Jennifer GaengOct 22, 2025 5 min read

Early Retirement Might Actually Shorten Your Life

Retirees on a boat
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Jane Goodall made about 300 appearances a year well into her 90s. She died at 91 after living what everyone agrees was a purposeful, meaningful, active life right up to the end.

You'd think she'd be the new model for how to live longer lives. But Americans remain deeply attached to the idea that work should end early. Mid-60s at the latest, sooner if possible.

Americans Really Hate The Idea Of Working Longer

In 1962, American men worked on average until 66. Now they retire slightly below 65. Life expectancy increased by nine years during that period, but retirement age stayed basically the same.

A poll from the Longevity Project and Corebridge Financial found that 73% of adults are concerned by the idea of working 10 years longer to support living to 100.

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Gen Z is even more horrified. 81% hate the idea of adding a decade more work to support over 20 more years of life.

That's a supermajority of young people who can't stand the thought of working longer even if it means living way longer.

Working Longer Is Actually Good For You

Research shows work in the second half of life provides social connection, purpose, and better health.

One study followed about 83,000 older adults over 15 years. People who worked past 65 were up to three times more likely to report being in good health than those who didn't.

Other studies found that for healthy retirees, retiring one year later correlated with an 11% lower risk of dying from any cause.

Poor-quality or high-stress work can undermine these benefits. But for most people and most work, the positive impact on physical and cognitive health is pretty clear.

We've Been Selling This Wrong

Most arguments about working longer focus on propping up retirement plans like Social Security. Those arguments are correct—a German panel suggested workers there will eventually need to stay employed eight years longer to support public retirement plans.

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But that's never persuasive. Nobody wants to keep working to support some future unknown generation.

Americans don't buy it. The French definitely don't. They blocked streets, overturned cars, and ground the country to a halt the last time retirement age got raised.

Some Countries Get It

Japan and Korea view work as an antidote to loneliness and social isolation in the second half of life. Japanese companies are unusually good about meeting the needs of older workers. They offer rewarding, flexible, safe work.

Even there, only half the people ages 65 to 69 still work. But work serves as a natural source of social connection and healthy aging at a time when people desperately need both.

Not All Work Is The Same

Some work is physically punishing and difficult to continue past 60, or even 50. Blue-collar workers face real physical limits.

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And retirement for blue-collar workers typically isn't what the ads show. Financial resources are unevenly distributed. So are social connections.

Only 17% of people without college education report having six or more close friends. 24% of those with high school education or less report having no close friends. That's eight times the figure from 1990 and more than twice the rate for college graduates.

Retirement Can Mean Isolation For Lower-Income Workers

Too often "retirement" for older blue-collar or lower-income workers means financial jeopardy, loneliness, and poor health that comes with both.

This connects to the current loneliness crisis, which directly undermines chances at healthy longevity. Work is one of the most available tools to help people stay connected, active, and purposeful.

Jane Goodall Wasn't An Exception

Her story isn't singular. Lots of research backs up the benefits of working longer. The problem is Americans don't want to hear it.

Working beyond "normal" retirement isn't for everyone. But we need a broader cultural understanding of the opportunity. We need more companies committed to supporting older workers.

The Real Issue

Americans want retirement to mean freedom and leisure. Not working to support future generations or keep Social Security afloat. That messaging doesn't resonate.

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What might work better? Framing work as a way to combat loneliness. As a source of purpose and connection. As something that actively improves health and extends life.

Because that's what the data shows. Working longer isn't just about money or supporting retirement systems. It's about staying connected to other people and having a reason to get up in the morning.

But getting there requires changing how we talk about work. Stop leading with Social Security. Start talking about health, connection, and purpose.

Otherwise, Americans will keep retiring early, getting lonely, and dying sooner than they need to.

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