The schedule change that drastically improved my life
Photo by Julia M Cameron
As you may (or may not) know, for all of 2024, I’ve been running an experiment. A big one.
A 4-day workweek experiment.
Why did I call it an experiment?
Because it was.
And because I wasn’t sure if I could make it work.
I run a small business. Yes, I have a small team of (very) part-time contractors, but mostly, it’s me.
I wasn’t sure if I could cut a day off my workweek and still, you know, support my family with this business.
But now it’s the end of the year, the experiment is over, and I’m here to share with you the big reveal:
It worked!
And I’m making the 4 day work week my new normal.
(Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind at any point in the future, but honestly, I can’t see myself going backwards on this one.)
It hasn’t been all roses, that’s for sure.
I spent many years calibrating a 5-day workweek to Task Realism, and I was humbled that it took me almost half the year to recalibrate to a 4-day workweek on a regular basis.
But I did it, and I’ve really enjoyed it.
The tradeoffs, and of course, there are tradeoffs, were worth it to me in the end.
And I want to share with you my reflections on this year, in case you ever find yourself in a position to experiment with a 4-day workweek as well.
What was hard:
Setting the boundary! It was hard to tell my very busy clients that I couldn’t meet with them on Fridays, even if that was the only day available. (And I did make an exception…twice.)
It was so hard to recalibrate my workload!
It was hard to deal with the fact that working 20% less might meaning earning a bit less.
What I loved:
The clarity of having a day every week where I knew I could schedule doctor’s appointments for myself or my kids, and not worry about what I’d need to move around to make it happen. (And there were LOTS of doctors appointments as I have continued treatment to help prevent cancer recurrence, and in October, my son broke both bones in his arm, necessitating surgery. And, you know, all the regular stuff for all of us.)
Having a day to sleep in (where no one else was home)
Having intentional time set aside to have lunch with my husband, friends, and colleagues.
Languid Friday afternoons at the pottery studio
Why this works for me:
I’m kind of an all or nothing person when it comes to my time.
I like having days with back to back meetings, juxtaposed by days with nothing scheduled.
And I am a hard segmenter, so I really like to have days that are all work, and days that are all play. The 4 day workweek allows me to do even more of that.
Monday through Thursday, I’m all in with work…until about 5 or 6pm.
But then, I have 3 days that I get to focus on the rest of my life.
What’s next?
I’m going to keep on keeping on with the 4-day workweek for the foreseeable future.
And, I’m even starting to see a far off goal; one where I flip the balance. I’m starting to think: “What if I could have 3 days a week dedicated to work, and 4 days a week dedicated to the rest of my life??”
It feels radical, indulgent, and I’m not quite ready to do it.
But maybe in a few years? Maybe?