Has anyone increased from 3 to 4 days a week and been happier?

[momofpickle]

I have been thinking about increasing my hours from 3 days a week to 4 days for almost a year, since I went back to work. Originally my boss said I could come back 3 days a week on the proviso I eventually go to 4 days - but they haven't chased it. I'm lucky there's no explicit pressure from work on me. But I can't stop thinking about what to do!

My son is 22 months old and enjoys childcare (2 days with mum / MIL, 1 day childminder).

I would like the extra money, but I feel like I ought to stay with my son while he is young. But I don't always feel like we have the most interesting /educational days together because I have to do the housework when I'm not at work and sometimes I think he might get more from being at the childminder's with other children!

I work in an advertising agency which is fast paced with lots of different demands and deadlines and can be stressful / demoralising at times. I constantly feel like I need to work outside of hours to catch up and that maybe 4 days would give me the extra time I need. But then again - if I have more time in work, it will probably mean more work comes my way!

Should I just try to carry on making 3 days a week work and get better at leaving work at work?

Could things at work be easier / better if I go back to 4 days? Easier to remember what I'm doing from week to week, more a part of the team, more time at work to do things instead of catching up at home, easier to climb the ladder?

I would really appreciate any advice from anyone who may have been in any kind of similar situation!

Thanks :)

I went from 3 days to 4 last year when dd was 9yo!

Am glad I was able to put it off until she was a bit older, the balance of mum/work was easier when i worked 3 days. That said the money is better at 4 days a week and increasing my hours has meant being able to get a mortgage so def worth it.

I do some online shopping and house work as when I have time/inclination.

I like still having one free day in the week to catch up with friends and other jobs that need doing, occasionally going for a swim or similar as well.

I'm self employed. I did tue-thur for the first year I was back at work but it left me stressed. It took all of Tuesday to catch up then by Thursday I was trying to finish off my week already.
I now do 4 days and am happier and don't check emails on my day off.

I don't regret sticking to three days in ds's second year but four days is better now.
When he goes to school I will aim for 9-3 on five days.

@bikeskirun - glad to hear you love your 4 day weeks! But you say you did 3 day weeks for 7 years which makes me think I need to make the three day weeks work longer!

Interesting to hear that a cleaner can save that much time! I do the shopping online too, think the 4 week meal plan sounds a great idea. However I reckon laundry is a bit more of a faff than that with hanging bits that can't be tumble dried, folding it, putting it away and I do iron certain things... phew I've tired myself out thinking about it! :)

Workwise was definitely better. I felt like every Wednesday I was going on holiday when I worked 3 days. There was always a rush to get things done and hand stuff over. 4 days is much more relaxed in a way.

I didn't have much choice, but if I had had a choice I'd rather have spent more time with my DC and stayed at 3 days, going up to 4 when they were both at school.

I find 4 days better from work side but not as good from home side. My children are both at school so what his slipped is 'me time' and time with them in the holidays. When I had 2 days off I did the equivalent of a day of jobs and a day for me( gym/sewing/ accounts). I'm now less fit, more frazzled and feel like I'm only 1 slip away from forgetting things.
But work is better..

mom I would have upped to 4 days a long time ago if nursery had had room for DD, but another local nursery closed down 2 years ago and put massive pressure on childcare places. It was only by DD going to school that I was free to increase my work hours. When both DC were at nursery 3 days made sense financially, when I did a job share it made sense work wise. Without a job share it was a struggle, with no real financial gain.

Ah, thanks for explaining @bikeskirun. How do you handle school pick up and drop off if you don't mind me asking?

@ mom After school club and flexi time! I tend to take them in the mornings, DH tends to pick them up. We both work in fields distantly related to construction and could easily have 8 am meetings, so this is not set in stone.

Cool thanks everyone. I guess there's only one way to find out!