Which of these hours would you rather work?

[CrispyCrunchleaves]

I’ve been given the opportunity to choose my working hours. I’m struggling to choose what to go for.
The options are: 6am to 2pm or 8am to 4pm
I have childcare planned for both.
The early one is tempting but do I really want to get up that early? I’ll possibly be tired for the rest of the day. It does mean I get a small window before school pick up.
The later one seems more ‘normal’ but will mean I spend the best part of the day in work, will have to battle with traffic. Also the moment I get home the evening chores will start.

please let me know what you would prefer to help me decide.

I used to do 7-3 and the early mornings killed me (and I’m a morning person)

Id definitely do the 8-4

What will your mornings and evenings look like?

For the 6am start what time will you be up? What time do you go to bed usually now? I go to bed about 11pm so losing 2 hours means I'd be in bed before my pre-teen!!

Personally I'd go for the 8-4. It would suit me better.

Would you actually be doing chores in the morning before work if you did the 8-4?

I could see myself just taking longer to get ready/ faffing in the morning, not actually doing anything productive.

From pratical experience... 6-2.

We had this pattern for two years.
DH left at 5.30, was home at 2.30. School was also early (not UK)... 7.30-1pm. The afternoon free time was brilliant.
We were in bed by 10pm, but it didnt feel early. We werent tired in the afternoon... it was just normal.

It would depend on how far away my work was. If I was close enough that I could get up at 5am or 5.15am and still be at work for 6am then I would do it in a heartbeat.

I work 8am - 4pm and you do miss both school runs then.

I’m a morning person but I’d pick 8-4. I did a 6-2 shift for a week once and the novelty soon wore off! Try getting up for a week in time to be at work for 6 and see how you find it. For me it’s things like the buses not being as frequent that early, can’t go to the gym before work, getting up in the dark for longer…..

6 to 2, because it will soon be winter and at least you will have a couple of hours' daylight free every day. My father used to work 5 to 4 with a 45 minute commute and he complained that in winter, he never saw the sun.

Definitely 6-2 but if you have an hours commute possibly not.

How old are you? I used to be a morning person. Would have coped with 6-2 very easily. Perimenopause has changed that. After being asleep my joints are very stiff and it take me longer to get moving in the morning. I find making my 7 am spin class a challenge! I’d pick 8-4 but would still struggle with starting at 8.

thank goodness I WFH. I can get up late and still start at 9!

What time do your kids go to bed? I get up at 6 every day and often would like to be in bed by 9. But the kids are still awake. So it's usually well after 10 when I get to bed and I'm tired. I'm not looking forward to the dark mornings coming back round.

Definitely 8-4 for me. I’m a night owl, not a morning person, and wouldn’t want to have to go to bed early and get up at 4.30 every morning. I like to get up and enjoy a cup of tea before getting ready for work, so getting up at 5am and then rushing around every morning sounds awful to me.

I think age plays a part, too.
For years I was a morning person, no problem being in the classroom 7.30am.
Now I'm nearly 60, I couldn't do it. I still wake at 6am, but I don't have to move ! ( til much, much later).

I’d prefer 6-2 but then I’m up at 5 on work days anyway so used to it. 8-4 means you’d need wraparound care before and after school whereas 6-2 is just before so saves you cash.

Meant to add, @CrispyCrunchleaves has children so younger than me - I'd go for 6am start.

What time would you have to leave to do the 6am shift? And does the 6am one involve the kids leaving the house for their childcare?

I did both and I had to was up at 4:45am for the 6am shift. Never again. I am not a morning person. You still have same amount of awake time in the day because you cut evening short to get sleep. It just really depends if you want that time more in the afternoon or evening.

What time will you need to get up to be at work for 6? I get up at 5:30 to go for the 6am gym class so for me it would be the 6-2 shift .

I would do 6-2 but make sure to have a nap after work to get me through the evening.

6-2 - absolutely no question about it.

The early one so long as you get to bed at a reasonable time.

6-2 and then I’d find a nice cafe or something to chill at before pick up and have a bit of time to myself.

The early one. Psychologically you will feel like you work far fewer hours and have more control over your time.

I couldn’t get up that early, it would trigger a migraine for me. I can see the advantages of 6-2, just depends how much sleep you need. Finishing at 4 is still early so yuh have enough time to get int the evening routine without rushing.

I'd choose 8am starts. Well it's what I do on my wfh days anyway. I eat before work or travelling anywhere and could not manage say 530am breakfast and no lunch before noon.

8-4 it’s far more civilised
I wouldn’t want to lose so much evening time that would inevitably occur having to get to bed early enough to sustain early morning starts.
Early mornings seem great in the summer but winter …