[mark_l_watson]

Another take, from Yogananda: put your energy into accomplishing things in the world but when your work day is done turn off your working engine.

At 71 (I am still working) I have had an unusual career. Since I was 25, for the most part I stopped working full time, capping my work at 32 hours a week. I was able to do this at some great companies working in great teams. My boss from 40 years ago visited me [1] from out of town 6 weeks ago and I apologized a little for causing him any hassles because of this. He laughed and said that while it was true that I was missed in my no work Mondays, that I was the easiest person he ever managed because I really focused on my 4 work days.

[1] so far this year, I have had 4 visits from old coworkers who traveled to my town, ranging from working together 1 year ago to 40 years ago. I like to keep in touch with people.

[akudha]

This is awesome. How did you manage to convince your employers, of 4 day work week? I was just thinking about it, I don't think there is any chance that I can convince my own employer of it :(

[karl42]

I managed to convince my last five employers to let me work a four day week or less. Usually, I asked for it during the interview and accepted the job offer where they said "yes". That will rule out some jobs, but overall I can recommend the approach, as long as you don't have trouble finding jobs even without that requirement.

[mark_l_watson]

I read the employee handbook, in its entirety. It said that in order to get all fringe benefits, a salaried employee must work a minimum of 30 hours a week. Another section said that if full time salaried employees worked less than 40 hours a week, then their paycheck would be prorated.

I did give up 20% of my salary and occasionally when there was an emergency and everyone showed up Saturday morning to make a delivery, I would also show up and not bill for those hours. This only happened a few times a year.

If you don’t ask for stuff, you are unlikely to get it.

[tpxl]

You can try for shorter work days (5x6hr), and once that proves to work, go for 4x8hr?