Pension time: This is how your spirit remains fit and active in retirement!

Pension time: This is how your spirit remains fit and active in retirement!

Paderborn, Deutschland - Entry into retirement is a step into a new phase of life for many people. This phase often begins with the statement: "Now we are going on vacation for half a year, and then we continue to see." While the pension carries both opportunities and risks, it is often overlooked that the loss of mental challenges and social contacts can lead to faster cognitive degradation. Various studies, including one from the University of Paderborn, have proven this.

The chance to escape the job stress comes with the risk of getting into social isolation. The loss of daily interactions with colleagues is less crucial than the resulting acceptance of mental challenges. In particular, early retirees who retire at the age of 60 show a twice as high cognitive loss compared to their colleagues who stay longer at work. In a comprehensive study, it was found that pensioners often keep a word in words less than people who are still actively in professional life.

intellectual fitness in retirement

experts agree that active intellectual activity is crucial for intellectual health in retirement. Jessica Caldwell, neuropsychologist, emphasizes that the loss of intellectual challenges can have serious consequences. In order to stay mentally fit, experts recommend a variety of activities such as reading books, loosening puzzles or learning new skills.

To avoid social isolation, it is important to find new contacts and activities. Women tend to maintain contact with others more active, which makes it easier to convert their social network. In the meantime, the sudden physical deterioration, which is often associated with retirement, can be an additional risk of the mind. The recommendations for social integration are revealing and include together cooking, hiking and sport, but also senior studies and voluntary work to strengthen social bonds and establish new friendships.

The role of further training and social engagements

The connection between education and mental fitness is undeniable. A study result of the RWI and the University of Paderborn from 2022 shows that active dealing with education and social activities is crucial for slowing down cognitive mining. This also includes participation in educational courses for seniors and organizing neighborhood meetings to build a strong social network.

Germany shows a high statutory retirement age compared to other European countries and a high participation in employment of older workers. Nevertheless, there are new suggestions to improve the integration of older employees into the labor market, for example through further training and professional reorientation. Such measures could indirectly contribute to mental fitness.

Overall, the research work emphasizes that retirement should not only be a phase of relaxation, but also the active design of everyday life. The first step towards social integration may seem tedious, but it is crucial for mental health in old age. Anyone who stays active has the chance to retire not only with a fuller life, but also with a fitter spirit.

Tagesspiegel reports on retirement, while Tagesschau examined the scientific findings on cognitive age development and Meineltern.ch Tips for active seniors.