On average, how many hours a week do you work?

I wish it was still 40 hours a week. That was the case when I was permanent employee and contractor, but now that I've started my own business, it's more like 70 hours a week. It's busy, but when you're doing something you LOVE, it's not really work.

Depends who you ask. If you ask my wife, I dont stop working whether its "billing" or community related stuff. Weekdays or weekends. Hours wise, I think I'm around V's estimate of 70-75 hours.

If you ask me how much I work, I'd say not enough. I love what I do and most of the time, don't consider it work - specifically the community related stuff. I'd put my billable down as 40-45 hours of work a week.

Since I became self-employed some 30 years ago, I haven't worked a day. How can you call having fun work?

Like Veronica, Kanwal, and Nigel, I regularly spend 50-65 hours a week on the business but it stopped being work a long time ago.

In actual fact, now that I'm in my 70's I've tried to cut back a bit but I'm still enjoying it to much to do less than 40-45 hours a week on business related stuff. Maybe when I'm in my 80's...

I wish we could decide evaluation of work hours in terms of, contributing hours and non-contributing hours.

So, I work for almost 60 hours a week. In which I work 35 hours out of passion and 25 hours for me is unproductive. Want to extract productive hours from those 25 hours.

Working towards it.

I don't think I ever stop, quite honestly. I think this is the norm rather than the exception now that wireless electronics are such a significant part of our lives. Email, social media, texting.....it doesn't end at 5 or even 11.

Working under a services contract, I 'bill' 37.5 hours a week..usually actuals are between that and 40... to be paid I'd need pre-approval for overtime which is almost impossible in this economy..

I currently work 8 hours during the day then 2 - 3+ hours in the evening on stuff I want to work on plus another 8 - 10+ hours over the weekend. So around 65 - 70 hours / week

I have always worked 60 - 70 hours a week even as an employee. Now, I work ( if one can call it that) the same number of hours, the only difference is I am working for myself.
I can't imagine not working, so Brian, here's to you.

I have always worked 60 - 70 hours a week even as an employee. Now, I work ( if one can call it that) the same number of hours, the only difference is I am working for myself.
I can't imagine not working, so Brian, here's to you.

Those of us in our 70s, happily, have choices. So, some weeks are really light (and I can actually leave everything behind when on holiday). Other weeks, depending on priorities and dropdeadlines (a new word) can be 70-80 hours.

I wouldn't do it if it weren't fun. If it's not fun, you're not doing it right. And, I can't imagine stopping, although the marketplace will tell me when it's time, I suppose.

Between now and then, I do feel for those who don't have choices, and are compelled to continue working - at work. There may be more and more of those cases in future, I fear.

Great comments ! if I may add a memorable quote ...
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
I'm having 60 hours a week of fun like Brian :)

I would have agreed with most of these comments up until the crash of 2010. I loved my work when it wasn't such a struggle to get people to spend money. Now, people who want to do construction projects can't because they can't find the money. I used to have fun for 60 - 70 hours per week. Now I WORK for 60 - 70 hours per week. I'm staying positive. Things WILL get better.

55-60 hours.

Another small businessman I knew once said he was only working part time now....just 40 hours a week.
I love the satisfaction I feel when I accomplish anything in business. So I do work hard.

Having said that, Gabriel is 8 and Jeremy is 5. There are many times I would rather spend 10 hours less working and 10 hours more with them. But our business is marginally supporting our family in a middle class life style. My life is much more "I owe I owe so off to work I go" rather than the original lines from Snow White. You do remember those lines don't you?

For those who work for others, it is not unusual to lack the feeling of accomplishment and contribution. So without the feeling of satisfaction realize by having meaningful work, i can't blame the grunts of the world too much. I am not foisting my work ethic on them because I understand the lack of motivation.

All of them

During the regular work week, I try to work no more than half days... meaning 12 hours a day.

During the regular work week, I try to work no more than half days... meaning 12 hours a day.

During the regular work week, I try to work no more than half days... meaning 12 hours a day.

Michael Dennis, that's HYSTERICAL! Ha ha!

I'm back to doing 10-12 hour days 6 days a week and then I "party" by doing only 4-5 more on Sat or Sun. Woo hoo! But from time to time, I've taken months or in one case, a whole year off because my business model used to include lots of passive income. Working now to find a new niche in my industry in which to achieve that again.

As others above have stated and I can't emphasize ky enough when its your passion you work and put in your Grind time of 85 hours or more, especially if you want to be great at what you do. It's a Grind for Greatness!

Here in Pakistan 48hrs working is normal for normal peoples (means people who work only without any goal and achievement plan) however for a person who have any carrier goal and achievement plan there is no limit of working hours. This I had experienced when I started my own business, Day and Night look same.

Naveed,

As a small business owner, I know exactly what you mean. "Day and Night" I am constantly promoting looking for ways to improve my business. I hope in the next few years with technology the workforce will improve the 40-80 hours week.

40 hours. That's it.

I work between 40 - 60 hours per week. That includes reading books, magazines and blogs relevant to my profession and industry.

I work 45 hours per week.

As many as it takes. If there's money to be made, I'm working. If things slow down, I turn my attention toward my volunteer efforts or writing freelance pieces for regional magazines.

Having said that, I believe it's important to play as hard as you work so we schedule a vacation every spring and fall so we have something to look forward to. Seeing the world really helps one appreciate the fact that work allows for the better things in life.

Marcie,

That sounds like fun! Lucky you.

Okay, now I feel quite humble and lucky. I work at a great job, that I love and can contribute 110% in 40 hours per week. True, I don't usually allow myself the luxury of taking time to respond to these on-line activities, unless it's industry specific to my work. After 40 hours, I go home and enjoy life. I even took a full month off for holidays in the last 6 months. I used to work 60 to 70 hours a week, and then I tried this and I love the new me!

2 to 3 ... well maybe that's a stretch...

Because I have a two hour round trip commute I "only" work 8 hours a day in the office (and usually eat lunch at my desk), but on the days I telecommute I can easily put in 10-12 (and be far more productive without the office disruptions).

But that's just my day job. I also have a side business which I put another 2-3 hours a day into and then on the weekends another 12-16.

So my total hours worked per week can really add up--coming in anywhere from 64-75 hours a week. And that's not counting the time I put in as a parent and domestic engineer. :)

Because I have a two hour round trip commute I "only" work 8 hours a day in the office (and usually eat lunch at my desk), but on the days I telecommute I can easily put in 10-12 (and be far more productive without the office disruptions).

But that's just my day job. I also have a side business which I put another 2-3 hours a day into and then on the weekends another 12-16.

So my total hours worked per week can really add up--coming in anywhere from 64-75 hours a week. And that's not counting the time I put in as a parent and domestic engineer. :)

I'd say 70 hrs. per week. I have a long commute so I actually spend half my week away from home and closer to the office. I miss out on a lot of family time (thank goodness my son is only 3 and doesn't know better yet) but I'm working for a start up company with a great idea and I want to give it everything I can toward success.

my 2 to 3 i3 driving to and from work a day... a 5 day week makes that 10 to 15 hours a week just driving...depending on traffic...45 hours at work would equate to 55 to 60 in a week...

As stated it appears to now be the norm, I work 12 hours a day 5 days a week and some on the weekends. With the current economy, streamline business practices and always trying to service our clients I wonder where will we stop?

I work five to six days per week. The hours that I put in at work are 40 to 50+. I may work after hours 2 to 4 hours.

Interesting question with but clearly needs some definition.

For me (IMHO) work is a loose term where there is productivity and then the "other" stuff that consumes our time. I love that 80/20 principle that says 20% of what we do generates 80% of our income....so true!

This leads me to believe that "being engaged" in the work is the more productive times. That being said for me...I am fully engaged and working about 30 hours per week...do the math to see how many hours it takes to get there for me. I am fully working on upping the productivity curve.

I work from the time I get up to the time I go to sleep, minus about two hours a day eating meals/pursuing personal interests. This is not ideal or sustainable long term, but I am fortunate to work from home and my children will not be babies forever. I am hopeful that in the future I will be able to increase my productivity and eek out more time free of responsibilities. As far as income producing acitivity, if I am honest and subtract for constant distractions I probably "work" 35hrs a week. Another 15 is probably spent reading and researching relevant to my industry. A lot of my acitivty is fun, but, with no time for myself and no choice, it can become overwhelming and a source of resentment.

I am suppose to be at work 8 hours per day. I arrive 30 to 45 minutes early and I am usually the last to leave. So I work about 8 to 10 hours at work then about 1 to 3 hours at home after work. I work 2 to 4 hours on each weekend day. So a far amount.

I am suppose to be at work 8 hours per day. I arrive 30 to 45 minutes early and I am usually the last to leave. So I work about 8 to 10 hours at work then about 1 to 3 hours at home after work. I work 2 to 4 hours on each weekend day. So a far amount.