Home > Self Improvement > Career

Is Retirement Good For Your Health?

by Jonathan R Taylor

I don't know about you, but when I think of retirement, a picture of golfing and fishing come to mind. I start to wonder if hobbies like these would satisfy me or would I get bored after a while? The fact is: many people look at retirement as a goal. I've heard people say things like "If I can just make it to 65........." But is retirement a worthy objective?

I don't know about you, but when I think of retirement, a picture of golfing and fishing come to mind. I start to wonder if hobbies like these would satisfy me or would I get bored after a while? The fact is: many people look at retirement as a goal. I've heard people say things like "If I can just make it to 65........." But is retirement a worthy objective? Are we really designed for retirement? I've seen no evidence to support it in the Bible. In fact, if you look back just 100 years ago, you won't find much evidence for it at all either.
History is filled with people who have achieved a great many things in their latter years. Ben Franklin invented the bifocal lenses at the ripe old age of 78. Ronald Reagan became our 40th president at the age of 69. Frank Lloyd Wright worked on the design of the Guggenheim Museum up until his death at 91. Harland Sanders, founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, didn't start his business until the age of 62.
This week's US News and World Report has a wonderful article entitled 7 Reasons Not To Retire.
In it, the author finds that more of today's workers have every intention of staying plugged into the world of work for a number of reasons - financial security being one of the biggest.
But it noted one other important reason - health. Yes, continuing on in meaningful work can actually help add years to your life. Research indicates that those who retire completely, experience an 11 percent decline in mental health, an 8 percent increase in illness and a 23 percent increase in difficulty of doing daily physical activities over a 6 year period. On the other hand, declines in health are much lower for those who keep working at least part time.
Though many of us long for things to slow down a little as we grow older, we still need a challenge ahead of us or our minds and bodies start to rapidly deteriorate. Studies have found time and time again that those who have nothing to give them purpose eventually die. Engaging in activities that challenge us actually helps to boost our immune system.
Does that mean continuing on in the dreaded job you've hated for the last 20 plus years? Absolutely not! In fact many seniors these days are finding fulfillment in starting new careers or even their own small businesses on the side. In my blogthis week, I mentioned an absolutely wonderful book entitled the Weekend Entrepreneur for those looking for Work-at-Home ideas.
Above all, remember - meaningful work is a gift from God. Treat it as such, because you only have one life to make a difference in the lives of others.
"Where there is no vision, the people perish" - Proverbs 29:18

More articles >>