Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

3 day weekend - to think this what is needed to have a decent quality of life?

241 replies

Whatifthegrassisblue · 04/03/2023 02:43

Where does the time go? AIBU to think there is not enough time? By the time you catch up on chores, spend time with family, catch up with friends and try and have some time as a family as well ....it just doesn't happen. I was thinking about it ...1 day for chores and "life admin", leaves the other 52 days to split between time as a family, your extended family and friends. Let alone just wanting to have a day and chill and do nothing, or go on a holiday. I feel I am doing life wrong 😕 Does anyone else feel this way or AIBU?

OP posts:
MaverickSnoopy · 04/03/2023 06:14

Could you afford to ask for 4 days a week? I completely agree with you. 2 days is not enough time, especially once you have children. I'm currently not working and find it can be hard to fit everything in. I remember exactly what it was like when i was working full time with 1 child but as soon as I had more I dropped down to part time. We could just about afford it but life was very simple.

Original poster
Whatifthegrassisblue · 04/03/2023 06:18

BobSacamono · 04/03/2023 05:50

I think we’re working more than we are paid for now. I’m sure someone with more economics know how will correct me but switching to a four day working week might be one way to address that if pay increases aren’t going to happen.

At risk of derailing my own thread. I also think work and home has blurred with 9-5 no longer being standard, always being accessible on your phone and also with wfh. You never really "leave the office" depending on what kind of job you do, so maybe that's part of it too. I used to have a hideous commute years ago, which I hated, but the bonus was I had an hour where I literally sat and decompressed and did absolutely nothing. Now I feel I'm always on the go. My mind never has a chance to shut off.

OP posts:
Oceanrudeness · 04/03/2023 06:20

I work 2 long days a week (14hr shift), so it's basically 4 days in 2. Obviously they're tiring when I'm there, but I then get 5 days off a week. Genuinely don't know how people work 5 days in a week, I've done it before when I worked in admin and I was exhausted. I'd come home on Friday night and go straight to bed until Saturday morning!

Tiddler39 · 04/03/2023 06:42

Whatifthegrassisblue · 04/03/2023 02:43

Where does the time go? AIBU to think there is not enough time? By the time you catch up on chores, spend time with family, catch up with friends and try and have some time as a family as well ....it just doesn't happen. I was thinking about it ...1 day for chores and "life admin", leaves the other 52 days to split between time as a family, your extended family and friends. Let alone just wanting to have a day and chill and do nothing, or go on a holiday. I feel I am doing life wrong 😕 Does anyone else feel this way or AIBU?

This is one of the reasons I believe in the 4-day work week and hope we will soon adopt it as a country.

  • more family time
  • more productivity at work (proven)
  • more people spending money in the economy
  • hospitalty industry (one of our biggest industries) would get back on its feet
  • less burnout/better mental health
  • improved health as people would do more sport/exercise
pawz · 04/03/2023 06:43

YANBU!

Trying to explain this to retired PIL is such a chore - it's like they not forget that actually working five full days a week and travelling is bloody knackering, and we won't have time for huge family days out / seeing them every weekend.

My company allows a half day on Friday if you can work all of your hours on the other days, so still a full week but tbh because of business needs it's more like a 3pm finish so barely any extra time! Between life admin, hobbies, friends, family, trying to do stuff as a couple - 2 days isn't enough a week!

Lifeispassingby · 04/03/2023 06:51

Totally agree that a 32 hr week would be great but can everyone afford that? If so why aren’t ppl just doing that now? It wouldn’t affect me as I work 50th a week in childcare which would probably need to continue but I’m interested in how easy it would be to happen?

Original poster
Whatifthegrassisblue · 04/03/2023 06:55

Lifeispassingby · 04/03/2023 06:51

Totally agree that a 32 hr week would be great but can everyone afford that? If so why aren’t ppl just doing that now? It wouldn’t affect me as I work 50th a week in childcare which would probably need to continue but I’m interested in how easy it would be to happen?

For me it's not the money, it's the profession. Ultimately more hours equals more output so I assume that's why companies aren't all for it. I haven't worked in many places where they want you to do less than 40 hours, altho8fg they've been ok with compressed days and flexible working. Interesting too as it probably depends on people's life stages. I've always had salaried jobs as an adult and I always thought it would be great to be on a roster. Although I can also imagine when younger I'd probably want to work more to earn more money, although there's nothing wrong with that too of course. Perhaps as more people want different things, this will become more common.

OP posts:
montysma1 · 04/03/2023 06:56

I do 28 hours over 4 days.

The "offered" me to choice to do 5 shorter days. No chance, I wudnt give up my Friday off for anything.

I could honestly do my job in 3 days a week and am thinking godly of a 3 day week.
But I don't want 3day week wages!

Motheranddaughter · 04/03/2023 06:56

I love my job so am happy to work 5 days
DC are grown up though,I worked 3 days until they went to High school

I have a cleaner 2 days a week and send out my ironing

rookiemere · 04/03/2023 07:01

I work 4 days a week, never increased back to full time when DS got older ( he is now 16).

I have elderly DPs who live an hour away and I am an only DC. Also live in Scotland where higher tax rate kicks in at a lower amount and is a higher percentage, so I don't even lose that much by doing it.

I believe it's the way to go for sure. I can just about see me limping along to 60 when my work pensions kick in.

I used to enjoy my work, but they changed the structure of the organisation which has impacted a lot on that. I don't hate it, but I enjoy my non working time a lot more.

Original poster
Whatifthegrassisblue · 04/03/2023 07:08

montysma1 · 04/03/2023 06:56

I do 28 hours over 4 days.

The "offered" me to choice to do 5 shorter days. No chance, I wudnt give up my Friday off for anything.

I could honestly do my job in 3 days a week and am thinking godly of a 3 day week.
But I don't want 3day week wages!

That's an interesting point! It would be great to be paid on 'output'. I feel maybe it's the unproductive people who ruin it for the rest of us. I still remember in my very first job, having replaced someone, I had finished all the work by 10am. I always wondered what that person did all day 😅 and I spent alot of time chatting too, so it's not as though I wasn't also enjoying myself. Somehow she made a 10 hour job a 40 hour one!

OP posts:
Original poster
Whatifthegrassisblue · 04/03/2023 07:11

Motheranddaughter · 04/03/2023 06:56

I love my job so am happy to work 5 days
DC are grown up though,I worked 3 days until they went to High school

I have a cleaner 2 days a week and send out my ironing

Do you have much "life admin"? I find it's not cleaning (I have a cleaner), it's doing (necessary) online shopping, thank you cards, researching childcare, meal planning, booking appointments etc that sort of thing. Well that's this weekend anyway.

OP posts:
susiesuelou · 04/03/2023 07:12

Absolutely. This is why I don't work Mondays 😂

Setyoufree · 04/03/2023 07:14

Oblomov23 · 04/03/2023 05:11

I still can't believe the 4 day week hasn't taken off, or isn't being 'demanded' / requested by more people. Big companies like google and Microsoft have trialed it successfully. Covid changed things. It made people more self aware, more realising they had to look after themselves, more working from home and realising this was possible. So alongside that I'm surprised that the request or interest in the 4 day week hasn't grown as much as I thought it would, specifically because of covid events.

Because people can't afford to cut their pay 20% perhaps! Compressed hours don't work if you're on a longer standard week either.

susiesuelou · 04/03/2023 07:14

Threee · 04/03/2023 05:44

working a 4 day week has been a revelation. I do an hour of housework, an hours food shop and then what ever I fancy doing. I have quite a stressful job and so I need to decompress

Same (about the stressful job and need to decompress). Except I look after my toddler on a Mondays so it's not exactly chill time as such but it's nice to have that extra day with her definitely.

Sugarfree23 · 04/03/2023 07:15

DisneyPrincesss · 04/03/2023 05:17

If you look at recent trials of 32 hour weeks in the uk, they pay for themselves. Productivity is the same or better. Turns out we work more efficiently when we are well rested.

Show quote history

How can a factory or construction site be as productive over 32 hours as they are over 40?

Twinedpeaks · 04/03/2023 07:16

I don't think this is a weekend issue, it's a kid issue!!

I've got a whole free weekend stretching in front of me to fill how I like. Don't need the extra day at all.

Mind you, it's also a liking your job issue!

Motheranddaughter · 04/03/2023 07:17

I think because my DC are adults my life admin does not take much time
And my DH and I share all tasks

gabsdot45 · 04/03/2023 07:19

I work 4 days per week but I take Wednesday off. I love it. I do all my housework on Wednesday and visit my parents and I also try to schedule appointments on Wednesday too. Also I'm able to rest a bit mid week so I'm not as tired at the weekend

illiterato · 04/03/2023 07:21

Sugarfree23 · 04/03/2023 07:15

How can a factory or construction site be as productive over 32 hours as they are over 40?

Show quote history

The wouldn’t be and this is the problem. The 4 day week concept only really works/ applies well to office based type jobs vs “real time” jobs like trades, manufacturing, or things like teaching and nursing. Imagine the uproar of teachers say “yeah, we’re doing a 4 day week now so on a Friday you need to home school your kids”.

Augend23 · 04/03/2023 07:22

I start a 34 hour four day week next week and I'm really excited. I think it will make a massive difference to my life in terms of tiredness and keeping on top of things. Fingers crossed!

QuizzlyBears · 04/03/2023 07:27

I work a 4 day week, I have Mondays off. It’s genuinely the best thing I could have done!

Dinnertimedrama · 04/03/2023 07:30

JudesBiggestFan · 04/03/2023 04:29

Find a job you like and you'll never work a day in your life. I genuinely enjoy the structure, challenge and social life that work brings me. I worked four days until the youngest of my three children started school but am now happily full time and appreciating the extra money. I can understand if you dislike your job though it's a different kettle of fish.

Even if you love your job and its amazing, you still need to eat, go to the supermarket, clean, rest, do some other hobbies, spend time with family and go somewhere different etc.

It's a very sad existence just living to work. Like their monetised output is the only value human beings have. Would we have all of the wonderful books and paintings in the world if people just worked with nothing else?

Shirty48 · 04/03/2023 07:32

I work a 9 day fortnight - so work an extra 45 minutes a day to earn my one day off. It has been revolutionary, although every other week where I work 5 days feels so long. I work in the public sector so can’t imagine them implementing a 4-day week in the 20 years or so that I have left at work.

Original poster
Whatifthegrassisblue · 04/03/2023 07:35

illiterato · 04/03/2023 07:21

The wouldn’t be and this is the problem. The 4 day week concept only really works/ applies well to office based type jobs vs “real time” jobs like trades, manufacturing, or things like teaching and nursing. Imagine the uproar of teachers say “yeah, we’re doing a 4 day week now so on a Friday you need to home school your kids”.

Show quote history

It doesn't really work in many office jobs either though, because it will ultimately be less productive which I guess is the real issue. You'll still have less output, even if it's IP.

OP posts: