I wrote a piece a few weeks ago about the importance of being positive in our daily lives.

This is the case especially as we get older because negativity can drag us down and make us miserable.

Unusually, it seems a lot of you agreed with me judging by the positive feedback I received, which was a novel experience for me. Agreement, I mean.

Unfortunately, a scientist has poured some cold water on my recipe for a healthy retirement. He says it’s important for people to keep working as long as possible, and explains that an OECD study raised questions about diminishing brain function for people who retire in their 50s. “You’re losing cognitive function by retiring,” he warned.

That’s me goosed. I retired at 57 so maybe my enthusiasm for life is misguided and my future might not be so bright after all.

Not only am I doomed for retiring early, but I also sleep about six hours a night and another scientist has said if we’re not getting between seven and nine hours of good quality sleep a night, we are increasing the risk of poor health in later life.

Let’s deal with early retirement first. I came across an article in the Irish Examiner and in it, Professor Ian Robertson, a fellow emeritus of psychology at Trinity College Dublin Institute of Neuroscience, said he believes many people become less active as they age because of old-fashioned ideas about ageing.

He did seem to agree with my opinion on the importance of positivity though. He said........

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