The actual question is. How a lot of us dread the approach of retirement?
This article will briefly discuss the effects of retirement and look into the option of going back to school during retirement to keep mentally healthy.
Retirement is the milestone that serves as a transition from a working life of routines to a phase that a lot of us are ‘illprepared’. Retirement can either turn out to be good or bad in our mental and physical functions, and social, financial or spiritual ‘wellbeing’. Remember, it’s crucial to note that this plan should necessarily include elements to maintain physical and mental health. Ok, and now one of the most important parts. Actually the study also states that a person retiring at 55 age years can look forward to living another 25 to 30 years after being able to put into place a retirement plan to retire early and live comfortably.
Dr. PhD, in his 2002 study on Optimum Strategies for Creativity and Longevity highlighted the conclusion from various studies of major American pension funds’ payout to pensioners that for each year one works beyond age 55, one loses 2 life years span on average since Sing Lin. Why work? Amid the ways is to be engaged in some type of work done at a non stressful leisurely pace during retirement. Assuming we have a measure of financial freedom in retirement, work thence will be mainly to continue keeping our mind active and maintain mental health to prevent the onset of dreaded diseases similar to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia after having actively exercised the brain for hundreds of the past 55 years. Whilst we can seek advice on diet and exercises and act on whatever is required to maintain physical health, the serious issue of maintaining mental health ain’t one that can be easily addressed.
What can we do that wouldn’t put us in unnecessary stress and yet afford us the opportunity to actively exercise the brain in doing things we like?
Well, going back to school might be high on the list of possibilities.
Quite a few are ‘forced by circumstances to undertake courses of studies to get the right jobs to earn a living and not courses of choice. As a result, key is the choice to do what we like and when we like without having the need to complete the journey as an option. Although, whether they are short courses or challenging doctoral studies and research, in retirement, we can take a course in whatever subject that takes our fancy, to satisfy a burning desire or for self actualization. Objectives in education in retirement are different from that to gain a certificate for a well placed position at the start of our careers. Most institutions of higher learning encourage seniors to enroll with them with many providing relaxed entry requirements and discounted entry fees, whilst local authorities and similar organizations often provide free entries to short courses in various subjects of interest.
Then the availability of online learning and ease of communication facilitates our doing so. In retirement, we can continue to enjoy and do whatever we like similar to taking holidays to discover new places or to be with loved ones, move to a really new home, or be engaged in charitable work without detriment to our ability to be go back to school as and when we like. In doing so, we can continue to make a difference in our lives and the lives of others whilst keeping us mentally healthy. As a result, those who can not learn, unlearn and relearn, the words of Alvin Toffler sums up the importance of lifelong learning -The illiterate of the 21st century won’t be those who can’t read and write. Going back to school in retirement, as in school days during our formative years, so affords us the opportunity to make new friends and acquaintances and expand our knowledge, worldviews and horizons from peoples all over the world.
