The best job/career for healthy aging

[Samphire44]

I am pondering on my priorities in life and would like to prioritise my future health.

I am wondering about what the ideal job would be for health reasons, if money was not a consideration and you could retrain in anything. Ideally I would like a job to tick as many of the following as possible.

A) Good work life balance - flexible hours, no night working.
B) Keeps you active, at least 10k steps a day and limits sitting. Ideally also helps you build/maintain muscle.
C) Allows you to spend at least part of the day outside
C) Keeps your brain active, new challenges and problems to solve but without being too
stressful. Can switch off at the end of the day.
D) Something that you might be happy to continue doing into retirement age on a part time basis.

Any ideas of what might fit?

Working in a garden centre? You could become very knowledgeable about plants and gardening to keep the learning going?

Pilates instructor- mat and reformer. Also personal trainer. Self employed.Specifically chose Reformer , with the idea of instructing well in to old age.

Maybe but does not seem quite challenging enough. I would worry I would get stuck behind the checkout. Maybe if I owned my own garden centre and had a bit more autonomy.

Interesting idea. I like the idea of being self employed. I would need to become a lot better at pilates though before I could teach others. I do weights so possibly could go down the pt route.

Author- I have wanted to do this since Elizabeth Day mentioned she went to LA to finish her book. She would write until 2pm and then have the rest of the day.

Postman ..Well postwoman. Not challenging mentally though

I also thought post person.

How about self-employed garden designer then?
Personal trainer with running outside? Not sure that would have continual intellectual stimulation though.

From casual observation, a Jesuit priest. They seem to last well into their nineties in a pretty good state of health.
Watch out for being "on your feet"all day without movement- that just leads to varicose veins!

Just wanted to say this is a really interesting thread.

I am 53 and also realising I have to find a new, healthier career as my current one is not sustainable into retirement.

I am looking at retraining in something relating to teaching exercise classes or in alternative therapies.

Hoping to start initial Pilates teacher training in the NY and want to specialise further in working with people with health conditions.

Postwoman and gardener also sound great!

I also considered secondary teacher training but realised it would be too expensive to train and very likely too stressful as a job...

Just to add if you did do a job that didn't challenge you too much mentally, it can allow you to pursue a hobby outside of work. I've worked in boring office jobs where coworkers have written books in their spare time.

I'm in my early 40s and retraining as an Occupational Therapist which I hope will tick many of these boxes. I was previously a gardener. Not sure it's a good suggestion as you age - I've accumulated a few injuries and it's exhausting doing physical work out in all weather.

Thanks all. @JaneDSE9 You make a good point, maybe I shouldn't be looking for my job to do everything and a low stress job could free up more time for activity or something more mentally challenging.I think though my issue is that I still have quite a few family commitments (I am a carer as well so I am hoping a job could cover all these angles)

I am not sure about postworker, I am not sure working for the royal mail is very stress free and they keep quitting where we are at least.

Landscape designer sounds fun and I am quite creative but I wonder how much in demand it is.

@Applefumble interesting to hear about your experience as a gardener. It is hard to find a job with the optimum amount of physical activity for health. Retaining as an OT sounds exciting. I was wondering about allied health, I am very interested in nutrition so was wondering about nutritionist or dietician although the latter at least would require another degree.

@Cherryana author sounds great as well. I am very interested in nutrition and cookery so would love to write a book in this field but I doubt anyone would publish or buy it from an unknown name.

I was wondering about something with animals too, maybe a dog walking business.

Following with interest as im in the same boat, my desk job is killing me!

For God’s sake don’t choose teaching!

Yes teaching is bottom for my list for stress free!

Following because I have 2 weeks left in engineering. It’s been an arduous journey and although I'm scared of not finding employment very quickly - I’m going to be happy not to be stressed about skyscrapers and tunnels

What about something related to sustainability but still using your engineering background.
My DH was a site manager in construction until 2020 when he had a major health issue. He now runs his own energy performance assessment business, some of which he can do at home from drawings, the rest involves visits to site.