By Dr. Mercola
Are you counting down the days until you can retire and spend
your days playing golf, traveling, being with your grandkids or
sipping iced tea from your front porch swing?
This idealistic image is a common one, but it may be somewhat
unrealistic according to new research that suggests retiring may
have a significantly negative impact on your physical
and emotional health.
Retirement Boosts Your Risk of Depression by 40 Percent
According to a new report released by the Institute of
Economic Affairs (IEA),1
following an initial boost in health, retirement increases your
risk of clinical depression by 40 percent while raising your
chances of being diagnosed with a physical condition by 60
percent. It also:
- Reduces your likelihood of being in self-reported
excellent or very good health by 40 percent
- Raises your risk of taking medication for a diagnosed
physical condition by 60 percent
The study’s author, who called retirement’s impacts on health
“drastic,” suggested a later retirement age may actually be
preferable, noting:
2
“New research presented in this paper indicates that
being retired decreases physical, mental and self-assessed
health. The adverse effects increase as the number of years
spent in retirement increases.”
Staying Active is a Key to Good Health in Old Age
That retirement might increase health problems is
not entirely surprising when you consider that two of the
biggest hurdles facing the elderly are social
isolation and inactivity.
Harvard Professor of Public Policy Lisa Berkman cites social
isolation as a
significant factor in longevity. If you're socially
isolated, you may experience poorer health and a shorter
lifespan. This may be, at least in part, because those who don't
have good social networks may not be able to get assistance if
they become ill. But also, staying socially connected with those
around you keeps you happy and also keeps your brain active and
challenged.
Walter Breuning, who lived to be 114, noted that keeping
your mind and body busy was one of the key secrets to staying
healthy, and he was right. But for many, retirement means a
sudden loss of many work-related social ties and a drastic
decrease in activity levels.
So it’s quite plausible that retirement’s impact on your
health depends on the type of retirement you have. If
you end up sitting at home by yourself instead of interacting
with peers and staying active with hobbies and other pursuits,
it’s likely both your physical and mental health will suffer.
On the other hand, if your retirement allows you the time to
pursue interests you’ve always wanted to and gives you more time
to spend with friends and family, you’ll probably be happier
than ever. Indeed, some research has, in fact, shown that
retirement is associated with lower risks of depression
and fatigue.3
Another factor, of course, is whether or not you enjoy
your work. Someone who loves his or her job will obviously have
a harder time with retirement than someone who dreads going to
work. Even the current study’s author acknowledged the
complexities of studying retirement’s role on health:4
“Most research on the relationship between health and
working in old age has produced ambiguous results. Research
in this area is inherently difficult because of the fact
that, just as retirement can influence health, health can
influence retirement decisions.”
Maintaining Structure and Finding Purpose in Your Day Are Keys
to a Happy Retirement
Retirement is not much different from losing your job in that
many struggle with a loss of identity and structure. The key
role that may have defined who you are, your purpose and your
daily routine is suddenly no longer there. But keep in mind that
now you are free to develop a new role for yourself in life, and
this can be very freeing and exciting.
The solution is to maintain some type of structure to your
day. You may not have to set your alarm for 5 a.m. anymore, but
perhaps you’ll make a point to get up at 7 a.m. each day to get
showered and dressed for the day. From there, develop a new
routine that makes sense for you and that allows you to fall
into a comfortable yet still productive new “normal.”
My mom is a great example. She is now 77 but still comes to
work in my office a few times a week. It really provides her
with a sense of purpose and keeps her mentally healthy.
So make a point to nurture your passions while filling your
days with activity and purpose, whether that be planting a
garden, walking your dog or building model ships. Be sure at
least some of your activities also involve others, such as
taking a yoga class at a nearby gym or connecting with your
neighbors. You can even “unretire” yourself and get a fun
part-time job, such as working at a baseball stadium,
volunteering at the zoo or an animal shelter, or reading stories
to kids at your local library.
Another aspect to consider? How retirement will change your
relationship with your spouse. If you’re suddenly able to spend
much more time with your spouse than you were before, it can
sometimes lead to tension. Make a point to keep communicating
and sharing your new desires and needs with each other, while at
the same time allowing for alone time.
Americans’ Expectations of Retirement are Changing …
The days of retiring at the age of 65 are over for many. In
fact, a report by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies
found that 56 percent of Americans expect to work past age 65 or
do not plan to retire at all.5
Further, the majority of workers (54 percent) plan to work even
after they retire. The truth is, many people are now embracing
their older years as some of the most fulfilling of their lives.
Reaching age 65 no longer means that it’s time to retire to your
home and deal with aches and pains, forgetfulness and
loneliness; instead, for many this is a time for new beginnings.
Remember your health can actually improve as you age. For
most this is relatively easy as they were eating the wrong foods
and not exercising
most of their lives.
But even for someone like myself who has paid diligent
attention to these factors, I am constantly revising my health
regimen and now in my late 50s, I believe I am the fittest I
have ever been in my life. I may have been able to run faster
when I was younger but I would never trade that for the muscle
strength, flexibility and knowledge that I have today. You too
can
achieve wellness on both physical and mental fronts, and you
can do so at any age, whether you’re retired or not. In fact, in
many respects life only continues to get better as the years go
by.
This, of course, depends on your ability to stay healthy and
happy, so with that in mind I urge you to check out my list of
the
top dozen lifestyle strategies I believe can make the
biggest difference in your total well-being at any age.
© Copyright 1997-2013 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.