"WORKING SENIORS AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY"

Continuing Education for Working Seniors

2011-01-25T18:44:00.000-06:00

You're never too old to learn, and continuing education options abound for seniors. Just because you're older doesn't mean you can't master new skills. Many programs are specifically designed for seniors. They make learning fun and enjoyable,and who doesn't like learning new skills?

If you're a senior and interested in continuing education options, start by looking at the many options offered by AARP. AARP represents people who are 50 years old and older. Their focus is on improving life for older individuals. They not only strive to influence government policy on issues that impact older Americans, they also work to improve the quality of life for seniors.

The continuing education options offered by AARP are impressive. For starters, you can take classes on Computers and Technology. Along with tips on how to use your computer effectively, you can take both beginning and intermediate classes on using the Internet.

Other classes are offered on how to manage your money and build your personal wealth. They also offer classes and instruction on how to take care of your health. Explore their website for more information on the continuing education opportunities they offer.

Many cities offer continuing education classes for seniors. Local senior citizen centers frequently sponsor classes on everything from cooking to basic home repair and car maintenance. Some offer classes on using computers, including instruction on how to use the latest programs.

Interested in learning a new craft? Some continuing education classes offered by local cities include crafts such as woodworking, knitting, sewing, and painting. Check with your local community center and see what they have to offer.Many cities not only offer classes at the community center, they also offer online classes you can take from home.

Libraries also often offer continuing education classes. These classes frequently are created to help patrons master new skills. Some libraries offer classes on topics such as using technology, understanding the latest computer programs, mastering time-management, and managing your health. Libraries often bring in speakers to help patrons learn new skills.
Ask your local library for a list of upcoming classes.

In addition to live classes held at your library, you can literally find hundreds of resources to help you learn new skills.Libraries carry books, CDs, DVDs, and computer programs to help you master new talents and skills. Many libraries these days also offer online books so you can study without ever leaving your house. Contact your local library to see what they have available. You may be surprised at how many continuing education offerings local libraries now have.

Want to earn a college degree or take a few classes? Community colleges are the ideal location to find continuing education classes. These colleges work hard to create meaningful classes for all age groups. You can earn a degree or simply take a few classes to keep your skills current.

Learning is a life-long pursuit, and you should never give up your desire to learn more about the world around you.Continuing education classes let you keep learning and changing. Don't let your age stop you from learning.

" IS DEATH BY STRESS A REAL CONCERN FOR WORKING SENIORS? "

2010-12-20T20:42:00.000-06:00

   In today's economy the extra pressure to perform well in the modern workforce may very well put more stress in our lives. I can't help but remember recent loss of friends, and related field worker's in my job industry that seems untimely. So mainly for curiosity, I have done some research on this topic with sobering results. When people refer to “stress,” they may be talking about two different things; physical stress, or emotional stress. Most of the medical literature on stress and heart disease refers to physical stress. But most people are referring to the emotional variety when they talk about stress. Physical stress is generally good for you, and is to be encouraged, as long as you have a normal heart. On the other hand, with certain kinds of heart disease, too much, or the wrong kind of physical exertion may be harmful. Emotional stress, if it is severe or chronic enough, is bad for you. Most believe this kind of stress can cause heart disease. But scientific evidence that it actually does has been hard to come by. Emotional stress is frequently unexplainable because of the way it affects our bodies through our mental state. It influences our mentality so much that our physical state could really become unresponsive the minute it manifests itself. Some people could even resort to suicide when dealing with emotional stress. Emotional stress is dangerous because it is unpredictable in terms of bodily effects and symptoms.

Consider these facts; "twenty-five percent of employees view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives." (Northwestern National Life); "seventy-five percent of employees believe the worker has more on-the-job stress than a generation ago (Princeton Survey Research Associates). Mood, sleep disturbances, upset stomach, headache, and disturbed relationships with family and friends are examples of stress-related problems, that are quick to develop and are commonly seen in these studies. These early signs of job stress are usually easy to recognize. But the effects of job stress on chronic diseases are more difficult to see because chronic diseases take a long time to develop and can be influenced by many factors other than stress. Nonetheless, current evidence strongly suggests that stress plays an important role in several types of chronic health problems-especially cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, and psychological disorders. Do we experience any of the following?

1. Increased heavy breathing
2. Increased blood pressure
3. Increased heart rate
4. Cold sweat over body
5. Loss of color (Pallor)
6. Muscle tension
7. Blood rush to the head

   At least half of all of our total stress load comes from self-created internal stress. This stress is usually a product of our opinions, generated about things over which we have little or no control.
   Truth be known, most of us hard working seniors would have to agree with this statement. We let stress enter our lives due to ever changing demands of surviving in our current jobs due to advancement of technology and simply trying to keep up.
So in my little research I have come to the conclusion that some work stress is good for us but be careful not to allow excess stress to continue because "death by stress is possible."

"IF WE COULD QUIT WORKING - WOULD WE REALY WANT TO??"

2010-10-02T20:00:00.000-05:00

Have you seen or been in contact or even lost friends that has you wondering is retiring from a full time job the best for our on good? I have and it's a little disturbing, because seemingly there health changed for the worst when they no longer had a regular work routine. Maybe when we are not pushed or challenged we tend to get lazy on care of our self and continued intellect advances. However I would like some day to not have to continue the same work schedule I am presently involved with now. But would need to be active in my field maybe on my time frame.Is early retirement a healthy idea, though? A study at Shell Oil company looked in to that very question and found that people who retired at age 55 had almost twice the risk of death compared to people who retired at age 60. Work is good for you - especially after retirement. So we "Working Seniors" keep on keeping on at our work fields because we are not only needed , but it's good for us.
Work is good for you, according to a new study, which concluded that disgruntled workers dreaming of early retirement may need to think again.

Published: 9:46AM BST 15 Oct 2009
Older people who hold temporary or part-time jobs after retirement enjoy better physical and mental health than those who stop working entirely, according to recent US study.

Those who continue to work in their original field also have better mental health than those who change fields, according to the study published in the October issue of the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, a magazine published the American Psychological Association.

As we can see in some of the above studies, retiring from our field of work completely may create hazards to our health . So keep up the good work you "baby boomers" !!http://workingseniorsmoderntechnology.blogspot.com/

"A WORKING SENIOR'S FUNNY FISHING STORY"

2010-09-27T20:28:00.000-05:00

I must share this short story that treads and wades deep within my mind. I still chuckle to myself when I think about it. First, I must share a little of my family's past history in regards to our/their fishing. This was our favorite fun past-time, the love of the fish fry. As far back as I can remember, my father, mother, brother and several uncles had many fishing experiences.

In this story, my favorite Uncle Marvin, one of my cousins and myself was involved. Many times when I got home from school, there was a call from Uncle Marvin, and his words were always the same "hey, have you got your fishing britches on?" I was always thrilled and knew exactly what was on his mind. You see, living in mid-Georgia, we have many choice places to go fishing. One of our favorites was known as "Gum Swamp," a dark water creek with plenty of good fishing that fit our style. Uncle Marvin and I had "swamp stomped" this creek many times before this particular story unfolds. What made this day different was my cousin was with us, one who had little fishing experience in "Gum Swamp." Because of his lack of experience, we led him to one of our spots that was easy to access, and required little wading into the creek. This would allow the use of a can pole to reach the stumps and underwater brush for our best chance at catching any fish.

Most of the time our tackle only consisted of one can pole, extra hooks, sinkers, corks, and a cricket box slung over our shoulders, as well as, a stringer for the catch, which we carried in our blue jeans pockets. Also, keep in mind that this is a swamp full of many of God's creatures other than fish. After setting my cousin up in an area and giving him a few pointers, Uncle Marvin crossed the creek in order to follow the run up-water, while I proceeded down creek to the main run toward deeper water that was more familiar.

I had only been fishing about an hour, with a few perch on my stringer, when I heard a faint shaky voice coming from up stream. I stood still trying to make out the word, when I heard it again, a little louder this time, a name, shaky and strung-out like Marrrrrrrrrrvin!!!! Realizing that it was my cousin, I took in my pole, grabbed my fish and headed his way. By this time, he had gained my uncle's attention when answered "boy, what is the mater with you?" Marrrrrrrrrrrrrrvin, was the only response, but only this time in panic rather than normal voice. By the time I made it back to my cousin's location, my uncle has already arrived on the scene.

My cousin was standing in the water above his knees, with his arms out-stretched, left hand holding his pole, while in his right hand, he was holding his cricket box. He was looking downward and obviously in distress, when once again one name came from his lips, Marrrrrrrrrrrrrrvin. At that time, I saw what the problem was a very large snake, a cotton mouth.

Picture this if you can, my cousin is standing knee deep in the middle of the creek, and the snake is slowly moving in an out between his legs, only going maybe 4-5 feet, before returning to slide between his legs again. "Marrrrrrrrrrrrvin" was the only sound you could hear. Calmly, Uncle Marvin assessed the situation and told my cousin to just stand still and the snake will move away shortly. That shortly seemed much longer, more like forever, but finally the snake did move a little further out may 5 or 6 feet, but that was far enough for my cousin. Suddenly, I saw a cane pole flying through the air, tackle flying in the opposite direction, with my cousin running, stomping and splashing, coming out of the creek, flying by my uncle and myself and continuing on up the trail, or maybe he cut a new one through the bush, straight to the truck. The next sound I heard was the slamming of the truck door.

Not only did this end the days fishing, but as far as I know, it also permanently ended my cousin's swamp stomping trips.http://workingseniorsmoderntechnology.blogspot.com/

" NEW WORKFORCE DEMANDS ON " BABY BOOMERS"

2010-05-31T14:14:00.000-05:00

Within the past few years, nearly two dozen industry associations have grouped together to create a new organization, the Alliance for an Experienced Workforce. This group works with employers to find creative ways to keep the retiring baby boomers working.

Some of the popular options include more training, to keep the skills of the older workers current and relevant to the changes in technology. Other suggestions include enticing older tech workers to stay in the workforce by offering options like job-sharing, flex-time, and part-time work.
Technology is not the enemy

What about technology — all those cell phones, laptops and personal electronic devices that employees are taking home and using on business trips to communicate and exchange company information? Far from being a problem, the vast majority (86%) of respondents in both the U.S. survey group and the global survey said they feel technology is actually helping them achieve some level of balance between their personal and professional lives. Only 12% in each group said "technology has allowed work to intrude on my personal life," and just 2% said "technology has allowed work to dominate my life."
Thanks in part to these new measuring tools, the 20th century has been one of the most productive and dynamic centuries ever. But the 21st century promises to be even more exciting and enterprising for the American workforce. With all of the changes to come, America’s 21st century workforce needs to do more than simply adjust to the new economy. To succeed in the 21st century, our Nation must be prepared to embrace the changes in our economy—in how we work, where we work, and how we balance our professional and family lives.

I know in my life the use of modern technology has increased my ability to work smarter and expand my opportunities . It's still very hard for me to spend more time sitting and punching these keys , surfing web, downloading and trying to understand new programs, but necessary to give me any chance of keeping up in this ever changing senior workforce.http://workingseniorsmoderntechnology.blogspot.com/

"STRESS AND WORKING SENIORS"

2010-05-28T20:33:00.000-05:00

According to the survey findings, one in four Americans turns to food to help alleviate stress or deal with problems. Comfort eaters report higher levels of stress than average and exhibit higher levels of all the most common symptoms of stress, including fatigue, lack of energy, nervousness, irritability, and trouble sleeping. Comfort eaters are also more likely than the average American to experience health problems like hypertension and high cholesterol. In addition, 65 percent of comfort eaters characterize themselves as somewhat or extremely overweight and are twice as likely as the average American to be diagnosed with obesity.
Stress levels are higher for frequent fast levels are higher for frequent fast-food eaters. While only 13 percent ofpeople who did not eat at a fast food restaurant in the last week are very concerned about stress, this number rises to 21 percent of among those who ate fast food meals in the past week.

● 31 percent of women say they are comfort eaters versus 19 percent of men.

● Men are more likely than women to opt for unhealthy snacks such as potato chips.
Job stress comes in different forms and affects your mind and body in different ways. Small things can make you feel stressed, such as a copy machine that never seems to work when you need it or phones that won't quit ringing. Major stress comes from having too much or not enough work or doing work that doesn't satisfy you. Conflicts with your boss, coworkers, or customers are other major causes of stress.

It's normal to have some stress. Stress releases hormones that speed up your heart, make you breathe faster, and give you a burst of energy. Stress can be useful when you need to focus on or finish a big project. But too much stress or being under stress for too long isn't good for you. Constant stress can make you more likely to get sick more often. It can also lead to long-term health problems such as heart disease , high blood pressure , back problems, and depression.

Look for these signs of job stress:

Headaches
Trouble sleeping
Problems concentrating
Short temper
Upset stomach
Job dissatisfaction and low moral Try to be positive
Give yourself messages as to how well you can cope rather than how horrible everything is going to be. "Stress can actually help memory, provided it is short-term and not too severe. Stress causes more glucose to be delivered to the brain, which makes more energy available to neurons. This, in turn, enhances memory formation and retrieval. On the other hand, if stress is prolonged, it can impede the glucose delivery and disrupt memory." All Stressed Up, St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch, p. 8B, Monday, November 30, 1998
Stress seems to be part of everybody's life. The United Nations International Labor Organization recently issued a report that states, "Stress has become one of the most serious health issues of our times."

There are many ways to contend with stress -- everything from jogging and paddle ball to biofeedback, aerobics and herbal tea. All these methods work to some extent but they take up precious time. The quickest, most effective way to beat stress is literally to laugh it off.http://workingseniorsmoderntechnology.blogspot.com/

" Impact of high-tech on senior workforce."

2010-03-15T20:00:00.000-05:00

Those who embrace knowledge and continue to learn new skills will be the ones who most likely survive in this high-tech world. I can surely relate to this now as my company embrace new program updates and changes often. In the past week, my colleagues and I received text messages and e-mails regarding a meeting with one of our vendors for training and updates for their new product sales program and order processing. We are currently involved in nation wide computer system updates connected with the location of which I work. This includes changes in order processing , quotes , reviews , files , and now access to other locations and inventory. Once again about the time I learn current system , changes occur. Would have to admit though, most changes and updates have improved my ability to more efficiently meet my customers needs .

Now in 2010, nearly one in three workers in United States will be over the age of 50. We must take advantage of any opportunity offered to improve our skills using advancement of technology. Personally, I am simply amazed at how much my field of business has changed just in the past few years, and can only imagine what lies ahead.http://workingseniorsmoderntechnology.blogspot.com/

future posts ; " Stress management for working seniors "

" New workforce demands on " baby boomers"

PERSONAL CHALLENGES

2010-02-25T16:59:00.000-06:00

There has been and still continues to be changes in the way we now are doing business.Most changes are due to unbelievable rapid developments in "modern technology." Computers are as common in most households as television. As a matter of fact, there is usually more than one. Most of the people I know have at least one or two lap tops, as well as desktop computers, and printers that perform a variety of functions (printing, faxing, producing photographs etc.) If someone had told me twenty-five years ago, that I now would be reading messages, receiving orders, reviewing quotes, and sending them to my company's order department, all from a hand held device smaller than a pack of playing cards. I would have called them crazy! Well it's now true, and even much more with this little wonder called a " blackberry curve."

Being in the construction material supply sales for more than twenty-five years and not yet old enough or ready to retire, I remember during the early years, after several visits to construction sites and picking up orders, the public phone booth was the next stop, where I would call in my orders before going on to other sites. It does seem that contractors in the past planned ahead. Maybe, it was because they knew their next chance to order would have to wait until another day. Unlike today, with modern communications its text messaging, mobile calls or e-mail after they have placed their original order, following up ten minutes later to make changes. Shortly thereafter, I once again receive a text message, telephone call or e-mail to add or change again, bless their hearts they can't help it . You get my point! It used to be slower paced, less stressful, unlike today's "got to have it now mentality." But I guess that is what we call living in the twenty-first century and the advancement of "modern technology."

I am fifty six years old and hanging on, most of the time behind, but currently holding my own. We can do it, maybe a little slow to learn, but when we get it , we got it for the moment. Unfortunately, as technology changes, and becomes more and more advanced, most of us seniors who thought we got it, will have to start all over again.http://workingseniorsmoderntechnology.blogspot.com/