The Hit List - How to keep your body, mind, and spirit in good working order

Every single day, I get a reminder that I’m getting older. It might be the creak in my joints when I roll out of bed or the new crinkles under my eyes that I seem to discover day by day.

I can’t run from it. The clock is ticking and I know that I’ve got to make the most out of what’s left.

Which means: practicing extreme self care. This is not the time to neglect myself. If anything, I have to up the ante because time is scarcer. I want to keep myself – body and soul – as fine tuned as possible. I’m stacking the odds in my favor as much as I can. Wanna know what I’m doing?

Here are my guidelines keeping your mind, body, and spirit in good working order:

Body

Move your body every day. A walk, light weights, a vigorous dance class. Get off the couch and find something to do. (NPR just released this post: Get Off the Couch Baby Boomers…or you may not be able to.) Can’t get off the couch due to physical limitations? Read this post for some ideas.

Stretch. It’s not enough to exercise – you must stretch those muscles. One of the reasons why older people tend to shuffle is because their muscles are super-tight. A daily routine of simple stretches will keep you upright and walking gracefully. (Studies have shown that stretching is also good for your arteries.)

Practice balance and coordination. Wanna know the biggest health care problems facing older folks? Falling. Yep, those ads with “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” are no joke. Yoga is a wonderful way to practice balance. Try tree pose in the morning. It’s a great way to improve your balance. Here’s a great post on some yoga poses that are great for balance and coordination.

Exfoliate your skin once a week. Your skin doesn’t turn over cells as rapidly as it did when you were a young ‘un. I use an exfoliating sugar scrub on my body, a foot scrub on my feet, and a good BHA exfoliant on my face. Once a week is enough for me because my skin is sensitive. You may be able to use these more frequently.

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. I can’t say that enough. I use an in-shower moisturizer for my body followed by another layer of moisturizer once I’ve dried off. My feet get a nice dollop of cream as do my hands. My face gets a slather too, morning and night. You can never have enough moisturizer. (Psst…you don’t need a fancy brand. I use the cheap-o drugstore stuff. Works just as good!)

Use a sunscreen every day. I never leave the house without my sunscreen. It not only prevents wrinkles but protects from skin cancer, a leading cause of problems for many. If you feel you need a tan, use a self tanner instead of risking your face. A day at the beach may give you a glow but it’s not worth it.

Take excellent care of your teeth. Your teeth are not just for eating, yo. A full mouth of teeth also supports the structure of your face. Don’t take those pearly whites for granted. Visit your dentist regularly. Brush after every meal. FLOSS. Wanna take it an extra step? Use a fluoride rinse at night. I have been doing so for ages and in the last 34 years I have only had one cavity! Woot! (I have an ex that says fluoride is a poison and blah blah blah. He always tried to talk me out of it. Well…just saw him not that long ago and his teeth looked like crap. So sorry…he may be right technically but I’m all about keeping my teeth!)

Eat as well as you can. Even if you’re on a tight budget (I am at the moment), try to eat healthy foods. Hey, I’m known to indulge in a bag of Caramel M&Ms on a regular basis but I still make sure that my diet includes plenty of whole grains, yogurt, fruits and veggies.

Take vitamins. I like the gummy ones because most vitamins make me feel nauseous. These suckers taste good and still pack a nutritional punch!

Mind

Learn something new every day. It might be a new recipe, an interesting fact – it doesn’t matter, just learn something.

Get cozy with technology. I cannot tell you how many times I have come across women my age who don’t know basic tech skills. Worse yet, they make excuses. The world is only going to get more techy – embrace it. Heck, my 94 year old aunt is on Facebook and knows how to email. You should know the basics too. (Psst…if you struggle to learn, consult your kid. They grew up with this stuff and can show you what to do.)

Read often. The news, a blog post, that great novel that everyone’s talking about. A mind that reads is a mind that stays sharp.

Quiet time is important for your mind too. We live in a busy, over stimulated world. Take regular time outs to enjoy a little silence. Your brain will thank you.

Get plenty of sleep. At this stage in my life, I’ve been struggling with wicked insomnia. Many mid-life women do. It’s a hormonal thing from what I hear. I try to get to bed at a decent hour. If I wake up in the middle of the night and cannot get back to sleep, I will read a book or get up and do a little writing. Soon enough, my brain will go back to sleep for a few hours. In some cases, it doesn’t. I just start my day early and try to take a nap if possible.

Take good care of your emotional health. If you are depressed or struggling with mental health issues, do not suffer in silence. Do not suppress shit feelings. Get help. (Can’t afford counseling? Consider contacting 7 Cups – a free online service.)

Pets are wonderful companions – especially if you live alone. A furry buddy to cozy up with at the end of the day is the best! (My cats enjoy watching Game of Thrones with me.)

Keep working as long as you can. It will keep your brain in good working order. I’ll never forget when my father retired. After a few months of sitting around, he had enough of it. (So did my mother!) He got a job at a church and worked there for many years until he was unable to. After that, he became a school crossing guard, which he did until he was 90. I like to think that the reason he had his full mind and remained ambulatory was because he continued working long past 65.

Spirit

A regular spiritual practice will keep you centered and grounded. Your spiritual practice can be whatever you like: meditation, yoga, prayer, journal, attend services, chanting, spending time in nature…pick something you like and make it a regular part of your life.

Give back. There are lots of good causes waiting for your helping hand. Giving back in some way feels darn good – so get on it. Join a charity, donate money, volunteer. Nothing lifts the spirit more than lending a helping hand.

Cut negative people out of your life – or spend less time with them. You don’t need to go to every family gathering if they tend to turn nasty nor do you need to put up with a client who treats disrespectfully. It’s not worth it. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that you’ll gain nothing from trying to engage with rude people. Bless them and let them go. Surround yourself with people who feed your soul instead.

Spend time with younger folk. They are quite fun and interesting. Some of my best friends are young enough to be my kids. My kids are also my best friends.

Love with all your heart. Even if you don’t have a partner, find someone or something to love with a passion. Hearts like to feel full.

If you have children, cultivate healthy relationships with them. Even if you grew up with a dysfunctional family role model, you can break the wheel. Strong relationships with your children is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself…and them.

Give thanks every single day. A gratitude practice doesn’t need to be formal but it should be essential. Every day, count your blessings, even if you feel that they are humble. Some of the things I am grateful for: a good night’s sleep, a mug of hot tea, a quick phone call with an old pal. I never run out of things to be grateful for, no matter how hard my life can be at times.

Make time for yourself. Many people older peeps find themselves sandwiched between caring for older parents and raising teens. If that’s you, be sure to carve out time for you-time. Get support if you need to.

Maintain your friendships. A strong social network is good for the soul. If you are unable to meet with friends due to circumstances or health issues, online friendships can be just as rewarding as in person pals.

Lastly, treat other people with as much kindness and compassion as you can. A little goes a long way.

So that’s it. What are your ways to keep your Body, Mind, Spirit in good working order?

Taking a nature walk in my hood with the husband.

Other stuff:

Wald Amberstone and I did a podcast series called What If? – a six-part exploration for Tarot professionals about illness, death, divorce, income loss, retirement, and other uncomfortable topics that most of us don’t want to talk about – but need to discuss.

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JayZ’s mom shares the emotional story on how she came out to her son.

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This study says that people still unfairly judge businesses operated by women.

Some of my good tarot buddies and fave Minneapolis haunts are featured in this cool post about the witches of south Minneapolis!

More about the flack around Doreen Virtue’s conversion. Daily Tarot Girl weights in too.

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Did you get your Desire Map 2018 Planner yet? I like to think ahead so I’ve got mine. (Psst…I did the astrology dates.) <-Affiliate link.

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YES: ‘We Do Not Have to Accept This’: Rep. Jayapal Refuses to Be Called ‘Young Lady.’

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Sex, Death and Destruction with Tarot: People often fear the Devil, Death, and the Tower more than any other card. In this 3 night course we will explore these powerhouse energies. What to do when you encounter them, how to work with them, and even how to harness their power!

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Good: Planned Parenthood Is Taking Over Hollywood — & She’s The Reason Why.

You know I want this: BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts.

I’m a fan: Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street: The New Home Cooking.

Wildwood Tarot fans rejoice: Wild Magic: The Wildwood Tarot Workbook is coming soon!

I can never get enough books about moon stuff: Moon Magic: Your Complete Guide to Harnessing the Mystical Energy of the Moon.

Definitely on my wish list: Renegade Beauty: Reveal and Revive Your Natural Radiance–Beauty Secrets, Solutions, and Preparations.

For those times when you just can’t get ‘er done: Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done.

Join me for these awesome classes and events:

September 16 2017 10:45AM – 12:45PM: The Nutman in Hubertus, Wisconsin. Intuitive Tarot Reading. Join me for a two hour exploration in reading tarot – without a book. The Tarot Coloring Book will be available for purchase. Details coming soon.

October 12th 2017 at 7:30PM: Boulder Book Store in Boulder, Colorado. Join me for a short discussion on tarot + book signing! Books will be available for purchase.

October 13th 2017 6PM: Trunk Nouveau, Denver, Colorado. Join me for tricks ‘n treats ‘n a short talk on tarot + book signing! Books will be available for purchase.