Reality Check on Baby Boomer Challenges

By Amy Sherman, LMHC

You know the basic challenges you face as you get older and they include caring for your aging parents, keeping up with your own health issues, watching out for your young adult children and planning for your impending retirement.

However, these challenges may become exacerbated by the economy and general depressed mind-set of our generation.

This is a good time to take a reality check of your most pressing concerns and see if there are any solutions that would alleviate some unnecessary worry.

Here are some things to consider:

When is a good time to retire? Perhaps your 401K or IRA has lost money but it's now finally making some revenue gains. Should you stay at your job longer than planned to recoup some needed income?

If you have a job, are you feeling secure that you won't be laid off? If not, do you have a back-up plan to help you get through these trying times?

Is your health good or are you finding that trips to the doctor's office are becoming more frequent than usual? Now may be a good time to reassess how to improve your health through changes in diet, exercise, attitude and nutritional supplements.

Are you in debt? With retirement pending, can you find a way to cut back and reduce your spending and even pay down some of your balance?

Is the home you are living in less in value than when you bought it? If you'd like to downsize, but find that selling now would be too much of a financial sacrifice, can you sustain your current lifestyle?

Would you love to take a vacation to see the kids or plan a special trip for your anniversary, but can't afford the luxury? Perhaps, the kids can visit you or you can meet half-way to save time and money. Maybe shorter, closer to home get-a-ways would still satisfy your adventuresome side.

We are all feeling the stress from the economy, but that doesn't mean you can't find a way a deal with challenges that come before you. You have probably had other taxing times in your past and yet you came out on the other end. Use the same determination and faith that pulled you through before to get you through this time. You really are unbeatable and unstoppable if you set your mind to it. Just know what the challenges are so you can confront and conquer them - one by one.

About the author: Amy Sherman, LMHC is the author of Distress-Free Aging: A Boomer's Guide to Creating a Fulfilled and Purposeful Life.

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