2 ms·

I've done a 4-day work-week, and I was at least as productive, and definitely happier. I found myself screwing around less at work, because I had less time and

I've done a 4-day work-week, and I was at least as productive, and definitely happier. I found myself screwing around less at work, because I had less time and there were things I needed to get done. And then, when I was really engaged in the project I had at work, I had enough slack that I was able to 'over'-produce for a short while (4-6 weeks), which was not sustainable but I didn't care because I loved it. When I'm working 5 days a week, it doesn't leave room for that kind of love; I spend my too-short weekends recharging and begrudging that I don't have enough time for the things I really want to do.

smsm42 7y ago
> I've done a 4-day work-week, and I was at least as productive, and definitely happier. I believe you were happier. But how did you measure the productivity? Are you sure it was objectively the same? I don't mean it as criticism for you, but people are notoriously unreliable at evaluating their own productivity (something 85% people thinking they are above average, and so on :) and productivity in general is not the easiest thing to measure. So, how did you ensure that and how you ensured your case is not "my productivity was less but turns out that was enough too"? I would be glad to have definite proof of this, but self-reporting is not a very reliable productivity indicator, unfortunately...
- Apocryphon 7y ago
  What if the proof is in metrics like lower rates of burn out, less sick days taken, higher morale, etc.?
  - smsm42 7y ago
    Definitely possible. However, not on the data set of size 1. If we get a study with sufficient statistical power and proper controls, sure, I am ready to believe it when I see it. Several studies, of course, would be better, since retraction and non-confirmation numbers are high enough now so that a single study does not constitute a definite proof, but it would certainly be a serious support to the idea.

smsm42 7y ago

> I've done a 4-day work-week, and I was at least as productive, and definitely happier. I believe you were happier. But how did you measure the productivity? Are you sure it was objectively the same? I don't mean it as criticism for you, but people are notoriously unreliable at evaluating their own productivity (something 85% people thinking they are above average, and so on :) and productivity in general is not the easiest thing to measure. So, how did you ensure that and how you ensured your case is not "my productivity was less but turns out that was enough too"? I would be glad to have definite proof of this, but self-reporting is not a very reliable productivity indicator, unfortunately...

Apocryphon 7y ago
What if the proof is in metrics like lower rates of burn out, less sick days taken, higher morale, etc.?
- smsm42 7y ago
  Definitely possible. However, not on the data set of size 1. If we get a study with sufficient statistical power and proper controls, sure, I am ready to believe it when I see it. Several studies, of course, would be better, since retraction and non-confirmation numbers are high enough now so that a single study does not constitute a definite proof, but it would certainly be a serious support to the idea.