Weekend Whenever

I attempted Weekend Wednesday, but it quickly transformed into Weekend Whenever.

When folks catch wind of Weekend Whenever, they whisper of overwork and burnout. But this is not The Grind nor Crunch. This is a plea for consistent and sustainable work.

Workweeks are Man-Made

The typical workweek is 5d×8h (5 days × 8 hours = 40 hours).

Many nurses and doctors work 3d×12h (36 hours), which I personally cannot fathom. Seriously, send me an e-mail if you prefer this schedule – I’d like to understand.

Weekend Whenever is 7d×6h (42 hours). You may also opt for the 7d×5h (35 hours) or 7d×4h (28 hours) variants.

Hours are Valuable

60 minutes is 60 minutes, but some hours are worth much more than others.

Humans tire and become bored. And tired/bored humans are unproductive.

If you’ve ever sat in a cubicle, you can feel energy evaporate throughout the day. Few people truly hustle at 4:30PM.

For some jobs, 7dx5h (35 hours) is more productive than 5dx8h (40 hours). The first 4-hours of your day are not the same as the second 4-hours of your day.

Weekends are Compromise

Workers want 4d×10h, but managers reject low-quality work.

Managers want 7d×6h, but workers reject extra commuting overhead.

5d×8h is a silent compromise between workers and managers: fewer commutes exchanged for longer but less-productive days.

Remote Work can be Revised

So it’s time to discuss the elephant in the zoom: remote work. Why do remote workers continue 5d×8h? My guesses:

• meetings pull people towards Monday-Friday
• weekend plans and parties push people away from Saturday/Sunday workdays
• society stigmatizes hustle culture and “the grindset”
• people confuse busywork with actual work
• everybody hates incessant async notifications (especially from co-workers)

Spurn the Split

The 5d×8h schedule forces you to oscillate between fundamentally incompatible modes: full throttle and full vacation. But we resist relaxation when work looms, and we shirk our careers when urgent personal tasks attack.

With proper planning, the 7d×6h schedule offers freedom and flexibility. You don’t have “work days” and “personal days” – you just have days.

With Weekend Wednesday, Saturdays and Sundays supply supercharged sessions without distractions. And weekday afternoons offer fewer queues at the grocery, bank, salon, etc.

Adopt Weekend Whenever

Stop stigmatizing seven-day workweeks.

Use your flexible schedule without compromise. Deliver high-quality work with less effort.

Human output is fickle as the wind.

To sail through the seas with ease, plan your days around the breeze.

Suggestions

• You can schedule emails and Slack messages for Monday mornings. Don’t interrupt others’ weekends with your idiosyncratic hours.
• Take advantage of others’ schedules. Do deep work on the weekends. Ask questions when others are online.
• People make plans on weekends. Force yourself to squeeze in your 5-6 hours in the morning before afternoon fun. Never try to work after hanging out with friends.
• Don’t seek praise for weekend work. Sane scheduling doesn’t make you a saint.
• If your subordinates sense your working hours, make it clear that they are not expected to follow your schedule. Do not allow your subordinates to overwork.
• Never complain about working weekends. Take responsibility for your decisions.
• Ask your spouse/roommates/children for permission before working “weird” hours. Your friends and family may be adversely affected by your new schedule.