Long haul
Shared ‘wisdom’ on what it takes to achieve a lengthy and fulfilling career
Joan Virginia Allen of Ojai, Calif., practiced elder law before switching jobs at age 60 — and deciding to try to work another 60 years. “I wanted to challenge what society says about getting old,” she said. Now, at 82, she’s a fully booked life coach. She’s also part of a trend. People age 75 and over, including our fresh-on-the-job president, are the fastest-growing group in the labor force, even though “age discrimination is very real,” said Susan Weinstock, vice president of financial resilience at AARP.
I interviewed eight older workers about the wellness habits that have helped them achieve career longevity, and found several commonalities that are backed by research. Over the decades, these workers have embraced healthy living in terms of diet, exercise and mindfulness. They have also relished challenges, maintained a sense of purpose and continued to learn from job experiences. All of these habits have positioned them to add value at work by sharing wisdom gained over their long careers with younger colleagues. It’s a virtuous circle; their approach to work and living leads to their job success, and their job success reinforces their approach to work and life.
Not all older employees, of course, are happy about having to work beyond a certain age. Many are facing financial pressures and have delayed retirement for the paychecks, not necessarily the thrill of their jobs. Richard Besdine, an 80-yearold professor of medicine at Brown University, said those compelled to work may see fewer wellness benefits from staying active through employment. Those who can’t control their schedules are especially vulnerable to health issues.
Although this article is geared toward older people who are eager to continue