Will you still be able to do your current job when you are close to retirement?

[alwaysstressed]

I work a pretty physical job that I've done all my life, im not trained or skilled in anything else.
I am 42 and I am a dog groomer and all the bending and lifting and being on my feet all day is already taking its toll on my body and I really don't think I'll be able to do this when im say 60-65, but what will I do? This is all I know.

Does anyone else have physical jobs that you just can't see yourself managing to do when you're older?

TBH I'm 53 with a desk job that I've always loved and I don't think I'll be able to carry on much longer. Things happen to your mind,as well as your body after 50

I do a desk/ advice type job but also some driving home visits, hoping to be able to carry on for a while.

Not my current job (more lack of progression at my level than anything else) so I'm retraining as an interpreter. I hope to do that for the remaining 25 (or more by the time I get there) years.

Yes. Am a desk bound civil servant. However doddery I get, the CS are poor at managing people out so I could stay for ages doing the minimum. (I do actually work hard and do a good job!). Even so I will go at 62 and potter about a bit with less money.

Physically yes , mentally no.

I have a desk job that I have managed to keep through serious illness. People often stay on well past retirement age because it isn’t physically demanding, it is intellectually stimulating, and our employer allows people to reduce their hours and take a proportionate salary reduction.

I know people often say that trades can be more lucrative, especially when you consider the rising cost of education, but always worry that they aren’t considering the physical demands and likely need to retire younger. It’s really a substantial societal issue that I don’t think gets discussed often enough.

There's a guy just started at our place working in admin. He was previously a builder but has injured his back and can't do it anymore. He's finding it an adjustment that's for sure. Spreadsheet wrangling and polite office chit chat is pretty far from a building site.

Yes it's a desk based job I can mostly do from home. Whether I can mentally deal with it though, I don't know. Earliest I could retire financially is 60 - most likely will be 65.

What???!

Surely you must realise there are loads of jobs where staff occasionally get "walloped". Anything dealing with the public, but especially people (adults and children) with MH issues or additional needs or addiction problems or criminal tendencies.

Yes, I will be able to. I'm a psychologist so I'm planning to reduce the amount of work I take on until as I get older until I no longer want to practice. A lot of my work is now virtual so I can do it from abroad, if I decide to move to the sun.

Yes, but hopefully part time! I'm a teacher.

Yes, I went the other way from a sedentary to an active job, to the benefit of my physical and mental health. I have no intention of moving back again.

I'm 63. Still doing the same job as ever. It's quite physical but I mostly enjoy it. I could afford to retire but have decided my job actually keeps me fit, so it's best I keep going!

No. I’m a district nurse and the constant time being on my knees and bending my back to redress bilateral legs is already taking its toll on my body and I’m in my 30’s. I don’t know what I’ll do

OP, could you focus on your fitness to prolong your career.

I took up karate and running at 48. The karate helped with suppleness, and the running improves general fitness and allowed me to keep up. It takes a bit of a shift of mindset but it's worth a try.

Or could you move into dog training. There's a huge market need, and it would be (a bit) less physical.

Yes that isn't often thought about is it? I could feel myself getting less "sharp" as I got older

I’m 56 this year, in IT and struggling to keep up with new technology, aggressive project deadlines and the stress. Already living in constant fear of screwing up, thanks to menopausal brain fog.

I’m putting as much as possible into pension and praying for a redundancy payout in 2-3 years so I can finish early!

Yes, lower management office based job, but could be taken over by AI

I was actually thinking about this, that I need to improve my fitness and I know deep down that its really the only way I'll be able to continue.
But its the getting started that's the hard bit.
You're absolutely right

Mine is a physical job and I'm determined to do it as long as possible despite the aches and pains.
I believe its good to keep the body moving and the mind occupied. Stopping work would give me the excuse to sit in a chair longer and I think that'd be worse.

I work in early years and probably could continue till I’m 67 with some adjustments, at present I crawl about her floor and sit on the floor which I wouldn’t be doing at 67 because I’m sure I’ll need at least one knee replacement by then.

Nursery nurse, so no chance! My back and knees are already not great because of all the lifting/ bending/ kneeling/ sitting on the floor- and I'm only 36.

I am two years away. I can't see me teaching after 60. I won't do anything else. I will possibly do a few days a month supply at my school when I retire as it is a lovely school. I Will also mark exam papers.

I may struggle to actually get to work at 67 if the state of my joints is anything to go by now. Also not sure my brain will be sharp enough for the on the fly decisions we have to make.