How on earth do people work into their 60's and beyond.

[BG2015]

DP and I were talking earlier (he's now asleep at 7.15pm) and saying how do people work into their 60's and 70's.

My DP is 59, he works in demolition which can be quite an active job. He's out of the house at 6am as they travel all over the country and he often isn't back until 6pm.

I'm a teacher recently dropped to 4 days after ongoing health issues after having breast cancer in 2021. Im 55, 56 in February.

We're both knackered. Neither of us sleep very well at all. We eat healthily and used to go to the gym 2/3 times a week but now only manage walking as our form of exercise.

I'm desperate to change jobs, planing to retire at 58 and get a part time job in an office. I think once I retire DP will reduce his hours and slowly retire.

But how do people have the energy to keep working. A teaching assistant at my school has just retired at 71 and I really don't know how she's kept going.

I intend to work for as long as possible, I am mid-40s now and rebuilding my career. I love working and I also like keeping my mind active, to also help with dementia risk. My job challenges me. I'd probably reduce hours once I got older but I've seen too many people completely decline into retirement mentally, socially and physically. I don't think working is all that bad.

Sadly I think that by raising the pension age to 70 Government hope that people will either sort a private pension to kick in earlier if they want to retire earlier , or die in service so can be crossed off the list of payees.

4 of my colleagues have sadly died in the last 5 years before they reached retirement age (cancer) so it feels particularly raw and unfair.

Admin jobs are few and far between now.

I wouldn’t bank on that unfortunately. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the current government means tests the state pension.

I've got an interview for an online teaching role (not tutoring) and if I get it I'll be working from home. 18 hours a week and along with my pension I'll be on more than I'm on now.

No preparation or planning and once I close my laptop I can forget about it.

I have the option to earn more (or less) if I want to. Only downside is it may be a bit repetitive- but what job isn't.

I think your state pension age is 67 not 68.

I don't think the current government will be the current government for very long.

That's not true. I just left one and got another job offer yesterday, 3 weeks later. There were were 4 or 5 added per day within 10 miles of my small market town.

Good luck with your interview.

I'm 75 soon and I work 6 days a week as a counsellor with my own practice. I love the work and would hate to stop. It's stimulating work - I never find it boring. I meet new people all the time which also keeps it interesting. I suppose you could say that my job is also my hobby. I realise I'm lucky in this - I appreciate having a physical job might be difficult at this age though.
I hope I can work at least until I'm 80!

I’m 52 and work 3 12.5 hour shifts a week in the nhs in a clinical role on busy wards…I am knackered!!! Day shifts are much more tiring than night shifts I find.
i can’t afford to reduce my hours…but can’t see me continuing these hours for another 15 odd years either.

I'm 62 and working full time. At retirement age, I'm hoping to work part time for the additional money but also to keep my brain active (my job is continuously changing.) I also enjoy the social benefits of interacting with my colleagues.

Some days I come home feeling tired but that's usually when I'm due to take annual leave. I also walk for exercise and do light strengthening exercises, both of which increase my energy levels.
My daily diet includes 2 smoothies (one fruit, one veg) and 2 sources of high protein (one a voghurt) and I rarely eat anything which is high in unsaturated fat. Also, I rarely eat bread and drink lots of water.

Perhaps you could speak to your GP about not sleeping well as a good night's sleep makes such a difference.

I’m sixty five and still work g full time in project management in technology.media & entertainment. More challenging and interesting than anything g else I’ve ever found to do.

At some point they will get rid of my to make a budget balance. Meanwhile, I’m glad to be continuing

My husband is 68 and still working because he loves his job and is scared he will get bored at home all day.
He will have to stop at 70 as he can’t legally do the job when he hits that age. (Coach driver).

I can’t wait to retire and would do it now if I could, I’m 56.

We are not in UK and retirement age is 65 here.

I'm going to drop a day a week nexy year, not because I'm knackered but because I've got other stuff i want to do.

But if you sre that knackered get a blood test, I'm 56 and go to the gym 3 times a week, garden, dog walk, walk go out etc etc....

I work with a lot of people in their 60s. One man is 82. I work at Amazon so it’s doable.

I think that about sums it up.

My parents both worked until retirement age. They had to. Couldn't afford not to.

They now both volunteer. They both do three full days per week by choice for no income.

They are showing no signs of slowing down and tbh I think if they did they'd decline pretty quickly. Both now mid 70s.

I'm hoping if I go part time at 60 that I will do better - I'm 56 amd find full time a real grind these days, even though I do love my job. Trouble is I'm not sure I would do that well with retirement - can imagine going a bit bonkers and not coping.

we have interviewed teachers for admin roles and found them wanting, let alone bossy

that sounds perfect
but surely you will have to prep and plan in some way?

@EleanorReally no nothing to prep.
downside is no holiday pay, sickness pay as you’re classed as self employed/contractor. So if you don’t work you don’t get paid. Probably very repetitive as you’re delivering the same thing each time.

Positives it’s very flexible so can do 4 sessions a day or 1 session. You just have to do 2 a week. Can go on holiday when I want.

I'm 64 with a day job in retail and a WFH job as an author. I'm giving up the day job in November when I turn 65 because standing for an whole shift and lifting boxes up onto high shelves is getting a bit much. I run five days a week, spin class for 4.5 hours a week and do Pilates and it's keeping me fit, but my brain is just tired of it all even though my body can do it. I end a shift and just need to sleep for nine hours, which means my social life and other outings have to go hang. But I will keep up writing the books because that will pay me until I can draw my pension and also I can do it sitting down in my bed, so fairly low effort!

How long you work for is dependent on so many things - the job, your level of fitness, your ability to take shit and whether you've got something to move on to when you stop working.

Exhausting for your DH. Some jobs are easier.

I’m mid fifties and still working full time and feel great.
Better than I’ve ever felt. I intend to work as long as I can. No intentions of retiring but am prepping for it for when I eventually do.
I have a stressful job but am lucky can wfh 3/4 times a week.
When I finish work I make sure I do things I enjoy.
Why are you both constantly knackered.
I think it may be the jobs you have. Maybe change if you can.
Di you have ill health.
Are you not making enough time fur selves.
You need to focus on improving your wellbeing.