50-Plus? Try “Part-time Plus” & Do More of What You Want

If you're a professional 50 years old or better, you may be looking for a new way to work. Here's how to craft a work life that has a retirement vibe.

PART-TIME PLUS is my way of framing the options available when you have a part-time “anchor job” (steady income, some benefits), plus the scheduling flexibility to pursue other passions. Peruse these possibilities:

PLUS New Learning: Arrange a 31-hour workweek and you can take off three hours on three afternoons a week so you can attend a continuing education class.

PLUS Volunteering: Take off four hours every Tuesday and Thursday morning to read stories to elementary schoolchildren or sort canned goods at the food bank.

PLUS Relationship-Building: Work 9 to 4 (a shortened workday of six hours) to miss the morning and afternoon rush hours, with time to talk and relax with your spouse during your healthy breakfast.

PLUS Home Business: Work 24-32 hours a week so you can nurture your budding side business. This was my approach; eventually I was able to build WorkOptions to a point where I could leave my “regular“ job.

PLUS Family: Work 8 to 3 (a shortened workday of six hours) so you can be with your grandkids in the afternoon.

PLUS Caregiving: Extending the family category, you may need a shortened workweek or workday to attend to an elderly parent.

PLUS Fitness: Work a 10 to 5 schedule (shortened workday of six hours) so you can catch the morning exercise class.

PLUS Practical Matters: Take one more day off a week to handle the car tune-up, the overseas travel shots, the bone density scan, the cholesterol screening—well, you get the idea—so that your weekends are free of those mundane appointments.

PLUS a Lot More: Time with your friends and elderly parents; time for hobbies and home repair—there's a long list of reasons to scale back at your current job.

What's Your Path to Part-time?

• Consider your budget, your job responsibilities and your employer's culture as you craft a suitable schedule.

• Complete the steps in the Redesign Your Job to Part Time worksheet. Realize you may have to adjust your desired schedule to better match the responsibilities of your job.

• If you want to scale back but your job is especially demanding or not suitable for part-time hours, consider job sharing as an alternative approach.

• Apply the tactics described in Fridays Off to keep your salary reduction lower than the requested hours reduction.

Start Your Proposal for a Part-time Schedule

Get a head start on your proposal by using the first-page excerpt from the Part-time Proposal Package.