The concept of “retirement” has become deeply ingrained in many aspects of society. Thanks to decades of marketing from financial services companies, not to mention governments around the world, most of us have come to see retirement as an expectation, if not a right.

Is Working After Retirement a Good Option?

There’s just one problem. Most of us aren’t even close to being able to afford “retirement,” in the traditional sense. But, the bigger question is: why would we want to? 65-year-olds today are likely to live for at least another 20 years. By the time the younger members of our generation reach retirement age, life expectancy will have risen even more. Do we really want to spend 20-30 years “taking it easy?” Maybe. Then again, maybe not.

In my case, I can say that starting my own business after 60 was one of the best decisions that I have ever made. It certainly hasn’t made me rich. I guess that’s not the point. Starting my own business has helped me to stay social. It has even given my life a sense of meaning and purpose.

Have there been bumps along the way? Of course! But, that’s all a part of the fun of starting a business at any age.

You also don’t need to start a business to continue to work after retirement. There are plenty of fun jobs for seniors that can help you to stay active, while putting a little extra money in your pocket.

I’d love to get your thoughts on this. All things considered, do you want to continue to work after retirement age? Are you the kind of person who thinks that staying productive is one of the keys to happiness and healthy aging? Or, do you feel like, after 45+ years in the workforce, you will have earned a break?

What do you think about working after retirement? Would you like to continue working even if you can afford to retire? Why? Please join the conversation.

Here is a short video that I recorded on the topic of whether working after retirement makes sense.