MATURE LIVING SHOWCASE

Sponsored Content KEEP YOUR GREEN THUMB GROWING

Presented by Concord Reserve

Just because you’re growing older doesn’t mean your green thumb has to go away. Retirement is a wonderful time to garden, experiment with plants, and reap the benefits that come from being outdoors.

Connecting with nature brings a sense of tranquility while providing a boost of vitamin D and fresh air. And while you may not be training for a marathon, gardening is sure to get your blood pumping and joints moving. Want an enjoyable hobby that promotes wellness?

Gardening is the golden ticket. By keeping some safety measures top of mind and using a few of our following tips, you and your green thumb will be in full bloom.

Raised flower beds are a good solution for planting that help to limit bending and crouching. If you aren’t using them already, opt for these when planting anything new to give yourself some relief. Be mindful of the equipment you use and its weight. Lightweight buckets and hand tools can reduce strain and prevent next-day soreness.

Check your yard for safety hazards before starting your daily gardening. Anything that could cause a fall should be stored safely out of the way. Always carry a cell phone with you, as well. If you have an emergency, you’ll be grateful you have it to call for help. Before you head out, check the weather and dress accordingly. If there’s a chill in the air, throw on an extra layer, and if it’s rather warm, wear linen to avoid overheating. Use these simple suggestions to keep yourself thriving and your green thumb growing. Say goodbye to the pesky parts of landscaping and spend time enjoying your hobbies when you choose senior living at Concord Reserve. Schedule a tour today.

ZOOMING Over and Out!

Presented by McGregor

Are you experiencing Zoom fatigue?

80 million meetings per day. That’s an estimate of how many meetings are being held in the United States alone.

On average, meetings within companies and organizations went from seven per month before the pandemic to 12 during the pandemic.

Are we having too many meetings?

Maybe, especially when there’s no clear agenda or people don’t stick to it. Are the topics content-worthy?

Estimates show that about 70% of meetings keep employees from working and completing all their tasks. Ineffective meetings that waste our time can negatively impact our psychological, physical and mental well-being.

On average, meetings take up nearly half of our work week. According to Microsoft, since the pandemic began, the number of meetings has jumped 153%.

Some surveys show that employee productivity was 71% higher when meetings were reduced by 40%, making employees feel more empowered and autonomous. They owned their to-do lists and held themselves accountable, which consequently increased their satisfaction by 52%. The question becomes, does everyone need to be involved in the meeting?

A company we all know, Shopify, put a moratorium on meetings that included more than two people, giving back their time. “Companies are for builders, not managers.”

Meetings should focus on three things: clients, expectations and productivity levels:

To review work that’s occurred (what worked or didn’t and why)

To clarify and validate something (policies, team goals, etc.)

To distribute work appropriately among your team members

Being judicious about which meetings add value and which don’t will help free up people’s calendars. Note to self: Strategy garners loyalty towards managers.

Your teams are full of talented and capable people doing what they do best, but they need space to do so. By better understanding how they want to work together, how

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meetings fit into that, and where meetings do and don’t add value, you’ll minimize the need for useless meetings.

On the bright side, the senior services industry saw that virtual meetings among families scattered throughout the country added significant value and encouraged the family unit to foster collaboration for everyone.