Should retirement come with a health warning? Yes and no. One in four people suffer depression following one of the biggest changes in their lives, studies show. Retired folk also tend to suffer more health problems compared with those who continue some form of work. Marriage problems, where cracks papered over by being apart during work hours, can emerge when couples are together 24/7.

But when researchers examined the underlying causes they found that it wasn’t retirement per se but rather the lack of preparedness for this major transition which is among the top causes of stress up there with divorce, death and moving house.  While change is inevitable, it seems that without preparation new retirees may struggle to find their way in this unfamiliar territory.

While there is plenty of investment advice available, having a financial plan is only part of the picture.  Retirement has changed radically from its ‘over the hill ‘image and now stretches for nearly as long as a main career. Having a road map to guide you to what you really want from this exciting new stage of life with advice on its challenges can really help. More than that preparation can also encourage positive health, good relationships and a fulfilling way of life. Yet precious few employers – while they may organize financial advice for their people pre-retirement– are prepared to offer the equally essential life planning. And given the way retirement is so often represented as one long carefree walk along a sunlit beach few retirees consider a pre-retirement course.

Handled well, this can be the best of times.  It helps to understand the underlying impact of retirement, it is not just a one off event, like bereavement adjustment involves a series of stages.  After anticipation and the honeymoon phase many retirees hit the doldrums, missing social contact and the stimulation provided by work.  Unless they are able to find a new focus this can be the start of the boredom,  decline and health problems.

As Professor of Psychology at Trinity College Dublin Ian Robertson explains in his book ‘Mind Sculpture’

“How does your brain respond when you take your pension and retire from a demanding, mentally stimulating job? One study has found that while people in routine boring jobs can benefit mentally from being released from the grind of daily work people in highly complex and mentally demanding jobs may decline cognitively.”

Given what is known, thanks to neuroscience, this mental decline should not be inevitable for the brain retains its plasticity into old age. “With retirement then you can – no must - if you want to keep the dendritic trees blooming in your brain –substitute new types of mental activity for the old,” writes Robertson.

Professor Richard Oxtoby, Professor emeritus of Psychology at UCT puts it even more bluntly,” There is research to the effect that remaining mentally active prevents decline and delays the onset of the symptoms of ageing . Many of the characteristics that we see in old people are not as a result of ageing,  but of individuals  having relinquished their vibrant hold on life.”

Actually we need a new word to replace that outdated word retirement with all its connotations of withdrawal. And we have one Rewirement:  readapting your circuitry to be and do what you really want a concept far more in tune with an exciting stage lasting two or three decades .