22 hours over 3 days or 4?

[nobodygoesdowninthejungle]

I currently work 32.5 hours a week over 4.5 days. I've got a new job and need to do 22 hours a week. Initially, I thought 3 days of 8.30 - 5.00 was the obvious option. However, someone asked if I'd thought of doing 4 shorter days (perhaps 10 - 4) instead and it is sounding increasingly attractive. What isn't an option is to mix the hours with two longer days and two shorter days. They want consistency.
DC are going into Yr 9 & 7 in Sept & both will be at the same school again (yay!). They'll get the bus to &'from school unless their are clubs when they'll need collecting by me but not every day as we'll end up in various lift shares with other people in the village. They are both the sort of kids who come home from school and slump for an hour before they can engage in doing anything so like quite being home alone for a bit. Both DC do a number of sports clubs and they're sessions won't start before about 6pm next year.
Theoretically, DH works 2 days a week from home but he is increasingly doing more days in the office and is starting to travel again. Also, his days can be long so it's easier to work on the basis that he's not around to help with the after school stuff.
The reason for changing jobs is that this new one should be more interesting. Reducing my hours is a bonus but also something which will help me as I desperately need to find some time to exercise and help the family as we just need some slack in the system and for me to have time to actually parent and support the DC rather than be the frazzled, brain drained mess I currently am after work! I also want have a bit of time to catch up with friends. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm not intentionally reducing my hours as there is something particular I want to do with my time off. I confess to being a bit nervous that I might get bored and lonely if I have two whole days off each week.
I realise this is a very nice problem to have and both options will improve my life and that of our family but I'm interested to know what you'd do.

Three days because you will feel the benefit of having a whole extra day free more than the odd hour at beginning or end of day (which will get eaten up and disappear).

I'd do it over 3 days, especially as your kids will be in secondary school. You'll get more benefit from having the additional day off than having additional time at the start and end of the day as @swanling says. I'd do 8.30-4.30 with a half hour lunch and either start at 9 on the first day or finish at 4 on the last day of the week.

I’d do 3 days in your situation.

Would do 4 days with primary school children that needed to be dropped and collected.

8:30-5pm is more efficient if you can be strict with your start and finish times, travel, etc to achieve that. As a PP said you'd actually feel the benefits more of having the two extra days plus the weekend to get stuff done which are necessities as well as personal time for you.

Also I think work colleagues are more likely to "remember" that you work part time, not paid for the two days rather than just "having a day off" if you work four days. Just remember to put your out of office messages on your email signature, telephone etc and ensure you don't access anything work related on your unpaid days.

Also be careful choosing what days work for you to ensure you get your bank holidays properly accounted for. Your HR department can help with that. Good luck! 🌹

I would do the 3 days
Doing a couple of extra hours in those 3 is so worth it to have a whole extra day to yourself!

With secondary kids - 3 days.

Definitely 3 days.

That's unanimous so far! I totally agree with the points about work leaking into the other hours, that I'd just fritter away the other hours and, most importantly I think, that I will seem more part time (and hopefully less contactable when not working) if I do three days.
Time to start making some plans for my days off!

3 days!

I do 22.5 hrs over 3 days. If I started a bit later and finished a hit earlier over 4 days I'd feel that ok working 4 days for the same pay (even though less hrs).

I thought I might change when youngest starts school but no they've too many holidays etc that needs covered and maybe I'll get some stuff done in the house while they r at school!

I used to do 21 hours over 4 days during term time and over 3 days during the school holidays (found it easier to arrange childcare for full days). On the short days weeks I wouldn't have a lunchbreak as I was only doing 5hrs 15 mins per day, so just filled up on breakfast.

I do 22.5 over 4 days. I would prefer over 3 days but it’s impossible as I want to do school pick up each day. We have activities after school each night so can’t do after school club.

I've done both in the past, I loved 4 days which is great for primary school age, but the danger is that you work a little extra on those days, and it soon adds up.

I prefer 3 clear days to focus on work and then its easier for colleagues to remember your part time too.