Alex O'Brien
Retirement Life

New research proves life is better in retirement

We all know it to be true, but finally the research is here to back it up – life is more enjoyable after retirement. In a report published in the Age and Ageing journal, researchers from the University of South Australia found that after retirement, life only gets better.

“We found that you're likely to be happier when you retire,” the paper’s co-author Tim Olds told Reuters. This is because retirement is often the first chance people get since childhood to do what they want to do, rather than what they must do.

The study followed 124 participants with an average age of 62 as they transitioned into retirement. Analysis of the surveys completed by participants found that average levels of enjoyment were drastically higher than prior to retirement. “Changes were partly due to shifts towards more enjoyable activities,” the researchers write, “but were mainly due to retirees getting more enjoyment out of doing the same activities post-retirement.”

Other areas of life which experienced an improvement after retirement include general wellbeing and quality of sleep. Surprisingly, those who switched to part-time employment after retiring even found they enjoyed work more.

“People have a different experience when working after retirement,” California State University professor of psychologist Kenneth Shultz explained. “You don’t have to deal with the pressure of a career job, and people tend to not be emotionally invested in it.”

Do you think life is more enjoyable after retirement? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Related links:

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life, retirement, happiness, research, enjoyable