Working for the rest of your life may not sound appealing, but many centenarians around the world say that doing what they love and not retiring keeps them feeling young and fulfilled.

In a popular book on longevity, “Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life,” the principle of ikigai is mentioned as one of the keys to longevity and welfareIkigai means the happiness you get from always being busy.

One of the rules of ikigai is to stay active and not retire. Many centenarians, especially those living in the blue zones of the world, never do that.

We spoke to several centenarians over the past year and a half about what behaviors and traits have helped them live long and happy lives. Here’s why they say finding meaningful work and not retiring played a major role.

Virginia Oliver, 104

Virginia Oliver, 104, has been catching lobsters since she was eight years old, and she really enjoys it. So much so that the centenarian signed up for this year’s lobster fishing season.

Oliver’s secret to living past 100 boils down to, “You’ve got to keep living, you’ve got to keep working. It’s not easy,” she said in a mini documentary about her life.

When asked by TODAY.com about her future plans for lobster fishing, Oliver said, “I’m not retiring,” adding, “I’m going to do this until I die.”

Deborah Szekely, 102

Deborah Szekely, 102, started her fitness resort and spa in 1940 with her then husband. More than eighty years later, Szekely still works in her business three times a week.

“We have fantastic speakers every night. I speak to the presenters (every) Tuesday, so I know what my guests are talking about,” she told CNBC Make It in May.

“On Wednesday I speak. And on Thursday I meet people I want to get to know, or friends. So I work three days a week: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.”

Every week she goes to her spa, “it makes a difference,” Szekely says.

“When nature says, ‘You have to stop Deborah,’ Deborah will stop. Until then, she will continue,” she added.

Madeline Paldo, 100

Madeline Paldo had recently retired at age 100 when she spoke to Make It in September 2023. Paldo worked from the age of 18 to 99.

Work “kept me busy, and I liked working,” she said. “Retirement, I don’t really like.”

Paldo supported the family business in Chicago, where they produced electric billboards, and was responsible for office work, which brought her into daily contact with customers.

“I enjoyed dealing with the public. I enjoyed dealing with people,” she told CNBC Make It. “And I was the only one in the office doing all the office work for our company, so it was fun. I enjoyed going to work.”

Jayne Brandt, 101

Jayne Burns, who turned 101 the month after her CNBC Make It interview in 2023, still worked four days a week as a part-time fabric cutter at a craft store.

“I love what I do, so I want to keep doing it,” Burns told Make It. “I’ll work as long as I can or as long as they’ll have me.”

She tried to retire several times over the years, but “got fired” within a few months, she said. Working in jobs she enjoyed gave her a daily routine she appreciated and the opportunity to interact with new people.

“Keeping busy takes your mind off your aches and pains,” she said. “It makes it easier to keep going.”

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