Part of why I love writing these blogs, aside from spreading what I believe are key messages in how we should approach and live our retirement, is that every now and again, I give myself permission to go a little rogue. A little off-topic perhaps. I mean, after all, why not? So if you want to read about a Wild West fan adding a saloon, jailhouse and bank into his back garden, come on over here. Or if you want to explore the poop rule a little (come on, you know you want to), and work out ways of decluttering your house, then clicking here will do you no harm. Anyway, for this particular post, let’s have some fun and see what we can learn from those who are now the age we once were. Geez, where did that time go eh?
Mastering the fine art of doing “nothing” — guilt-free
Do you remember lying around as a teen and doing nothing? Wasn’t bad, was it? Thinking back to my teenage years, I don’t ever recall feeling guilty for flopping on the settee and doing zilch. I used to love watching cricket on TV, particularly test matches, which used to start around 11.00 am and go on until 6.00 pm. Not just the one-day mind, five days in a row. It’s important to note that this wasn’t a replacement for school – I did abide by the law and enter an educational establishment during the week – but watching test cricket was a common feature of my school holidays. Okay, so I wasn’t strictly doing nothing – I was watching Ian Botham and David Gower thwack a ball around a pitch – but aside from that, there I sat for the best part of a day. No distraction. No guilt. No “I really should be doing something else” thoughts. Good times.
Now, of course, I don’t want to confuse the issue here. I talk a lot on this blog about purpose and finding meaning in what we do – it’s vitally important for our mental well-being. But could we learn something from our teenage selves here, and incorporate a little bit of ‘do nothing’ time into our week?
This article explores the growing slow living movement – a reaction against hustle culture that values rest and mindfulness over constant achievement. Millennials and Gen Z are embracing ideas like quiet quitting and #SlowLiving as ways to reduce stress and reclaim time for what matters. Not sure why this has just come into my head now, but I just imagined my parents coming into the lounge in the 1980’s when I was watching the cricket, suggesting I get on and do something proactive, with me turning around to them and going ” Hashtag slow living mum and dad – that’s where we’re at now”. Anyway, to clarify, that did not happen.
A further article from Psychology Today argues that intentionally doing nothing – even briefly – can boost both physical and mental health despite feeling uncomfortable at first, as it conflicts with busy, achievement-focused lifestyles. After retiring, the author discovered that letting go of tasks and simply being present helped reduce stress, relax muscles and sharpen focus. The article provides practical tips for easing into doing nothing, like mindful breathing and grounding into the present moment.
Anyway, food for thought here. Back when we were teenagers, a lot of us would have spent time doing very little, nothing purposeful, and not given it a second thought. As much as living a life with purpose, I believe, is vital, we should also incorporate balance. We don’t need to feel guilty doing nothing – we just need to understand it’s part of our overall routine.
It’s-a me, Mario!
Okay, well, it’s not. It’s-a me, Matt! By the way, other video games are available, but as an intro to this passage, I thought I would give an honourable mention to our plumber friend who likes to jump on mushroom-like creatures whilst yet again getting his Princess friend out of mortal danger. If I’d been Mario, by the time Super Mario World came out, I would have said, “You’re on your own, Peach. Always getting into trouble. I’ve got better things to do now. Geez.”
Luckily, Princess Peach had Mario as her saviour, not Matt Woods.
Anyway, back to this section. Some of you may have played video games when you were younger, whereas some of you might never have dabbled. For some, it might evoke fond memories. I remember getting a ZX Spectrum 48K for Christmas around the mid 1980’s – one of my best Christmas presents ever. But as much as partaking in gaming all those years ago may have been fun, why would we want to consider it now, all these years later?
This article highlights that there is a growing trend of adults over 50 embracing video games for enjoyment. Featured players like 60-year-old Twitch streamer Michelle “TacticalGramma” Statham and 72-year-old YouTuber GrndpaGaming show that age isn’t a barrier to skill, social interaction or online community building. While some research suggests certain fast-paced games might reduce grey matter in brain areas linked with memory, other studies find that puzzle and exploratory games can improve visual memory, cognitive processing and mental engagement. Gaming also offers social benefits, with online play and chats helping reduce isolation.
Not just that, but mentally stimulating games that require focus and quick decision-making can help slow cognitive ageing and improve processing speed and mental flexibility. Sounds good. Challenging games like puzzles and exploration titles also enhance long-term memory and adaptability. Beyond cognition, gaming can boost mood and reduce stress, offering a sense of calm and accomplishment.
I guess these are things we don’t necessarily think of when we are trying to get Mario to squish a Piranha Plant or kick the butt of a spikey, fire-breathing reptile with red hair, but they are things that are happening. Maybe when you next encounter Bowser, remind yourself that you could be experiencing mental health benefits, even if he breathes a fireball at you, which catapults you off the edge of a castle into a lava pit. Our brains are funny old things, aren’t they?
Embracing Your Inner Grumpy Teen
I searched for a picture of a grumpy cat. I think what it has returned is not a grumpy cat, but one that is hell-bent on committing evil to anything that gets in its way. Quite simply, I’m not messing with ole Snowy here.
Because I’m of an age, I do like to drop a few TV cultural references into my posts every now and again. And given that my target audience is those in and around retirement age, my hope is these will resonate with you. So apologies in advance if you are a teenager who has just stumbled upon this post because you were hunting for a picture of an evil cat – the next few references will likely mean little to you.
A comedy sketch I fondly remember is one of Kevin and Perry’s on Harry Enfield & Chums, the one where Kevin goes to bed as a loveable young lad, and wakes up the next morning as a stereotypical, full-on, grumpy teenager. He was heard to utter such memorable phrases, including;
” That is so unfair!!!” or
“ I am not your slave!” or even
” I wish I’d never been born”
Yes, the character played on the stereotypical image of teenagers being grumpy, but it gave some relatable, cringe-inducing humour, brought to life superbly by Harry Enfield & Kathy Burke. My hope, one day, is to meet a real-life Mrs Patterson just so I can say “Thank you, Mrs Patterson.” In the voice of Perry, of course.
So Kevin gave us the grumpy teenager in the 1990’s. I wonder then, if there were any examples of a grumpy older man in a 1990’s sitcom at all? Mmm, let me have a think. Nope, pondering over it, I don’t think there were any.
” I don’t believe it!” I hear you cry!
Yes, of course, the one and only Victor Meldrew, from the popular British Sitcom, One Foot In The Grave. He was grumpiness personified!. Outraged by everyday absurdities, he mutters, sighs and explodes his way through retirement. Thinking back, though, could it be that beneath all his moaning there was something oddly comforting: a man refusing to accept nonsense quietly — and saying what the rest of us are thinking. I mean, in certain contexts, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Anyway, why am I writing about Kevin & Perry and Victor Meldrew? Well, it’s quite simple. Your task is to embrace your inner Kevin or Victor for a day, delve into that character and be that individual in your interactions with all you meet. If you decide to opt for Kevin, consider the following;
- If your local store has run out of milk (substitute milk for a product of your choice), then rather than say “No bother at all, my good person – enjoy your day.” Substitute that with “Honestly, this place is so rubbish. I hate this shop!” whilst ensuring you slouch your shoulders, then walk out in an almighty strop
- Or if your partner asks you in a super nice way to tidy up the small pile of books you’ve left on the sideboard, rather than say “Of course, my dear, I’m straight onto it now.” Scrap that and say to her, “This is so unfair. Who do you think I am? Your slave!” whilst striding out of the room, ensuring the appropriate door slam is also incorporated.
You may decide, however, that a different technique is needed. That of incorporating your inner Victor Meldrew. No bother. Try this one for size.
- You pop to your local sandwich shop for lunch, ready to pick up your favourite bacon, brie and red onion baguette, where you are told there is no brie. Rather than say your usual “That’s quite alright, Steve” (presuming they are called Steve, of course), I’ll have a chicken and bacon baguette instead. ” You channel the Victor inside you and, well, quite obviously say, as loud as you can;
“I DON’T BELIEVE IT!”
I mean, really, what else is there to say! Ensure, of course, you say it in the style of Victor himself for maximum impact
I would give some other silly examples for you to try, but they’d all end up with me encouraging you to say, “I don’t believe it! ” So just think of your own and ensure your interaction, however daft it seems, ends up this way.
Okay, a daft part of this post, and I had every intention to make it that way. A lot of what I write can have a serious message behind it, and rightly so, but every now and again, I like to mix things up with something light, which is not to be taken too seriously. This, I hope you will agree, is definitely one of those posts. Time to move on.
To bring this one to a close, have you ever considered trying to set a world record using a toy or item you might have used as a teenager? Well, that’s where this journey is taking us next.
Who Says You Can’t Personal Best a Rubik’s Cube at 65?
Erno Rubik, remember him? This picture isn’t him, by the way, in case you were wondering. Rubik was the Hungarian inventor of the Rubik’s Cube, which became a staple part of growing up in the 70’s and 80’s. It would take me 20 or so minutes to get one side of the cube all the same colour, then I’d stare at it, wondering how I could sort out the other five sides. Moments later, all the stickers would come off, be swiftly replaced, then, hey presto, completion of the Rubik’s Cube had taken place.
“A cheat!” I hear you hark. Yes, absolutely. Spot on.
So what’s the world record for completing the Rubik’s Cube then? 3.13 seconds apparently, set by Max Park in June 2023. 3.13 seconds. Think about that. I didn’t time it, but I think the time it took me to type ‘Think about that’ was probably a similar time to that it took Park to complete the Rubik’s Cube. How is that even possible? Anyway, if you have a spare 3.13 seconds going over the next week or two, consider having a bash at completing the Rubik’s Cube. Good luck to you.
Space Hoppers. Remember those? A large, orange, from what I recall, inflatable rubber ball that you used to sit on and bounce up your street or neighbourhood on. Such a relief that the hopper was given horns that you could hold on to – imagine the chaos if they’d missed that aspect out of the final design. But yes, as kids, we were happy to bounce up the street on a round object, without a care in the world.
I think my imagination is taking hold again. Wouldn’t it be fun if, in 2026, rather than pop to your nearest food store in a car, we all brought a space hopper and bounced our way there, saying a polite “Hello there” to all we passed along the way. It brings a delightful image to my mind. But, as it stands, I do think cars and other modes of transport are here to stay. Space hoppers – sadly, it appears, you may have had your time.
So what are some space hopper world records I hear you ask? Well, a simple search shows that Glenn Valentin travelled a distance of 20.38 miles in 24 hours in 2021, whilst Christian Roberto Lopez Rodriguez covered 100 metres in 29.91 seconds in 2023. Mark Little also played his part. He achieved 108 bounces in one minute back in 2011, which was equalled by Shane Sumner in 2019.
What I love about this is, for most of us, I’d imagine, the words ‘space hopper’ have been confined to the history books. Some fun from the past, never to be returned to again. Clearly not for the aforementioned, though. Glenn Valentin clearly woke up one day thinking, “Well, what shall I do today? Do a spot of gardening, some ironing perhaps? Nah, scrap that. Let’s get the space hopper out and bounce around town for the next 24 hours.” Nothing like thinking outside the box, I guess.
Before we leave this post and move on to pastures new, let’s take a look at one final icon from the 1980’s. For all of us back then who were craving a circular toy with four big coloured buttons, in the hope it would play a sequence of lights and sounds, with the added bonus of improving our memory, Simon was just what the doctor ordered. A combination to test both our audio and visual memory, with sequences getting longer the more we chose the right sequence. It almost felt a little futuristic. Well, it did for me anyway. A great way to develop your focus and memory, and to challenge yourself to beat your previous high score. And if you failed? Well, all four colours flashing and a buzzing type sound reminded you that you were a failure. Hard times.
I guess it gained popularity partly because it had this electronic element to it, and it used both your visual and auditory senses to help you to retain focus. Brain training games and apps are commonplace these days. I wonder if there is an argument to say this was one of the originators in this field, to help improve focus and concentration? Or am I just feeling nostalgic?
Anyway, I’m hearing you. I know what you want. World records. Right, here we go.
Israeli, Gabay Eldar, holds the record for the most sequences completed, achieving 100 in July 2024. From my memory of playing Simon back in the 1980’s, that is absolutely phenomenal. But don’t pay too much heed to that. My memory is pretty dire, which is why getting past four or five sequences back then was a rarity for me. If anything, rely on Gabay Eldar’s memory a little more.
As well as Gabay’s achievement, ten-year-old Maddex Ranjbar completed 84 sequences in 2023. Fantastic that this record was achieved, even more impressive, in my mind, was that a ten-year-old was still rocking the Simon vibe in 2023. Who knows? After completing these 84 sequences, maybe Maddex picked up his Rubik’s Cube, bashed out a 3.12 record, quickly followed by a 24-hour bounceathon around his neighbourhood on a space hopper, putting Valentin’s record to shame. My best guess, though, is that sadly, this did not happen.
So What’s The Point Of This Post Then?
In all honesty, there isn’t one. Well, maybe there is a slight one. A lot of what I will write and subsequently talk about when my podcast launches in the summer of 2026 is important. Well, that’s my view anyway. Who we are, our identity, is vital for how we perceive ourselves. Our purpose and contributions in life shape who we are. Our communication abilities, which determine our connection with others, are vital skills to develop. This I will talk about and write about lots over the coming years.
But every now and again, I believe, we need to take a brief (yes, it’s only brief) step back from these important discussions, and have some fun along the way.
So if you want to do absolutely nothing, throw fire at a Goomba, say “I don’t believe it” when your car has failed its MOT, or try to beat Max Park’s Rubik’s Cube record, well, maybe this is the right post for you.
Thanks, as always, for reading.