Those who do not pursue something productive tend to be depressed, die sooner
With the immense stress and challenges of starting - and running - a small business, entrepreneurs are often ready to cash out and retire before those in other industries.
However, far from giving them more time to enjoy their lives, retiring early can actually be damaging to entrepreneurs' health, the Financial Post reported.
Harvard Medical School psychology faculty member and entrepreneurship coach Steven Berglas wrote in an article for the Post that early retirement - which he dubs "Supernova Burnout" - can actually lead to "chronic trepidation, despondency or depression."
He also cited research from noted depression researcher Martin Seligman which found that men who retired and "lazed about" had shorter lives than those who did something productive after retiring.
"Just as fish have to swim and birds have to fly, entrepreneurs have to build, improve and build again," Berglas wrote. "Without that process, they - quite literally - die inside a little every day."
Fortunately for Canadian small business owners, this may not be something to worry about - a recent report from BMO Financial found that four in 10 entrepreneurs have been forced to delay retirement plans due to the recession, and many are planning to pursue self-employment after exiting their business.
