Science has given us many things—technology, vaccines, the mass shaving machine.
Now, the high school subject that made most of us cringe in our teens has yet another claim to planetary fame: the perfect excuse to retire early.
According to a series of studies covered by The New York Times, early retirement may lead to a longer life (so long as it doesn’t leave a retiree broke or lonely). And while the science is relatively simple on this one (jobs are stressful; stress is a killer; reducing stress is essential), the findings are worth a quick peek.
In one case, seven years of retirement for older Americans had the same potential benefit as reducing your chances of getting a serious disease by 20 percent; in another, early retirement for civil servants in Holland boosted their chances of living longer by 2.6 percent.
READ: THE STUDY, WORK, RETIRE MODEL IS BROKEN AS WE LIVE UNTIL 100
Still, there are health advantages to working late into life. For many, jobs are a way to stay active, connected and engaged — necessities of life that retirement can’t always provide.
Retirement alone isn’t the key to a longer life, but how you spend that extra time is — try going for a walking, hanging with friends, dancing or even enjoying a glass of wine.
Really, it’s all about getting back to the business of living, healthy habits and staying active, measured by the value one finds in their job versus what another finds in their life.
