Who wants a four-day work week?
Apparently, lots of people, and there’s a movement afoot to make it more popular. I guess I’ve been ahead of the times for the past few years.
After 15 years at my longest job, my then boss offered me a raise because I did a good job even though the boss was driving me crazy. I was soooo exhausted. I had been working my ass off despite recently being hospitalized with ulcerative colitis – which was taking a serious toll on my physical well-being. So, I told the boss that instead of a raise I would really like to work one less day per week. And he agreed!
I love my four-day work week. Working four days instead of five, means:
♦ There is no “hump” day. Monday and Tuesday go by quickly because they’re the start of the week when I’m fresher. Wednesday, which normally is the middle of a five-day week – is only one day away from the new end of the week, so that on Wednesday, I think “I can get through today and tomorrow, and then I have three days off.” And, of course, Thursday – being the last day of the new work week – is spent energetically finishing up whatever needs to be finished up for the week. Therefore, there are no unproductive days in a four-day work week.
♦ Having that one extra day off per week – in my case Friday – allows me to make all medical and other appointments for Friday, thereby avoiding the need for sick time away from the office. Of course, if I actually get sick – like with flu or a colitis flare-up – I still might need a day off in the middle of the week, but that seldom happens. With the four-day week, even if I’m feeling poorly, I can usually talk myself into getting through because “It’s a short week. I can do this.”
♦ Driving back and forth to the office one less day per week saves on gas, even if I have medical appointments – because those usually are closer to home, and of course, I don’t have medical appointments every week.
♦ Laundry is easier. I only have four days worth of work clothes to wash, and I have three days in which to do that.
♦ I have one extra day for shopping or goofing off, without having to face those weekend crowds. Believe me, that does wonders for one’s mental outlook. There’s just something really cool about flitting around while my co-workers are at the office busily completing their tasks. Even though it’s my normal schedule now, it still feels like playing hooky.
♦ Even the weekends are better. With a five-day work week, the first weekend day is spent trying to catch up and de-stress, and the second day is spent preparing to go back. There’s really not much down time in a two-day weekend. With a four-day work week, assuming the “off” day is either Monday or Friday, the middle day of the resulting three-day weekend is pretty much stress free – so that I feel like I actually had some time off before returning to work the next week.
(Note, however, that all the above apply only for 8-hours days. If you wind up working 10-hour days in order to get a four-day week, you really haven’t gained anything.)
Imagine my chagrin when I took The Job From Hell and had to return to full-time. No wonder I lasted just over a year there – although even had I negotiated a shorter work week, the result would have been the same. That job was simply impossible no matter how many, or how little, hours were put in. The girl that replaced me quit after three months.
It was fortunate that I was able to land my current four-day-a-week job. I love my new job (I say it again!). By the time I get to the point in the week when I’m feeling a little tired, it’s already time to wind up for the weekend. Although I seldom feel that burn-out: there is little to no stress, there are rarely deadlines, and my bosses and co-worker are easy to be around.
The only thing better (if I have to work at all) would be a three-day work week. That will be the next step.
Or better yet – one of those work-at-home jobs (a legitimate one, if there is such a thing), or perhaps self-employment (like writing that best-selling novel). Working on that, too.
For those of you still stuck in the 9-t0-5, five days a week:
TGIF!!
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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook or Twitter pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com
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Images by Cordelia’s Mom
Cordelia's Mom, Still 
The only better deal is getting to do it all at home 😀
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I agree.
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I worked a 35 hour week, but had an early day on Wednesdays, finishing at 2.30. It broke up my week a treat.
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Yes, even a half-day helps. It gives you a little breathing room.
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I always wanted to work four days but never happened. I love being able to do my shopping on Tuesday as I usually have the store to myself. I have to admit I LOVE being retired.
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I would love to be retired (again), but I simply can’t afford it right now. Maybe once I pay off the construction loans, I can think about retiring for good.
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Sounds like a great deal. In these days of automation, where machines do so much of the work humans once did, a four-day work week makes sense. Good for you.
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I learned after my last job that I really can’t do five days any more. I think fairly soon I might drop down to the three days I originally wanted. I accepted four days because my new boss wanted me to learn the job well before dropping my hours further. I think we informally agreed on a year or something like that.
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Four days would be nice. I can’t mdje it happen, but I’m 15 months away from zero days, so…
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Hang in here, Dan. 15 months will go faster than you think.
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I wonder if I could do a four day work week… Workload wise, I mean. I’m not sure how well that’d go. It’d have to be Monday, cause the Fridays are way too busy to be short on people. Hmm. I’d love to have a longer weekend. I get very excited for three days and most Sundays I want another 😉 I’m awfully glad you have one. Rotate my wash for me? 😛
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Some jobs don’t lend themselves well to a four-day work week. You’d need someone who could cover your “off” day. But it’s something to think about.
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A number of businesses here have instituted a 4 day week. In each instance it started as a trial with the proviso that as long that as long as productivity didn’t decrease, it would become permanent. Not one of the businesses has returned to a 5 day week.
Many businesses also run on glide time, whereby you must complete a set number of hours work per week or month, but starting times and finishing times are flexible. Many government department’s use glide time.
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It was actually a news report on one of those New Zealand businesses that prompted my post. Glide time would work for a lot of people, too (here it’s called flex time), but sometimes that requires longer days to make up the required hours.
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I’m very happy for you, CM. The library job features a seven-hour work day. That really surprised me after all these decades of eight hours per. I also chose the half-hour lunch option, and that gets me out plenty early each weekday.
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I think many employers are making an effort to accommodate different schedules. I need my hours lunch, though – sometimes I shut my door and take a short nap.
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That sounds wonderful, CM.
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Huh. I work 7 days a week. I have to take my breaks when I can with the little bit of time I do have. Yet I would not have it any other way! Have a great Sunday, CM! 😁
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Ah, but you love what you’re doing, and you’re not locked into an office 9-5. It’s the stress of being trapped in an undesirable job that does most people in.
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Agreed on all points. However, to give credit where credit is due, I work very hard. Yes I am blessed that I do love what I do but, there are some days I truly wish I had another life. And there are also times that I absolutely am in need of a vacation and am unable to do so. There are pros and cons about all types of jobs. Yes I happen to to be one of the lucky ones to love what I do and for this I am blessed! 😙
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PS My next post that is coming will show whoever reads it just how difficult my job can be at times. I don’t talk a lot about what I do because my blog is actually an escape mechanism for me to step away from me taking care of our special needs cats. However, this post does explain a little bit of the extent of what I go through.
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I’ll be sure to read it, Amy.
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Thank you! If all goes well, I am posting it tomorrow. I am so touched by your support. Many blessings to you! 💝💝💝
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I’d love to see a four-day work week worldwide! We are so very out of balance . . .
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Yes, we are, and most of us are too brainwashed to realize it.
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My husband has had 4 day weeks for the last 17 years, and while he loves having Fridays off… he works for the Federal Government so his days are 10 hours long. No way Uncle Sam is paying you for hours you’re not there. Unless you’re a politician of course…..
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10-hour days can be rough, but it’s probably still better than five 8-hour days. Thanks for coming over to my site!
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The man wakes up at 4:00am every morning anyway…. might as well go to work!
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Five days in a 9-5 office do wear you down. Ugh. But tomorrow? Tomorrow is Friday. Yay.
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Yes! It is! Unfortunately, I have an early doctor appointment so I won’t get to sleep in – but still … so much better than going to work.
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