Retirement can be deadly for a lot of people. And if you aren't retired yet, you might want to re-imagine what it means—or even avoid it altogether.
Research has long shown that retirement is linked with a greater risk of heart disease, physical and mental health issues, and death.
The reasons are multifaceted but seem to revolve around what we lose after retirement: daily social interaction, physical and mental activity, and purpose.
Any retirement plan that only accounts for finances is sorely lacking from that perspective (though finances are critical). Retirement isn't just about sitting back and relaxing, it's also about finding new and meaningful ways to spend our time.
Having a sense of purpose is perhaps the most important element. Purpose fires up our day and can preserve our brains. And if we don't have a reason to keep living—some purpose beyond our own indulgence—it may be hard to do things that sustain us, like making new friends.
Friendship, and social connection generally, are critical but often overlooked factors in long-term health. For many of us, our coworkers become a second family we chat with about our problems, interests, and experiences. Losing these interactions suddenly can come with profound consequences...
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