2023 Reboot: Tackle the Issues That Are Holding You Back

Hello, my friends, and Happy New Year! I’ve spent the past ten days mostly in bed recovering from bronchitis — it was the sickest I’ve been in a very long time! If you’ve had bronchitis, you know that full recovery can be slow, and I’m still getting working on getting my energy back. 🥴 

Getting on social media this morning was kind of a shock to the system — seeing everyone all excited about their word for the year, their Bible verse for the year, or their New Year’s resolution! Since I’ve been so out of it, I felt a little bit like I’m late to the game! It’s like the train left the station, and I wasn’t on it!

If for whatever reason, you’re feeling like that too, I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone, and it’s okay! I think it’s important to remember that anyone can start strong — and pretty much everyone does — but not everyone finishes strong. I think it’s more important to be faithful than to start strong. If you’re trying to grow, what you’re after is perseverance, fortitude, and faithfulness! I’d rather start slow, continue with faithfulness and perseverance, and finish strong!

So know that I’m right there with you today, and we’re gonna be okay! That said, I wanted to share a few quick things I do every year about this time to kind of “reboot” the system. Nothing too taxing, don’t worry! 😂

BTW, my friends at Joy Creative Shop have created a darling FREE 2022 Reflection Printable! It’s a great way to take stock of 2022 (as I did in THIS post) and a tool to help you as you look forward as well. You can download it HERE.

2023 Reboot: Quick Things I Do Every Year

• Whiten my teeth. – It’s an easy way to look younger almost instantly! Lots of people swear by Crest 3D Whitestrips, but I find that they cause sensitivity, and I don’t love the chemicals. This is the teeth whitener I use. (I buy the value pack so I can use them again mid-year!)
• Stand up straighter. Poor posture can make you look so much older than your true age. If you’re really serious about this, you might try this posture trainer I’ve used. (Note to self: Pull that back out of the drawer!) It’s a discrete, effective reminder to stand up straight. I resolve to wear mine more in 2023!
• Focus on smiling more! Smiling releases endorphins and serotonin. It’s proven to improve your mood, give others a better first impression of you, and take years off your face! It’s like an instant facelift and an instant mood lifter. 😁

2023 Reboot: What I Hear From You

These are the things you’ve told me are a concern for you!

Weight Issues

It’s no secret that it’s more challenging to maintain a healthy weight in midlife. It’s also no secret that the weight that we gain in midlife can have serious health implications. Whether you’re still working off the “Quarantine 15” or the post-menopausal weight has crept on slowly, you know you need to address it. Simply put, it can damage your health and shorten your life. And we don’t want that!

Exercise is essential, but all the exercise in the world won’t help you lose weight if you don’t tackle your nutrition. If you’re a person who’ve tried diets in the past and failed, you may need more help. That’s okay! It’s great that you’ve learned that. It makes you normal!

Last year, I discovered Mighty Health. It’s the first exercise, nutrition, and wellness app designed specifically for people over 50. Backed by prominent investors, including AARP, NFL Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana, the owners of the Sacramento Kings, and Y Combinator, the app is the first of its kind! It’s an evidence-backed platform developed in conjunction with a research team of physicians from Columbia, UCSD, and more.

Their results are impressive too. In their first three months on the program, average members lose 15 lbs and triple their exercise activity Wow! To read my honest review of Mighty Health, check out THIS post, and to learn more about the program, click HERE. Mighty Health offers a Free 7-Day Trial. There is no long-term commitment, and you can cancel anytime.

Mighty Health also offers highly-discounted annual plans, which are ideal if you’re serious about making a commitment to your long-term health and wellness. They have generously offered Empty Nest Blessed followers a 60% discount on an annual membership. To take advantage of this offer or to learn more about Mighty Health, Click HERE and use code ENB60 at checkout. More details HERE.

Health, Wellness & Fitness

Did you know that Bob and I have a gym in our house? (It’s really just a converted bedroom, but we feel super-fancy when we call it a “gym!”) We have a treadmill, an elliptical, a recumbent bike, and a weight machine, along with a tiny bit of floor space so I can do some Pilates every day. Bob and I both hate working out, so we do it together in order to feel like someone else is sharing our misery! 😂

Hear me when I say this: We hate it, but we do it anyway. As I said, above, if you’re trying to grow, what you should focus on is perseverance, fortitude, and faithfulness! The key is not to stop moving! Just keep going. Make it as “fun” as possible and seek variety.

When Bob and I get sick of the “gym” and want to change it up, we opt for either a brisk walk or bike ride in our neighborhood, one of the Mighty Health workouts, or one of these two free low-impact bodyweight workout programs.

Body Project

Team Body Project is run by Daniel & Alexandra, the cutest married couple from the UK! They have lots of FREE low-impact workouts available on their website when you sign up for an account. If you want to try a few of their workouts before signing up, you can head to Body Project’s YouTube page and do a couple of their free workouts there.

AARP Fitness

Check out the FREE fitness videos by fellow empty nester Denise Austin at AARP.com/fitness. You’ll find everything from easy stretches to relieve back pain to expert tips on walking for fitness. She’s also got great tips on things like how to improve your walking technique and how to ease back pain. You can check them out HERE.

Spiritual & Mental Health

I believe the key to spiritual wellness is a personal relationship with God. Just like any other relationship in your life, you need to spend time together in order to know each other better and grow in intimacy. Here are the daily devotionals I’ve used and recommend.

• Just Rest: A 90-Day Devotional Journal Diary by Melanie Redd
• Praying the Scriptures for Your Adult Children: Trusting God with the Ones You Love by Jodie Berndt (Read my post about how I pray for my adult kids HERE.)
• Jesus Every Day: Beautifully Broken by Candace Cameron Bure
• Radiate 90 Devotions to Reflect the Heart of Jesus by Cleere Cherry Reaves
• Be Still: 90 Devotions for the Hopeful Heart by Cleere Cherry Reaves

If you’ve got mental health issues like depression, anxiety that won’t abate, marital problems, addiction, or other significant mental health issues, I’m pretty sure you know who you are. It’s nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about! Please seek help from a professional.

If, on the other hand, you just need to tweak your thinking on a few issues, here are some resources I recommend:

• The Pour Over – Bob and I are huge fans of this current event newsletter that comes out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. As Christians, it helps us stay informed about current events while remaining focused on Christ. You can check it out for yourself and subscribe for FREE (or choose to pay) HERE.
• Super Aging: Outsmart the Effects of Conventional Aging and Live Like You Are Decades Younger by Jeff Cory (Read my interview with the author HERE.)
• Blue Skies: How to Live in Extraordinary Expectation of What’s Around the Corner by James Barnett (I haven’t read this, but Bob is loving this book right now!)
• Empty Besting: Break Through 12 Empty Nest Myths So That You Can Adopt New Truths and Live Your Best Life by Kristi Huss (You can listen to my interview on Kristi Huss’ podcast MOMentum podcast HERE.)

What are you focused on this year? I’d love to know if you’re rebooting in some area of your life. We’re all in it together! Please consider encouraging our little empty nester community by sharing your 2023 reboot in the comments, okay?

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