The Soft Retirement Strategy: How One Architect Negotiated a New Pace

The shift came after Bonanno endured a series of medical setbacks between 2022 and 2023, including complex knee surgeries and a prolonged recovery that left her struggling with brain fog. Managing 10 simultaneous projects in a high-pressure IT environment became untenable, yet she lacked the financial security to retire fully. Realizing that a sudden departure would jeopardize her long-term stability, she approached her HR department with a structured proposal designed to maintain business continuity while reducing her hours.

Her strategy hinged on demonstrating her ongoing value as a subject-matter expert with legacy knowledge. The firm agreed to a schedule of 20 hours per week, spanning Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. This arrangement allowed her to retain her essential benefits and half her salary while providing the mental space necessary for recovery. Since implementing the change in January 2025, Bonanno has integrated her professional duties with personal projects, including gardening and woodworking in her new home, and has begun writing a book. She marks her availability in her email signature, noting that colleagues largely respect her boundaries, effectively replacing the anxiety of a full-time corporate grind with a manageable, intentional pace.