Want to choose when you work? It might actually be possible…
From nightmare commutes and dealing with childcare issues, through to paying for gym memberships that you never get to use, working set shift patterns can sometimes be a struggle.
The good news is, adopting a flexi time work schedule could be a genuine option for you – not to mention help you regain control over your career.
We’ve already covered the basics of what you need to know about flexi time working, but here’s a quick rundown of how it could benefit you:
You might be able to avoid a busy commute
Stressful journey to work? Always stuck in traffic? Fellow commuters invading your personal space?
If you feel like your commute is the worst part of the day, you might benefit from changing your start and finish time. Even by simply making it an hour later/earlier, you could be able to avoid the crowds and/or traffic, and make your journey that little bit better.
Not only could this help with your stress/heat/annoyance levels, it could also cut your journey down in length. Because excessive amounts of people can cause delays…
School pick-ups/drop-offs can be scheduled in
If you’re a working parent, juggling a full-time job with your family commitments isn’t always easy. Especially when it comes to the school run.
Even if your job doesn’t demand that you work the traditional hours of 9-5, with other jobs often involving varied shift work or afternoon starts, finding free time around the specific times of 9am and 3pm can be a challenge.
But, it might not need to be. Working on a flexi time schedule could allow you the time you need to do those all-important school runs – without affecting your work. Simply alternate your hours so they suit you, and pick up the extra when you have the time (with your boss’s approval).
You could have better control over your workload
It’s not just your family life that could benefit from finding better hours.
By controlling your own schedule, you could fit things in on your own terms, rather than potentially having to rush tasks or do too many things at once. As a result, you’ll have greater control over your workload – and start meeting your deadlines with ease.
Additionally, if you decide to make up the extra hours working from home, the absence of office distractions could be just what you need to keep your head down and actually get your work done.
Because as much as your co-workers telling you that there’s cake in the kitchen is great news, racing each other there probably isn’t the most productive use of your time.
You can deal with personal matters without taking time off
Gone are the days of using your precious holiday days for non-holiday things. If you adapt your working hours, you’ll be able to go in later (or earlier) – so you can make your appointments and get the same amount of work done.
So whether you need to book a dentist’s appointment, you want a haircut, or that house you’re interested in buying only has one mid-morning viewing available, working flexi time could make these small life-admin tasks possible.
Heads up: morning dentist appointments may not be a good idea. Unless you’re a fan of the ‘numb mouth’ look.
You’ll have spare time for hobbies
Keep meaning to join the gym? Write more? Take up a hobby? No more excuses.
Although some people manage to drag themselves out of bed at 5am to do a quick run on the treadmill before work – not all of us are that motivated. If you’re more of an 8am person, switching your working hours around could help.
Alternatively, having to attend an evening activity that doesn’t start till 7pm, then not getting home until after 9PM isn’t ideal for those who like to be tucked up in bed by 10.
So, whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, alternating your working hours could mean you’d get to do whatever hobby you want – without it being an inconvenience.
How to: Ask for flexible working hours
Looking for a job with more flexible hours? Have a look at all of our current vacancies now.
