Why Leaving Work Too Soon Can Harm Body and Soul

Work matters theologically and practically. Tim Keller puts it well: “The book of Genesis leaves us with a striking truth—work was part of paradise… The fact that God put work in paradise is startling to us because we so often think of work as a necessary evil or even punishment.” Work, for Keller, is not simply something to endure — it is woven into the good order of creation. He goes on to say, “Work is as much a basic human need as food, beauty, rest, friendship, prayer, and sexuality; it is not simply medicine but food for our soul.” And while work must not become an idol, Keller warns that “Work is not all there is to life. … If the point of work is to serve and exalt ourselves, then our work inevitably becomes less about the work and more about us.” Finally, Keller gives a vivid image that ties God’s activity to ours: “But in Genesis we see God as a gardener, and in the New Testament we see him as a carpenter. No task is too small a vessel to hold the immense dignity of work given by God.”

Those theological convictions — that God is a worker and humans, made in God’s image, share in meaningful labor — give work intrinsic dignity. That dignity has real-world consequences: when people abruptly stop working in their 50s or early 60s, a growing body of research shows there can be measurable harms to health and longevity unless purposeful alternatives are in place.

What the research says about early retirement and health risks

• Mortality / survival: Several large longitudinal studies and reviews have found an association between early retirement and increased mortality risk in some populations. Early retirement has been linked in some cohorts to higher all-cause mortality compared with people who remain employed longer — though results vary by study and the reason for retirement (voluntary vs. forced) matters. PMC+1

• Cognitive decline: Multiple longitudinal analyses report faster declines in some cognitive domains after retirement (e.g., verbal memory), and studies suggest postponing retirement or maintaining cognitively demanding activities reduces the rate of decline. The Whitehall II cohort and other studies found retirement can accelerate decline in certain cognitive abilities compared with continued work. PMC+1

• Mental health — depression & suicidality: The transition to retirement produces mixed mental-health outcomes. Where retirement is involuntary (job loss, poor health), depression and suicide risk often rise. Where retirement is voluntary and well-planned, depressive symptoms may fall for some. The heterogeneity of results is important — retirement is not uniformly good or bad for mental health. PMC+1

• Cardiovascular and metabolic risk: Systematic reviews and cohort studies show retirement’s effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and risk factors are heterogeneous: some research finds reduced CVD risk after retirement on average, while other work shows increased behavioral risk factors (physical inactivity, weight gain) in subgroups. Timing (early vs. on-time), reasons for leaving work, sex, and socioeconomic status all influence outcomes. PMC+1

• Social isolation & loneliness (serious health consequences): Loss of the workplace’s social structure can increase isolation and loneliness — factors linked to higher risks of stroke, heart disease, and mortality in older adults. Addressing social connection is central to protecting health after leaving work. The Guardian

Important nuance: causation vs correlation

Researchers repeatedly warn that the association between early retirement and worse health can reflect reverse causation: people in worse health often leave the workforce earlier. Conversely, leaving work for positive reasons (choice, adequate finances, purposeful plans) often has neutral or beneficial effects. But even voluntary retirees can experience declines when the loss of daily structure, purpose, cognitive challenge, or social connection is not replaced. See the discussion and differing results across cohorts. PMC+1

Why this matters theologically

If work is part of the created order and a sphere in which humans image God (Keller’s “gardener/carpenter” picture), then work is a primary way people find rhythm, purpose, community, and contribution. Abruptly removing that structure in midlife can remove a major source of “food for the soul” (Keller’s phrase), producing both spiritual and physical consequences. The research above shows those losses can show up as cognitive declines, increased depressive symptoms, and — in some samples — increased mortality risk.

Practical Implications and Recommendations

1. Plan for phased or purposeful retirement — encourage phased retirement, consulting, or part-time engagement instead of an immediate stop. Studies indicate that delaying retirement or staying cognitively engaged can slow cognitive decline. ScienceDirect+1
2. Replace structure with meaningful roles — purposeful volunteering, mentoring, caregiving, or part-time paid roles preserves identity and social ties. Recent work finds volunteering in early retirement reduces depression risk. ScienceDirect
3. Prioritize social connection — maintain workplace friendships and cultivate community groups; chronic loneliness is linked to increased stroke risk and other serious outcomes. The Guardian
4. Keep cognitive and physical routines — encourage lifelong learning, hobbies that challenge the mind, and consistent exercise to offset risks of cognitive and cardiovascular decline. PMC+1
5. Differentiate voluntary vs. involuntary retirement in planning — if early retirement is forced by job loss or health, prioritize mental-health supports and programs to restore purpose and connection (therapy, vocational retraining, social programs). Research shows involuntary retirement has a stronger link to depression. PMC+1

A Transition

If you’re thinking about stepping away from your paid work in your 50s or early 60s, consider a careful plan that replaces daily purpose, social connection, and cognitive challenge. Faith communities and financial plans that treat retirement as a transition (not a full stop) preserve both the soul’s flourishing and the body’s health. As Tim Keller reminds us, work is “food for our soul” — and the scientific literature shows that when we lose the structure and meaning of work without a thoughtful, purpose-filled replacement, our health can pay a real price.