The surprising link between working and health

By Melissa Borgerding
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Some 10,000 Americans will turn 60 every single day for the next 20 years, shifting the face of America’s workforce, according to MarketWatch, a subsidiary of Dow Jones. In fact, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) reports that 72% of all workers today plan to work after retirement.

Fortunately for the baby boomers, today’s retirement generation is already blazing the way. Rejecting traditional notions that defined retirement as a time of leisure, more and more people are choosing to work, and reaping enormous benefits.

Top reasons to work
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that some 16 million older adults are currently working or seeking jobs, though not necessarily for the extra cash. Older workers cite the desire to stay mentally and physically active, and to remain productive, as top reasons to continue working, according to the AARP’s 2003 Working in Retirement Study. The opportunity to learn something new, and to keep old skills sharp, also ranks high on the list.

Working improves health
Gaining new skills and experience isn’t the only benefit to working. Researchers suggest that engaging in challenging activities that produce a sense of accomplishment may actually boost your immune system. Therefore, the best cure for a cold may be a day at the office.

“Older people who pursue activities in which they experience a sense of control or mastery are healthier both physically and mentally than those who do not,” says Gene Cohen, director of George Washington University’s Center on Aging, in an interview with U.S. News and World Report.

While an active and engaged retirement leads to a longer, healthier life, a retirement of complete leisure may actually harm your health. Recent studies on aging suggest that having little to no mental stimulation or opportunity to develop skills leads to a sharp decline in mental health, an increase in illness, and even difficulty performing daily tasks.