Longer lives could mean 60-year careers 

As life expectancy is expected to increase, the number of working years may too. This has alarmed some experts who argue it is time to reassess the way we work in society to make the extra time less daunting, The Atlantic reported Dec. 14. 

Currently, the average age of retirement is 62, but with half of today's 5-year-olds expected to live to 100, that may soon change. A report from the Stanford (Calif.) Center on Longevity predicts that over the course of these 100-year lives, people can expect to work 60 years or more. 

Researchers of the report argue that these 60 years of work don't have to be daunting as long as we adjust the way we work. Being able to scale up and scale down hours around certain periods of life may help workers meet their commitments outside of work and remain productive. 

They also suggested a smoother path into retirement in which workers can reduce their hours before leaving the workforce entirely. Another suggestion is "returnships," where retirees can help out when needed on projects or mentoring young workers for brief periods of time. 

The researchers envision less linear life paths. They believe that the best way forward would be a flexible working life where work and non-work intertwine throughout people's lives as needed.

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