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.

How long is your travel time?

My cousin works 6-2, she loves it. I’d go for that, and I’m not a morning person.

What time would you have to get up, if you did the 6am-2pm?

I agree with the poster who said it feels manageable if you can set your alarm for 5 am or later. If it means setting an alarm for 4-something-am...not sure I'd get on well with that, physically or psychologically.

Im.a morning perdon, but 6 am starting would mean I would need to get up at 4.30- it wears u out. I don't have evening chores to do

This sounds nice.

I think it depends on a few things.
How old are your children? Are they able to get themselves sorted in the mornings, or
will your partner be there to help them/make breakfast etc.
How far away is your workplace? A ten minute walk or a lengthy commute?

6-2!!!! I work 6-2, DH works 10-6 and it works so well for us. Our school has really good after school clubs though so they do one each day (football/gymnastics/dance/dodgeball/swimming/karate/cricket) which means I don't pick up until 4.10pm which gives me enough time to commute before the school traffic and cook dinner/go for a run/do a bit of housework before pick up.

I am asleep by 10pm, wake up at 4.45am (5.30 at weekends). I'm not particularly tired in the evenings.

FWIW... I just typed all of this and I'm actually on mat leave at the moment so not currently doing this and may be looking back with rose tinted glasses! I do still wake up at 5am though (not that baby DD gives me much choice).

I would need to get up 4:45 for the 6am start. Dc wouldn’t need to get up any earlier than they need to as dh will take them to school. Another relative/ friends can pick up so being home after 4 isn’t an issue and neither option will cost me extra in childcare.
I’m swaying towards the 6-2 but the thought of going to bed by 9 is seeming a bit unrealistic. I know I will be up past 10 and then stressing that I have to be up in a few hours. That and not knowing how my body will cope working so early.

At least with the 8 start I can go to bed at a usual time. It does mean I won’t get any free time though.

I would definitely do 8-4. Getting up before 6 is no fun, particularly in winter. 8-4 keeps you on a similar routine to the rest of the family

id pick the later one. I couldn't cope being up before 5 and depending on your commute you aren't gonna get that much time between finishing at 2 and picking the kids up just over an hour later. then it'll be straight into kids and normal routine and you'll be in bed 5 minutes after them lol. l

8 - 4 for me.
I'd still miss rush hour commute and not getting up super early ( for me) or going to bed too early.

My alarm is at 4:20, and has been since last October. Was killer at first but its amazing what you can get used to.
It does help that I can have a cup of tea when I get to work, then breakfast break a couple hours later.

6am to 2pm. You soon get into the routine and then you basically feel like you have every afternoon off! I used to adore my 7-3 shifts. No traffic, time to myself, early to bed, up with the dawn mist.

Getting up at 4:45am is just depressing, especially in the winter. Would you not feel like you'd have to creep around getting ready so as not to wake up your husband?

I would be so knackered by that early start that I'd not make any constructive use of the small window after work, and I'd rather have the time in the evening and go to bed at a normal adult hour.

Although if you have to be up at 4.45 them that changes it. Do the 8-4 or you’re basically doing night shifts with the 6am timing

Have you asked if you have to stick with 1 option forever? Can you trail 6 to 2 but change if you hate it? Can you alternate weeks?

I'd do 8-4 I think needing to be in bed by 9pm would annoy me.

I have done 6am-2pm shifts before, but I was 22 and a temp in an office while backpacking so I wasn't too worried about 'correct' sleep etc and I had no DC. I also only rolled out of bed at about 5.45am!

I don't function well when my day starts with a 5, let alone a 4, so I would go for 8.

I don't think a 2pm finish will give you quality time to yourself before the school run. You'll just end up with a commute and a bit of dead time. With a 4pm finish you would have the option of using after school club and having time to yourself up until 6pm. (Ofc you could use it anyway with a 2pm finish but that is much harder to explain to DC! And may feel like money wasted.)

I think 6-2 would be brutal in the winter. What time would you actually have to get up? I would end up with no evening really as I’d be knackered and stressed about getting to bed early enough.

Sorry just saw you said 4:45am. That would end me!

This is it. It depends on how you operate OP. For me I think 6-2 would end up feeling that I was living my whole life round work, but for someone who is better in the mornings it might be the complete opposite.

I work 8-4 twice a week and I honestly find that tough enough so there's no way I would do 6-2 / similar unless I was utterly desperate. However I do have a toddler who is a terrible sleeper and also often doesn't go to bed til about 9 so it would be easier if they slept through the night and went to bed at a normal time. I get the bus to and from work and find getting in every quick - I get the bus about 7.15, get to work very early and have my breakfast there. Getting home at 4 is a palaver and takes ages though due to the traffic.

8-4 is more realistic I think with a family and the cold winter wet mornings!! Summer makes it feel more doable. That’s for me anyway. I work 9-5 so no free time in the day but that’s ok - it is what it is.

I start at 6am. I wont lie, it is tricky BUT being there for the kids every day is great. Not sure on your role but I can get a few hours of work done before the crazy emails, calls, colleague questions start. I feel I have more of an evenjng even though I go to bed at 9pm.