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

[Whatifthegrassisblue]

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?

I've read the studies. Productivity in this country is pitiful already, I'd seriously doubt that you'd get any productivity increase whatsoever from a 4 day week. In fact what you'd probably get is inflation that's even more rampant than it is already. Let's face it, if corporates really thought they could get 40% more out of their staff at no extra cost, they would have done it already.

But how does that work in reality?

Construction, healthcare, teaching, bus drivers, train drivers, air traffic controllers - you can't just take a full work&long day away from those industries and expect them to just carry on as normal.

@BashirWithTheGoodBeard and @gingercat02 I'm genuinely glad it works for your families but my experience tells me that the majority of people who work part time can only do so because their partner is working full-time.

It will depend hugely on such a variety of factors. Childcare costs, where in the country you live, if you have any existing debt, student loans, how old you are, what job you'd do if you were full time as against the job you do when you're part time, the family's feelings about extra time v extra money.

There are people who couldn't afford to work full time if they wanted to, who are literally priced out of it, and people who have to work more than full time or the bills don't get priced. When you talk about your experience, that isn't going to be representative of the diversity across the population because pretty much nobody's is. Not much sense in generalising when there's such wildly huge variation in circumstances.

Yes - that's why I said "in my experience" rather than "I know for certain that nobody manages it without support from a partner/the state"

I really like my job. Had dcs in my late 30s. Now in my early 50s, I am running out of energy doing 5 days a week. I manage it by having very little social life outside of dcs. I don't keep up with friends, go on nights out etc. I visit my parents. I only go to family occasions when it would look rude to refuse. I prioritise exercise and rest outside of work. I know I could afford a 4 day if dcs were older and independent. Anyone working part time is certainly not keeping a whole household out of their part time wages unless they are 50s and dcs are 30 and completely independent.

Well, you said your experience tells you what the majority do. That's not quite the same as the majority of people in your experience, which I'd guess from what you've just written is what you were meaning.

If your sole family income was a part time wage you would probably be entitled to some universal credit.

Absolutely! We trap ourselves in the make money to spend money cycle and by the time we retire we’re exhausted and ill. Utter madness.

My partner and I both work part time. We are both on professional roles, and have chosen to live in an area where we can afford housing, which helps.

Actually, as someone in healthcare, it works quite well. If something requires 24/7 cover, then you are already planning rosters. Fewer hours per week just means a different roster pattern.

Yeah I agree. I do think if we downsized or moved to a different area then we wouldn't need as much money. Children certainly change things, if I were single I would probably seriously consider cashing up and moving to a less expensive country, somewhere exotic like Mexico or something. Sigh, one can dream.

Yes – when I was single I freelanced but didn’t hustle as I only needed a small income, small flat, small mortgage. When DP moved in with his giant pile of wires and heaps of stuff the writing was on the wall, then once the first baby arrived we had to move, and we’ve been on the treadmill ever since, exacerbated by WFH: which is both a boon as we’ve been able to leave London, so more house bang for buck, but needing office space in the house to not lose our minds – working from a bedroom doesn’t work for my sleep; working from communal areas doesn’t as DP wanders around. So we’re working at home to earn the money to pay for the home that we work out of, while paying for childcare so we can do the work to pay for the home… Then spending out more to make up for being time-poor: a cleaner, takeaways, ready meals, conveniences. As someone who can live minimally quite happily and doesn’t need to be near anything I daydream frequently about dramatically downsizing and freeing up our money/time to work a couple of days each. Meanwhile DP’s Amazon prime habit…

I found doing 4 days a week taking Wednesdays off worked best for me (before I got too sick to work anyway). I got all the life admin stuff done on the weds while everything was open. I then had the whole weekend just for fun stuff.

Never working more than 2 days in a row really helped with avoiding burnout as a day off was never far away. The other bonus was two days holiday got me 5 free days in a row for short breaks away. I ended up doing a short trip almost every month and still had spare days leftover.

I highly recommend trying it for anyone who has the chance.

@DifferenceEngines I'm not so much talking about roles that require 24/7 cover.

I'm talking about things like dentists and GP practises. In many parts of the country, it's already impossible to find an appointment - dropping to a four day week is only going to make things harder.

Or (moving away from healthcare) roles like construction or building. Dropping a day a week will only make the jobs take longer - it won't increase productivity.

I think dropping to a four day week is a fantastic idea but I also think it's a luxury that most industries can't afford.

We don't though. Most people work about 40 hours a week. There's 168 hours in a week. Even if you take out 8 hours sleep a night, that leaves 112 hours, so most people work about 36% of their waking hours.

I don't disagree it would be nice to work less though!

I work 5 days and was sick of giving up a day of my weekend to life admin and chores. Couldn't go part time so made other changes-do an online food shop, got a cleaner and do all the washing during the week in the evenings. No weekends are pretty much ours. Don't visit family much though as they live far away.

Yup switching the work balance feels better. Obviously it's a financial sacrifice though. I have a Monday off to do all the crappy stuff so I have my weekends free.

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts I'm a train driver. We do a 4 day week although more than 32 hours. Obviously different days off as it's a 24/7 industry and not always 3 days in a row.

Also Sundays are overtime and outside the working week. So if you work a Sunday, it becomes a 7 day week. Which drags.

It is rubbish! I did over 50hrs at work last week. Yesterday I cleaned, shopped, cooked and ferried DD around. This morning I’ve been up since 6.30 stressing about all the work I need to do before work on Monday. I’m permanently exhausted- it is no life.

I'd love a 3 day weekend! 1 day for rest, 1 day for chores, 1 day for fun.

This. It's funny how some people only apply this to their own work, and to hell with everyone else apparently. First everyone wants to work from home, now they want to work four day weeks - what's next, not working at all? Meanwhile, those who work five days, and not from home, just carry on as normal.

I'd love it -can't afford it on current wage though. 20% salary reduction for us ( compressed hours not possible).
I'm actually intrigued by someone's 9 day fortnight - might look into that

I've done a 4 day week with a Friday off since I went back after Mat Leave 5 years ago. I actually feel like i've had a break from work come Sunday evening, especially since she started nursery at 3.

I don't get paid for the Fridays but we got used to it. Id recommend it to anyone if it's doable.

Well said! Honestly some of you don't realise how lucky you are. As for those working a 50 hour week, answering emails during your time off etc., surely that is down to you - no-one is forcing you to stay in these high pressure jobs.