What would your perfect "working" day be like?

[dachs]

Hi guys,

since I'm figuring out what I want in life right now and what kind of work would suit me I was imagining my perfect workday. So here it comes:

- get up well rested and do some exercises outdoors, if possible in the warm morning sun and a view at the sea
- have relaxed breakfast with my girlfriend
- 3 to 4 hours of "work", whatever that might be
- have lunch in the shade (as you can tell I'd love to live in a warm place ;) )
- socialize with friends, get some stuff done in the city
- in the evening I'd like to follow my hobbies (sports, music, read, ...)
- and then I'd have dinner and relax a bit and go to bed

That would be my every day routine, however I would obviously also like to travel a bit or spend two or three days sailing, hiking or whatever comes to my mind.

So what would your perfect day be like?

[slackmax]

Used to have perfect days as a project leader/programmer back at megacorp every so often. It would be a whole day with no interruptions, a clear objective, a task that was not overly complex, and enough time to accomplish it. 8 hour work day, in the office. Lunch with good friend/coworker. And no outside stressors to bother me either. I had a lot of these good days, when times were good.   :)       

[AlanStache]

I would peal lint off the dryer filter for about an hour, then press a lightsaber up against stuff and turn it on for a few more hours.  After that I would have lunch in a park and head home. 

[AZDude]

Used to have perfect days as a project leader/programmer back at megacorp every so often. It would be a whole day with no interruptions, a clear objective, a task that was not overly complex, and enough time to accomplish it. 8 hour work day, in the office. Lunch with good friend/coworker. And no outside stressors to bother me either. I had a lot of these good days, when times were good.   :)       

This sounds like more of a pipe dream than early retirement.

My ideal work day would be to wake up naturally, relax for a couple hours. Around mid-morning I log on from home, do 3-4 hours of useful work, then log off around mid-afternoon to pick up my child from school. We spend the evening at the lake/beach before heading home.

[big_slacker]

Hi guys,

since I'm figuring out what I want in life right now and what kind of work would suit me I was imagining my perfect workday. So here it comes:

- get up well rested and do some exercises outdoors, if possible in the warm morning sun and a view at the sea
- have relaxed breakfast with my girlfriend
- 3 to 4 hours of "work", whatever that might be
- have lunch in the shade (as you can tell I'd love to live in a warm place ;) )
- socialize with friends, get some stuff done in the city
- in the evening I'd like to follow my hobbies (sports, music, read, ...)
- and then I'd have dinner and relax a bit and go to bed

That would be my every day routine, however I would obviously also like to travel a bit or spend two or three days sailing, hiking or whatever comes to my mind.

So what would your perfect day be like?

So you don't really want to work is what you're saying. If you're daydreaming about a perfect life why even throw in that 3-4 hours of work? Haha!

[Bucksandreds]

Hi guys,

since I'm figuring out what I want in life right now and what kind of work would suit me I was imagining my perfect workday. So here it comes:

- get up well rested and do some exercises outdoors, if possible in the warm morning sun and a view at the sea
- have relaxed breakfast with my girlfriend
- 3 to 4 hours of "work", whatever that might be
- have lunch in the shade (as you can tell I'd love to live in a warm place ;) )
- socialize with friends, get some stuff done in the city
- in the evening I'd like to follow my hobbies (sports, music, read, ...)
- and then I'd have dinner and relax a bit and go to bed

That would be my every day routine, however I would obviously also like to travel a bit or spend two or three days sailing, hiking or whatever comes to my mind.

So what would your perfect day be like?

So you don't really want to work is what you're saying. If you're daydreaming about a perfect life why even throw in that 3-4 hours of work? Haha!

Yeah, I'd say for 95% of the population the ideal day would be wake up when we feel like, have a relaxing breakfast, then do some hobby that we enjoy and so on until it's time to go to bed whenever we feel like.

[backyardfeast]

I have to regularly remind myself that I already have an awesome job, which provides many of my perfect days.  Today, for instance, I'm being paid to:

Get up when I'm ready
Do a few chores, have a healthy breakfast
Relax and read for an hour or so
Exercise (usually a long walk on the beach)
Work for an hour on a project I'm excited about and would do even if not being paid
Have lunch and read
Work for a few more hours on the project, along with some administrative stuff for other work
Practice a musical instrument
Greet DH home from work and begin dinner and evening routine (right now that's some relaxing and some working on home renos)

I'm a university prof on leave from teaching to work on a research project, paid at 70% of salary.  It's pretty awesome.  I will have to go back to teaching in the fall, but that's not so bad either. ;)

[dachs]

Yeah, I'd say for 95% of the population the ideal day would be wake up when we feel like, have a relaxing breakfast, then do some hobby that we enjoy and so on until it's time to go to bed whenever we feel like.

For some time, yes, but I doubt that that's a good life plan :)

[slackmax]

Telecommuting can make your day nearly perfect if you have a long or busy commute, and aren't into socializing with the coworkers! Massive cost saving during times of high gas prices, too.

[MonkeyJenga]

Yeah, I'd say for 95% of the population the ideal day would be wake up when we feel like, have a relaxing breakfast, then do some hobby that we enjoy and so on until it's time to go to bed whenever we feel like.

For some time, yes, but I doubt that that's a good life plan :)

That sounds like a great life plan. Why do you think it's unsustainable?

[Gone Fishing]

9am-12 (I'd probably still need an alarm clock!)
3-4 days a week
10-15 minute walking/biking commute.
Maybe 30 minutes of socializing with likeable co-workers
Good free coffee (decaff)
Fairly routine work, with occasional challenges
The walk would probably suffice, but a little physical work throw in would be good, too.
Ability to work outside when weather is nice and inside when not.
No more than an hour or so on a computer.

Here's the next question, if it presented itself, how little would you accept in pay for such a job?  Would you do it for free?  Minimum wage?  I if could find the above, I might actually work for minimum wage (although I'd ask for more!).     

[Mr. Green]

My ideal work day? I'd wake up without an alarm but I'd most likely wake up early because I was excited to begin working. Whatever the job was would involve being outside at least part of the day. The task would have a clearly defined objective, wouldn't be overly difficult, and would provide immediate gratification in the form of knowing how much progress had been made. I would become so engrossed in the work that I'd lose track of time. That's the key, when the day just flows and I'm lost in the work. I'd take breaks when I want, eat when I want, stop when I want. Unless I was physically exhausted I would probably stop as it was getting darker because I'd be enjoying myself so thoroughly that I wouldn't really call it work. Maybe I'd throw a run in there somewhere but most likely I've met my exercise quota just doing what I was doing all day. Maybe I'd take a run anyway, because I like to run.

Assuming it were possible to find a job like that with complete autonomy over when I started, stopped, etc. I'd probably do it for minimum wage or there abouts because I don't really need to build my stash any more. If I was FIRE'd I'd do work like that for free, because it's not work to me, and because that's the kind of day that makes me feel alive, and thankful for being alive.

[shelivesthedream]

Has it occurred to you that several of you have described friendly manual labour jobs? (E.g. Working for the Forestry Commission or working harvest with a nice organic farmer) And that such jobs are in fact available?

[Two9A]

Has it occurred to you that several of you have described friendly manual labour jobs? (E.g. Working for the Forestry Commission or working harvest with a nice organic farmer) And that such jobs are in fact available?

They may be available, but do they pay enough to allow for an 80+% savings rate?

Granted, you may not need the money saved up if you're working at the perfect job and getting paid enough to cover expenses, but I remain of the opinion that there's no such thing as a perfect job.

[misshathaway]

Used to have perfect days as a project leader/programmer back at megacorp every so often. It would be a whole day with no interruptions, a clear objective, a task that was not overly complex, and enough time to accomplish it. 8 hour work day, in the office. Lunch with good friend/coworker. And no outside stressors to bother me either. I had a lot of these good days, when times were good.   :)       

+1, but the frosting would be some part of the task had a snag and you come up with the solution in the morning in the shower while not thinking about it. Then you go in and implement it.

[big_slacker]

Yeah, I'd say for 95% of the population the ideal day would be wake up when we feel like, have a relaxing breakfast, then do some hobby that we enjoy and so on until it's time to go to bed whenever we feel like.

For some time, yes, but I doubt that that's a good life plan :)

That sounds like a great life plan. Why do you think it's unsustainable?

It is sustainable if you're FIRE already, or live in a LCOL area, have roomies, etc.

My brother is almost 40 and has worked 4-5 hours a day only for most of his adult life. Just gets up late, plays video games or other hobbies most of the day, goes to work 8-12ish and that's it. Works a union job and is paying into a pension plan so he'd have probably been ok to keep doing this the rest of his life. (FWIW my bro just went fulltime so he can afford to buy his own place much closer to work)

With that said, the OP sounds young and just entering the job market. That is the time to build skills, make yourself valuable and once you are you have a lot more leeway when it comes to deciding how much you need to work.

[AlanStache]

Has it occurred to you that several of you have described friendly manual labour jobs? (E.g. Working for the Forestry Commission or working harvest with a nice organic farmer) And that such jobs are in fact available?

There is a reason Peter gets a manual labor job at the end of OfficeSpace.

As much as yard work at home can suck it is nice to have clearly defined goals, an easily visible end product and physical exertion outside. 

[Mr. Green]

Has it occurred to you that several of you have described friendly manual labour jobs? (E.g. Working for the Forestry Commission or working harvest with a nice organic farmer) And that such jobs are in fact available?

It absolutely has occurred to me. Once I've FIRE'd, if I feel compelled to take up some work these are the first kinds of jobs I will seek out.

[MonkeyJenga]

Yeah, I'd say for 95% of the population the ideal day would be wake up when we feel like, have a relaxing breakfast, then do some hobby that we enjoy and so on until it's time to go to bed whenever we feel like.

For some time, yes, but I doubt that that's a good life plan :)

That sounds like a great life plan. Why do you think it's unsustainable?

It is sustainable if you're FIRE already, or live in a LCOL area, have roomies, etc.

My brother is almost 40 and has worked 4-5 hours a day only for most of his adult life. Just gets up late, plays video games or other hobbies most of the day, goes to work 8-12ish and that's it. Works a union job and is paying into a pension plan so he'd have probably been ok to keep doing this the rest of his life. (FWIW my bro just went fulltime so he can afford to buy his own place much closer to work)

With that said, the OP sounds young and just entering the job market. That is the time to build skills, make yourself valuable and once you are you have a lot more leeway when it comes to deciding how much you need to work.

Ah, ok. I read the response as saying even if you've got the money, living like that every day will eventually become boring, that you need some higher purpose. But it could've just meant that they didn't have the money yet.

[Gone Fishing]

Has it occurred to you that several of you have described friendly manual labour jobs? (E.g. Working for the Forestry Commission or working harvest with a nice organic farmer) And that such jobs are in fact available?

It absolutely has occurred to me. Once I've FIRE'd, if I feel compelled to take up some work these are the first kinds of jobs I will seek out.

I am the nice organic farmer!

[dachs]

Yeah, I'd say for 95% of the population the ideal day would be wake up when we feel like, have a relaxing breakfast, then do some hobby that we enjoy and so on until it's time to go to bed whenever we feel like.

For some time, yes, but I doubt that that's a good life plan :)

That sounds like a great life plan. Why do you think it's unsustainable?

It is sustainable if you're FIRE already, or live in a LCOL area, have roomies, etc.

My brother is almost 40 and has worked 4-5 hours a day only for most of his adult life. Just gets up late, plays video games or other hobbies most of the day, goes to work 8-12ish and that's it. Works a union job and is paying into a pension plan so he'd have probably been ok to keep doing this the rest of his life. (FWIW my bro just went fulltime so he can afford to buy his own place much closer to work)

With that said, the OP sounds young and just entering the job market. That is the time to build skills, make yourself valuable and once you are you have a lot more leeway when it comes to deciding how much you need to work.

Ah, ok. I read the response as saying even if you've got the money, living like that every day will eventually become boring, that you need some higher purpose. But it could've just meant that they didn't have the money yet.

Doing nothing might be OK for me for some time, but I'll probably want to work on something after that. I usually even get "bored" when I'm on vacation for more than 7 days and usually get excited about stuff a read and want to try it out. However, 4 hours of that might be enough on the long run. And certainly not 8+ hours + commute and having to take vacation in order to not work for a week if you don't feel like it.

[Brawndo TQ]

Perfect day would be working 12 hours a day on a software project that was created entirely by me from the ground up, wholly owned by me, monetarily successful (100K/yr?), and something I believed in.

Right now I work <= 8 hrs a day in a corporate setting with a fair bit of those hours just coasting. My latest perf eval is Exceeds and I make mid 6 figures. I would prefer the first option, but finding and creating that success is super hard.

[shelivesthedream]

Perfect day would be working 12 hours a day on a software project that was created entirely by me from the ground up, wholly owned by me, monetarily successful (100K/yr?), and something I believed in.

How is the bolded part a lifestyle factor? What would be the difference in the pattern of your day between working on a software project that earned a lot of money and one that didn't?

[MrsDinero]

Have meetings with the clients and the clients actually are 100% prepared for the days topics <sigh>.

[Brawndo TQ]

Perfect day would be working 12 hours a day on a software project that was created entirely by me from the ground up, wholly owned by me, monetarily successful (100K/yr?), and something I believed in.

How is the bolded part a lifestyle factor? What would be the difference in the pattern of your day between working on a software project that earned a lot of money and one that didn't?

The sense of satisfaction would be wildly different. If I spent all my time building something that other people didn't find useful and for which there was no demand, I'd feel like I was wasting my time. So the "what" of my day wouldn't change, but how I feel during the day would change a lot.

That said, if I made something that was wildly popular, but for whatever reason I didn't monetize it, I'd feel just as good. I guess I'm using money as a proxy for popularity.

[Blindsquirrel]

  Wake up and have breakfast. See my girlfriend's picture on the cover of Playboy and my son's picture on the Wheaties box and the sports page. Also see Ex's picture on the milk carton. Then go back to sleep. :)

[Piwakawaka]

-Wake up with plenty of time to watch the sun rise, make a cup of tea, pull up an outdoor chair, sit back, and enjoy.
-Faff about doing nothing in particular for a bit
-Check investment account out of curiosity. Up $1500? How handy! Work done.
-Have another cup of tea

[Louisville]

  Wake up and have breakfast. See my girlfriend's picture on the cover of Playboy and my son's picture on the Wheaties box and the sports page. Also see Ex's picture on the milk carton. Then go back to sleep. :)

WHAM!!

[Public Hermit]

-Stroll into work well rested and about 45 minutes late after beast mode at the gym
-Prevent a hostile corporate takeover
-Have attractive female assistant direct all calls to voicemail and cancel any appointments for three hours in order to get some work done
-Leave for a two hour lunch consisting of prime rib & a few Jameson's using a Groupon
-Come back to work
-Get a promotion
-Do some cocaine in the bathroom
-Have sex with attractive female assistant
-Organize a mandatory badminton tournament with the entire office
-Get another hour of work done
-Leave the office and walk two blocks home to my apartment

[Mr. Green]

-Stroll into work well rested and about 45 minutes late after beast mode at the gym
-Prevent a hostile corporate takeover
-Have attractive female assistant direct all calls to voicemail and cancel any appointments for three hours in order to get some work done
-Leave for a two hour lunch consisting of prime rib & a few Jameson's using a Groupon
-Come back to work
-Get a promotion
-Do some cocaine in the bathroom
-Have sex with attractive female assistant
-Organize a mandatory badminton tournament with the entire office
-Get another hour of work done
-Leave the office and walk two blocks home to my apartment

Like a Boss?

[asauer]

I would wake up around 7:30
Work as an outdoor naturalist for my town (teaching archery, bushcraft, boating, hiking, nature interpretation) from 8-3 which would also be exercise and outdoor time
pick up my kids at school
come home hang out together
cook
relax

I worked as a naturalist in college and freaking loved it.  Too bad it only pays just above minimum wage.

[Northwestie]

Here's a day I spent last week - get two youngin's in the field, map out timber prescriptions for a 100 ac track of oak woodland, got drizzled on most of the day, had raingear, saw 3 bald eagles and various other birds, planned our monitoring program for post-prescription, talked about the ecological conditions of the site and how to improve these, looked for oak regeneration, collected GPS map data and marked trees.  Done!!