How To Achieve the Modern Retro Lifestyle.

 

The challenge is to turn off the 'short attention span' visuals.

 

TV, Computer, Cell Phones and Tablets put demands on the brain that are counter productive to this state.

 

But not all visuals.

 

The advantages of a calming sunrise/sunset, beautiful vista, moving water or fire add so much to enhance the experience that they shouldn’t be overlooked. We will use our other senses in much the same way. Selective sound, sight, smell, taste, and touch will be the icing on the cake for the perfect escape.  

 

So we need a spot to practice our new mindset. Yes, I said practice. If this was easy everybody would be doing it! The best case scenario would be to find a place in the home where you are isolated from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Inside or outside your home, if you are fortunate enough to have a view of something tranquil and/or scenic you are well on your way.  

 

Now that we have our spot, it’s just a question of shutting down for a couple of minutes. Not napping(but that’s good as well). Being awake yet relaxing physically and mentally. This is the toughest part for many because it's counter intuitive to what we've be coached to do our whole lives. The constant drive, the constant forward motion, the constant 'gotta get ahead', while important for success, it's like everything else...moderation. If you are well rested mentally and physically, you will perform better.

We can now add something to the other senses to enjoy...a nice cup of tea, an exotic blend of coffee, glass of wine, a special beer from a microbrewery or a homemade cocktail. Something special that we can enjoy, appreciate and ponder for 10 to 20 minutes.

 

This is where I like to use some Retro elements to help me get to that next level.

   

I like to think of the 50’s as a reference point to a simpler, less visually stimulating time. It’s debatable if those times were actually easier with the threat of ‘The Bomb’, lack of medical advances, racial inequalities... but for me, growing up during the 50’s and 60’s in suburbia, was a real “Leave it to Beaver” existence.  

I think of the 40’s, 50’s & early 60’s when life seemed simpler and more elegant. It was a magical time in pop culture with music, films & fashion coming of age here in America. I think of Art Deco, Black & White Photos of film greats, Jazz and Cocktails. Back then it was the norm to take that 10 to 20 minutes at the end of the day with the martini when you came home from work.   

 

With the inclusion of a retro piece of furniture or light fixture, a vintage cocktail shaker and martini glass, you can really capture this moment in time.   

 

So a nice spot to practice, something to deliberate, a retro ingredient and you, my friend, are living the Modern Retro Lifestyle.

 

Wait, what about our auditory senses... We can add some background music to enhance to the experience!

 

* What is Lounge Music?