Do It Yourself Flexible Schedules

As I was nearing the end of my second maternity leave, I kept saying to my husband, “I wish I could go back four days a week. It’s too bad my office doesn’t have part-time workers.” I missed my job but couldn’t imagine spending 40 hours in the workplace with two little ones at home. He kept saying, “Ask them! It doesn’t hurt. You never know, they might say yes.”

It turned out that he was right. Yes, I have a fabulous employer. But it probably helped that I talked to everyone I knew who had a flexible schedule and thought through how a four-day schedule would impact my team’s productivity.

You can have your dream schedule too, with some planning. It just takes organization and patience. And yes, you do have to ask.