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Earning Your Longevity By James H. O'Keefe, M.D. If you think retiring and saying goodbye forever to workday stress will improve your health, you're wrong. A recent study showed individuals who opted for full retirement experienced a 23 percent increase in difficulty performing daily activities, an 11 percent decline in mental health, and an eight percent increase in illness, compared to those who continued to work at least part time. The Okinawans, the healthiest and longest lived people in the world, literally do not have a word for "retirement" in their language. As these people age they may change what they do, but they never completely retire. In essence, the more engaged you are with people, the healthier you are likely to be; and work tends to promote connections with others, as well as a sense of mission. Be a Work in Progress Life is never static; it tends to be either in the growth mode or decay mode. When we lose our drive, settle back, and aimlessly coast along, our physical and mental powers begin to atrophy. Work can motivate us to acquire new skills and knowledge, which helps ensure we will never stop growing. A job that requires you to use your body and your brain can keep you youthful. Studies show there are four essential components to staying healthy later in life: social connectedness, mental stimulation, physical activity, and a healthy diet. Continuing to work, even if it's part time or volunteer work, can help you make the first three happen. No doubt, age takes a toll on some brain functions like reaction time, ability to multi-task, and short-term memory, but the latest research indicates that some brain functions actually improve with age. Decades of real life experiences instill a wisdom you can't find in a book and teach us how to be more efficient in solving problems. You don't need to reinvent the wheel each time when you have seen it all before. In a profession like cardiology, this can be invaluable. Robert Conn, M.D., is one of the senior partners at Cardiovascular Consultants and is a long-time favorite mentor of mine. His legendary knowledge and skills in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease have been honed during 50 years of caring for patients. Like Dr. Conn, people today are living longer and more productive lives. Your community needs your talents, time, and wisdom as much as you need the emotional and financial perks from continued employment. I was speaking to an acquaintance who recently retired and I asked him, "Do you miss your work?" He replied, "Like a headache! I realized I was getting to know more and more about less and less. I decided I had better retire before I knew everything about nothing." He is now volunteering at a local grade school, taking classes at community college, and spending hours exploring the internet, and planning upcoming trips. Working longer is not always the path to better health, especially if your work is monotonous, stressful and/or not intellectually stimulating or emotionally fulfilling. However, even if you retire from your primary occupation, find something to do that will present new challenges. Activities that offer you the chance to develop a sense of control and mastery are revitalizing for heart and soul, and can fortify your immune system. |
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