Why would you even consider working in retirement? After all, most people think about retirement as being a time to take a well-deserved break. After decades of hard work, we look forward to pursuing our passions, spending time with our family and, if we can afford it, traveling.

The reality is a bit more complicated. For starters, many people find that their pension doesn’t stretch quite as far as they hoped. Others struggle with being separated from the social connections that they enjoyed while they were in the work force.

In talking to the women in the Sixty and Me community, I have discovered that working in retirement provides benefits that go way beyond money. Working after retirement gives us a sense of purpose, keeps our minds healthy and provides an opportunity to embrace new experiences.

Working in Retirement Gives You a Chance to Give Back

Working after retirement might also give you the chance to work for a nonprofit organization, public sector agency or favorite charity. You might find that this new “career” is more altruistic and gives you a chance to contribute to a favorite cause in a way that gives your life purpose.

What would you do for the rest of your life if you didn’t need the money? Maybe you could find a job that pays you (even if it doesn’t pay as well as your former full-time career) and you can make money while doing something good for the world!

Stay Interested – and Interesting!

Women over 60 often don’t fear getting older, we fear becoming boring! Working after retirement is a way to stay connected to the world, to keep learning, and to keep having new things to talk about.

If you’re engaged in your work and energized by your daily routine, you’ll be more fun to be around; you’ll have an outlet for your creativity, and you’ll continue to hone your craft and improve skills.

This article from the New York Times features excellent portraits and inspiring interviews with “Old Masters” – people in their 80s who are still at the top of their fields in politics, business, art and other fields. Why retire if you’re making a difference and doing what you love?

Embrace the Opportunity to Do Something Completely Different

Many women over 60 are viewing retirement not as a time to “slow down” and disengage from the world, but as a “second act” to take their life in a totally new direction. Maybe you could start a new business, work in a different country, learn a new skill or new language, or fulfill a childhood dream that was never possible before.

Many women over 60 are showing that it’s possible for a longtime accountant to become a baker, a teacher to become a flight attendant, a dentist to become an international development aid worker, and more!

The great thing about this time of life for women over 60 is that we have more flexibility in our daily lives than ever before, and we have more influence due to our decades of experience and contacts.

We can work part-time or as independent contractors. We can get involved with a favorite charity. We can teach English overseas or join the Peace Corps – they pay a salary and you get to see the world. Try being an Airbnb host and make money by renting a spare room in your house, and work when you want!

Working after retirement is a choice that more people than ever are choosing to make. So, let’s celebrate the opportunity that productive work provides to give back to our communities, keep our brains sharp and embrace new experiences.

Are you working after retirement? Why did you make this decision? Were your goals mostly financial? Or, did you have other reasons? Please add your thoughts in the comments section below.

Watch my interview with Nancy Collamer to find out more about the benefits of working in retirement.