Retirement Planning Strategies - June 2021

Retirement Planning Strategies - June 2021

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JUNE 2021

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‘WHAT WOULD “LESS” LOOK LIKE?’ And Other Stoic Concerns

There are a few things that bring regular value to my day, and one of them, without a doubt, is the “Daily Stoic” quote or consideration I have emailed to me every morning. Each one asks us to consider a different aspect of Stoic philosophy, often in conjunction with our own lives. I can think of a few times it’s been of value to me, but the one that springs to mind ahead of all the others was one I read in January 2020. It asked, “What would ‘less’ look like?” What a different answer I had back then, compared to the one I would give today! For the past year, we’ve been living through most of my answers. Less travel, fewer meetings, and savings on gas — those were the good ones. The not-so-good ones were things like less money, which has been the case for many. Or less social contact, which has been the case for all. Some of the past year has been very lonely. And yet, we’re still here. There has only been one thing of true value lost in this pandemic, and, of course, that is human life. As it turns out, everything else was not as important as we thought. That’s something that Stoicism teaches, or tries to, if we can only listen. It’s a philosophy uniquely concerned with surviving and finding satisfaction despite the times. Over the years, it’s

been a help to many people, from the Greeks who originally founded the school of thought, to Marcus Aurelius, to others up through the ages. Today, I’m not sure entirely what “less” looks like. Instead of focusing on the things I’d lose to that question, I’m far

It’s a very different way of looking at things. It’s also a necessary way, at least for me. I continue to get Daily Stoic reminders, and I can’t think of a morning where I read it and thought, “No, that doesn’t sound right.” Without fail, the tenets and thoughts behind Stoicism are ones that seem inevitably correct to me. I highly encourage you to do the same, and look into Stoic philosophy. It may or may not appeal to you, but if it does, the value really speaks for itself. I don’t know what the next year will bring any more than I did at the start of 2020. But good or bad, there’s a lot of value in first approaching it with a Stoic mindset. What do we have to lose? Now, we know that better than ever, and how much we can do without.

more preoccupied with the birds in my garden and the way that spring is turning to summer. For the last year, I’ve been working from home, and by now I can tell you every lily and crab apple tree in the yard. I’ve been over every inch, watched every blade and leaf come in and mature, and then wither and die, and now come back and grow fat again. I’m still amazed by nature, and even more amazed that I’d never taken the time to really look before. This, too, is rooted in Stoicism. Once we’ve cut away what’s nonessential, we have to do better with what remains. It’s a thought process much like weeding a garden — and in this case, it’s been watching one grow. I’ve been trying to do better with what I have left, and right now that’s the world just outside my door — but not more than a hundred yards or so away.

–Ann Vanderslice

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3 Composting Mistakes That Are Easy to Make

AND EASY TO FIX!

Composting is an excellent way to cut down on landfill waste while making your garden and yard look even better. However, it can often require a little TLC, and it’s easy to throw off the “balance” of the compost, potentially leading to disaster. Here are a few common mistakes people make with their compost and how you can avoid (or fix) them! FOOD SCRAPS ON TOP OF THE PILE Accessible food waste is a fast way to attract animals and insects. If left on the top of the pile, it also generates a very unpleasant odor as it breaks down. That

top of the pile. As Good Housekeeping points out, this is a great way to avoid critters and smells — and it keeps the compost healthier!

TOO MUCH OF ANY ONE THING A big part of a successful compost pile is diversity. Excess grass, for example, can inhibit healthy composting. It may limit airflow to lower parts of the pile, choking the microbes below. It can also introduce too much nitrogen to the mix, which can elevate certain bacteria levels and make the pile smell awful. If you notice too much of one type of material like grass, food waste, or leaves, hold back on that material for a few weeks. TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE MOISTURE Related to the second point, too much water can also limit proper airflow and end up killing essential bacteria. If the moisture is because of rain, you can cover the compost for short periods of time. Using a tarp is a great option, and you can divert sprinklers away from the compost to avoid other water sources. However, during the summer heat, it’s possible for the compost to dry out. The material will then decompose at a very slow rate, as many of the microbes either die out or can’t function properly. Fixing this is as simple as watering it. Just keep a close eye out!

makes tending to the compost an unwelcome chore. The best way to avoid this is to have enough other material (preexisting compost, leaves, grass, or a mix of all) to layer on

THE SUPER BENEFITS OF YOGA

June 21 is International Yoga Day, which makes it a great time of year to talk about the unique benefits of yoga — the “superfood” of fitness. As a mixture of exercise and mindfulness, yoga is not only challenging but also has myriad health benefits. Many people assume yoga is mainly useful for increasing your flexibility. However, it’s also excellent for further developing your strength, mobility, and balance. These can be key benefits for living a healthier lifestyle, whether you’re an athlete or concerned about aging. Kaitlyn Hochart, a yoga instructor from San Diego, California, writes on Healthline, “During yoga, your body goes through a full range and variety of motion that can counteract aches and pains associated with tension or poor postural habits.” Yoga can help you become more aware of these habits, “[allowing] you to fix these imbalances and improve overall athleticism.” Many forms of exercise are useful against depression and cardiovascular disease, but in yoga’s case, you don’t have to break a sweat to start benefiting from its stress-relieving properties. “The breathing exercises you practice during yoga can help lower your heart rate and shift your nervous system into a more relaxed state. It also promotes better sleep and increased focus,” Hochart writes.

Multiple studies agree: Yoga can significantly decrease the secretion of cortisol,

the primary stress hormone. In one study, 64 women with post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) participated in a 10-week program, performing yoga at least once a week. By the end of the 10 weeks, 52% of participants no longer met the criteria for PTSD at all. As with starting any new hobby or regular exercise, it may help to set clear goals for yourself. By doing yoga regularly, there are several physical improvements you can look forward to, such as: • Improved range of motion or ease of movement • A reduction in pain, discomfort, or other symptoms • An increase in physical strength and endurance • Less weight fluctuation • Changes in the way your clothes fit • Better-quality sleeping habits and increased or stabilized energy levels One of the best qualities of yoga is that you can be of any age or fitness level. So, pull up a YouTube video, find a soft surface, and give it a try!

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Kale, Seaweed, and Other Not-So-New Superfoods

There’s nothing so trendy as a new superfood or diet, and the “in vogue” ones change constantly. Older readers may remember the Atkins diets and other fads of the early 2000s, but younger ones may not even remember a time before the paleo diet was a thing — and it’s already almost a thing of the past. Many things we associate with these trends, though, are anything but new. We see this most clearly with the grains we turn to in the name of health. Westerners generally wouldn’t be familiar with quinoa, amaranth, teff, or kamut if it weren’t for their presence in the hippest healthy-eating Instagram feeds. Many of these foods hail from Africa or the Far East, so it’s understandable we don’t know them all — but there’s nothing really new about them. People in the Americas and the Old World have eaten quinoa for 3,000– 5,000 years. Teff, which is technically a grass seed, was one of the first domesticated plants, emerging thousands of years ago in what is now Ethiopia. Alternate sources of protein and fiber show a similar trend. Seaweed — the perennial favorite of Twitter dieters everywhere — has been consumed in China, Korea, and Japan since before recorded history. If you know anything about recorded history in those regions, then you know that’s a long time! And kale, whose

reputation precedes itself, has been cultivated since at least 2,000 B.C. in Greece, Asia Minor, and other parts of the Mediterranean.

So, the next time you dig into your favorite health food, take a moment to Google what you are eating. You might be part of a long line of human beings who have turned to that food for sustenance over the millennia!

BRAIN! Train Your

Grilled Chicken Shawarma

Inspired by FeastingAtHome.com

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tbsp ground cumin • 2 tbsp ground coriander • 2 tsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper • 2 tsp turmeric • 1 tsp ground ginger

• 1 tsp ground black pepper • 2 tsp allspice • 8 garlic cloves, minced • 6 tbsp olive oil • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs

DIRECTIONS

1. To create marinade, whisk all spices with the garlic and olive oil in a medium bowl. 2. Add chicken to the bowl, coat well with marinade, cover, and let sit in the fridge for at least 20 minutes — or up to 48 hours. Strain off excess marinade before cooking.

3. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Grill thighs for 10–12 minutes on each side, or until a meat thermometer reads 165 F. 4. Serve with rice, vegetables, or pita bread with tzatziki.

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issue INSIDE THIS ‘What Would “Less” Look Like?’ PAGE 1

These Mistakes Can Ruin Your Compost! PAGE 2

Superfoods Are Not So New ... PAGE 3

Lightbulb Primer: Choosing the Right Bulb for the Right Job PAGE 4

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE Get the Most Out of Each Lightbulb

We’ve all stood in front of the lightbulb section at the home improvement store. There are so many to choose from. But most of the time, we just grab the one we know will fit in any given spot. We don’t always consider things like color temperature, brightness, wattage (outside of compatibility with lamps or sockets). However, the bulb you choose does matter. The type of light it puts out can dramatically change a room — and not just in appearance, but functionality, too. Consider the following: WORKING SPACES (KITCHEN AND BATHROOMS) These rooms, more or less, are utility rooms. They serve specific functions. In the kitchen, you prepare meals and cook. Kids may do homework in the kitchen. In the bathroom, you get ready for work. You may choose outfits, put on makeup, groom yourself, and so on. In these rooms, you need to see detail. As such, brighter lightbulbs are essential. These bulbs give off 5,000–10,000 lumens and have a bright or cool white color temperature (the packaging may say 4,100 kelvins). Day lightbulbs are a good option as well (5,000–6,000 kelvins). The type of bulb (incandescent, compact fluorescent, LED, halogen, etc.) isn’t as important as the first two features. A bright bulb that

emits cool light will open up the room, allowing you to clearly see the job at hand.

LIVING SPACES (DINING ROOMS, HOME OFFICES, BEDROOMS, READING AREAS) These rooms are more casual than the utility spaces and don’t require as much light as in the kitchen or bathroom. These are rooms where you may be relaxing or need to be less energetic. Bright, white light is more of an “awake” light, but it’s not ideal when you’re just chilling out (or even working behind a computer screen in a home office). You want bulbs in the 2,000–6,000 lumen range that give off softer, warmer light around 2,700 kelvins. This type of light is just as the naming suggests — warmer. It gives the room a more inviting feeling. It’s easier on the eyes and looks more natural in these types of rooms. In the home office, warmer light helps balance the light emitted by monitors, which can be harder on the eyes. Softer, warmer light reduces eye strain. This is also why it’s ideal for reading areas!

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