I was almost 58 when I decided it was time to retire from a career in education spanning 37 years in urban education. During that time, I was blessed to hold many different positions and learn so much about all levels of Pk-12 school systems.  In 2023, I found myself burned out from the stress and uncertainty that occurs during a state takeover of your district. I knew that I was no longer at the top of my game because I could no longer find the joy in my work that once came so easily. I had been thinking about retirement because I wanted to spend more time with my family and realized that the time had come to take that leap of faith. This was a shock for some people who know me because my mother retired at 73, and my father finally sold his business at 78. I certainly was not following in their footsteps.

The first few months of retirement were great. I thoroughly enjoyed following my own schedule for the first time in my adult life. No deadlines kept me up until midnight or had me working on the weekends. Also, there was no scheduling of medical, dental, or hair appointments around your work schedule. I felt footloose and fancy-free. Also, during this time, my daughter gave birth to her first baby, which made those first few months extra special and made our move to Colorado eminent.

My parents were also moving to Colorado, so we had a great deal we needed to accomplish quickly. The next three months became a whirlwind of packing up two households, garage sales, and auctions to get rid of all the items we had accumulated over decades and did not need. Selling homes and finding new homes also added stress to this time. There was also the sadness of saying goodbye to family and friends. I believe I went to bed exhausted every night for these three months.

We settled into our new home in Colorado, and our new life revolved around our family. It is incredible to have three of our four children within an hour of us and for my parents to be 5 minutes down the road. This is a setup like the one my children and I experienced growing up. I am so excited that I will have the opportunity to attend school events, sporting events, and other celebrations with my Colorado grandchildren. My daughter is expecting another baby, so I will have two grandchildren near me. As much as I loved our new life, I realized there were elements of work that I missed, and it is expensive in Colorado to make updates to your home.

I began to look at the options I had to return to work on a part-time basis in the field of education that did not require me to directly supervise adults. I applied for and received my substitute teacher credentials in Colorado, placed some feelers out in the LinkedIn world, and with personal and professional connections. Before I knew it, I was no longer retired but semi-retired as I returned to the world of education part-time.  I found the perfect job that allows me to work fewer hours and has much less responsibility than the position I had before retirement.

Semi-retirement can be just the ticket, offering the perfect balance between enjoying the freedom of retirement and staying engaged in work that brings joy. Here’s why it worked for me and might be just the thing for you:

1. Gradual Transition

Jumping straight into full retirement can feel like a massive shift in lifestyle and identity. Semi-retirement allows you to ease into retirement by cutting back on your work hours, responsibilities, or both.  By gradually shifting your work hours and/or responsibilities, you can slowly adjust to your new role in life.

• You might cut back on your hours and/or responsibilities at your current place of employment.
• You might stay in the same field but with a different organization. This is the version I selected.
• Striking out on your own as a consultant or freelancer might be just the ticket for you.
• Finally, you might follow your passions and select a completely different job and industry.

This type of transition helps eliminate many negative feelings that can arise several months into full-time retirement.

2. Maintaining Social Connections

Work often provides a built-in social network or family-like connections. Semi-retirement allows you to maintain connections or develop new ones.  I miss the people that I had worked with at my previous job. We were like a dysfunctional family who would do anything for each other and could accomplish any task we were given.  They just happen to be 1200 miles away. Research shows that the older you are, the harder it can be to make new friends, so a new work location is a great place to start.

3. Financial Security

With higher prices across the board and interest rates that continue to remain high, complete retirement can be a scary proposition. Semi-retirement lets you continue earning an income while relying less on your retirement funds, Social Security, or pension payment. It provides you with more financial security and reduces the anxiety caused by less income that often accompanies full retirement. Many people find that total income increases because of their part-time work pay, and their retirement pay is greater than their old full-time compensation.

4. Time for New Adventures

Do you have a wish list or bucket list you have been putting off because you didn’t have the time or funds?

Possible Wish or Bucket List Items:

• Travel
• Visit friends or family
• Learn a new activity, skill, or hobby
• Make more time for yourself
• Complete projects that you did not have time for in the past
• The list is only limited by your imagination.

These are some of the items that are on my list:

• Move to Colorado
• Spending more time with family
• Starting this blog would force me to learn many new skills.
• Travel to states that I have not visited
• Work on my physical health

Some of these things I have achieved, and others are a work in progress. Sadly, I have not visited any new states, and the two trips I have planned are to states I have visited many times.

Semi-retirement offers you the flexibility to do many things on your wish list or bucket list. You can dedicate more time to activities that bring you joy without losing the sense of purpose that comes with work.

5. Mental and Physical Health

Reducing work hours or responsibilities can also have positive effects on mental and physical health. It provides an opportunity to reduce stress and find more time for exercise, relaxation, and sleep—all contributing to a healthier lifestyle. I found that both my mental and physical health have improved since I am semi-retired. Additionally, I love that work helps keep my brain engaged.

For me, semi-retirement offers the perfect blend of freedom and commitment. The ability to control how much time I spend on work and leisure creates a fulfilling lifestyle. My new work-life balance has brought me so much joy and peace.

If you’re approaching retirement, semi-retirement might be the ticket to a happy, balanced future. It allows you to stay connected to what you love, have financial security, and keep your mind engaged while enjoying more free time. Remember: it is never too early to start planning for your retirement!

Best of luck on your retirement journey.