![]() ![]() “When it comes to your work, try to work part-time, 30–35 hours a week on average,” he says.īuettner also recommends taking six weeks of vacation per year, which is the optimal amount for happiness. Buettner has reviewed the research on more than 20 million people worldwide through the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index, and has conducted extensive on-the-ground research in the world’s happiest countries. Happiness expert Dan Buettner takes it even a step further. Other Scandinavian countries enjoy a similar work-life balance and similar happiness rankings. People in Denmark work hard and are just as productive as other workers, but rarely put in more than 37 hours a week, often leaving the office by 4 or 5 PM each day. And speaking of Scandinavia… Work hours and happinessĪ 38-hour workweek is remarkably similar to the number of hours worked in Denmark, consistently one of the world’s happiest countries (Denmark has placed among the top three happiest countries on the World Happiness Report in each of the last eight years). Non-traditional schedules are gaining traction in places like Spain and Scandinavia. Or, busy human resources professional might need 40 hours each week to get all their work done, but would benefit from compressing those hours into a 4-day schedule that affords them an extra day off (and keeps burnout at bay). That way, they essentially work while the kids are at school. Parents with school-aged children, for example, might be thrilled with a schedule that has them working five days a week with slightly reduced hours each day. As to which format might suit you best, it’s really a matter of your personal responsibilities, your job responsibilities, and your employer’s willingness to be flexible. If you’re new to this idea, some examples of alternative work schedules include:Įach of these options has the benefit of giving you extra time for personal matters where you didn’t have it before – either by condensing a traditional workweek into four days, or by simply putting in fewer hours. So to not feel starved for time, aim for a 7.6 hour workday. Those who felt like they had the least time overall worked 8.6 hours, whereas those who felt like they had the most time worked just one hour less, or 7.6 hours. And the results showed that there was only a one-hour difference between the workers who felt like they had a lot of time and those who felt time-pressured. Of the 900 people included in the study, the average employee worked 8.3 hours per day. ![]() Time management expert Laura Vanderkam conducted a study to determine how the number of hours you work each day affects how much time you think you have. So how do we get everything done without feeling like we’re in a constant relay race? Ideal work hours per day and week That’s probably why the four-hour workweek is such an enticing dream, even if it’s not entirely feasible for the average worker. 48 percent of employees reported feeling rushed for time, and 52 percent said they feel significant stress as a result. Our non-stop lifestyle has also resulted in additional work-related stress. A study from the World Health Organization (WHO) found that working an average of 55 hours or more each week increases your risk of stroke by 35 percent and your risk of dying from heart disease by 17 percent, compared to averaging a 35-40 hour workweek. Research also reveals the damage to our physical health that overwork can cause. Additionally, not taking at least one full day off per week leads to lower hourly output overall. Research tells us that productivity falls sharply after 50 hours per week, and drops off a cliff after 55 hours. Whatever your particular appetite for work is, know that there’s plenty of evidence that putting in more hours each week doesn’t necessarily equate to higher productivity. Get stories like this in your inbox Subscribe The upskilling imperative: now’s the time to future-proof your workforce More in Productivity Yes, it’s possible to be too good at your job Your resume gap doesn’t have to be a setback How growth levers help your business go the distance More in Strategy Oh, snap! Did we just create the world’s first collaborative sonic brand? Organize the chaos: 5 steps to effective change management “Impossible alone, possible together”: Van Jones on the universal truths of teamwork More in Leadership Shared understanding: finding the “why” behind the “what” How Employee Resource Groups help build a culture of belonging Use the coaching leadership style to help your team achieve its full potential “Impossible alone, possible together”: Van Jones on the universal truths of teamwork More in Teamwork “Teamwork makes the dream work”: an origin story New data on flexible work holds good news for great teams Well-executed distributed work makes for happier, more productive teams ![]()
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