Experiences of moving to a four-day week for wellbeing

[bumpydumpytrumpy]

I would love to hear people’s experiences about dropping down to 4 days per week (so 30 hours). I don’t have kids but doing so for my overall wellbeing. My day off will be Wednesday (that’s been decided) but I’ve been feeling a lot of guilt/shame that I’ve had to reduce my working hours to prioritize my health and wellbeing when it seems like everyone else is just getting on with it. Bonus points if you can share what you do on your day off to boost your mental health. Thanks!

I went part time due to my health best thing ive ever done. I actually have a bit of a life now rather then just working and sleeping

Working a 4 day week is the best thing I’ve ever done. The cleaner. D the shopping arrive on a Friday while I’m at the gym. That one day makes the rest of everything bearable. And if I’ve had to duck for half a day I can log on on Friday to catch up.

Well it’s silly to feel shame, so put that to bed. What I would check though is if 4 days actually means 4 days. In my experience, employers have unrealistic expectations as to the outputs of a 4 day working week, they often want the same level of work for less pay. So I would think carefully how you will ensure you’re not stressing on those 4 days, that your manager’s expectations are managed etc, it’s one of the reasons I opted for compressed hours instead.

I was 4 days when my children were small. But i had the same workload as full time people who were getting 20% more pay. Infuriating.

I worked 30 hours with a Wednesday off and it was amazing but I was finding I was going in early and finishing late so I asked to up my hours to full time but still have a Weds off so I work four long days. Love having my mid week day off and much prefer it to a Monday or Friday as it splits the week up. Don’t feel ashamed OP enjoy it!

It was brilliant for me. I resisted for a long time because I'm nearly as productive as with 5 days, so I get paid less for nearly the same amount of work. It's so much less stressful though. Friday was always a wash out before and weekends recovery. Now I take Monday off.

I don’t have children either. I’ve reduced down to 3 or 4 days a couple of times in my life, once because I wanted to spend more time on a hobby (which made a small amount of money), and more recently because my employer asked me to because of lack of work, then I chose not to go back to 5 days a week. Don’t be ashamed! I get stressed easily, always have done, and it makes a lot of difference to have an extra day for chores, thinking about stuff, enjoying yourself, relaxing.

So sorry to hear that, it must have felt infuriating. Luckily with my role type, this is unlikely to be an issue. If I notice it, I’ll raise it — thank you!

I have a friend who has Wednesdays off for health reasons too. As far as I know she just treats like a weekend day, and does whatever she needs to do - chilling, going to the gym, meeting her mum for lunch, food shopping etc. So it's not so much what she does on the day that helps her health but the fact that she has a break midweek and never has to work more than two days in a row.

I went down to 4 days for childcare after maternity leave, and all through primary. I’m staying at that even though DD is at secondary now. I use it to get longer chores done, run errands, do xmas/birthday shopping etc, but every so often I have a day where I do something for me. I am on my own since DH died so I don’t get a lot of other time.

Sounds like you’ve absolutely made the correct choice. Enjoy !
Would you recommend a set day per week or as hoc ? As in best for business.

I work 35 hours over four days, with Weds off. I work 8-5:15 with 30 mins lunch

I love the fact I usually work no more than two days in a row. I do have some flexibility if I am required in court, but that flexibility works both ways.

Day off I meet friends for lunch, potter about, read, catch up on stuff. It’s like having an extra weekend day on a Wednesday.

Reducing your hours to protect your wellbeing is a valid choice, and there’s no need to compare your capacity with anyone else’s. A midweek day off could be a great reset for rest, exercise, time outdoors, hobbies, or simply having a slower day without pressure.

Well if you can afford to why on earth wouldn’t you! Excellent plan.

suggestions of things to do - life jobs like cleaning, shopping etc so that the weekend is just for enjoying yourself? Or if you share cleaning etc with a partner at weekend and are looking to make Wednesday a special wellbeing day why not look online for local classes, gym classes. walking groups, volunteering opportunities which interest you to see what options are available on a Wednesday

Slightly different as I work 3.5 days - 3 days one week and 4 days the next. My days off are midweek and I love it! By the time I go back on a Thursday things are winding down then everyone is on a good mood on a Fri as it’s nearly the weekend!
I don’t have any set schedule for my days off. Sometimes I meet my parents or friends for coffee or lunch, bits of DIY, cleaning, decorating, gardening, shopping, life admin, school events. DH has taken the odd days holiday and we’ve had a nice child free day together. I can never understand people who say they couldn’t possibly work part time or retire as they would be bored - I definitely could fill the time!

Dropped to 32.5. Spread the 2.5 across the other 4 days and have Wednesday off. My workload hasn't changed but I have more energy to deal with it. I'm £160 worse off a month but my wellbeing has improved. I have a chronic illness so its ideal for having appointment/rest day. If you can manage it do it!

That is the problem.