What is the optimum length of a work week?
“Eight days a week is not enough to show I care” as The Beatles said, but this sentiment may be misleading. Of course you are welcome to lavish attention on your loved one day in and out. But should you be at the office (or your desk) after-hours? There is startling evidence to the contrary.
Have you driven a Ford lately?
In the 1920’s a smart American executive noted that his employees’ productivity plummeted when they moved beyond the 5-day working week. Then he proved that they could be as effective in five days as in six. Food for thought – from none other than Henry Ford. The rest, as they say, is history.
Less is more
In our work-obsessed society, lunch is for sissies and daddy comes home after eight. We get packed off to school as early as age two or three, with all the attendant demands to focus, learn, and produce. Forty hours a week? Pooh! Most of us favour sixty. But a convincing study demonstrates that if you work more than 35 hours a week your productivity declines. Which, Mr Ford, tips the scales more towards a four-day week. Some have been cheeky enough to suggest that a three-day working week is best for “over-forties”.
Speed kills
What’s up with that? It’s simple. Though multi-tasking and working over-time makes us feel more effective (bring on the caffeine!) we are in fact paying a price in terms of taking a global view of our work. You will be tired. Your product will be flawed. And you will spend more time fixing it. Not to mention that there were a whole bunch of brilliant alternative ideas you missed because you were stressed out (jittery) and rushing to get done…
Workaholics Anonymous
Working too hard has serious consequences for your health. No one ever lay on their deathbed going, “I wish I had spent more time at the office.” You may be over-working to avoid dealing with feelings of anxiety or depression, or an unhappy family life. When you stop for a moment and drink a cup of chamomile tea, new worlds open up.
Ways to lighten your work week
No one’s saying you need to throw in the towel or shoot yourself in your career-ladder climbing foot. That can only lead to painfully mixed metaphors. Half-measures and a shoddy job are not what we’re advocating. You need to work smarter, not harder. One of the most effective ways to do this is to delegate. Yup, you can outsource your content-writing to the professionals. Everything from articles and blogs to social media tweets and posts.
