If were paid by the hour and could choose how many hours per week you worked, how much would you work?

Not if they can exploit the next guy in line to do the same thing.

I would start with 4 day weeks, then try out 3 day weeks and see if I like it. So 24-32 hours a week. I work a job that is actually fulfilling to me, and well paid, so it's a matter of striking the optimal work/life balance.

7-8 AM Shakeout Run

9-12 Work on interesting project

12-3 Lunch, massage, nap

3-5 Main Run

5-10 dinner, socialize, relax

Repeat…

So 15 hours a week. Let’s be honest this is more productive then most of the self described workaholics.

I prefer fewer hours on more days so that I can do things every day after work... like run, dinner with friends, etc.

I farm so I make my own hours. Don’t have an hourly wage, but just based on schedule, I quite like hot summer days. I’ll start around 7 and work til 2 when it gets hot. Then I enjoy the AC until evening and do yard work or go for a run in the evening. 14+ hour days in the spring and fall are obviously too much, and having weeks off in the winter can get depressing. It’s nice to have a schedule.

If you were paid X dollars to produce 10 units per week, how would you like to schedule your week?

Work slowly and take 60 hours to get it done, hustle and do it in 20 hours or an even paced 40 hours?

salary and i clear about 115 after taxes. benefits and retirement extra. some weeks and months its 50-60 because of staffing(retail) and 60% of the the time i can sneak in at 10 an bounce at 4... so I am not messing with the apple cart

I’m optimal at about 30 hours per week. Anything over that and I lose some productivity. Every job I’ve had I try to work really hard for as short of time as possible so I can do other things.

I wouldn’t take the lower pay to be more productive though. That’s insane

I wouldn't choose to work more than I currently do (40-45+) at my current job. However, if I could work a job that was a little less draining, I would work 60 hours per week.

I know plenty of lawyers who work this way. Firms are increasingly allowing lawyers to select their own hours. At my old firm, one of the heads of litigation had young-ish kids, and she was on a 1200 hour/year plan. It's not 100% within your control on a week to week basis, but it worked out annually. I've even known associates at big firms who went part time and still made partner.

I know a few other senior associates who left big firms to be solo appellate practitioners. They went from billing 600+/hour at the firm (where most of the money went to partners and overhead) to billing 300/hour where they keep it all. They even kept the same clients; they just did the work that would otherwise have gone to cheaper, regional firms.

I do choose and it's 7 days/ 70 hours or sometimes 6 days 55+ hours. I have debt from a used car and I also want nice things so that is why I work every day they let me.

I'm with you. I have a seasonal job. I don't really like it!

I have tons of time in the winter to do what I want. Well, there's nobody to do it with and it gets horribly depressing!