it may take some time before you see the fruits of your labor. It’s more like starting all over again and the road to your goal may be a little rocky than usual especially if you’ve grown too far from your passion.
Switching careers later in life involves challenges. Your biggest hindrance must be age discrimination as most of my friends have discovered. Following you passion may require you to take courses and classes in which you will have classmates barely out of their puberty years, worse if you’re much older than your own professor. Also there will be insurmountable test of faith to conquer and a 360 degree lifestyle change that you must deal with. There will be risks and expect internal and external stress from happening. During this phase, it is important to know where your motives are. Are you doing this to really pursue your passion or you’re just escaping your current work environment? Knowing where you really should be will help you get through this very hard stage of your development.

Actually, age discrimination works at two opposite ends of the spectrum. Age discrimination also occurs when a person is considered as “too young” or “underage” by the person in charge. However, seniors are most associated with age discrimination since its effects are most felt within this age group. Aside from that, young people can always seek help from their parents or guardians but a senior having problems with age discrimination can never be assisted by their children. They always have to do it on their own or else they be hitting a dead-end!
Age discrimination is usually the reason why most seniors who are not quite ready for a retirement chose to open up their own businesses instead of ever trying to land a job again. Even if there are laws prohibiting age discrimination, you can never really insist your way into a job especially if you are still applying for it. Indeed, companies know what to do in cases like this and seldom can you find that it is really your age why you did not get the job afterall. Often times, they will only harp on you being “over qualified” for the job or not meeting the qualifications needed for the job at all. But how would you know that it is really not your age affecting your ability to get employed again?
The answer is a simple “none”. Of course, there’s no way you can tell. However, there are things you can do to help you uplift your self-esteem and not get affected by the rejection at all:
·    Do remember that at any point or any age in a person’s life, rejections are bound to happen so never take it personally. What matters most is that you know your abilities, capabilities and skills as well as your limitations as a person. You can always try again as any normal person would do.
·    Never set your mind to rejection just because you are “too old”. Things happen and you know it. It’s only a matter of proper mindset. If you brand your own self as old and incapable, people will start seeing you in the same light.
·    Age is not the only reason why companies fire their employees, most of the time, they fire those who are considered as “costly” employees—older employees included. Basically, it’s not your age, it’s the kind of money you are entitled to receive.
·    Be very conscious of the job requirement. Never apply for a job that is specifically made for younger people just to spite the company and cause trouble. We must admit, seniors have physical limitations which prevent them from doing physically taxing work. A senior applying for a work that calls for lifting and loading heavy objects is downright impossible!
·    Be familiar with your rights as seniors. Groups and associations such as AARP provide assistance to seniors. They will also advise you if your complaints have enough grounds or what to do at this point in time.

I don’t know why but it seems that along with recession comes the unexplainable hatred for 9-5 jobs. Many have taken the plunge, finally donating those corporate suits for comfortable casual wear as well as choosing a more flexible work schedule over the seemingly dead-locked office routine. I must admit, running your own business from home may cut almost half of your working hours, leaving more time for other endeavors which are otherwise not possible. There are weeks when you just work 20 hours and still earn the same amount of money as you would when maintaining an office job. Lucky are those who have the determination and capability to have it their way, but what about those who are not lucky enough to be able to leave their dreadful jobs?..
I have heard stories from my senior friends, old enough for retirement but not financially ready to give up work yet. As much as possible, I don’t share too much of my “newfound joy” as I see pain and hurt in their eyes when I do. I know, they wish to someday be able to live a liberated life but I also do understand what holds them back. I just wish it will be easier for them.
So what makes seniors hate their jobs? According to my experience—and to my friends’ as well, there are many varying factors to one’s satisfaction at work. Bottomline is, a team can never be as efficient and effective if there’s one unsatisfied teammate. For business owners out there, it is very important to monitor your workers’ level of satisfaction as it can directly affect their level of competency. This usually occurs when someone new joins your staff or some friction has been started.
Seniors find it boring if their work falls into a routine, something that they do on hourly basis. It is easy to hate a job that poses no challenge no matter how comfortable and easy the job may be. If there is no variety, seniors are bound to hate it sooner or later. On the other hand, an overly demanding job tends to burn workers out. Heavy workload with lots of deadlines is not only physically taxing but also mentally and emotionally draining—a factor that will push a worker to hate his job.
Unrewarding jobs are the most arduous to do. These jobs include dead-end positions without a promotion in sight, or when you work hard and still not get recognized for it. The same goes for jobs that are not really in line with your interests.
Working environment is important as well. If your boss is a perfectionist and nothing you do seems to hit the spot or if he is mean and yells at you, one can fully understand why you hate your job. It is also advisable to have a healthy working atmosphere in the office so it would be easier for you to come to work everyday.

When I was still working a 9-5 job, I always find myself with aching back and almost numb butt at the end of the day. I also developed the so-called “one-pack abs” which is supposedly a version of the very famous six pack but this time it all concentrated to one, bulging area, similar to a beer belly. I also found my rear end to be growing each and everyday like it has a life of its own. I used to fool myself thinking that this might be the way Jennifer Lopez grew that sexy backside but when mine grew out of proportions, I knew I had to do something.
Just imagine the relief I felt by the time I bid my absentee boss goodbye. I was thinking that maybe now that I have more time in my hands, I can be healthier, go to the gym everyday and even attend fitness classes in between. I even got as far as envisioning myself in a really tight swimsuit the next summer! The first thing I did after kissing the office door goodbye was to go straight to the gym and sign myself up! That was a year ago..
Now that I have my home office up and running and me being the all-around girl, I usually find myself sitting almost all day, all night! Not that I have regrets or complaints, in fact, I love what I am doing right now—part of the reason why I can’t stand being away from my office for too long. The only problem is, I am, again, stuck in a chair without much of a choice. I bet there are about a million older adults like me experiencing the same so I refuse to give up!
There are ways to beat immobility at its finest. Here are my suggestions for what I fondly called as “healthy sitting”:
·    Replace chair with a stability ball. You know what’s funny, this idea came to me when I saw a picture of corporate workers sitting on a stability ball. Then it hit me: why not?! I must say, it improved my posture while working since I need to balance myself when doing so and took away a great deal of back pain. I still keep an ordinary office chair at bay though when I need a back rest.
·    Move around at least every 20 minutes. Some say, it should be 45 but why wait when at 20 your aging body is already feeling uncomfortable? Stand, walk, get some fresh air, do some stretching, anything to get you out of that sitting position!
·    Avoid slouching by adjusting all your things in a position that will keep your body upright. One of which is your computer monitor which your body tend to slouch over when working. If you have to put it above your head just to keep your body straight, then by God, do so!
·    Install stimulators in your chair. Seniors must have massage chairs when working. It helps alleviate muscle tension and stress during working hours and can also help you relax in times when you badly need so.
·    Make your office space a personalized one. Your space should answer perfectly to your body’s needs. It need not be stylish if it will only sacrifice your comfort and health. If clutter works for you, then clutter all you want!

Even if this post is titled as such, it doesn’t mean that seniors are manipulative people. On the contrary, they are most vulnerable in the hands of predators who are always on the look out for the perfect prey—unfortunately, they see the senior group as one of the easiest to manipulate since most seniors are very trusting in nature.

Generally speaking—and sadly enough—manipulation exists everywhere! A senior can find them prevalent in workplace and even in your own home, with your own defenses down, it may be present. It can be just about any other person, no matter the extent or degree of relationship. These people take advantage of the “first encounters” as these usually are void of any defensive feelings.

Whether seniors like it or not, the world is not a perfect place. It has its own faults. We, on the other hand, would like to believe that it is indeed perfect as it would be much easier to live in it if it were. Meanwhile, manipulation happens for one reason: for selfish satisfaction—and some people are really good at this, you wouldn’t even know you’re being manipulated. Manipulative people share certain characteristics. These are their common denominator, a way to spot them. If you spot these ahead of time, you’ll be able to extract yourself from the situation and be forewarned with any future dealings with this person hence saving you from falling for their scams and schemes.

CHARACTERISTIC 1:  Compliments, compliments, compliments. What better way to make someone move to desired direction than showering them with compliments, unwarranted and otherwise? This is especially true for seniors who longed to be appreciated but their loved-ones failed to do so.

CHARACTERISTIC 2:  Guilt-tripper. An experienced manipulator will know your weaknesses. If you’re the kind of person who would not want to be blamed for anything hence always doing your share of work then a guilt-tripper is your worst kind of manipulator. He’ll make you do things just because you have to, not because you like what you are doing.

CHARACTERISTIC 3:  Nagger. This person will pester you until you give in just to shut them up. It’s quite hard to say “no” to these people without hurting their feelings but once you gave in, they’ll pester you again tomorrow so its better to clear rules now and ask questions later.

CHARACTERISTIC 4:  A bully. Bullying is an art perfected in grade school. Through the years, expect a bully to continually hone their craft and get what they want from people. They may be tough but you, as your own person, deserve to do whatever you want and not get orders from someone else. Besides, it’s about time they do their own work.

Then you are not alone in this battle as more and more older adults are facing the exact same problems you’re having right now!

One study was done within the medical community particularly to nurses and how they balance their work and family life. Although the study was primarily intended to determine the effects on a nurse’s life, what’s more stunning is the overwhelming number of nurses who clearly qualified for the study. Moreover, about half of this population belongs to our own age group—older adults.

What we need to know is that work-family conflict is not limited to the medical community alone. It exists anywhere else as long as there is a worker with a family to care for—even college kids who only have one parent supporting them. That’s what our society has become and sadly, there’s no other way around it.

Work-family conflict is stressful. Men were able to handle such conflicts better than women, maybe due to the fact that they have been balancing these two for such a long time that they no longer consider it a big deal—and partly because the pressure is not too strong for them just as long as they’re able to financially provide for the family’s needs. On the other hand, women, being the supposedly “primary caregiver”, are most of the time, forced to choose between work and family. Mind you, it’s not only once or twice a work-family conflict hits, it seems in this day and age, it hits almost everyday!

Just ask a person who belongs to the sandwich generation and they will know exactly what a work-family conflict is. They are neither too young to not care nor too old to be cared for so they are stuck in between, caring for a young child and an old parent. This serves as the “family” side of the conflict while the “work” side is the urgency of going to work every single day, mostly for financial reasons.

Alarmingly, work-family conflicts have health implications. One of them is depression. A person who constantly experiences work-family conflicts is bound to be depressed which some are known to end up in alcohol abuse. Others take refuge in binge eating leading to obesity—two of the most prevalent problems amongst seniors.

There are ways to lessen the impact of work-family conflicts, however, a decision still has to be made, one way or another. Making your work schedule a little more flexible is one way to go if your family obligations cannot be compromised but if your work cannot take adjustments then you will need help from other people. Accepting your limitations as a person will improve your current situation significantly. Bear in mind that as a person, you only have one body to do things. That being said, doing two tasks at exactly the same time is impossible. Delegate whenever you can and lower your self expectations. Also, seek counseling when needed.

Soon after retirement, there are retirement work options you need to think about. Actually, retirement work and everything else that comes with it should be prepared ahead of time just so when you have reached the big day, there will be no added surprises anymore. At best, your home office should be set up—and ideally “soft” running—even before you are held legally retired by the law. This is because setting up an office might sound so simple, but in actuality, it’s not as easy as it seemed.

Setting up an office takes time and planning, of course. Not only that, right after settling in and, for the very first time, working in this office, that will be the only time you’ll see how your “careful planning” has gone wrong. Like any other business, home-based also has its own set of challenges and will also require time to get on its feet. The only difference is the penny you’ll save as compared to renting a proper office space. Aside from that, some clients do prefer working with someone who operates from home.

If you are thinking of setting up your own home office then check out this step-by-step guide in making it as smooth as possible:

·    Designate a suitable room. When I say suitable, it means it should be as far as it can get from all potential distractions. If possible, it should have a great view of something soothing and/or refreshing. However, if you are living in the city and you don’t have this kind of luxury then choose a wallpaper that suits you best. Blue is known to stimulate the mind while light blue gives an illusion of a much wider space.
·    Floor planning or even a rough sketch of what you have in mind. If you have one in mind, this is the time to draw it down, if you don’t, consult the internet for many interesting ideas. While it is easy to lose yourself while doing this, you need to consider two of the most important factors that should exist in an office: comfort and functionality. Start with your essentials then add accents later.
·    Clear the room. As in zero. Nada. It is much better—and easier—to start with a blank space than keep moving things until they finally fit in. It will also give you a clear idea how much space you have in your hands rather than depending on your estimates.
·    Start with what you have right now. You don’t have to buy every single piece that goes into your office. With a little creativity, you can manage with almost 80% of your existing furniture and still be happy with your office.
·    Be on the look out for companies which offices are currently under renovation. Chances are, they are also offering their “old things” for sale!
·    One by one, fill your office up but be conscious of the remaining space when doing this. If you intend to spend lots of time in this room, it is easier to breathe when you have a lot of space to do so.
·    Lighting is very important. Choose a light that won’t strain your eyes. Neither too bright nor too dim would work.
·    Give it a test. After admiring your handiwork, it’s time to get down and dirty. Remember what I have said about soft opening? Every major business does a soft opening because this is the only way they will be able to see the office in action. Do this too so you’ll have time to fix or arrange things before a large transaction comes.