Just about everybody dreams of the day they can trade the daily grind for the sweet freedom of retirement. However, recent studies suggest we have a better chance of aging well if we stay active and engaged even as we enter our golden years.

And it turns out that maintaining a schedule – just like in our working lives – can help.

"It's not the work, per se, but the structure and purpose that comes with having a job," said Jan Johnston, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension gerontology specialist.

To clarify, staying engaged does not mean watching television all day. Rather, it is about staying socially, physically and mentally connected to the world around us.

Work generally gives us a chance to do that regularly, Johnston said, but once we retire, there are plenty of ways to accomplish the same result outside of the workplace.

"After retiring, there are opportunities to volunteer, mentor and consult," she said. "All of these types of activities help us maintain that all-important connection to others and to the world."

For retirees disinterested in re-entering the workforce or taking on part-time work, or for those unable to work due to a disability, volunteering may be the way to go.

"For example, 4-H is built on the dedication of volunteers," Johnston said. "Older adults can add so much to the lives of young people, and older adults benefit from being able to stay positively engaged in the world around them."

While remaining engaged is an important ingredient in the recipe for aging well, following a healthy lifestyle is important, too.

"There is no escaping the need to balance a healthy diet with physical, mental and social activities in an effort to age well," she said. "Studies show that worn-out phrase – 'use it or lose it' – continues to be the basis of findings that encourage us to find and maintain that balance."