Pressure Valve Release

I’m finding it hard to show up here again. I swear I think of things I’d like to write about, but by the time I’m home and I have my computer in front of me, I can’t think of a damn thing.

Last week was a little hectic. It was conference week, but I planned a project in the class that I have for three periods and that provided some “down time” that I took advantage of during the days. I didn’t have a ton of conferences, but I had enough to make most of my early afternoons pretty unproductive. I did manage to get in a couple of doctor’s appointments, and now a pre-pre-cancerous (whatever that means) patch on my arm has been frozen off.

The weekend was a welcome respite. Saturday we hosted a lot, and everyone got to socialize, except my husband who really stepped up to help out. Sunday, my parents took the kids so my husband and I could get some down time. We ate at a very expensive restaurant, and spent way more money than I’m comfortable thinking about, but my husband was really happy about it so I’m glad we went. Monday, the kids came home early, we got their homework done (they both randomly had homework which has never happened before on a weekend), and cleaned up around the house. It was really nice.

Having a three day weekend really does make such a difference. It’s like a pressure valve being released. Just that one extra day feels so… expansive. I wonder if transitioning to a four day work week would make my life measurably better in ways that nothing else could. It probably would. But maybe it wouldn’t? I’m sure if I only had one day off a week I would feel like having two days off would make me happy, and yet hear I am wishing I had three. But I do think I would be a lot happier if I worked four days a week instead of five.

The inflexibility of my job can be… challenging. I will NEVER be able to work four days a week. Not unless public education changes in ways it hasn’t in a hundred years. I do wish my job afforded me more flexibility. I guess I’ll just have to be happy with June, July and August.

Did you have a three day weekend? Could you work four days a week if you wanted to?

3 Comments

  1. It was fall break for my kids – off Thursday, Friday, and Monday – and I was able to take the time off too and *not work* on vacation for once. It was SO nice. We went camping and had lots of fun family outside time.

    Three day weekends would be awsome but my dream is that I could just work part time. Almost every day I think about how different life would be if we could afford for me to work just 9-2 somewhere (specifically somewhere that after 2 I’d truly be done/there was nothing I’d have to fit in more work for after hours)..

  2. I’ve worked 4 days a week at my “day job” at the med center for the past 10 years. I have DEFINITELY loved the flexibility it afforded me, and I could even switch my day off from time to time to give myself 4 day weekends without using PTO, so it’s given me much more time to do weekend trips with friends and family. At the same time, I’ve also been working for my husband’s business for the past 10 years as well, and I’ve finally hit my breaking point of working 35 hrs/week at the clinic and another 20ish for our company, so I put in my notice at the clinic to be done by year end. It’s terrifying, but I’m ready for a mental break and change. If I wouldn’t have been doing 2 jobs this whole time though, I think I’d have stayed longer at the clinic – simply because I adore the 4 day work weeks and flexibility with work hours.

    Do no schools in your area do 4 day weeks? A few do around here to save money on bussing, utilities, etc – maybe that change will come to your area too.

  3. Glad you got the pre-pre removed. Cancer….. . Best avoided if possible.
    Sounds like a great weekend and one you really needed. Glad you got time for a nice dinner out with just your husband.
    4 day work weeks really help with life balance but I agree I do not see it coming soon in education. Of course you are tired at the end of your days and weeks. But any post from you is so very welcome.

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