I’m 72 and have had my own business in the healthcare field for 30 years. I still enjoy my work and have an exit plan, but keep getting sidelined by medical issues (not life threatening but at times painful and inconvenient). I have at least two medical appointments a week, sometimes more, and here I am in an urgent care center on a Saturday with yet another issue. Should I just retire already instead of being this strong person who keeps on pushing?
– Rosemarie R.
You are still the strong person you’ve always been… with more resiliency than most!
And: Life Happens.
You state you have your exit plan in place. Is there an interim phase where you are “on” far less of the time so you can attend to your own health, incorporate more balance/less stress and still do the work that fills you …but now with a far lower personal caseload or being the “Boss”? How about speeding up your exit plan? At the same time giving yourself a new role for this interim phase — whatever length of time and format of “interim” which works to support you and your smooth versus abrupt exit.
Lastly, perhaps you might consider spending more time exploring what “Retirement” looks like in your mind. Is it total and complete? Are there other less demanding, yet equally fulfilling, roles for you to take on?
If your health report is dicey versus only a temporary phase, don’t be a martyr nor a savior of your business. In all instances, please follow the advice of your physicians.
Bottom line: Do whatever it takes to lighten your load, keeps you healing, AND keeps you doing what fills you and makes you move towards more life for the rest of your long life!
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