For many of us, work has a habit of expanding to fill almost every available space in our lives. Emails creep into evenings, weekends become recovery time, and personal appointments are squeezed around meetings and deadlines.
Most of the time, we simply keep going. But a recent health scare can suddenly change the way you look at your time, your energy and your priorities.
It may prompt an important question: does my current working arrangement still work for me?
For some people, a nine-day fortnight or four-day working week may provide the breathing room they need to create a healthier and more sustainable balance between work and life.
A health scare can change your perspective
When something affects your health, even temporarily, it can be a reminder that wellbeing shouldn’t always come second to work.
You may find yourself thinking more seriously about exercise, sleep, medical appointments, stress levels, family time or simply having enough space in the week to slow down.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you want to leave your job or reduce your contribution. In fact, many people value their work enormously. The goal may simply be to find a better way of combining a rewarding career with a healthier lifestyle.
A shorter working week may be one option worth discussing.
What could a nine-day fortnight look like?
A nine-day fortnight generally involves having one day off every two weeks. Depending on the workplace, this could involve slightly longer working days, reduced hours or another flexible arrangement.
A four-day week can also take different forms. Some employees work compressed hours across four longer days, while others negotiate reduced hours and remuneration.
There is no single arrangement that suits everyone.
The important thing is finding an option that works for both you and your employer.
Starting the conversation with your manager
Asking for greater flexibility can feel uncomfortable, particularly if you have always worked traditional hours.
Try approaching the discussion as a practical conversation rather than simply presenting a request.
Explain what you are hoping to achieve and demonstrate that you have considered how the arrangement could work operationally.
You might discuss how responsibilities would be covered, which day would work best, how client or customer needs would be managed and whether the arrangement could initially be trialled for three or six months.
It can also help to focus on outcomes rather than hours.
If your role allows it, demonstrating that deadlines, service standards and productivity can still be maintained may make your proposal easier for a manager to consider.
You don’t have to share everything
If your thinking has been prompted by a recent health issue, remember that you can decide how much personal information you feel comfortable sharing.
You might simply explain that recent circumstances have caused you to reconsider your work-life balance and that you are looking for a more sustainable long-term arrangement.
Alternatively, if you have a strong relationship with your manager, you may feel comfortable explaining more.
The conversation should ultimately focus on what you need going forward and how the proposed arrangement could work.
Think beyond the extra day off
The biggest benefit of a shorter working week may not be the additional day itself. It is what that time allows you to do.
It might mean attending appointments without stress, exercising regularly, spending time with family, preparing healthier meals, pursuing a hobby, volunteering or simply resting.
Most importantly, it can provide something many busy people rarely have: margin.
That space can make it easier to look after yourself before exhaustion, stress or poor habits become bigger problems.
Work should fit into life
Careers are important, but they are only one part of life.
Sometimes a health scare provides the motivation to reassess priorities that may have slowly become unbalanced.
A nine-day fortnight or four-day week won’t suit every role, workplace or financial situation. But if your current routine no longer feels sustainable, it may be worth having the conversation.
You may be surprised by what is possible.
Creating a healthier work-life balance isn’t necessarily about working less or caring less about your career. It can simply be about designing a working life that allows you to remain productive, engaged and healthy for the long term.
If this article has inspired you to think about your unique situation and, more importantly, what you and your family are going through right now, please get in touch with your advice professional.
This information does not consider any person’s objectives, financial situation, or needs. Before making a decision, you should consider whether it is appropriate in light of your particular objectives, financial situation, or needs.
(Feedsy Exclusive)