Retire Early and Remain Active

Retirement age may not matter as much as what you choose to do in retirement.

Researchers in The Netherlands studied people in similar work and found that those who chose early retirement ended up living longer on average than those who did not, according to The New York Times in “The Connection Between Retiring Early and Living Longer.”  However, it now seems that what you do during retirement is also important.

Those people who have saved more and have more financial security can retire earlier than others.  For some people, the decision also includes lifestyle preferences.

Many would prefer to continue working, even though they can afford to retire. A new study might throw another factor into the decision-making process.

This study contradicts the findings of earlier studies that have found the exact opposite result: that people who retire earlier live shorter lives than those who do not. That means there is an important lesson for seniors to learn when comparing the studies.

What matters more than when someone retires, is what they do during retirement. Seniors who use their time to exercise more, get more sleep and lead generally healthy lifestyles tend to live longer. Those who do not do those things, tend to have a shorter life span.

Reference: New York Times (Jan. 29, 2018) “The Connection Between Retiring Early and Living Longer.”