After years of suffering with an extreme case of work dread every other week, apparently it takes time to heal. Taking an extended break (over a month off) from regularly scheduled work probably doesn’t make it any easier to start a new regular 5 days/week routine.

The past two weeks I got a taste of a potentially ideal work life. I worked 3 overnight shifts one week, then the next week I worked 3-4 hours per day in a remote verification setting. Roughly averaging a 20ish hour work week. I wouldn’t mind more than that and I may not mind 5 days per week, but on paper in my mind, it sounds crazy. How could anyone enjoy their lives having just 2 days off every week? I’m used to having every other week off. Maybe working only 8 hour shifts will make work days seem less dreadful? Perhaps the extra time off during a work day makes it easier to do other things on said work day?

I suppose it will be nice to have paychecks rolling in again. Fortunately, we are in a position that allows us to not need full time work for a number of reasons. First, we both have good-paying jobs. Second, we keep our expenses relatively in check. Third, we’ve done enough with our savings that it should be sufficient come actual retirement age without much further contribution. However, I have not found a sustainable, reliable part-time work situation that I could rely on.