Discover how a mini retirement helped me find greater purpose, more family time, and a healthier relationship with work.
Announcing My Mini (Partial) Retirement from Anesthesia
Why Finding Purpose Became So Important
I’ve been working two days a week and taking no call from March through May this year. I’ll dive deeper into the reasons in another newsletter, but I wanted to share how life-altering this experience has been for myself, my family, and my relationship with work.
A few caveats I’ll lay out first. I’ve been a practicing anesthesiologist for a little over twelve years now. My wife is a professor and CRNA. We’d been married over nine years before having children. This runway gave us nice lead time to pay off debt and build wealth.
But I also graduated from my anesthesiology residency at 35 years old, and between my wife and me, we owed over $400K in student loans.
Ok, with that out of the way.
It had been a specific goal of mine to work part-time for over two years. Before that, it took me a good 1-2 years to build up the courage to ask my anesthesia group for part-time work. I thought I was too young; most of the partners who work part-time are in their 60s. I wasn’t totally sure our family could afford it. But this was more mindtrash about not having “enough.”
The Search for Purpose in a Busy Life
In many of this year’s newsletters, I’ve discussed meaning and purpose. When I talk to my colleagues, the almost universal response is, “Who has time to figure out my meaning or purpose?”
I understand. I completely understand that sentiment. But I am here to tell you: figuring out your purpose is one of the most important actions for your wellbeing and living an intentional life.
How Purpose Changed My Relationship With Work
What I discovered while working part-time this spring was a complete transformation in my relationship with work. I take pride in being a physician. I think I’m a pretty damn good anesthesiologist, and I enjoy caring for patients. I have remarkable colleagues in my anesthesia group who make me a better doctor.
And during this time away from work, I found more time for myself. More importantly, and much more necessary, I created more time for my family.
Purpose, Presence, and the End of Constant Rush
Can you remember the last day when you didn’t feel behind from the moment you woke up? Getting ready for clinic or the OR, a full slate of patients and meetings. Then trying to get a few projects done for that really important hospital committee. Stuck in traffic on the drive home. Late for dinner. Missed putting the kids down for bed.
Does any of this feel familiar?
Working part-time has taken almost all that time pressure away. I still get up early — I love the quiet hour before our son wakes up at 6am. But now, there’s no rush through breakfast. I can read books to our son, play trucks with him, and even take a leisurely walk with the dog. There’s little to no pressure to get through this current activity to get started on my next project.
Living With Purpose Instead of Living for the Next Thing
What this taught me is how much I was living for the next thing. My days were about checking off boxes. I would not call myself present at all. It was rush, rush, rush. Even with patients. I wanted to get this case done so I could get the next case finished so I could go home to make dinner to put my son to bed so I could finally… relax.
Just writing this puts me back in that state of being. I can feel my shoulders tensing up and my mind racing. Ugggghh.
But I am here to shout from the mountains: there is another way. Being present is the most powerful gift to yourself, but also to your children and loved ones, your patients, and everyone you encounter each day. But mostly to yourself.
My life used to feel as if the color had been sucked out of it. That somehow, checking off “my list” would allow me to finally figure everything out and then, only then, could I start living.
We only have this moment. The past has come and gone. All the stories and worries about the future? Well, that has never been promised to any of us.
What Purpose Has to Do With Financial Freedom
So What’s the Punchline?
The work we do together here at Greeley Wealth is ultimately about figuring out your purpose. I have the great joy of working alongside you to get the financial issues dialed in. But the really deep work we do? It’s about building a life you are thrilled and excited to explore and live.
Who’s ready?
