一般的經驗，也許曾發現到，有些人退休後隔些時日乍見，似乎歲月過去所忘了做的，一股腦地烙在他臉上、印記在痀僂的背影中，不禁暗自驚心；而另有些人反而容光煥發、身體要比上班時更理想，氣色宛若兩人，打探下往往是能按著所好，把生活安排得井然有序、作息緊湊，令人稱羨。常在文宣出現的一句話：要活就要動，好像言之有理，事實上科學研究的結果確是如此。

根據10月份美國心理學會出版的”職業健康心理學期刊”，裡頭有篇研究報告，說退休後若繼續打工兼差(bridge employment)，會比那些完全退休的人擁有更好的身體和心理健康。

這個研究一共訪問了12,189位51-61歲的人，每隔兩年調查他們的健康、收入、是否受雇或是退休，持續了6年。可能是經濟不景氣，很多人沒有足夠的錢退休，不少年長退休的人繼續做臨時工，結果發現在罹患重疾方面，還在兼差的比那些完全退休的人少了17%，在心理健康量表上，那些繼續打工的，其分數要比退休的高出31%，兩者的健康狀況有非常顯著的差異。

此外，繼續原先熟悉工作的，也比那些面對陌生領域的有更好的心理健康。退休後的工作如果跟以前職業相關，就比較容易調適，心理健康好過那些完全退休的；如果退休後的工作和先前的無關，面對不熟的工作，或者勞碌了一輩子、恨死的工作，還是不能歇手，上工只是為了賺些收入，這種狀況下是必須得調整自己的，對年長者的人衝擊相當大，不會有同樣較佳的精神健康表現乃是必然的。

所以退休後生涯規劃的重要性，不言可喻。記得先前所寫Regina Brett的生活箴言第9句，就是”退休存款要從你第一次領薪水條開始”，錢雖不是萬能，但沒錢可真的是萬萬不能。退了嗎?欣賞下面的對話，也許能勾勒出將來退休以後，所面對的是什麼。或者不信，那就說給已退休的長者聽聽，說不定他馬上想起誰，告訴你，某某就是如此這般。

Q : How many days in a week?
A : 6 Saturdays, 1 Sunday.

Q : When is a retiree's bedtime?
A : Three hours after he falls asleep on the couch.

Q : How many retirees to change a light bulb?
A : Only one, but it might take all day.

Q : What's the biggest gripe of retirees?
A : There is not enough time to get everything done.

Q : Why don't retirees mind being called Seniors?
A : The term comes with a 10-50% percent discount.

Q : Among retirees what is considered formal attire?
A : Tied shoes.

Q : Why do retirees count pennies?
A : They are the only ones who have The time.

Q : What is the common term for someone who enjoys work and refuses to retire ?
A : NUTS!

Q : Why are retirees so slow to clean out the basement, attic or garage ?
A : They know that as soon as they do, one of their adult kids will want to store stuff there.

Q : What do retirees call a long lunch?
A : Normal.

Q : What is the best way to describe retirement?
A : The never ending Coffee Break.

Q : What's the biggest advantage of going back to school as a retiree?
A : If you cut classes, no one calls your parents.

Q : Why does a retiree often say he doesn't miss work, but misses the people he used to work with?
A : He is too polite to tell the whole truth.

Q : What do you do all week?
A : Monday to Friday; Nothing, Saturday & Sunday I rest.

1. Study: Working past retirement boosts health- And mental health is better for those in jobs related to their original field. MSNBC, Oct. 13, 2009
2. Y Zhan, M Wang, S. Liu & KS Sultz, Bridge Employment and Retirees' Health: A Longitudinal Investigation, Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 2009, 14(4), 374-389.