Working past the traditional retirement could be good for your health, but only if you’re rich

working asian chinese senior colleague back to work with face mask greeting on each other in office morning (Credit: Getty Images)

Is working well into the traditional retirement years good for your health—or not? 

The question might have seemed absurd in the early post World War II decades as aging workers retired earlier and earlier. Work was associated with mental and physical exhaustion from the daily grind at the office or assembly line. Scholars, developers, financial advisors, and other members of the retirement ecosystem promoted the idea that retirement improved health. The days of work-related stress were done, and there was more time to pursue leisure activities.