What is a Healthy Amount of Time to Regularly Spend on Work per Week?

[Pete Vecchi]

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been dragging. I feel as though I have no energy. I couldn't figure out why, until I started taking stock of how many hours I have been putting in for work per week. Without realizing it, I'd been putting in 50 or more hours in ministry, plus working several hours per week at a local golf course.

I realized last night that something should change. I hate to think about quitting the golf course job because it brings in some money per each hour I work. On the other hand, no matter how many hours I work in ministry, the pay is the same.

I've had to face the reality that now at age 50 (almost 51), I simply don't have the energy levels I had when I was 40-41, when I had less energy than when I was 30-31. I'm pretty sure that's generally how things go, and the energy levels won't likely get greater as the years continue to pass.

One of the realities with which I deal is that I have to do the vast, vast majority of my ministry work from home (other than when there is something taking place specifically at the church or if I need to make pastoral visitations and such). The point is, my main "pastor's office" is in my home. What I've found is that it's all too easy to figure "I'm not doing anything else, I might as well work on _______." (fill in the blank).

Last night, I remembered something that a former pastor of mine and I had discussed shortly after I first was district licensed about 17 years ago. It was called a 12-Point Planner, and basically works like this:

Each day is divided into 3 blocks of 3-4 hours each: Morning, Afternoon, and Evening. That's 21 blocks total. Working for 12 of those blocks in a week would be 36-48 hours.

To me that sounds like a reasonable amount of time to work in a week (generally speaking). The truth is, though, that when I accepted to the call to this congregation nearly 8 years ago, it was specifically pointed out that it was a "part-time" compensation package. Currently, my compensation package is $1,600 per year LESS than it was in 2004. The work at the golf course will hopefully make up for that amount, at about 5-10 hours of work there per week (seasonally, while the golf course needs the workers).

Figuring 5 hours there (the lowest amount per week, generally) and 36 hours per week in ministry (again, the lowest amount per week, generally according to the 12-point planner), that's a minimum of 41 work-hours per week. Looking at the "high end" for both of those, that's 58 work hours per week. That's probably more than is healthy, but both of the "minimum" and "maximum" would decrease during the off-season for golf.

Honestly, I feel as though as the years continue, I'll likely need to start cutting back on hours. At the same time, we need money to support my family. As someone who did music ministry said to me a number of years ago, "We don't do it for the money, but we need money to keep doing it."

So why am I posting this? I think it's because I want to urge people--especially those who don't necessarily work a "regular" schedule each week (such as many pastors)--to look at their schedules and evaluate whether they are working healthy amounts of time per week.

[Benjamin Burch]

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been dragging. I feel as though I have no energy. I couldn't figure out why, until I started taking stock of how many hours I have been putting in for work per week. Without realizing it, I'd been putting in 50 or more hours in ministry, plus working several hours per week at a local golf course.

I realized last night that something should change. I hate to think about quitting the golf course job because it brings in some money per each hour I work. On the other hand, no matter how many hours I work in ministry, the pay is the same.

I've had to face the reality that now at age 50 (almost 51), I simply don't have the energy levels I had when I was 40-41, when I had less energy than when I was 30-31. I'm pretty sure that's generally how things go, and the energy levels won't likely get greater as the years continue to pass.

One of the realities with which I deal is that I have to do the vast, vast majority of my ministry work from home (other than when there is something taking place specifically at the church or if I need to make pastoral visitations and such). The point is, my main "pastor's office" is in my home. What I've found is that it's all too easy to figure "I'm not doing anything else, I might as well work on _______." (fill in the blank).

Last night, I remembered something that a former pastor of mine and I had discussed shortly after I first was district licensed about 17 years ago. It was called a 12-Point Planner, and basically works like this:

Each day is divided into 3 blocks of 3-4 hours each: Morning, Afternoon, and Evening. That's 21 blocks total. Working for 12 of those blocks in a week would be 36-48 hours.

To me that sounds like a reasonable amount of time to work in a week (generally speaking). The truth is, though, that when I accepted to the call to this congregation nearly 8 years ago, it was specifically pointed out that it was a "part-time" compensation package. Currently, my compensation package is $1,600 per year LESS than it was in 2004. The work at the golf course will hopefully make up for that amount, at about 5-10 hours of work there per week (seasonally, while the golf course needs the workers).

Figuring 5 hours there (the lowest amount per week, generally) and 36 hours per week in ministry (again, the lowest amount per week, generally according to the 12-point planner), that's a minimum of 41 work-hours per week. Looking at the "high end" for both of those, that's 58 work hours per week. That's probably more than is healthy, but both of the "minimum" and "maximum" would decrease during the off-season for golf.

Honestly, I feel as though as the years continue, I'll likely need to start cutting back on hours. At the same time, we need money to support my family. As someone who did music ministry said to me a number of years ago, "We don't do it for the money, but we need money to keep doing it."

So why am I posting this? I think it's because I want to urge people--especially those who don't necessarily work a "regular" schedule each week (such as many pastors)--to look at their schedules and evaluate whether they are working healthy amounts of time per week.

What also might be helpful would be to replace some of those work hours with working out, if you are not already. At your age, probably best to do some walking/light jogging and have a day of lifting weights on your legs if possible. It will help boost your metabolism and your testosterone levels a little bit. This will help supply you with some extra energy, and your body will be very grateful in 10 years.

[Mike Schutz]

I have used a similar "block" style scheduling for a long time, both for my decade in the pastorate and for most of my career in higher education. I divide my week up into blocks of four hours each, and work fifteen blocks. I try to make sure and take several consecutive blocks off during the week. This works better for me than a regular "day off" because of my wife's schedule as a school teacher who also often has evening responsibilities.

I need a time of refreshing every day, which includes exercise - a time of sabbath every week - and a time of rejuvenation several times a year.
For me, I begin to feel it when I do not get away for several consecutive weeks. A week's vacation is not enough to completely rejuvenate me.

[Pete Vecchi]

What also might be helpful would be to replace some of those work hours with working out, if you are not already. At your age, probably best to do some walking/light jogging and have a day of lifting weights on your legs if possible. It will help boost your metabolism and your testosterone levels a little bit. This will help supply you with some extra energy, and your body will be very grateful in 10 years.

I generally do walking, but not weight lifting; my joints will not take that. I will readily admit that over the past several weeks the walking has been less than normal, but I try to normally get in a couple-of-mile walk (minimum) at least 3 days a week. My job at the golf course tends to get me some exercise--lots of short bursts of walking while moving carts around. And I tend to hardly ever walk slowly.

[Pete Vecchi]

I have used a similar "block" style scheduling for a long time, both for my decade in the pastorate and for most of my career in higher education. I divide my week up into blocks of four hours each, and work fifteen blocks....

That's 60 hours a week, which I think is too much to do regularly and be considered "healthy" -- at least for me.

...I try to make sure and take several consecutive blocks off during the week. This works better for me than a regular "day off" because of my wife's schedule as a school teacher who also often has evening responsibilities.

I need a time of refreshing every day, which includes exercise - a time of sabbath every week - and a time of rejuvenation several times a year.
For me, I begin to feel it when I do not get away for several consecutive weeks. A week's vacation is not enough to completely rejuvenate me.

I try to take a day off as a Sabbath weekly. Although each of the past 3 weeks, my "normal" Sabbath/day off has been interrupted by other items (3 weeks ago with a shut-in member of the church who doesn't want home visitations and almost never answers her phone or returns my calls when I leave messages called me back; last week when as I was just starting the day, I got a phone call from an outside source regarding a donation program they are working with in conjunction with the church; and today I co-officiated a funeral), which may be a contributing factor to my lack of energy over the past couple of weeks. This week, the way the schedule is working, it looks as though my only chance at a full "Sabbath Day" away from work will be Friday--as long as nothing else comes up.

[Mike Schutz]

Sixty hours a week really isn't too much for me, as it is divided among activities that drain me, such as visitation, counseling, and administration, and activities that energize me, such as teaching and studying.

Also, I try to keep in mind the demands that we make on our key lay leaders. They all work well over 50 hours per week at their jobs, and give 5 hours a week to the church.

[John Reilly]

"To me that sounds like a reasonable amount of time to work in a week (generally speaking). The truth is, though, that when I accepted to the call to this congregation nearly 8 years ago, it was specifically pointed out that it was a "part-time" compensation package. Currently, my compensation package is $1,600 per year LESS than it was in 2004. The work at the golf course will hopefully make up for that amount, at about 5-10 hours of work there per week (seasonally, while the golf course needs the workers)."

Pete, You are part time Pastor and bi-vocational. Your block schedule should be 4 to 5 blocks per week for ministry and one of those blocks is Sunday Morning. You can not spend more than 20 hours a week for the church because you need the bi-vocational income for family and retirement planning. (I hope you have a Fidelity TSA account at hdqrtrs.) Your bi-vocational job can be a ministry too, making contacts with people who need Jesus. Give yourself a break and feel the freedom to limit your church hours and find a very rewarding bi-vocational job to sublimate with fulfilling and satisfying work.

[Alisa Stoll]

We expect our full time pastors to work no more than 50 hours per week on average. Most average no less than 45. They are taken to task if they consistently average more than 50. Part time staff - paid for 20 to 25 hours - no more than 30.

Alisa

[Pete Vecchi]

Pete, You are part time Pastor and bi-vocational. Your block schedule should be 4 to 5 blocks per week for ministry and one of those blocks is Sunday Morning. You can not spend more than 20 hours a week for the church because you need the bi-vocational income for family and retirement planning. (I hope you have a Fidelity TSA account at hdqrtrs.) Your bi-vocational job can be a ministry too, making contacts with people who need Jesus. Give yourself a break and feel the freedom to limit your church hours and find a very rewarding bi-vocational job to sublimate with fulfilling and satisfying work.

John, I appreciate your words, more than you can know.

At the same time, my entire life in ministry has been one of being paid way less than the average person in my position makes--first as an evangelist when I somehow scraped by doing that "full-time" (defined for P&B purposes at the time as a minimum of 30 Sundays a year), and now as a pastor.

The truth is that God's call on my life was specifically to "Vocational Ministry." That's why I can't call myself "bi-vocational." When God called me to this pastorate, although it was made clear to me by the board that this was a "part-time" compensation package, I told them that I would be putting full-time into the endeavor. That may not have been the "smartest" thing to say as far as traditional thinking goes, but it was the truth. That's because at that time, even the "part-time" compensation package from the church would well exceed the amounts that I was getting from evangelism, working part-time as the manager of a car wash, and my wife's part time job put together. I was willing to (and actually looked forward to) putting all of my work time and energies into the job God called me to do rather than having to put half of my work time into a job that I really didn't like at all (but for which I often made myself thank God since it was helping to support our family).

Now, my wife also has a full-time job (one that she actually likes, because she is well-suited for it based on her God-given talents and abilities). I am spending the vast, vast majority of my work time in ministry-related activities, and am working at the golf course just very part-time. And I generally find the time working at the golf course to be a time I enjoy. The thing is that the time I spend working there in essence takes up the amount of time I would have spent playing golf in the past years; I'm still at a golf course about the same amount of time per week, but now I get paid to work instead of paying to play (and on the rare occasions when I do have the time to play there, I don't have to pay for it).

I am going to be limiting my church work, I think, by working with this 12-point planner. I also have to remind myself that--especially at my level of compensation--even if I work every block of the 12-point planner in 3-hour shifts rather than 4, a 36-hour week is more than fair for the amount of compensation I receive.

All that being said, the biggest key is for me to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in using all of the time He's given me the way He wants me to use it.

[Pete Vecchi]

We expect our full time pastors to work no more than 50 hours per week on average. Most average no less than 45. They are taken to task if they consistently average more than 50. Part time staff - paid for 20 to 25 hours - no more than 30.

Alisa

I'm just curious, Alisa, as to what type of dollar amounts your church pays for "full-time" and "part-time". If you would feel better not posting that publicly, please feel free to send me a private message.

The same goes for other people who might care to share the compensation levels for "full-time" and "part-time" ministers.

[Mike Schutz]

John, I appreciate your words, more than you can know.

At the same time, my entire life in ministry has been one of being paid way less than the average person in my position makes--first as an evangelist when I somehow scraped by doing that "full-time" (defined for P&B purposes at the time as a minimum of 30 Sundays a week), and now as a pastor.

The truth is that God's call on my life was specifically to "Vocational Ministry." That's why I can't call myself "bi-vocational." When God called me to this pastorate, although it was made clear to me by the board that this was a "part-time" compensation package, I told them that I would be putting full-time into the endeavor. That may not have been the "smartest" thing to say as far as traditional thinking goes, but it was the truth. That's because at that time, even the "part-time" compensation package from the church would well exceed the amounts that I was getting from evangelism, working part-time as the manager of a car wash, and my wife's part time job put together. I was willing to (and actually looked forward to) putting all of my work time and energies into the job God called me to do rather than having to put half of my work time into a job that I really didn't like at all (but for which I often made myself thank God for since it was helping to support our family).

Now, my wife also has a full-time job (one that she actually likes, because she is well-suited for it based on her God-given talents and abilities). I am spending the vast, vast majority of my work time in ministry-related activities, and am working at the golf course just very part-time. And I generally find the time working at the golf course to be a time I enjoy. The thing is that the time I spend working there in essence takes up the amount of time I would have spent playing golf in the past years; I'm still at a golf course about the same amount of time per week, but now I get paid to work instead of paying to play (and on the rare occasions when I do have the time to play there, I don't have to pay for it).

I am going to be limiting my church work, I think, by working with this 12-point planner. I also have to remind myself that--especially at my level of compensation--even if I work every block of the 12-point planner in 3-hour shifts rather than 4, a 36-hour week is more than fair for the amount of compensation I receive.

All that being said, the biggest key is for me to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in using all of the time He's given me the way He wants me to use it.

Pete,
I think you are being completely reasonable both with your own health and with your level of compensation. Drawing those boundaries is difficult to do, but necessary.

[Dave McClung]

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been dragging. I feel as though I have no energy. I couldn't figure out why, until I started taking stock of how many hours I have been putting in for work per week. Without realizing it, I'd been putting in 50 or more hours in ministry, plus working several hours per week at a local golf course.

I realized last night that something should change. I hate to think about quitting the golf course job because it brings in some money per each hour I work. On the other hand, no matter how many hours I work in ministry, the pay is the same.

I've had to face the reality that now at age 50 (almost 51), I simply don't have the energy levels I had when I was 40-41, when I had less energy than when I was 30-31. I'm pretty sure that's generally how things go, and the energy levels won't likely get greater as the years continue to pass.

One of the realities with which I deal is that I have to do the vast, vast majority of my ministry work from home (other than when there is something taking place specifically at the church or if I need to make pastoral visitations and such). The point is, my main "pastor's office" is in my home. What I've found is that it's all too easy to figure "I'm not doing anything else, I might as well work on _______." (fill in the blank).

Last night, I remembered something that a former pastor of mine and I had discussed shortly after I first was district licensed about 17 years ago. It was called a 12-Point Planner, and basically works like this:

Each day is divided into 3 blocks of 3-4 hours each: Morning, Afternoon, and Evening. That's 21 blocks total. Working for 12 of those blocks in a week would be 36-48 hours.

To me that sounds like a reasonable amount of time to work in a week (generally speaking). The truth is, though, that when I accepted to the call to this congregation nearly 8 years ago, it was specifically pointed out that it was a "part-time" compensation package. Currently, my compensation package is $1,600 per year LESS than it was in 2004. The work at the golf course will hopefully make up for that amount, at about 5-10 hours of work there per week (seasonally, while the golf course needs the workers).

Figuring 5 hours there (the lowest amount per week, generally) and 36 hours per week in ministry (again, the lowest amount per week, generally according to the 12-point planner), that's a minimum of 41 work-hours per week. Looking at the "high end" for both of those, that's 58 work hours per week. That's probably more than is healthy, but both of the "minimum" and "maximum" would decrease during the off-season for golf.

Honestly, I feel as though as the years continue, I'll likely need to start cutting back on hours. At the same time, we need money to support my family. As someone who did music ministry said to me a number of years ago, "We don't do it for the money, but we need money to keep doing it."

So why am I posting this? I think it's because I want to urge people--especially those who don't necessarily work a "regular" schedule each week (such as many pastors)--to look at their schedules and evaluate whether they are working healthy amounts of time per week.

Pete

First, let me respond by saying that everyone is different. Some may be able to work more hours per day than others. If you are feeling "worn out", the first thing you should do is get a physical. Your lack of energy may be the result of something being out of balance. The only way to know is through a blood test.

If the physical doesn't show anything out of balance, try to reduce the stress in your life. The level of stress has more to do with your feelings than the hours worked.

My reaction to the hours worked is that they are not out of line if you are healthy. Throughout my working life, I worked 60 to 70 hours a week, then took work home with me.

[Pete Vecchi]

Dave, Thanks for the advice.

I think I had a revelation about the whole situation. It's a combination of factors. I think it's primarily been mental fatigue, combined a bit with with the extremely hot weather (which I actually don't mind, but which I notice can tend to sap my energy a bit more quickly than normal). Here's what I've found:

During this week, when I implemented my 12-point plan, it seemed as though all week I felt less draggy, and I think it was because I knew going into the day about how much time and when I would spend time on work-related activities. By Monday or Tuesday, I had a good idea of what other 3-4 hour blocks of time I would need to use to accomplish my work. Therefore, when I would (for instance) sit down and take an entire 30 minutes to eat lunch, or sit down and not feel the need to do work-related activities after supper (instead of feeling as though I was wasting time), I felt physically better. Then, I was able to take the day off yesterday, and felt rested. Today, I worked a half-day at the golf course, and was ready to do a few relatively minor things to take care of my 12th block for the week this afternoon. I felt good. I had almost everything that was time-sensitive done, and had plenty of time to get the other time-sensitive stuff done.

Then I sat down at my home office, and saw a couple of messages that had been sent to me. Both were being critical of me. And I almost felt a tangible, physical weight drop onto my shoulders, and suddenly I felt tired the rest of the afternoon. I still got my work done, but without the energy I thought I should have.

It was a mental/emotional thing. I know that part of my make-up is that I am responsible. Part of the negative of that is that when I don't live up to someone else's expectations, I feel as though I have fallen short--or have outright failed. Mentally and intellectually, I know that I don't have to live up to others' expectations of me. But something in my make-up just takes things to heart.

As I analyze this, I can see that my not having had a "plan" for the week as far as working was partly due to my feeling as though I had to live up to everyone else's expectations, and that in order to do so, I could not allow myself to have "down time" if something was yet undone.

I guess I'm still not perfect.