Don’t work too much — at least in some cases. Many people are working simply because they need to, and if that’s the case, you need to know the Social Security income rules. There’s also a misconception that you lose out on Social Security if you continue working.

“The main factor is actually your age. Once you reach 67, there is no earnings limit. If you’re under 67, aim to keep your earnings below the threshold of $24,480 per year,” says career expert Sam DeMase. If you are under 67 and earn more than $24,480, the Social Security Administration will temporarily withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above the threshold. Depending on your total income, Social Security benefits can be partially taxable. For a single person, Social Security benefits below $25,000 are not taxed, while benefits ranging from $25,000 to $34,000 can be taxed up to 50% and those above $34,000 can be taxed up to 85%.

Reframe your mindset. “By 2030, around 1 in 2 workers in many economies will be aged over 50, yet we still push people toward a full stop just as they reach peak experience,” says Lyndsey Simpson, founder and CEO at 55/Redefine and author of “The Age Rebellion: Supercharging the Second Half of Your Life.“

Simpson says research shows that people who remain purposefully engaged and hold positive views about aging can live up to 7.5 years longer than those who don’t. “Retirement, as it has been sold to us, is a trap in the age of the 100 year life, creating a cliff edge that many people instinctively want to avoid … the future isn’t about working forever in exhausting jobs, but about redesigning work so experienced talent can stay relevant, connected and fulfilled for decades longer,” says Simpson.

Think about jobs that are in demand for older workers. Job hunting with a ton of rejection can be downright demoralizing. But DeMase says there are plenty of jobs people can continue to do later in life.

“Consulting is a great opportunity to leverage your existing area of expertise and earn $100-plus per hour,” DeMase says. “Fractional (part-time) executives are in demand in CFO, CMO and CPO roles for $250-plus per hour. Advisory board members are valued for their strategic expertise that comes from years of work experience and can earn $1,000 to $5,000 per meeting. There is also a demand for silver nannies, childcare providers over 50 who offer life experience and wisdom, which can pay $40 to $60 per hour.”

A 2020 report from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College revealed that 15% of total jobs listed on RetirementJobs.com were for roles in office and administrative support, while 14% were in healthcare support and 11% were sales related. Among Kiplinger’s Best Jobs for Retirees, patient advocates, tour guides, youth sports officials, tutors and ushers rank among the top 10 opportunities to earn extra cash in retirement.

Start looking for something you love doing now. Kimberly Best, a registered nurse and dispute resolution expert at Best Conflict Solutions is turning 66 this year and doesn’t see herself retiring—ever. “With five grown children, four children-in-laws and four grandchildren, I think I may be busier than when I was a single mom. Following a nasty divorce, after the age of 50, I went back to graduate school to get a master’s degree in conflict management. I told myself then, and remain committed to this still, that I wanted to dedicate the rest of my life to helping people find better ways to resolve conflict than eating one another alive or firing each other forever,” Best says.

For that reason, she says she will continue working in dispute resolution, including mediating, coaching, training and providing service for managing conflicts in organizations. “With a background as a critical care nurse, healthcare conflict management holds a special place in my heart. Do I get tired easier? Yes, I do. Is there a lot on my plate? Yes, there is. I call it living fully,” says Best.

Try your hand at a second business. If you raised children, you probably know there is little time to fit in a full-time job – let alone a side gig. But sometimes as we age we have more time. For 63-year-old certified menopause coach and functional aging specialist Sarah Fuhrmann, that time is spent on not one, but two businesses. “I grew up thinking retirement was the reward at the end of a career. As I’ve gotten older, it feels more like an outdated model that assumes that women later in life should be smaller, quieter and largely invisible. That’s not me. I have no interest in disappearing into the background when I still have so much to offer,” Fuhrmann says.

Indeed, she says retirement isn’t in her future plans. “I can’t even imagine it. This stage of life feels less like winding down and more like stepping into some of the most meaningful work I’ve done. I run two businesses, one in fitness and one in menopause coaching, and both are deeply tied to helping people stay strong, capable and engaged as they age,” Fuhrmann says.