Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Living Well with the Carrie Connection

Baby boomers and their families know the importance of the following tips from the November 1999 issue of Mayo Clinic's Healthquest: Answers for Healthier Living from Mayo Clinic Health Information.

Do you ever feel that corporate America's slogan is "Out with the old, in with the new"? Workers who are 50 and older can demonstrate that they're as valuable as the new kid on the block.

Build networks. Stay in the loop. Connect with people throughout your company. Join associations to meet other workers.

Mentor younger workers. You can bring years of experience to the relationship, while they can show you the latest ways of doing things.

Volunteer. Committees or special projects may provide a change of pace, help you meet new people and help you understand other facets of the company.

Monitor workplace changes. Keep your eyes and ears open. "If you don't know who's at the helm and which direction the ship is going, you might as well turn in your resignation today," says Ed Creagan, M.D., president of the Mayo Clinic medical staff.

Keep your skills up-to-date. The average worker will change jobs five times. Continue improving your skills. Keep up with technology. In some professions, what you know becomes obsolete in 4 to 6 years. Prove that, at least in your case, your company can teach an experienced worker new tricks.

Get fit. Nothing says "old and out of it" like dozing off at your desk at 3:00 p.m. Eat right and exercise, and you'll have the energy level to match your impressive experience. It's important to keep fully productive.

For more information on healthier living contact the Nevada County Cooperative Extension Service.

COOKING CONTEST

Start getting your recipes in order for this year's chicken and egg cooking contest. The contest will be held June 2. There will be cash awards. Registration and complete instructions can be obtained at the Chamber of Commerce office by calling 887-2101.