I can’t believe we’re into June already. It’s a big month for me—my retirement month. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. It’s time for my May 2024 roundup. In addition to my monthly goals update, I’ve got some terrific blog posts on experimenting with new things, appreciating rocky landscapes, and charting your own path.

Happy reading!

Cool things I read in May

Since publishing my first monthly roundup at the end of 2020, it has been an honour to introduce you to some of my favourite bloggers. I started the roundup to say thank you to the blogging community and bring attention to talented writers who create inspiring and informative content.

Although I didn’t have a lot of time for blog reading, here are three pieces that caught my eye last month.

The Experiment – The Retirement Manifesto

Do you wish you could try something new but don’t know where to start? In this inspiring post, Fritz shares his formula for experimenting with something new. Hint: It’s not just for retirement!

Following are the steps I’d encourage you to apply to any area that interests you. Sure, there will be failures along the way, and that’s ok.  The important thing is to teach your mind to embrace curiosity and dare to take the first step wherever it leads.

The Retirement Manifesto, The Experiment

Earth Rocks! – Micro of the Macro

What image comes to mind when you hear the words “awe-inspiring” beauty? Flowers? Ocean waves? Fall leaves? If you said “rocks”, then you’ll love Lisa’s post. It has stunning pictures of rocky landscapes that should be on your destination list.

I didn’t used to be a fan of rock, simply because I’d never witnessed its incredible shapes and colors.  But after exploring some of the prettiest areas in the country, I’m all about it!

Micro of the Macro, Earth Rocks!

Go Your Own Way – No Sidebar

I’ve written before about how it frustrates me that our education system assumes university is the default for students with any academic ability. In this insightful post, Nikki Cox takes a hard look at the real cost of that college or university “experience”.

I saw the costs of many colleges, I saw first-hand where a lot of 17 or 18 year old seniors are in there maturity level and I realized there is no one size fits all formula. I started exploring gap year programs, community colleges, trade schools, internships, military, and realized how many other amazing options are out there.

Nikki Cox for No Sidebar, Make Your Own Way

What I wrote in May

In case you missed any of them, here are the new posts I published in May here on Boomer Eco Crusader.

• The Sunday Spark – On faith and friendship
• Little things add up to a lot – A Climate Change Collective post
• The Sunday Spark – A different Mother’s Day
• The Sunday Spark – Are you finding or creating yourself?
• Attracting pollinators to your garden
• The Sunday Spark – The good and the bad of screen time
• Digging for the truth about compostable plastic

And here are the posts I wrote in May for Wise & Shine.

• A simple spring interlude
• Protect yourself against health misinformation
• Done is better than perfect

Plus, as I revisit my 52-Weeks of Decluttering Challenge, I refreshed and republished these posts.

• Week 18 – Bathroom drawers
• Week 19 – Bathroom counters
• Week 20 – Medicine cabinet
• Week 21 – Tub/shower area

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May goals – How did I do?

The year got off to a good start, but momentum has definitely slowed in the last couple of months. Here’s an update on my May goals.

Fitness

Once again, I set goals of 180 minutes of exercise a week, including 2 strength training sessions. And I continued my goal of adding a short balance or flexibility routine 5 times a week.

I hit all three goals for three out of four weeks in May. I was travelling one week which always makes it hard to get my workouts in. Hotel gyms just aren’t my thing!  

• Again this month, I averaged 148 minutes of exercise a week. How’s that for consistency?
• With an average of 4.25 balance exercise sessions a week, I reached over 80% of my goal.
• And I averaged 1.75 strength training sessions a week.

Reading

I met my goal of reading 2 books in May and I also hit my 60 before 60 goal of reading 30 books. Here’s what I read this month:

• Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry.
• Iniquity by Laurie Buchanan.

Reinvention/Second Life

My goal was to complete another course in the Plain Language Certificate program that I put on hold while I focused on completing the Retirement Coaching certification. I completed the coursework for the Plain Language in Health Literacy course.

Decluttering

Again, I set a goal to declutter 50 items. I completed my weekly decluttering tasks but managed to get rid of only 37 items. Perhaps June will be a better month.

My June goals

Well, things slipped again in May and I fell short in a few areas. As I work to get back on track, my June goals are mostly a repeat of May.

• Fitness goals: Once again, I’m working toward 180 minutes of exercise a week, including 2 strength training sessions. I’m also going to continue with a goal of adding a short balance or flexibility routine 5 times a week.
• Reading: Read 2 books.
• Reinvention/Second Life: I’m going to cheat on this one and say my goal is to retire at the end of the month!
• Decluttering: Declutter 50 items.

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Thanks for dropping by to check out my May 2024 roundup. How are you doing on your goals for 2024? Drop me a comment below to let me know.