Working during retirement helps maintain mental agility as you learn new skills. Staying engaged in work helps build "mental muscle," which can lessen the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimers2 and ward off the signs of aging.
Staying active during retirement years is crucial for continued health. Whether you choose to work full time, or volunteer a few days a week, engaging in some form of work will keep your body moving, and give you opportunities to stay balanced, strong and healthy.
Besides the obvious extra income, working during retirement may allow you to delay taking Social Security benefits. For every year you wait to take Social Security, your benefits can increase by an average of 8% annually.3 Finding a strategy that works for you can truly pay off.
Studies have shown that a sense of purpose has been found to lengthen lifespan and quality of life.4 Working on something you care about, starting a new business, or mentoring others in the workplace can ward off depression and provide a healthy sense of fulfillment and direction in your later years.
One of the risks associated with retirement is increased isolation, which in terms of its impact on your health, has been equated with smoking nearly a pack of cigarettes a day.5 Working with others reduces this risk, giving you a chance to build connections and enjoy meaningful interactions.
1. AARP.org, February/March 2015
2. Forbes, 2017
3. Social Security Administration, 2017
4. Association for Psychological Science, 2017
5. BenefitsPRO, 2017
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