When to "retire"

catchastar · Apr 2, 2009

When to "retire

This sounds like me 13 months ago - I went on long term disability in February 2008 - I worked as a compliance manager in retirement plans and had a lot of time crunch periods where I was working every day of the week.

You will miss certain aspects of working, but in the end you can turn around that time to take extra care of yourself. If you have spent time in the hospital or out of work for exhaustion, it could be you need a permanent break - and not just a small reduction in the number of hours - because 32 stills sounds like a lot when it really means 40-45. As others have suggested - it sounds like you should have a discussion with your doctor.

When I questioned my doctor, he very bluntly said - for people with your stats the average survival rate is five years - do you really want to be working for those five years? And the answer was no - it had become all I could do to drag myself into work each day - and all I thought about at work was how I wished I could be home taking a nap, or how late I was going to have to stay up to make sure I got all the breathing treatments in. I would spend the entire weekend when possible sleeping.

As an over 40 yr old, my social interaction was pretty limited to office hours - more and more people had families they had to get home to, and I wasn't really comfortable hanging out with the younger crowd after work. Now I am able to keep up with people I was friendly with at work through email and facebook.

As far as intellectual challenges, if you do truly enjoy your work, there are plenty of professional journals, websites, chat boards regarding legislative changes you can access to keep up to date - some of which I'm guessing you probably wish you had the time read through now.

I guess I am trying to get across that "retiring" will be what you make of it - I can now spend weekends seeing friends and family whereas before I was catching up on rest. I really feel a lot less stressed out - and without such an "active" (exhausting) lifestyle, I've actually gained weight which the doctor thinks is great!

I wish you peace at this time in making your decision -

catchastar · Apr 2, 2009

When to "retire

This sounds like me 13 months ago - I went on long term disability in February 2008 - I worked as a compliance manager in retirement plans and had a lot of time crunch periods where I was working every day of the week.

You will miss certain aspects of working, but in the end you can turn around that time to take extra care of yourself. If you have spent time in the hospital or out of work for exhaustion, it could be you need a permanent break - and not just a small reduction in the number of hours - because 32 stills sounds like a lot when it really means 40-45. As others have suggested - it sounds like you should have a discussion with your doctor.

When I questioned my doctor, he very bluntly said - for people with your stats the average survival rate is five years - do you really want to be working for those five years? And the answer was no - it had become all I could do to drag myself into work each day - and all I thought about at work was how I wished I could be home taking a nap, or how late I was going to have to stay up to make sure I got all the breathing treatments in. I would spend the entire weekend when possible sleeping.

As an over 40 yr old, my social interaction was pretty limited to office hours - more and more people had families they had to get home to, and I wasn't really comfortable hanging out with the younger crowd after work. Now I am able to keep up with people I was friendly with at work through email and facebook.

As far as intellectual challenges, if you do truly enjoy your work, there are plenty of professional journals, websites, chat boards regarding legislative changes you can access to keep up to date - some of which I'm guessing you probably wish you had the time read through now.

I guess I am trying to get across that "retiring" will be what you make of it - I can now spend weekends seeing friends and family whereas before I was catching up on rest. I really feel a lot less stressed out - and without such an "active" (exhausting) lifestyle, I've actually gained weight which the doctor thinks is great!

I wish you peace at this time in making your decision -

catchastar · Apr 2, 2009

When to "retire

This sounds like me 13 months ago - I went on long term disability in February 2008 - I worked as a compliance manager in retirement plans and had a lot of time crunch periods where I was working every day of the week.

You will miss certain aspects of working, but in the end you can turn around that time to take extra care of yourself. If you have spent time in the hospital or out of work for exhaustion, it could be you need a permanent break - and not just a small reduction in the number of hours - because 32 stills sounds like a lot when it really means 40-45. As others have suggested - it sounds like you should have a discussion with your doctor.

When I questioned my doctor, he very bluntly said - for people with your stats the average survival rate is five years - do you really want to be working for those five years? And the answer was no - it had become all I could do to drag myself into work each day - and all I thought about at work was how I wished I could be home taking a nap, or how late I was going to have to stay up to make sure I got all the breathing treatments in. I would spend the entire weekend when possible sleeping.

As an over 40 yr old, my social interaction was pretty limited to office hours - more and more people had families they had to get home to, and I wasn't really comfortable hanging out with the younger crowd after work. Now I am able to keep up with people I was friendly with at work through email and facebook.

As far as intellectual challenges, if you do truly enjoy your work, there are plenty of professional journals, websites, chat boards regarding legislative changes you can access to keep up to date - some of which I'm guessing you probably wish you had the time read through now.

I guess I am trying to get across that "retiring" will be what you make of it - I can now spend weekends seeing friends and family whereas before I was catching up on rest. I really feel a lot less stressed out - and without such an "active" (exhausting) lifestyle, I've actually gained weight which the doctor thinks is great!

I wish you peace at this time in making your decision -

catchastar · Apr 2, 2009

When to "retire

This sounds like me 13 months ago - I went on long term disability in February 2008 - I worked as a compliance manager in retirement plans and had a lot of time crunch periods where I was working every day of the week.

You will miss certain aspects of working, but in the end you can turn around that time to take extra care of yourself. If you have spent time in the hospital or out of work for exhaustion, it could be you need a permanent break - and not just a small reduction in the number of hours - because 32 stills sounds like a lot when it really means 40-45. As others have suggested - it sounds like you should have a discussion with your doctor.

When I questioned my doctor, he very bluntly said - for people with your stats the average survival rate is five years - do you really want to be working for those five years? And the answer was no - it had become all I could do to drag myself into work each day - and all I thought about at work was how I wished I could be home taking a nap, or how late I was going to have to stay up to make sure I got all the breathing treatments in. I would spend the entire weekend when possible sleeping.

As an over 40 yr old, my social interaction was pretty limited to office hours - more and more people had families they had to get home to, and I wasn't really comfortable hanging out with the younger crowd after work. Now I am able to keep up with people I was friendly with at work through email and facebook.

As far as intellectual challenges, if you do truly enjoy your work, there are plenty of professional journals, websites, chat boards regarding legislative changes you can access to keep up to date - some of which I'm guessing you probably wish you had the time read through now.

I guess I am trying to get across that "retiring" will be what you make of it - I can now spend weekends seeing friends and family whereas before I was catching up on rest. I really feel a lot less stressed out - and without such an "active" (exhausting) lifestyle, I've actually gained weight which the doctor thinks is great!

I wish you peace at this time in making your decision -

catchastar · Apr 2, 2009

When to "retire

This sounds like me 13 months ago - I went on long term disability in February 2008 - I worked as a compliance manager in retirement plans and had a lot of time crunch periods where I was working every day of the week.
 
 You will miss certain aspects of working, but in the end you can turn around that time to take extra care of yourself. If you have spent time in the hospital or out of work for exhaustion, it could be you need a permanent break - and not just a small reduction in the number of hours - because 32 stills sounds like a lot when it really means 40-45. As others have suggested - it sounds like you should have a discussion with your doctor.
 
 When I questioned my doctor, he very bluntly said - for people with your stats the average survival rate is five years - do you really want to be working for those five years? And the answer was no - it had become all I could do to drag myself into work each day - and all I thought about at work was how I wished I could be home taking a nap, or how late I was going to have to stay up to make sure I got all the breathing treatments in. I would spend the entire weekend when possible sleeping.
 
 As an over 40 yr old, my social interaction was pretty limited to office hours - more and more people had families they had to get home to, and I wasn't really comfortable hanging out with the younger crowd after work. Now I am able to keep up with people I was friendly with at work through email and facebook.
 
 As far as intellectual challenges, if you do truly enjoy your work, there are plenty of professional journals, websites, chat boards regarding legislative changes you can access to keep up to date - some of which I'm guessing you probably wish you had the time read through now.
 
 I guess I am trying to get across that "retiring" will be what you make of it - I can now spend weekends seeing friends and family whereas before I was catching up on rest. I really feel a lot less stressed out - and without such an "active" (exhausting) lifestyle, I've actually gained weight which the doctor thinks is great!
 
 I wish you peace at this time in making your decision -

Skye · Apr 2, 2009

When to "retire

I am sorry...I did not have time to read all the posts so if I repeat I apologize.

I struggled with this decision. I am a speech pathologist and spent many years in school and training. I just had to make a decision to do it. I am married and that helps financially. I had to think outside the box about what I wanted my day to look like. What my dream day would be like. So I just sat down and wrote about a three page narrative of what that would look like for me. Even details about how I would like my house to look and what my hobbies would be.

My days now are full. I have found ways to keep connected in my profession. I have even found a way to do online therapy services for schools and hospitals in rural regions of the US. I volunteer and I stay busy at my choosing and when I need to concentrate on my health.....like ALL day yesterday.....I am free to do that. I had a small unexpected bleed tonight and it was less stressful for me because I know how stress free my day is tomorrow. Don't worry....I called my doc<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Skye · Apr 2, 2009

When to "retire

I am sorry...I did not have time to read all the posts so if I repeat I apologize.

I struggled with this decision. I am a speech pathologist and spent many years in school and training. I just had to make a decision to do it. I am married and that helps financially. I had to think outside the box about what I wanted my day to look like. What my dream day would be like. So I just sat down and wrote about a three page narrative of what that would look like for me. Even details about how I would like my house to look and what my hobbies would be.

My days now are full. I have found ways to keep connected in my profession. I have even found a way to do online therapy services for schools and hospitals in rural regions of the US. I volunteer and I stay busy at my choosing and when I need to concentrate on my health.....like ALL day yesterday.....I am free to do that. I had a small unexpected bleed tonight and it was less stressful for me because I know how stress free my day is tomorrow. Don't worry....I called my doc<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Skye · Apr 2, 2009

When to "retire

I am sorry...I did not have time to read all the posts so if I repeat I apologize.

I struggled with this decision. I am a speech pathologist and spent many years in school and training. I just had to make a decision to do it. I am married and that helps financially. I had to think outside the box about what I wanted my day to look like. What my dream day would be like. So I just sat down and wrote about a three page narrative of what that would look like for me. Even details about how I would like my house to look and what my hobbies would be.

My days now are full. I have found ways to keep connected in my profession. I have even found a way to do online therapy services for schools and hospitals in rural regions of the US. I volunteer and I stay busy at my choosing and when I need to concentrate on my health.....like ALL day yesterday.....I am free to do that. I had a small unexpected bleed tonight and it was less stressful for me because I know how stress free my day is tomorrow. Don't worry....I called my doc<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Skye · Apr 2, 2009

When to "retire

I am sorry...I did not have time to read all the posts so if I repeat I apologize.

I struggled with this decision. I am a speech pathologist and spent many years in school and training. I just had to make a decision to do it. I am married and that helps financially. I had to think outside the box about what I wanted my day to look like. What my dream day would be like. So I just sat down and wrote about a three page narrative of what that would look like for me. Even details about how I would like my house to look and what my hobbies would be.

My days now are full. I have found ways to keep connected in my profession. I have even found a way to do online therapy services for schools and hospitals in rural regions of the US. I volunteer and I stay busy at my choosing and when I need to concentrate on my health.....like ALL day yesterday.....I am free to do that. I had a small unexpected bleed tonight and it was less stressful for me because I know how stress free my day is tomorrow. Don't worry....I called my doc<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Skye · Apr 2, 2009

When to "retire

I am sorry...I did not have time to read all the posts so if I repeat I apologize.
 
 I struggled with this decision. I am a speech pathologist and spent many years in school and training. I just had to make a decision to do it. I am married and that helps financially. I had to think outside the box about what I wanted my day to look like. What my dream day would be like. So I just sat down and wrote about a three page narrative of what that would look like for me. Even details about how I would like my house to look and what my hobbies would be.
 
 My days now are full. I have found ways to keep connected in my profession. I have even found a way to do online therapy services for schools and hospitals in rural regions of the US. I volunteer and I stay busy at my choosing and when I need to concentrate on my health.....like ALL day yesterday.....I am free to do that. I had a small unexpected bleed tonight and it was less stressful for me because I know how stress free my day is tomorrow. Don't worry....I called my doc<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

PinkPigg · Apr 2, 2009

When to "retire

This is helping me SO MUCH. I keep hearing similar stories to mine and it's making the decision so much easier. In fact I basically decided today that I am moving forward on the retirement path. Spoke to my phyisicians offic and have an appt for Monday. I've been with him and his assistant for 28 years. She said he would be totally supportive (as I figured) which will make things easier.

Told my Mom and she came over for crying, deep discussions etc. Everyone I've told today has been so supportive and basically asked why I hadn't made the decision sooner. You know when work is telling you that then you're in the right place <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

Next step is to talk to Julie at DAFCF and Beth Sufian.

Again, thank you all a TON for being such a great virtual community and making one of my most difficult decisions that much easier!!!

Big Hugs,
Steph

PinkPigg · Apr 2, 2009

When to "retire

This is helping me SO MUCH. I keep hearing similar stories to mine and it's making the decision so much easier. In fact I basically decided today that I am moving forward on the retirement path. Spoke to my phyisicians offic and have an appt for Monday. I've been with him and his assistant for 28 years. She said he would be totally supportive (as I figured) which will make things easier.

Told my Mom and she came over for crying, deep discussions etc. Everyone I've told today has been so supportive and basically asked why I hadn't made the decision sooner. You know when work is telling you that then you're in the right place <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

Next step is to talk to Julie at DAFCF and Beth Sufian.

Again, thank you all a TON for being such a great virtual community and making one of my most difficult decisions that much easier!!!

Big Hugs,
Steph

PinkPigg · Apr 2, 2009

When to "retire

This is helping me SO MUCH. I keep hearing similar stories to mine and it's making the decision so much easier. In fact I basically decided today that I am moving forward on the retirement path. Spoke to my phyisicians offic and have an appt for Monday. I've been with him and his assistant for 28 years. She said he would be totally supportive (as I figured) which will make things easier.

Told my Mom and she came over for crying, deep discussions etc. Everyone I've told today has been so supportive and basically asked why I hadn't made the decision sooner. You know when work is telling you that then you're in the right place <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

Next step is to talk to Julie at DAFCF and Beth Sufian.

Again, thank you all a TON for being such a great virtual community and making one of my most difficult decisions that much easier!!!

Big Hugs,
Steph

PinkPigg · Apr 2, 2009

When to "retire

This is helping me SO MUCH. I keep hearing similar stories to mine and it's making the decision so much easier. In fact I basically decided today that I am moving forward on the retirement path. Spoke to my phyisicians offic and have an appt for Monday. I've been with him and his assistant for 28 years. She said he would be totally supportive (as I figured) which will make things easier.

Told my Mom and she came over for crying, deep discussions etc. Everyone I've told today has been so supportive and basically asked why I hadn't made the decision sooner. You know when work is telling you that then you're in the right place <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

Next step is to talk to Julie at DAFCF and Beth Sufian.

Again, thank you all a TON for being such a great virtual community and making one of my most difficult decisions that much easier!!!

Big Hugs,
Steph

PinkPigg · Apr 2, 2009

When to "retire

This is helping me SO MUCH. I keep hearing similar stories to mine and it's making the decision so much easier. In fact I basically decided today that I am moving forward on the retirement path. Spoke to my phyisicians offic and have an appt for Monday. I've been with him and his assistant for 28 years. She said he would be totally supportive (as I figured) which will make things easier.
 
 Told my Mom and she came over for crying, deep discussions etc. Everyone I've told today has been so supportive and basically asked why I hadn't made the decision sooner. You know when work is telling you that then you're in the right place <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">
 
 Next step is to talk to Julie at DAFCF and Beth Sufian.
 
 Again, thank you all a TON for being such a great virtual community and making one of my most difficult decisions that much easier!!!
 
 Big Hugs,
 Steph

Brad · Apr 3, 2009

When to

It took me years to retire,I just Retired July 2008 after about 8 years
of My Doctor Urging me to Slow down and use my energy on my health..

It is a major adjustment. I ended up sick more than I was before, But
I realize now that is because I got Lazy, Not enough exercise.

The Fact is ,Only You can decide when it is Time for You to Retire..
But when You do, Keep a regular exercise program and keep a Social Life
with Friends. I kind of shut my self off and of course that leads to
depression. But You Have to do what is Best for Your over all Health..

Brad · Apr 3, 2009

When to

It took me years to retire,I just Retired July 2008 after about 8 years
of My Doctor Urging me to Slow down and use my energy on my health..

It is a major adjustment. I ended up sick more than I was before, But
I realize now that is because I got Lazy, Not enough exercise.

The Fact is ,Only You can decide when it is Time for You to Retire..
But when You do, Keep a regular exercise program and keep a Social Life
with Friends. I kind of shut my self off and of course that leads to
depression. But You Have to do what is Best for Your over all Health..

Brad · Apr 3, 2009

When to

It took me years to retire,I just Retired July 2008 after about 8 years
of My Doctor Urging me to Slow down and use my energy on my health..

It is a major adjustment. I ended up sick more than I was before, But
I realize now that is because I got Lazy, Not enough exercise.

The Fact is ,Only You can decide when it is Time for You to Retire..
But when You do, Keep a regular exercise program and keep a Social Life
with Friends. I kind of shut my self off and of course that leads to
depression. But You Have to do what is Best for Your over all Health..

Brad · Apr 3, 2009

When to

It took me years to retire,I just Retired July 2008 after about 8 years
of My Doctor Urging me to Slow down and use my energy on my health..

It is a major adjustment. I ended up sick more than I was before, But
I realize now that is because I got Lazy, Not enough exercise.

The Fact is ,Only You can decide when it is Time for You to Retire..
But when You do, Keep a regular exercise program and keep a Social Life
with Friends. I kind of shut my self off and of course that leads to
depression. But You Have to do what is Best for Your over all Health..

Brad · Apr 3, 2009

When to

 It took me years to retire,I just Retired July 2008 after about 8 years
 of My Doctor Urging me to Slow down and use my energy on my health..
 
 It is a major adjustment. I ended up sick more than I was before, But
 I realize now that is because I got Lazy, Not enough exercise.
 
 The Fact is ,Only You can decide when it is Time for You to Retire..
 But when You do, Keep a regular exercise program and keep a Social Life
 with Friends. I kind of shut my self off and of course that leads to
 depression. But You Have to do what is Best for Your over all Health..

When to "retire"

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