Why I’m setting Tuesdays off as a new ritual for 2026

Clock in 9 am. Clock out 6pm. 

Back in the 1990s, when I worked inside a company, commitment was often measured in the hours we put in. We showed our dedication by being present. The length of time we were physically in the building. 

Crazy when you think about it. Yet, for the first ten years of my entrepreneurial life, I still stuck to ‘office hours’. 

But why do we persist in 9 to 5 (or let’s face it, later) working practices? They’re not helpful. Often they’re detrimental to our health, bodies, and minds. I found that out when my presenteeism wasn’t serving me. 

So around 15 years ago I began creating more space for me in my working week. I made small changes that shifted the energy during the day. I got out for mid-morning estuary swims or picked my sons up from school in the afternoon. If I was in London, I sometimes went to the cinema or a gallery. 

It felt good. So I then tried a few experiments. I’d been inspired by Kin & Co, a company that had introduced ‘Wednesday Offternoons,’ which saw great results in creativity, employee engagement and also productivity. So in January 2022 I started what I playfully called ‘Friplay afternoons’, where I took Fridays off with the intention of doing something nice or nourishing with the time. In 2024, in the first few months after cancer surgery, I earmarked Wednesdays for downtime.

But then I got busy and my experiments went out of the window. So I have decided to start 2026 with intention: by taking Tuesdays off (I did toy with calling it Chooseday Tuesday but I’ve gone with ‘The Tuesday Practice’).

I’ve named it to make it a ‘thing’ - it’s not that I’m simply not available, I’m doing something intentional and valuable. Turning it into a ritual is significant. It’s a boundary for me and a story I’m happy to tell. I may use the time for personal development; I may use the time to rest and relax. No rules. No need to justify. It’s about creating s p a c e.

So by sharing this on LinkedIn I’m hoping I’ll stay accountable and keep on doing The Tuesday Practice. After all, my mantra for running my own business has long been that this is my life, not a business model. I do not want to squeeze productivity out of every waking moment. And as I continue to live with cancer, if not now then when?