Could retiring early actually boost your longevity?
Research suggests this might be the case.
According to a 2017 study in the journal Health Economics, economists from the Netherlands analyzed how an early retirement for men who were at least 54 years old impacted their lives.
They found that the men, who retired early in 2005, were 42% less likely to die during the next five years compared to those who remained working.
There were two main reasons why an early retirement had a positive impact on their health.
For starters, retiring early made it easier to live a healthy lifestyle, such as getting enough sleep at night, exercising and staying vigilant about doctor appointments.
It also eliminates stress that comes from working.
In fact, early retirees in the study were less likely to die from cardiovascular disease or stroke.
Since there were not enough women who met the study’s criteria, the results only include men.
It’s also unknown what the implications of an early retirement mean for more than five years post-retirement.
A NYT article published earlier this year suggests that it isn’t early retirement itself that leads to a longer life but what one does in retirement, from eliminating drives during peak commuting hours to having a more active lifestyle.
“An analysis in the U.S. found about seven years of retirement can be as good for health as reducing the chance of getting a serious disease by 20%,” according to the NYT article.
To be sure, there are also health benefits that come from working. After all, it provides income and for many, health insurance.
In many cases, it also provides camaraderie and a sense of purpose.
It’s also difficult to effectively evaluate the impact of an early retirement since some people retire due to health problems.
The bottom line: retiring early gives you more freedom to take care of yourself and commit to a healthy lifestyle—which in today’s day and age, might seem like a luxury, but is a responsibility that certainly shouldn’t be overlooked, for both workers and retirees.
