I'm not just talking about employment, which in the case of nearly every Australian worker stretches far beyond the hours for which we are paid.

And I'm not just talking about volunteering, which is meant to be discretionary but doesn't ever feel like that to me.

The washing and cooking. The paying of bills, the delaying of bills, the querying of bills. The visits to those dear and near. Those are the physical tasks that must be done for our lives to continue untroubled.

The emotional tasks take no less time unless, by a miracle, everyone is content at the same time. In 32 years of parenting, I can't think that has ever happened to me.

As some wise parent once said: "You are only as happy as your unhappiest child."

I've always been reluctant to use the word "obligations" because it brings to mind an idea that these are duties I am forced to do.

But at 60 years old, I understand responsibilities and rights, exercising the second and doing my best to do the first to the limits of my ability.

To make this happen, to be part of a family and other entities, my weekends are usually filled with alarm. Or at least with alarms.

Ring this person or that. Cook for the week ahead. Pick up this and drop off that. Remember to respond to an invitation.

Which is why, on Tuesday morning, I woke up feeling the best I have for weeks. I feel more rested than I do after any other weekend.

And that's because I had a whole extra day to fit in all the tasks that normally squeeze into two days – and then had the opportunity to actually recreate. A three-day weekend to be followed by a four-day working week.

University of South Australia emeritus professor Barbara Pocock researched working hours for decades. She says we need to rethink the working week and rethink the number of hours we spend on paid work.

A four-day week could diminish the panic most of us feel about mixing work with all our other obligations, of which there are many.

I know I often start my weekend with a list of tasks I must complete before the Monday morning alarm goes – and some of those are actually part of my paid job.

Rebecca Huntley, author of Still Lucky: why you should feel optimistic about Australia and its people, says a four-day week would remove the pressure from working Australians.

She says few people have no caring responsibilities they must manage with all their other responsibilities. If it's not children, it's parents. If it's not parents, it's partners. "We are terrifyingly conservative about how we manage work for both men and women," she says.

Huntley says employees feel anxious about asking for more flexible working conditions. I know that when I went part-time – very briefly – my boss thought I'd lost my mind.

When my husband went part-time – also very briefly – his boss was similarly concerned about career paths and commitment.

In 1985, men weren't meant to work flexibly and nor were women. But the public conversation around women at work forced the change so it was much easier for me than it was for him.

We can't fight these battles on our own but do need to start the conversation. If you feel better after three days away from your desk, more in control, it's time to talk.