b'Vicki Kahn shows off her artwork, a hobby she began when she retired.The Great ResignationSince the pandemic began, workersexercise and engaging in hobbies,figure out what she hoped to do have left their jobs in recordgames and classes reduces the riskduring retirement. numbers. At the top of the list areof disease and cognitive decline.I immediately joined a Hebrew Baby Boomers. According to TheSocialization, whether in person orbook club with other retired Hebrew New Schools Schwartz Center forover Zoom, and volunteering canKSDS teachers. I started playing Economic Policy Analysis, roughlycultivate wellbeing, says Rice. bridge. I volunteered for Reading two million more people thanIn fact, a recent study found Partners, a tutoring program for expected have retired since thethat when mentally intact people students in Baltimore City, which pandemic began.in their 70s and 80s participated in offered me the opportunity to work Planning for retirement not onlysix activities that required activetogether with children in helping includes thinking ahead about mental engagementreading,them to improve their language skills. ones finances, but also about writing, doing crossword puzzles,I also became a docent at the how to spend the days. Backedplaying board or card games,Jewish Museum of Maryland (JMM), by research, Rozi Rice, volunteerengaging in group discussions guiding guests through exhibits coordinator and program facilitatorand playing musictheseand leading tours of the historic at Jewish Community Services, whoindividuals were half as likely tosynagogues, allowing me to express among other things facilitates Gooddevelop mild cognitive impartmentmy passion for Jewish history. And Company, a program for individualsfive years later. I joined the Jewish Womens Giving over 60, says that keeping oneselfSeveral years ago, Rita Plaut beganFoundation, among other things. physically and mentally healthy isthinking about retiring. As a teacherBut when the pandemic hit, many crucial, potentially prolonging theat Krieger Schechter Day Schoolprograms went virtual, and Zoom chance to live an independent life. (KSDS), she was comfortable planningfatigue soon settled in.Eating well, combined withahead and she used that skill toassociated.org 17'