You turn 65 years old and are facing retirement.
What’s next?
Statistically, men in the United States aged 65 can expect to live 18 more years on average. Women are luckier! They can expect to live around 20.7 more years on average. That data may be understated – perhaps 25 years? In any event, that’s a long time and a good proportion of an already successful life.
A Shell Oil study conducted fifteen years ago showed that people who retire at age 55 and live to be at least 65 die sooner than people who retire at 65. After age 65, the early retirees have a 37% higher risk of death than their counterparts that retired at 65. And that’s not all. People who retire at 55 are 89% more likely to die in the 10 years AFTER retirement than those who retire at 65.
So, what does that mean?
While I can’t prove it, I suspect it’s related to the fact that energetic people are not “good at” doing nothing . . . . and they “don’t like” doing nothing. In “Doom Loop” terms, this puts them in Q4 where they feel unhappy and miserable. That certainly doesn’t bode well for a longer and happy life.
So, what’s the solution?
I coach people to find ANYTHING that they love to do, but that they’re not really “good at” doing. That puts them between Q1 and Q2 which gives them motivation, energy and spark.
I’ve found nothing to suggest that these feelings lessen one’s life expectancy.
So, let’s find those things for you! It’s a new adventure – and it’s FUN!
