Those of us who have spent years working at jobs we haven’t necessarily loved can’t fathom the idea of wanting to work a second longer than we have to. In fact, many have their imminent retirement date circled on the calendar like a beacon of light that keeps driving them forward.
So why do some people who are over the age of 65 keep working when they don’t have to? There are many reasons why, and they have nothing to do with earning money.
1. A continued sense of purpose.
For many people, the years they spent working gave them a sense of personal purpose. They had a reason to get up in the morning, shower, get dressed, and put in X number of hours: either they were providing for their family, or the work they were doing was important in one way or another. Now that they’ve retired, many feel that they no longer have a purpose on this planet, which can lead to intense depression and despondency.
By choosing to keep working, that feeling of “I’m not good for anything anymore” disappears. They once again feel like they have something to offer the world, and they aren’t just sitting around, waiting for the hourglasses of their lives to trickle down.
2. The opportunity to socialize.
Workplaces aren’t just areas where people earn a living: they’re places where folks get to socialize with a wide range of others over the course of any given day. Depending on where they work, they’ll generally have an opportunity to chat with peers, joke around with delivery drivers, have lovely conversations with clientele, etc.
After retirement, many older people — extroverts in particular — feel incredibly lonely because they don’t have those interactions anymore. It’s a common psychological challenge of retirement. They may talk with their spouse (if they have one) or their neighborhood acquaintances now and then, but they don’t have the daily chitchat that they enjoyed for so long. Remaining in the workforce allows them to keep socializing. This can mean the difference between thriving and surviving for many people.
3. They can’t stand being at home.
Many of us grew up hearing about how our grandparents were always out doing things like playing golf, doing volunteer work, visiting friends in the hospital, and so on. My grandfather loved to take long walks in the woods with his dogs, and my grandmother did a lot of gardening and was an active member of her community. They didn’t just sit at home on the couch all day: they were out and about, doing things they loved.
A lot of older people feel the same way: they can’t stand the idea of being cooped up at home all the time, pacing back and forth between the kitchen and sitting room, choosing between cooking, eating, or watching TV as their daily enrichment.
By continuing to work at a job that they enjoy, they get out of the house and can do something they consider to be useful. They love their homes, but there’s only so much to do in them before they start to go stir crazy.
4. They thrive with a routine.
For those who thrive with a routine, the sudden loss of it can throw their entire lives into disarray. Think about it: they’ve had an intensely structured life for over 40 years, and suddenly that structure has been taken from them. Very Well Mind advises that this can lead to boredom, anxiety, and even depression, especially for those who aren’t great at self-discipline or who don’t have hobbies or crafts to turn to.
This is why many of them choose to keep working, even if it’s at a different type of job than the one they’ve had for most of their lives. There’s immense comfort in routine, as it takes confusion and guesswork out of the picture. They don’t have to try to find something to do on a daily basis because they have duties and responsibilities. They can rely upon the comfortable rhythms they’ve grown so accustomed to for the better part of their lives so far.
5. They like to keep their minds and bodies active.
The phrase “use it or lose it” is an apt one. You’ve likely noticed that many people sort of “wilt” after they retire. They lose body strength because they’re not as active anymore, and they become more forgetful (and often more agitated) as well. This is because they aren’t using their bodies and minds the same way anymore, which causes overall atrophy.
Those who choose to keep working often do so to remain as strong and capable as possible. They move their bodies throughout the day to maintain their strength, and they employ important problem-solving skills so their minds remain active and sharp. By continuing to work, they’re likely delaying cognitive and physical decline more than they realize. What’s fun or pleasantly challenging for them has far-reaching benefits overall.
6. They want to help others.
People age at different rates. So while one retiree may have limited mobility and is looking forward to spending their golden years on the couch, another may be running 10km daily, eager to spend the rest of their lives doing meaningful things that make the world a better place.
Those who fall into the latter category often throw themselves into work that benefits others — usually involving the skills that they developed over the course of their lives thus far. For example, someone who spent many years as a doctor may take a position at a mobile clinic that does outreach for homeless people. Those who worked in public relations may do fundraising work for charities that are important to them, and those who love animals may walk shelter dogs or foster orphaned kittens and other baby animals.
7. They’re doing a job for fun that they weren’t able to pursue as a career.
Many people chose to pursue practical, well-paying careers over those that they were passionate about for the sake of financial stability, so they could raise a family. That doesn’t mean those are the careers that they wanted. They might have preferred to pursue fine art, archaeology, music, or any other number of paths that were considered “frivolous” when they were younger.
Now that they don’t have to work to support their families, they’re free to pursue the careers that they would have loved to have done all their lives. Many go back to school later in life to get the degrees they’d always wanted, while others use their savings to start businesses like pottery studios or bars where live music is played on a nightly basis. It’s essentially a second life for them after they’ve tied up the loose ends of their previous one. It’s a great way to beat boredom and find purpose in the retirement years, and it may be far more fulfilling than their earlier career path ever was.
Final thoughts…
Modern society isn’t particularly gracious towards elders. Older people are often tossed aside and expected to fade into the wallpaper, instead of being appreciated. This ageism can be immensely damaging to older people who have their faculties intact. They still have an incredible amount of strength, wisdom, and capability — both for themselves and to share with those around them.
Never underestimate just how important elders are for a healthy, functional society, and if you’re in that age bracket already, draw upon your skills in the way that suits you best, and keep living life to the fullest.
