It’s a mixed bag when one retires. Some are thrilled to be out of a stressful job or are just worn out while others get depressed because they don’t have enough to do.
Academic research on the subject tells two stories: Some improve their mental well being. Others don’t do so well.
Kim Blanton, writing for the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, notes the research on retirement outcomes is “hazy.”
“So many considerations factor into whether people retire that it’s difficult to predict how it will go,” Blanton notes.
“Some are uplifted by finally getting out from under a bad situation while others gets depressed because they’ve lost their purpose or important social connections. Reactions to being retired depend on, among other things, the person’s health, whether the job is fulfilling or physically very strenuous, and whether they’ve planned for how to fill the days.”
Blanton examined 42 studies on the subject and found “retirement reduces by nearly 20 percent the risk of depression.” The highest-quality studies cited in this analysis were even more positive.” I would imagine the people who fared best in this research were probably living relatively healthy, active lives.
Then again, many people who leave the work and social routine behind have a hard time adjusting to a long period with little or no routine.
“At the other extreme,” one study of Europeans ages 50-70 in 11 countries found “negative and substantial effects” from retiring, including a 40 percent increase in the incidence of depression,” Blanton adds. “This is problematic because, as the researcher noted, retirement ages have been trending up but are not rising fast enough to catch up with increases in longevity. The upshot: longer retirements may mean more unhappy years.”
How do you avoid hitting a mental trough in retirement? Here’s three strategies:
* Have a Plan. Doing nothing is not a plan.
* Have a Schedule. What will your day look like? What will you be doing? Where will you be going?
* Don’t forget about exercise. You’ll need a new regimen that’s customized to your health and fitness. Research consistently shows that physical exercise helps keep the mind sharp.
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