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Revealed: How much regular sex each generation is having

While it's often seen as a taboo subject, researchers from Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, have just revealed their report on the sex lives of thousands of people around the world and across different generations. The report, titled The State of Dating: How Gen Z is Redefining Sexuality and Relationships is based on data from over 3,310 people of the dating app, Feeld. The participants, who came from 71 different countries and between 18-75 years old, were surveyed about their sex lives and results are not what you'd expect. Gen Z is having less sex, fewer partners and fewer relationships than other generations, reporting that on average they had had sex three times in the last month. "Gen Z and Boomers exhibited nearly identical sexual frequencies, suggesting that both the youngest and oldest adults are having the least sex," the researchers, led by Dr Justin Lehmiller, wrote in the report. Millennials and Gen X reported slightly higher figures, with both groups having sex five times in the last month. "Also, nearly half of Gen Z reported that they were single, compared to only one-ﬁfth of Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers." Despite having the least sex, Gen Z appears to be the most adventurous group in the bedroom, with 55 per cent of them saying they'd discovered a new kink since joining the app compared to 49 per cent of Millennials, 39 per cent of Gen X, and 33 per cent of Boomers. Researchers said there are two possible explanations for this. "One is simply that older adults have had more time to learn and discover what they enjoy about sex, so they may have already uncovered their kinks. "However, the other is that it also appears to be the case that younger adults today have a greater overall interest in kink than older adults, which may create greater openness to exploring and learning about one's kinks." The researchers hope that their findings will help shed new light on the evolution of sex, gender, sexuality and relationships. "Despite the longstanding tendency of humans to narrowly categorize sexuality and relationships, they have always existed on a continuum, and that continuum will only evolve and expand further as Gen Z and future generations continue their pursuit of sexual and relational self-discovery," they wrote. "The more that we can understand and embrace this simple fact of human life, the better suited we will all be to pursuing pleasure and happiness." Images: Shutterstock

Relationships

5 bizarre – but true – things regular exercise does to your body

You feel like someone is stabbing a knife into your ribs Experts don’t know exactly what causes those sharp, fleeting pains called side stitches, but many believe they’re due to diaphragm spasms triggered by rapid breathing, says Tom Holland, exercise physiologist and author of Beat the Gym. Eating too close to your workout may play a role. And side stitches occur more frequently in novice exercisers. What to try: To stop a stitch, slow your pace and take deep breaths while contracting your abdominal muscles. Stretch your arms overhead or to the side. To prevent a stitch: Eat light pre-exercise meals, and wait at least 30 minutes after eating before you work out. Always warm up for five to ten minutes; gradually increase workout intensity. Your nose is suddenly a dripping tap Exercise, especially in cold, dry air, can trigger a runny, congested nose, a condition known as exercise-induced rhinitis. “Increased nasal breathing during exercise dries out the nose’s mucous membranes, which makes the nose secrete more mucus to protect the nasal airway,” says Dr William Silvers, an asthma, allergy and immunology specialist . What to try: If your nose is really interfering with your workout, ask your doctor to prescribe a nasal spray, and use it at least 30 minutes before you exercise. Pack plenty of tissues in your pockets. You have to go to the bathroom Badly. It’s called runner’s trots, but don’t be fooled by the name: Even walkers can experience loose bowels, especially when logging long distances. During exercise, your body directs blood flow away from your gut to working muscles, which can trigger diarrhoea, Holland says. Dehydration and pre-race anxiety may exacerbate the problem. What to try: Don’t eat anything for two hours before exercising. Skip high-fibre and high-fat foods, caffeine and artificial sweeteners, all of which can make things worse. Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after exercise. Begin your workouts after bowel movements, and make sure you have access to a restroom. Your face turns as red as a stop sign Blame your capillaries, small blood vessels near the skin’s surface that dilate during exercise to help you stay cool. People with sensitive skin may flush more and stay red longer. What to try: Spritz cold water on your skin frequently or switch to activities in air-conditioned locations. The flush usually disappears about 30 minutes after you stop exercising, but if you have persistent redness, you may have rosacea, a skin disease that causes flushing, redness, bumps and pimples. It can be treated with oral and topical medications. You break out in hives Yes, you really could be allergic to exercise. Urticaria is often triggered by sweating and an elevated body temperature. What to try: See a specialist to rule out other conditions. If it is urticaria, your doctor may recommend taking an antihistamine treatment before exercise. Working out in cooler conditions may help. Image credits: Shutterstock This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/5-bizarre-things-exercise-does-to-your-body" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Body

Regular daily alcohol intake could be best for the heart

Giving up the booze – even temporarily – results in an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD), a review of six long-term studies has found. <a href="https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-018-1123-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In a paper</a> published in the journal BMC Medicine, researchers led by Dara O’Neill from University College London in the UK found that variations in moderate alcohol intake heightened the likelihood of heart disease. Lifelong non-drinkers and people who gave up drinking permanently also showed higher incidences of CHD than those who maintained regular moderate alcohol intake. The study reviewed six longitudinal alcohol drinking studies, five from the UK and one from France, involving a total of 35,132 people. Over an approximate 10-year period, 4.9% of participants experienced a CHD event, some of them fatal. Analysing the figures, O’Neill and colleagues found that the lowest risk of coronary illness occurred in “consistently moderate drinkers”, defined as males who consumed up to 168 grams of ethanol, and women who consumed up to 112 grams, each week. A half-pint of beer, single glass of wine or single shot of spirits was estimated to contain eight grams of ethanol. People who drank alcohol, but at levels that varied over time between none and too much, experienced “a significantly greater risk” of CHD. Increased risk was also detected among people who gave up alcohol, and among those who were lifelong abstainers. In the latter category, however, the boost applied only to women. Perhaps surprisingly, no evidence of increased CHD risk was found among heavy drinkers – but the researchers suggest this result should be regarded as potentially suspect. “Given that heavy drinkers are known to be under sampled in population level surveys, interpretation of the absence of effect amongst heavy drinkers in the current study should be done very cautiously, particularly in light of the known wider health impact of heavy alcohol intake levels,” says O’Neill. The researchers also caution that the elevated CHD risk among inconsistent moderate tipplers might not relate directly to alcohol intake itself. Instead, it may reflect other factors, such as periods of illness or life stress, which result in a change to drinking patterns. “When we split the sample by age, we found that the elevated risk of incident CHD amongst inconsistently moderate drinkers was observed in participants aged over 55, but not those aged below,” notes O’Neill. “It may be that the older group experienced lifestyle changes, such as retirement, which are known to co-occur with increases in alcohol intake and that these could have played a role in the differing risk.” The study was observational in nature, so offers no insight into cause and effect. However, the researchers suggest that the results imply that many current public health messages around alcohol consumption – particularly those that encourage an annual month of sobriety – may be off target. “This finding suggests that policies and interventions specifically encouraging consistency in adherence to lower-risk drinking guidelines could have public health benefits in reducing the population burden of CHD,” they conclude. This article originally appeared in <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/regular-daily-alcohol-intake-is-best-for-heart-health-study-finds/">Cosmos Magazine</a>.

Body

Greek yoghurt vs ‘regular’ yoghurt: Which one is healthier?

Once a rare option, Greek yoghurt has become as popular as its regular counterpart today. Fans praise Greek yoghurt as not only the tastier of two, but also the healthier alternative. But what does science say about this claim? While both yoghurts are made of the same ingredients – milk and live cultures – Greek yoghurt is strained more extensively to remove most of whey liquid, lactose and sugar, creating a thicker, more concentrated product. Because of this, Greek yoghurt can have up to twice as much protein as the regular version while cutting the sugar and sodium content by half. The removal of whey liquid also means that the sweet aftertaste is taken out, giving the yoghurt a stronger, tangier flavour. “For someone who wants the creamier texture, a little bit of a protein edge and a sugar decrease, going Greek is definitely not all hype,” registered dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner told <a href="https://health.usnews.com/wellness/food/articles/greek-yogurt-vs-regular-yogurt-which-is-more-healthful">US News</a>. However, Greek yoghurt packs more in the fat department. According to dietitian Carol Aguirre of Nutrition Connections, a serving size of Greek yoghurt can have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/whats-the-big-deal-about-greek-yogurt-2018-11?r=US&IR=T">10 grams of fat with 7 grams of it being saturated fat</a>, while regular yoghurt contains 8 grams of fat with 5 grams saturated. Regular yoghurt also has higher levels of calcium, minerals and probiotics thanks to the less strenuous straining process. Both yoghurts can be a great addition to your diet – but the one to put in your shopping cart depends on your dietary and taste preferences.

Body

“Too smart to be scammed?”: The question the ACCC is asking regular Aussies

With Australian consumers on track to lose more than half a billion dollars to con artists and scammers this year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is urging people to refresh their ideas of a scam. As scams increase in sophistication, including emails that impersonate the tax office and communications from your bank, it can be harder to protect yourself against these scams. As part of National Scams Awareness Week (August 12 to August 16), the ACCC says people need to refresh their “scam protection and detection” skills. The campaign’s theme is “too smart to be scammed?” with evidence showing that those who overestimate their ability to detect a scam are putting themselves at risk. “Many people are confident they would never fall for a scam, but often it’s this sense of confidence that scammers target,” ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said to <a rel="noopener" href="https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/consumer/2019/08/12/scams-target-australians/" target="_blank">The New Daily.</a> “People need to update their idea of what a scam is so that we are less vulnerable.’’ More research has showed that not only do scams have a significant financial impact on the victim, it can also impact them emotionally. Nearly one in 10 Aussies have been scammed in the last year according to Westpac’s <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.westpac.com.au/about-westpac/media/media-releases/2019/12-august/" target="_blank">State of Scams</a> report that was released last Monday. One in two scam victims were impacted emotionally, which included losing faith and trust in others. Two-thirds of victims were embarrassed to let those close to them know what happened, with victims of dating or romance scams being impacted the worse. “While we’re seeing record levels of financial loss to scams, it’s not just our wallets that are suffering,” Westpac head of fraud Ben Young said. “Our data shows that scammers are taxing our time, creating stress and taking a toll on our relationships.” Deakin University consumer behaviour expert Paul Harrison says that modern consumers are “conditioned” to be aware of “manipulative” marketing tactics. “The main issue is that it is easier to believe than not to believe,” Dr Harrison said. “You actually do have to exist in a world where you can trust institutions and trust brand. It’s quite rough on people to say you shouldn’t fall for scams – everyone falls for scams all the time.” “We like to think that if it happened to me, I wouldn’t fall for it,” he said. “But everybody is potentially a victim.” How to keep yourself safe from scammers <ul> <li>Don’t click on links or open attachments from email addresses you don’t recognise</li> <li>Never provide your credit card or banking details over email</li> <li>Set up two-factor authentication</li> <li>Check the email addresses the suspicious email has been sent for</li> <li>Look out for obvious spelling mistakes in the email or text message</li> <li>Utilise Google to check that the number or email you’ve been provided is correct (for example, if the ATO is asking you to call them on a specific number, Googling the number could prove that the number is not from the ATO)</li> <li>Review your financial statements and report suspicious activity as soon as it’s noticed</li> </ul>

Technology

Director’s cuts: Are they better than regular movies?

Ridley Scott and James Cameron did it, and George Lucas never stops. Directors ceaselessly return to their work to tweak, tinker, chop and change. Extended Cut, Definitive Version, Special Edition: the list goes on. <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10643608/">Apocalypse Now: Final Cut</a>, Francis Ford Coppola’s supposedly definitive version of his 1979 epic Vietnam war film, will be released in Australia today. But are these new versions just an excuse for obsessive tinkering and self-indulgence? The director’s cut refers to a version of the film that remains closest to the director’s original vision, rather than the theatrical version officially released by the studio. In an era of DVD and streaming services, these alternative cuts are becoming increasingly attractive to studio boss, director and movie lover alike. These “new” films, often only fractionally altered, throw the commerce versus art equation that has underpinned Hollywood for more than a century into sharp relief. The studio gets another chance to market a beloved film, the fans can endlessly debate the differences between the old and new version, while the director can once more return to the editing studio, elusively seeking perfection. In that sense, everyone wins. With director’s cuts, the romantic myth of the brilliant (usually male) director battling against numbers-obsessed Hollywood is also reinforced. The good and the bad Director’s cuts often seek to rectify an injustice. Studio executives will often demand last-minute edits or reshoots if test screenings go badly. Directors who bitterly complained about how studios altered their vision can now go back and showcase the film as it was meant to be seen. For example, director David Ayer <a href="https://screenrant.com/suicide-squad-cut-david-ayer-different/">recently acknowledged</a> his original cut of the dark superhero film <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1386697/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1">Suicide Squad</a> was radically different to the studio-sanctioned release. The studio requested significant reshoots to lighten the tone and inject more comedy – but the “Ayer cut” only can be accessed on DVD and Blu-ray. Other director’s cuts improve on the original version by bolstering visual scope, narrative continuity and emotional engagement. For example, the 17 minutes of deleted footage from James Cameron’s <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090605/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1">Aliens</a> (1986), since restored to the 1990 Special Edition, are a masterclass in building tension and deepening character. Ridley Scott’s endless reworking of the science-fiction/neo-noir <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/?ref_=nv_sr_2?ref_=nv_sr_2">Blade Runner</a> remains the gold standard. First released in 1982, Scott oversaw a new version ten years on, and then the so-called Final Cut in 2007 (re-released on Blu-ray in 2017). He removed the ponderous voice-over from Deckard (Harrison Ford), axed the happy ending and inserted opaque dream sequences that continue to nourish the film’s philosophical ambiguities. But some directors just do not know when to stop. To coincide with the 20 year anniversary of <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/?ref_=ttmi_tt">Star Wars</a> in 1997, George Lucas created a digitally remastered Special Edition (spruced up versions of <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080684/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1">The Empire Strikes Back</a> (1980) and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086190/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1">Return of the Jedi</a> (1983) followed a few weeks later). Lucas stuffed the trilogy with reinstated scenes, polished up degraded images and sound and reaped extraordinary success (<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2017/02/01/20-years-ago-star-wars-special-edition-made-star-wars-special-again/#2835bb712a61">US$472 million</a> at the global box office was mightily impressive for a trilogy nearly two decades old). There was only one problem – the Special Editions were castigated by fans. Many resented the retrofitted visuals and jarring CGI enhancements; for others, the most egregious alteration – having bounty hunter Greedo now shoot Han Solo first in a Mos Eisley cantina – compromised Han’s character arc from rogue to hero across the trilogy. Lucas’s incessant meddling (he returned to the trilogy again in 2004 and 2011) has been seen as a way of perpetually monetising the much-beloved originals. All along, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm1zaTUnoTE">his response</a> to such criticism has been consistent – he was waiting for technology to catch up to his original vision. As for Coppola, he has been here before. In 2001, he presented <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalypse_Now_Redux">Apocalypse Now: Redux</a> to ecstatic reviews during the Cannes Film Festival. Nearly an hour of footage cut from the 1979 version was reinserted, including the famously woozy “French plantation” scene. This new version was hailed as extraordinary – “redux” means “a work of art presented in a new way”. But Coppola clearly was not done. Apocalypse Now: Final Cut premiered in New York back in April, 19 minutes shorter than Redux. In Final Cut, <a href="https://www.tribecafilm.com/filmguide/apocalypse-now-2019">Coppola has</a> finessed the colour balance and sound design, no doubt hoping to add to the film’s hallucinogenic qualities. Despite the important contributions of <a href="https://theconversation.com/apocalypse-now-turns-40-rediscovering-the-genesis-of-a-film-classic-113448">writer John Milius</a>, cinematographer Vittorio Storaro and sound designer and editor Walter Murch, this latest version reinforces the romantic idea of the director as the sole auteur. Coppola’s fingerprints are all over Final Cut. Here is a powerful director who, like Spielberg, Lucas and Scott, has been given endless opportunities to refine his vision. This tells us a lot about Hollywood’s commodification of the auteur and the ongoing importance of the director’s name in selling a product. “A work of art is never completed, only abandoned”, noted the French poet Paul Valéry. Apocalypse Now: Final Cut is the latest exhibit to suggest films are never really finished – the artistic process is endlessly reworkable. Written by Ben McCann. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-star-wars-to-apocalypse-now-directors-cuts-are-all-the-rage-but-do-they-make-the-films-any-better-120755">The Conversation</a>.

Movies

Are regular chocolate eaters really thinner?

People who eat chocolate on a regular basis tend to be thinner, even when they do not exercise more often, a new study claims. But health experts have warned that the findings of the study, published today in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, do not establish a direct link between the consumption of chocolate, which is high in calories and saturated fats, and a low body mass index (BMI). Merlin Thomas, Adjunct Professor of Preventive Medicine at Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute, said: “In excess, chocolate will induce weight gain. It will induce obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and an early demise. But then again, so will any overindulgence.” A research team from the University of California, San Diego, found that among about 1,000 men and woman aged 20 to 85 who did not have heart disease or diabetes, those who consumed chocolate more frequently had a lower BMI than those who consumed it less often. On average, participants ate chocolate twice a week and exercised 3.6 times a week. Health experts say a normal BMI is typically in the range of 18.5 to 24.9. “People who ate chocolate more frequently consumed more calories, and they did not exercise more, but despite this they weighed less,” said Beatrice Golomb, with the university’s Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. “It’s not amount of chocolate, but frequency of chocolate consumption [that counts].” “Chocolate has been linked to lower heart disease and more favourable liver profiles and better blood pressure,” Dr Golomb said. “The chief factor that has typically led people to hold back from recommending chocolate has been this concern that the expectation was that it would be associated with being heavier and gaining weight more, and this study at least does not provide support for that but rather the contrary.” Consumption of certain types of chocolate has been found to have other metabolic benefits on blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and cholesterol level. “Our study doesn’t really constrain exactly the amount of chocolate [people should eat], but it does suggest that more frequent chocolate consumption is associated with better BMI.” But Professor Thomas said that the study showed “why association is not the same as causality. "Paradoxes are not uncommon in medicine and usually reflect the influence of other unmeasured factors. The population studied also matters. In this instance, the impact of chocolate consumption on middle-aged overweight men may not reflect the harm confectionery does to women or adolescents.” Professor Thomas said that the plant-derived flavanols found in cocoa products, such as dark chocolate, did have real effects on metabolism. However studies highlighting their health benefits invariably used very large doses “that could never be garnered by eating the amounts of chocolate described in this study. Most processed confectionery contains little of the original antioxidant potential of the original cocoa.”<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/6089/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Written by Justin Norrie. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/are-regular-chocolate-eaters-really-thinner-6089">The Conversation</a>.

Food & Wine

Are sweet potato fries better for you than regular hot chips?

Sweet potato fries have been touted as healthier for you than regular hot chips – but are they really better for you? Although sweet potatoes are more nutritious than you than the white spud, containing more vitamin A and has a lower glycemic index, if you’re eating sweet potato fries at a restaurant or pub than they’re not any better for you. You see these sweet potatoes chips have still been deep fried and cooked in oil, rendering them just as bad as the regular hot chip. Lauren McGuckin, accredited practising dietitian and spokesperson for the Dietitians Association of Australia, told 9Coach, “Sweet potato fries are no healthier than regular fries if they’re deep fried and/or cooked in oil and coated in salt. The preparation method is the key.” However, there’s a way to enjoy a healthier version of the sweet potato chips if you cook them at home in the oven. “Try baking sweet potato chips in the oven with a light spray of olive oil and seasoning with fresh herbs such as rosemary for a much healthier alternative,” McGuckin suggests. Try one of our delicious recipes today: <ul> <li><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/food-wine/2017/05/sweet-potato-fries-lime-coriander-sauce/">Sweet potato oven fries with lime coriander dipping sauce</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/03/spiced-sweet-potato-chips/">Spiced sweet potato chips</a></li> </ul>

Body

Are sweet potato fries better for you than regular hot chips?

Body

Cleaning and storage tips from a regular procrastinator

We all know those super-organised people, don’t we? They’re up at the crack of dawn baking muffins for the school fundraiser, work nine-to-five in a high-powered job, have numerous well-turned out children and, on top of it all, their house is always perfectly clean and organised – without any paid help. Do they make you sick, or do you secretly envy them? Don’t waste your energy. Instead, watch how they do it and see what you can learn. Our homes shouldn’t be driving us mad; they should be our sanctuary. As much as I wish I could pay one of those personal organisers to come into my house and turn it upside down, I don’t have the spare budget (sigh). So I’ve learned from my clean-freak friends and I’m forever reading up about what I can do to take control of my home. Here’s what I’ve found helpful: Regular clean-ups Like many people, I’m more of a regular procrastinator than a regular cleaner, often preferring the motto “Why do it it today, if I can do it tomorrow?” However, since having kids and a home to look after, I’ve learnt the hard way that this motto isn’t really doing that much for me. I’ve often watched friends with tidy homes and wondered what their secret is. Now I know; they simply clean up as they go rather than wait for the magic fairy to come in and do it. They never wake up to a kitchen full of dirty dishes. By doing a little bit each day in bite-sized chunks – and getting other members of the household to do the same – things don’t pile up and become overwhelming. Create a roster so that everyone knows what they have to do and when. A place for everything I know Marie Kondo didn’t invent this idea, but if there’s one thing I’ve taken from her much talked-about book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, it’s the idea of having a place for everything and putting everything back there. Apply this rule to all areas of the house – from the kitchen and the laundry to the linen cupboard. Take stock of every single item you own and ensure there’s <a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/collections/storage?utm_source=Over60&utm_medium=in-article-link-storage&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_content=storage" target="_blank">a place for each one</a>. Best of all? Your mornings will be transformed. No more running around the house first thing in the morning looking for your keys, your coat or the other shoe – you’ll know exactly where to find everything, and fast. <img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/40640/image__500x333.jpg" alt="Image_ (409)"/> Use storage wisely However, good <a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/collections/storage?utm_source=Over60&utm_medium=in-article-link-storage&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_content=storage" target="_blank">storage</a> with a place for everything only works if you’re managing it. Have you ever blamed your messiness on your lack of storage? I used to, but recently I finally got the new fitted wardrobes and mudroom of my dreams installed, only to find we were still messy – alas, the storage doesn’t magically tidy up for you. Of course it helps, but you still have to do the work of keeping it organised. The other members of the household need to be schooled in the simple ways of putting their things away too. Declutter sprees One of the ways our houses can drive us mad is by having too much stuff. Are you forever unable to find things – your wallet, the potato masher, your favourite pan? This is often because we can’t see the stuff we’re looking for among the chaos. If you have a family and new things regularly coming into the home, it’s important to get rid of stuff often too. Regularly – even as often as monthly – go through kitchen drawers, pantries and wardrobes and take stock of what you have, getting rid of what you’re not using. Buy less Which brings me to my next point. The less stuff we buy, the easier our things will be to organise. Shop wisely – never on a whim – and only for things you really need. Buy one expensive item of clothing over five cheap ones. If it’s all clearly visible and you can see what you actually have, you’ll be less likely to fall into the trap of buying things you already own. The things you buy will be the things you really need. This rule applies not just to the clothes hanging in your wardrobe, but to every other area of your home too, including your kitchen and food pantry. Clean up your tech With so many of us working from home these days or, at the very least, bringing work and technology home with us, we often find it creeping into all areas of the house – computer and phone cords everywhere, laptops and phones invading areas of the house that should be kept for relaxing. If you don’t have a dedicated home office space, see if you can find an area to squeeze one in, and then buy filing boxes to keep your life admin and important documents under control. Keep a separate drawer or cupboard for tech stuff – cameras, phones, laptop and all their associated chargers and cords, so you can find everything when you need it. Make lists I couldn’t do without my daily to-do list. If you create daily goals, write them down and tick them off as you go – you’re more likely to get things done and the ticking off part really adds to the feeling of satisfaction. Written by Liz Durnan. First appeared on <a href="http://www.domain.com.au" target="_blank">Domain.com.au</a>. To find your home essentials <a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/?utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_medium=in-article-link-o60shop&utm_content=over60-shop" target="_blank">head to the Over60 Shop for high-quality offerings</a>. <a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/collections/living?utm_source=Over60&utm_medium=in-article-banner-living&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_content=over60-shop" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.oversixty.com.au/images/EditorialAddon/201706_Shopnow_EditorialAddon_468x60_Living.jpg" alt="Over60 Shop - Living Range"/></a>

Home & Garden

We hold regular dance events to remind people that over 60’s can still have fun

Chris Verity, 60, has a Master’s degree in management and enjoys outside pursuits as well as restoring furniture. His wife, Galina, 50, has a degree in accounting and loves fashion, music and dancing. Galina and I originally met each other, coincidentally at the Mosman RSL Club, at a similar dance party (to the one we currently run) 16 years ago, although it was an advertised singles night. We’ve been together ever since; however, we have always sought out somewhere to go again, where more mature adults could feel comfortable either dancing close or bopping along to some classic hits from the decades of popular music. Most Night Clubs attract the under thirties and restaurants don't really provide music or dancing, so we thought we’d do something about it instead, and have been organising dancing nights all through 2015, for the adult age group (singles and couples) and the majority of our guests are in their 50’s, 60’s. We are not professional dancers, not even good dancers but we love music, enjoy dancing and so we’ve done something about it. Galina is from Europe and couldn’t understand why Australians just go out for dinner and then go home. So for my wife’s sake (and all those other European party animals) now you don’t have to go home! So come along and have a dance and a fun evening. The girls say they like our nights because it’s a good opportunity to dress up and it’s not just them who dress to impress, be sure to see the men who make quite the effort to look smart. Some folks mentioned after a night of dancing their blood pressure the next morning was greatly improved as we all know dancing is a great form of exercise. And it’s not just for your physical physique but for your brain too, as research suggests that movement from dance reduces risks of cognitive decline. So if you’re forgetting what it’s like to dance, look no further! We now have our ‘regulars’ that come every month and our ‘champions’ who are still working the dance floor up to midnight, folks come from many different Country backgrounds as well with interesting stories to share. Despite our lack of dance training, we really enjoy getting onto the dance floor and the Mosman Daily Magazine nicknamed us “Fred & Ginger”. To cope with our lack of dance technique, we have great fun with professional dancer, Eliska Sarka, who comes along with her Husband Doug and for about a thirty-minute session to demonstrate and show off how it’s really done, and then train us all in some basic dance steps, which we can then practice. Everyone loves to get involved, everyone gets a partner and we all follow Eliska through the steps and groove out with a little routine. On Saturday Feb 13th we will be learning some basic steps of the WALTZ, in previous evenings we’ve learnt the steps of the Jive, Cha-cha, Rumba and Rock & Roll. So if you’re bored of bopping to Justin Bieber, we’ve got just the solution for you! Charles our super DJ is guaranteed to get you out of your seats and rocking to our choice of 60's, 70's, 80's hits during the evening (as much as we can fit in until Midnight). We also try to include numbers for you folks who like to Jive, Salsa, Cha-cha, Rumba and even the odd Waltz. Folks are very complimentary, say what a great idea we have because there are no venues like this for adults in Sydney; Galina and I really enjoy running the night, seeing people enjoy themselves so get out of your armchairs, bring your walking sticks, find a partner or come solo, get your dancing shoes on and come have a dance with us! The Club’s auditorium is a perfect venue for our evenings, private with its own manned bar, the club Bistro upstairs, off-road parking etc. We decorate the room with flowers and the tables are all candlelit, making for an elegant venue; after all this night was inspired from a true love story that evolved from just one night of dancing, so who knows what’s in it for you! We want you to come and find out for yourself. The dance event is on Saturday 13th Feb and is located in Mosman, Sydney. Find out more about the <a href="http://www.dancingnights.com.au" target="_blank">details of the night here. </a><a href="http://www.dancingnights.com.au"> </a> Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/dirty-home-items/">5 surprisingly dirty things in your house</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/tips-to-iron-quicker/">Clever tips to cut ironing time in half</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2015/12/9-nasty-things-you-really-should-throw-out-from-around-the-house/">9 nasty things you really should throw out NOW!</a>

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We hold regular dance events to remind people that over 60’s can still have fun

Antibacterial soap no more effective than regular soap

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