Mental and Physical Health Benefits of Working After Retirement

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This article was contributed to Leisure Freak by freelance writer Olivia Farrell.

Did you ever notice that people seem to show signs of aging much more quickly once they retire? It’s as if they become old overnight. And there is a reason for this. While there are many good sides to retirement, like more free time, there are also downsides. Once people retire, they have no more everyday work to keep them mentally and physically active. We decided to tell you about some of the health benefits of working after retirement, especially early retirement, so that it might change your mind on this issue. However, you must keep in mind that this does not apply to every job. Some jobs are highly stressful, such as police officer or firefighter. Those and any other similarly stressful job you shouldn’t continue after retirement. Also, you don’t have to keep working the same job or work full-time. It’s all about balance.

Less likely to get a serious disease

Research has shown that people who keep working after retirement are less likely to get serious health issues. This is connected to the fact that you are active and have less downtime when you are working. Often when people retire, they let themselves go a little. They indulge in unhealthy foods, sleep more, and are overall less active. That can lead to diabetes, higher blood pressure, etc. Better health is a great incentive to keep working. As we said before, you don’t have to work full-time. Just a few hours daily are enough to keep you healthier and give you some structure and balance.

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You will be happier

There is a big difference between working because you have to and working because you want to. One of the main reasons people start to dislike their job and get frustrated is because it has become a necessity. They have to work because they need financial security. That can take the joy out of almost any job. Many people start off loving their job, but over the years, it just becomes another obligation they have to do. All of that changes once you retire. Then you can do your job again, not because you have to make money but because you can enjoy doing it instead. It allows you to reconnect with the love and excitement you once had about your job. It also gives you a great sense of freedom you didn’t have before. This is exceptionally beneficial for a person’s mental health.

You are more likely to stay in shape

One of the benefits of working after retirement is that you are more likely to stay in shape. People who have to get up every day and go to work are more motivated and disciplined. These are fundamental traits for anyone who wants to work out regularly. Staying in shape is a lot harder when you are retired. There is a good reason for this. A lot of people, when they retire, stop taking care of themselves because they have so much time on their hands but zero structure. And that can be very damaging. Working out is essential not just for physical health and looking good but also really important for a person’s mental health. Working out gives us energy and makes us more focused and happier people.

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Gives us financial security

You may think that financial security has nothing to do with the health benefits of working after retirement but let us explain. Financial security is directly tied to a person’s mental health. According to experts, one of the leading causes of depression and anxiety in people is fear or financial insecurity. When people retire, their income becomes smaller. That can be a cause of many mental health issues and severely damage the quality of your life. If you keep working, even part-time, you will save yourself all this trouble, and you won’t have to worry about having enough money. Also, this money will be handy if you develop unexpected health issues because healthcare, even with the best insurance possible, can still be very expensive.

It will keep you sharp

The first thing that usually declines for people who retire is their brain. Once they stop working, they also stop actively working on solving problems, which your brain needs to stay sharp. You have probably heard a doctor recommend that you should do a crossword puzzle every day. As with any other muscle in our body, our brain also needs exercise. Otherwise, it will slowly decay. People who keep working are more focused. They notice things better and also have a better memory. However, you can simply switch if you are tired of doing a tedious office job every day and don’t want to keep doing it. Once you retire from that job, look for something else. It can be any other job. What is important is that it stimulates your brain and keeps you active.

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One of the health benefits of working after retirement is a healthy social life

One of the things retirees often complain about is loneliness. And loneliness quite often leads to depression, sometimes in a very severe form. Once they retire, many people lose touch with their coworkers/friends, which can really damage their social life. People are social beings, and to be happy, and mentally well, they need to have friends and a healthy social life. It’s much better to keep working and stay in touch with other people; it can do wonders for your mental health.

In conclusion

As you can see, there is so much more to life after retirement. Just because you filled certain requirements and now can retire doesn’t mean you have to do it. You should pay attention to the many mental and physical benefits of working after retirement. And as we said previously, you don’t have to work full time or even stay at the same job. Find a job after retirement that will be fulfilling and keeps you active.

Much thanks to Olivia Farrell for sharing this informative post with Leisure Freak readers.

Author bio:

Olivia Farrell is a freelance writer from New York but has spent her life traveling around the world, learning about health and wellness. She has honed her craft writing for Personal Trainers Dubai and now focuses on giving people the best advice for their mental and physical health.