Less activity – but better balance? New study on life after retirement

Retirement marks a major life transition. Working hours are replaced by leisure time, affecting how the hours of the day are distributed between activity and rest. New research shows that being less physically active is not always a negative thing. For some people, it may instead reflect a better balance between activity and recovery.

In a recently published study, researchers examined how people’s activity patterns change when they retire and whether their previous occupation influences life after retirement.

Followed before and after retirement

The study is based on data from a sub-study to SLOSH, in which 112 people were followed at three timepoints around the retirement transition. Participants wore activity monitors for one week at each measurement occasion. They also completed a general questionnaire and a diary form. The researchers then analysed how time was distributed between physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep. In the analyses, the researchers took into account whether participants had worked in physically demanding jobs before retiring.

Those who had the most physically demanding jobs are also the ones most affected by the transition to retirement.

More sleep after retirement

The results show that the transition to retirement often involves more time spent sleeping. This was particularly true for people who had previously had physically demanding jobs. For those with more sedentary occupations, the changes were less pronounced. The results suggest that physical demands at work influence how the body recovers after retirement. For people who have had physically demanding jobs, retirement may provide greater opportunities for rest and recovery.

— In an earlier study, we found that everyday life after retirement becomes somewhat more like weekends used to be before retirement – people can sleep a little longer in the morning and get the sleep they need. What is new is that we now see that those who had the most physically demanding jobs are also the ones most affected by the transition to retirement. This is in line with previous research showing that people with strenuous jobs and self-reported health problems often feel better after retirement, says Professor Hugo Westerlund, one of the authors of the study.

Activity patterns become more similar

The researchers also found that differences in physical activity between groups decreased after retirement. People who had previously had physically demanding jobs became less physically active after retirement, while those with sedentary jobs tended to become more active.

Taken together, this led to smaller differences between the groups. A reduction in physical activity among former manual workers does not necessarily have to be negative. On the contrary, it may reflect a healthier balance, where the body has the opportunity to recover after a long working life.

— What we studied was not stopping work altogether, but reducing working hours by at least half during the transition into retirement. Looking at other studies from our research group, it appears that many people benefit from cutting back their working hours, perhaps by changing jobs or work tasks, while continuing to work at least part-time. That may provide a good balance, combining the benefits of both working life and retirement, says Hugo Westerlund.

Need for individually tailored advice

The findings provide new insights into how life after retirement may differ between groups. They also show that advice on physical activity for retirees may need to be adapted to people’s previous working-life experiences. By taking into account how physically demanding a person’s work has been, interventions to support health and well-being can become more targeted.

— Everyone is different and has different life circumstances. That is why there is no one-size-fits-all approach. But the more we know about what influences health during the transition to retirement, the better advice we can provide, says Hugo Westerlund.

He also offers a practical tip for those who want to stay active in retirement:

— Try to build regular physical activity into your daily life, ideally something you genuinely enjoy, preferably together with friends who can help keep each other motivated and make sure it actually happens.

Text: Beatrice Chaveroche