Why 30 Hours Per Week Is More Than Enough (2024)

When people think about their 40 hours per week workloads, it's often hard for them to imagine getting everything done in 30 hours. We get it—doing 100% of your work in 75% of the time it currently takes you to do it seems like a dubious proposition.

It isn't, though—and in this article, 4 Day Week is going to try to prove it to you! We'll be explaining why 30 hours a week is more than enough time to get everything done, and how you can use that extra 10 hours to boost your productivity, creativity, and mental health.

Let's get started!

The Current State of Work

The vast majority of the world's population works more than 40 hours per week. In fact, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the average person works 45 hours per week. And that number is only increasing as we become more and more connected to our work!

All of this is to say that the current state of work is pretty bad. Around 52% of employees report feeling burnt out at work and over 60% of employees say they feel that their work-life balance is “poor”. There are big problems that affect mental health, productivity, relationships, and more.

The solution? Less time in the office.

5 Arguments for Adopting a 30-Hour Workweek

If you're still not convinced that 30 hours per week is more than enough time to get everything done, consider the following five arguments (these benefits also apply to the 4 day work week):

1) You'll Be More Productive

It may seem counterintuitive, but working fewer hours can actually make you more productive. That's because when you work fewer hours, you're forced to focus on the most important tasks and eliminate distractions. In addition, the 30-hour workweek is much more closely aligned with the human brain's ability to focus.

In attention studies, the amount of time the average human brain can focus on a task is usually clocked in at around 20-90 minutes in one sitting and 4-5 hours over the course of a day. That means employees are only focused solely on their work for around 20-25 hours per week!

To make matters worse, time-worked beyond an employee's focus limit is much less productive. Some studies estimate that productivity takes a 40% hit when workers exceed their focus limit.

So, to summarize, 40-hour workweeks are far from optimal in terms of productivity. 30-hour workweeks, on the other hand, allow employees to focus on their work for the majority of their time in the office and produce their best work.

2) You'll Be More Creative

Creativity and innovation are critical for any business that wants to succeed. But the traditional 9-5 workday is not conducive to creativity. In fact, a study by the University of Pennsylvania found that the most creative ideas come outside of normal working hours.

So, if you want to encourage creativity and innovation in your workplace, it makes sense to adopt a shorter workweek. With a 30-hour workweek, employees will have more time outside the office to pursue their creative endeavors. And, as a result, they'll be more likely to bring their creative ideas back to the office and put them into practice.

3) You'll Be Healthier

It's no secret that the traditional workweek takes a toll on our health. In fact, studies have found that long work hours can lead to a host of health problems, including:

• heart disease
• stroke
• obesity
• anxiety
• depression

What's more, employees who work long hours are more likely to make unhealthy choices, such as poor eating habits, not exercising, and not getting enough sleep%20for%20early%20morning%20awakenings.).

All of these health problems can have a serious impact on an employee's ability to perform at their best. In light of this, it's no surprise that shorter workweeks have been shown to improve employees' physical and mental health.

In one study, employees who switched to a four-day workweek performed much better across almost all health metrics than those who stuck with the traditional five-day workweek. So, if you're looking for a way to improve your employees' health and well-being, a shorter workweek is a great place to start.

4) You'll Save Money

The traditional workweek is expensive. Long hours mean that employees need to purchase more office supplies, use more electricity, and take more breaks. In addition, employees who work long hours are more likely to get sick, which can lead to higher healthcare costs.

All of these factors add up to a big financial burden for businesses. But with a shorter workweek, businesses can save money on office costs, healthcare expenses, and employee productivity.

In one study, businesses that switched to a four-day workweek found that they saved an average of 20% on their overall operating costs. Plus, employees save money too! With a shorter workweek, employees have more time to take care of personal responsibilities and need to spend less time commuting, which can save them money in the long run.

5) You'll Improve Your Work-Life Balance

The traditional workweek is notoriously difficult to balance with the rest of life. With long hours and little time off, it's hard to find time for family, friends, and personal hobbies.

This can lead to burnout, which can have a negative impact on an employee's work performance. In fact, studies have shown that workers who are burned out are more likely to make mistakes, miss deadlines, and take more sick days.

So, if you're looking for a way to improve your employees' work-life balance, a shorter workweek is a great solution. With fewer hours spent at the office, employees will have more time for the things they enjoy outside of work.

The Bottom Line

Working fewer hours doesn't mean you'll be less productive, creative, or healthy—it just means you'll have more time for the things that matter most to you.

So, if you're looking for a way to improve your work-life balance, consider making the switch to a 30/32 hour workweek. It just might be the best decision you ever make!