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In today's Los Angeles Times (latimes.com/opinion) there is an article entitled (in the online edition) "Early retirement may be hazardous to your health" (in the print edition "Work longer, live happier") by Katherine Schlaerth, M.D., who is a geriatrician. (Sorry I don't know how to do those links; I'm probably the most retarded person vis à vis computers who ever lived.)
Here is a brief quote which states the author's thesis: "...I've come to believe that working longer is generally a good thing. Most people just plain do better, both intellectually and physically, when they continue to work. I've observed many times that mature patients who quit working - whether they have been laid off or retired voluntarily - are likely to gain weight, become hypertensive and even develop depression. These tendencies have been substantiated by research." (And she goes on to cite several studies.)
The author thinks that continued meaningful engagement, such as volunteering, may be just as good as continuing to work. And she recognizes that there are exceptions.
This general topic has been discussed in this Retirement Forum in many different threads over time, but I started a new one because I didn't know which thread to put this article in. I know many of you will rush to inject that you are now more vital and robust since you took early retirement in your fifties (for example) and got out from under either unbearable stress or stultifying boredom, so therefore the article is bunk, and I would believe every one of you as far as your personal experience is concerned.
However, isn't it likely that there is some sort of selection bias going on among those who post here? Wouldn't the people most interested in life and most actively engaged in it be more likely to post here and engage in this lively and stimulating exchange of thoughts and information? So isn't it possible that the article could be accurate as to the general population but inaccurate as to the CD Reitirement Forum population?
I believe the article is valid, but I also know I am in better health now than when I retired from full time work almost six years ago. But I still do interesting occasional paid projects and I do meaningful (to me) volunteer work and maintain other interests beyond those two things.
We are also exceptions but I believe the basic premise of the article for most people especially those that retire and drop out. We both were active public safety workers (a profession that has been in the news a lot lately and unfortunately) and often I felt like we were bailing the incoming tide with a tea cup at work, with little support, other than a new rule or procedure a week that was dreamed up by people that had never done the job (or hadn't done it since Nixon was in the White House) to further confuse matters.
I retired at 48, my husband at 50. We are both much healthier, weigh 20% less, are happier and rarely think of our past job. I can't imagine how we managed to work 40-48 or more hours a week now that we are retired. We now have time to take care of ourselves physically, spiritually and emotionally. We are finishing up projects, joined a local mutual interest group and are taking those trips that we always wanted to take.
Thanks for posting this in it's own thread. Is this the article?
I have come to believe says it all really. I also take it she is not retired ;so its even less from experience. One can find all kinds of opinons in articles just as you will experiences on this forum.
My experience is that the people in this article are people who never had any free time in their work life, never developed hobbies or leisure activities, never exercised except as required by a job, and basically were "lost" without work.
For someone who has spent 40 years working but along the way learned how to do many other things, sometimes for profit sometimes not, who alwaqys exercised actively during at least the spring, summer, and fall, who developed many hobbies and activities, the article is just dead wrong.
I worked for 45 years. I've been retired for two+. I'm happier now than I ever was when my life and schedules were dictated by work. I thoroughly enjoyed my several careers but the best of them wasn't anywhere near as enjoyable as not having one.
We are also exceptions but I believe the basic premise of the article for most people especially those that retire and drop out. We both were active public safety workers (a profession that has been in the news a lot lately and unfortunately) and often I felt like we were bailing the incoming tide with a tea cup at work, with little support, other than a new rule or procedure a week that was dreamed up by people that had never done the job (or hadn't done it since Nixon was in the White House) to further confuse matters.
I retired at 48, my husband at 50. We are both much healthier, weigh 20% less, are happier and rarely think of our past job. I can't imagine how we managed to work 40-48 or more hours a week now that we are retired. We now have time to take care of ourselves physically, spiritually and emotionally. We are finishing up projects, joined a local mutual interest group and are taking those trips that we always wanted to take.
Thanks for posting this in it's own thread. Is this the article?
In order for work to be a health benefit, there has to be passion in it. A researcher, a scientist, an author/writer or artist, etc is continually developing new discoveries and ideas, and that keeps life exciting and every day something to look forward to.
If one has a boring desk job, or a high-stress management (or other) job, or a low paying job that doesn't pay the bills, or works with stress-causing co-workers, I can see no benefit in continuing to work in that line of work.
One can retire from a stressful job and volunteer, or work for pay in a place like a greenhouse or art gallery or thrift shop, etc and find something creative in those settings. One elderly relative in my family who is 85 is teaching seniors how to use computers. He loves it. It's all about creativity and passion.
(Sorry I don't know how to do those links; I'm probably the most retarded person vis à vis computers who ever lived.)
It's really very simple. Assuming you have a pc and not an Apple product, just move your cursor up to the url and click to highlight. Then press Ctrl + C simultaneously. You have now copied the link.
Now go to whereever you want to insert the link in the message you are composing. Place the cursor at that point and then press Ctrl + V simultaneously. Voila! You now have the link.
My experience is that the people in this article are people who never had any free time in their work life, never developed hobbies or leisure activities, never exercised except as required by a job, and basically were "lost" without work.
For someone who has spent 40 years working but along the way learned how to do many other things, sometimes for profit sometimes not, who alwaqys exercised actively during at least the spring, summer, and fall, who developed many hobbies and activities, the article is just dead wrong.
I agree with Zarathu. So many people I worked with never had outside interests. Work was the only thing they knew. They were the ones who retired and sat in front of the TV and had medical issues. I lost weight when I retired early and became a lot healthier versus working and spending 75,000 miles a year traveling for business.
I, for one, am willing to chance it by retiring earlier rather than later.
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