Having Part-Time Jobs Good For the Brain, Experts Say

By Jane Smith | Apr 19, 2016 11:56 AM EDT

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A recent study has found that people over the age of 40 years old who only work part-time jobs have a good brain balance.

Experts believe that a three-day work week is best for individuals who are over the age of 40 years old as it helps provide balance between brain exhaustion and mind stimulation. Going over the three-day work week causes problems, including cognitive deterioration and stress, among others.

A research published in Melbourne Institute's working paper series revealed that those who worked only 25 hours a week have the best brain test scores while those who work more than 40 hours or up to 55 hours a week have the low scores. The latter is equal to brain functions of "those who are not working". The study involved 3,000 men and 3500 women who are over 40 years old.

"The evidence showed that over or under working could lead to a decline in the brain's performance," researchers said.


'Many countries are going to raise their retirement ages by delaying the age at which people are eligible to start receiving pension benefits. This means that more people continue to work in the later stages of their life,"
Colin McKenzie, professor of economics at Keio University in Japan, said. "The degree of intellectual stimulation may depend on working hours," he added.

According to DailyMail, work is a double-edged sword as it can either stimulate brain activity or fatigue and stress.


Meanwhile, if you are below the age of 40 or still in school and are looking for sources of income, then you might consider getting a part-time job. Business Insider reports that there are several high-paying jobs available in the market for college students.

Among these jobs include being a writer, which pays up to $55 per hour, or a content editor, which pays up to $40 per hour. Other positions include web designing, social media assisting, and online researching.

"The key to finding a part-time job for a busy college student is to look for high-quality positions with a flexible schedule that are from a trustworthy source, says Brie Reynolds," director of online content at FlexJobs.

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