Do We Need to Work Less to do More?

Whether it’s completing a pet project in your spare time, getting ahead at work, or making a company more profitable, cutting down on working hours may seem counterintuitive. However, led by Swedish experiments, people and businesses are beginning to take the idea more seriously.

The Six Hour Working Day

The six hour working day is based on the idea that happy, well rested people work harder and take fewer sick days, and that the limited hours focus people’s attention and cuts down on procrastination. Few people can stay entirely focused over eight hours, but with less time comes greater urgency. Instead of spending time looking out of the window, chatting away to colleagues, checking their personal emails or otherwise putting off important tasks, people engage with the task immediately, and concentrate throughout the day.

The Swedish experiment has shown this to work, with higher productivity and far fewer missed days. The only downside is that the need for more staff may cost companies more than the higher productivity and less sick days saves – something that will probably stand in the way of it being introduced into the mainstream just yet. Furthermore, it would have to contend with a working culture (particularly prevalent in the US and UK) which values presenteeism above all else.

The Problem With Presenteeism 

Even though working more than a 50 hours week makes people less productive, simply being seen to be at work (sometimes for 80 hours or more) is the most important thing. Once this culture is embedded, it’s hard to change, as anyone going home at their allotted time could be branded as uncaring or lazy, or indeed just fear that they will be.

While it may not be rolled out as a standard practise just yet, on a personal level this news may help people become more productive in their spare time – and even at work if they get to set their own hours. And productivity needn’t be tied to work all the time. There are plenty of interesting projects, volunteering roles, creative pursuits and hobbies that are worthwhile in themselves.

As far as a shorter working day goes, we may get to a point in the future where no longer have a choice. The increasing automation of the workplace, especially in white-collar jobs, could mean that there are far fewer hours to share around. Furthermore, with stress and burnout having a huge impact both on people’s lives and workplace productivity, it may be that a less stressful working environment and more spare time to relax is one effective way to challenge this.

Here at Will Williams Meditation we can help you improve your focus and productivity. Find out more here.