The Pros and Cons of a 20-Hour Workweek

Imagine working just four hours a day. Enough time to get through your essential tasks, but still leaving you with a hefty chunk of the day to yourself. It sounds dreamy, right? Well, it is, but it’s not without its challenges.

As a freelancer or solopreneur, the lure of a lighter schedule can be strong. But maintaining a 20-hour workweek isn’t as simple as closing your laptop early. It comes with intentional prioritization, sacrifices, and a serious shift in mindset.

The Sweet Spot: Why 20 Hours Works for Me

When I first tell people I work just four hours a day, they usually respond with some version of "Must be nice," or "How?" But here's the thing — working fewer hours has actually made me more effective, not less. As a fast typist (I average 100-120 wpm, especially when typing on my mechanical keyboards) who can knock out a solid article in about two to four hours, I've learned that it's not about the time you put in, but what you do with it.

Aside from client comms, which I check in the morning and afternoon, my workday typically starts at 7 PM since I’m a night owl. I write in two-hour chunks, with a break in between. I typically spend an average of four hours writing, five days a week.

This leaves me with something most freelancers only dream of: actual free time. Time for midday naps, which I'm quite fond of. Time to schedule dentist appointments without playing calendar Tetris. Time to actually live life instead of just working through it.

Another thing to note, though: I don’t actually count admin work — like sending invoices, checking emails, or even writing for this blog — as part of my 20-hour workweek. The hours I track are purely billable hours for research and writing client projects.

That means the “invisible” work of running a business happens outside those 20 hours. Things like responding to clients, doomscrolling LinkedIn, or reading other content marketing blogs tend to bleed into the rest of my week. Even though it’s necessary, it doesn’t feel as productive as the work I get paid for, so I don't count it inside my 20-hour workweek.

The Upside of Working Less

Let me paint you a picture of what becomes possible when you cut your work hours in half:

Those errands that used to eat into your evenings? They're now part of your regular Tuesday afternoon. Need to hit the post office, grocery store, or bank? The lines are much better at 2 PM. (They used to be nonexistent, but not so much these days…) Plus, the world is your oyster when it comes to scheduling doctor’s appointments.

But the benefits go beyond just practical conveniences. Working fewer hours forces you to become ruthlessly efficient with your time. When you only have four hours a day to GTD, you quickly learn the difference between busy work and meaningful progress. Those hour-long client calls that could've been emails? Gone. The endless social media scrolling between tasks? No time for it.

I’m a faster, more productive version of me when I’m only working 20 hours per week. By limiting my work hours, I'm forced to focus on what truly moves the needle. Those two-hour writing sessions? They're distraction-free, high-energy blocks where I create my best work. No multitasking, no context switching, just pure focus on my craft.

The Real Talk: What You're Giving Up

Let's be honest, though — a 20-hour workweek isn't all naps and empty grocery stores. There are trade-offs, and they're worth talking about.

The most obvious one is slower revenue growth. When you're working half the hours, you're naturally taking on fewer projects, which means leaving money on the table. I've had to say no to some opportunities simply because they didn't fit into my limited hours — most recently a gig that demanded 25 hours a week of work. Sure, I probably could have squeezed it into my schedule, but then I’d be working 45 hours and I’d most certainly burn out. 

But each time I say no to a project, there's a little voice in my head wondering, "Are you sure about this?"

Client relationships can be trickier too. Some potential clients might assume you're not serious about your work. Others might worry about availability or response times. It hasn't popped up yet, but if it did with a client: I would assure them that A) I always deliver on time, or communicate early if for some strange reason I can’t, and B) I always respond within 24 hours or less to client emails. 

Vacation Time? What Vacation Time?

Here’s another aspect: It’s tough to take a real, meaningful vacation when you’re working part-time hours. You’d think a 20-hour workweek would make it easier to step away, but in reality, it can have the opposite effect.

When you’re always kinda on and kinda off, it’s hard to fully switch gears. You’re dipping into work in short bursts, which keeps you tethered to your inbox, your task list, and your clients. That cadence makes it tricky to completely unplug — because there’s always that lingering thought in the back of your mind: Did I miss a Slack ping? Did a deadline sneak up on me? Should I check in?

The irony is that even with fewer hours, you can feel like you’re always working. The work is lighter, yes. But it never fully stops.

See, when you’re running your own business or freelancing, you don’t have the same clear-cut boundaries as someone with a traditional job. There’s no one covering your tasks while you’re out, and the projects don’t pause just because you’ve set up an OOO email responder. (Which I haven't done yet, because I'm paranoid I'll miss a new lead and lose them forever if I don't respond ASAP.)

Instead, the work keeps coming. And even if you’ve blocked your calendar, it’s easy to sneak in “just one quick check-in” or “a quick review” of a document—because that work is yours. It’s tied to your income, your reputation, and your client relationships.

So far, I haven’t taken a real meaningful vacation as a freelancer. I’ve always been at least sort of hustling. Even when I had a dry spell of no work during all of December last year, I was stressed out the entire time.

The Solution? Setting Harder Boundaries

I’ve learned now that taking meaningful time off as a freelancer or solopreneur requires intentional boundary-setting. This year, I intend to take at least a week off, twice. 

Here’s what needs to happen to make that a thing:

• Batching projects. If I know that a vacation is coming up, I intend to batch my work so I’m not scrambling the week before or the week after my vacations.
• Communicating clearly with clients. I’ll be letting clients know that I’ll be fully unavailable, instead of keeping my inbox open. I’ll have to be firm about it, which will be tough, because I hate feeling like I’m leaving potential work off the table. 
• Actually unplugging. Just like I would in a FT job, I’ll set up an actual OOO vacation responder and disconnect from my email for the weeks I’ll be out. 

And most importantly: I’ll give myself permission to actually rest. When you’re used to always being “kinda on,” it takes intentional practice to fully switch off.

Now, granted, I probably won’t be going anywhere due to my special needs reactive rescue dog Zagreus that makes it impossible to travel. But I’ll at least be able to enjoy my time off, guilt-free.

The Art of Prioritization

Here's what I've learned: working less isn't about doing less — it's about doing better. When you only have 20 hours a week, every minute counts. You become incredibly skilled at identifying what truly matters and what's just noise.

For me, this means:

• Client work first. Always prioritize billable work during peak creative hours (late night writing sessions are non-negotiable for me!)
• Tracking my time. You can't limit what you don't track. This year, I'll start using Toggl more consistently to accurately track time spent on projects... instead of just eyeballing it like I do now.
• Automation. Use Zapier to handle repetitive tasks.
• Cut the fluff. Not every task on my to-do list is essential. Be honest about what can wait — or be scrapped entirely.
• Boundaries. I set clear boundaries around my working hours and stick to them. No distractions during writing time, and no work during relaxation/family time.

Is It Worth It?

The 20-hour workweek isn't for everyone. If you're building an agency or aiming for aggressive growth, you might need more hours in the game. But if you're looking to create a sustainable freelance practice that leaves room for life — real life, not just the spaces between work — it might be worth considering.

For me, the trade-off between slower growth and better living is worth it. Those midday naps? They've made me more creative. Those empty afternoon hours? They've given me space to develop new skills and explore new interests (like coloring!). And most importantly, they've reminded me that I work to live, instead of living to work. 

Sure, I might not be maximizing my revenue potential. But I'm maximizing something else: my ability to enjoy the life I'm working so hard to build. And isn't that the whole point?

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