"On with the Butter": Move It or Lose It!

“You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.” —George Burns, American comedian, actor, and musician

We recently read On with the Butter! Author Heidi Herman takes her title from an Icelandic saying, the land of Herman’s roots: “On with the butter” means carry on, forge ahead, and keep moving.

Although many of her principles are universal, she empathizes with the challenges of aging and explores how the turning of the calendar can affect our tendencies to grab life by the horns. More importantly, she suggests baby boomer-appropriate ideas for extracting more joy from life.

Herman’s ideas are diverse. For example, “Just Say Yes” explains, “Being spontaneous – even occasionally – also prevents us from getting into ruts and opens the door to more connection with our family and friends.” She looks at taking on challenges, being playful, trying new things, staying active, and more. She even provides resources for making her ideas even more doable.

Today, we have the pleasure of sharing an excerpt from the book with you

Keep Taking Those Steps

Before retirement, many of us were used to adding extra steps and movement to our days by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking farther away from the office, or walking a few blocks to lunch instead of driving.

But in our homes, we usually arrange things for convenience and efficiency, which makes sense when home is a place for rest and relaxation.

However, as we get older and spend more time at home, it may be helpful to rethink the way we’ve set it up. Changing the flow of the kitchen and moving dishes or cookware to a different cabinet can easily add more steps to our day as we prepare meals and put away dishes and groceries. Another small thing we can do that will make a difference over time is to keep the remote control next to the TV instead of within arm’s reach. Getting up to change the channel prevents us from sitting for hours on end.

See how many small changes you can make to incorporate more movement into all your indoor activities.

“Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.”—Plato

When we talk about being active, we often think of physical fitness or exercise. It can seem like a chore, a task we postpone for as long as possible. But movement is less strenuous while still being very beneficial. Practice being active just by adding a little more movement to your daily routine.

To keep reading On with the Butter and forging ahead with your best life, buy a copy of the book on Amazon.

On with the Butter: Spread More Living onto Everyday Life

Hekla Publishing LLC, Aug. 14, 2020

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