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Last year, I decided ‘by hook or by crook’ I was finally going to conduct an experiment I had been thinking about for years. I’ve always looked on with a little envy at social posts announcing extended summer breaks, and reading about Basecamp and other progressive companies offering summer hours.
I always thought, what a lovely idea, but in the real word - it’s just not possible.
Why?
I always think summer will be quieter and spend some time thinking and planning what I can do with this extended time, but it ends up being as busy as any other time of year.
After all attendance at work already decreases by 19% during the summer (due to annual leave etc.), and workers can be up to 45% more distracted than during other seasons (think of the sun beaming in the windows, or in Ireland, looking out at the rain pelting down in June and wondering when the summer will arrive - the answer, basically never).
How could I possibly manage this, while remaining productive when every other Summer has been so busy? 🤔
The commitment
My commitment was simple but challenging: each day I set out to work until 2 p.m. and taking Fridays off. Yes, you heard that right, – I decided to give myself a three-day weekend every week during the summer. 😎
Research on 4-day work week (reduced hour - 32 hour work weeks at the SAME pay) indicating that four-day work weeks work, with one study showing
‘Through the trial period, revenue increased (based on the same time the previous year) and company satisfaction was 9 out of 10 (not one company involved has made the decision to go back to full hours). Employee satisfaction was 97%. More than two-thirds of employees said they felt less burnt out. Employees loved it so much that 13% said no pay rise would be enough to entice them back to full hours and a further 13% said they would need a pay rise of 50% or more.’
I set out to figure out the other aspect, the reduced hours on the other four days - but let me be honest; it's easier said than done.
How it went.
Ever heard of Parkinson’s law? Me neither, well at least not until I started my Summer experiment. In a nutshell, work or tasks expand to fit the time allotted to it, when people are given extra time to complete a task, we’ll generally take advantage of that time, even if we don’t really need it. So with Summer, by reducing my hours there was a chance I could actually be more productive. Here’s how it went:
What I learned from my ‘Summer Hours Experiment’
I said it before and I’ll say it again. It was a lot harder than I thought. I’ve lots on the go. I’ve clients, a team, a business to run. At one stage my husband asked me to look again and consider if trying to do it all in less hours was in fact causing me more stress.
The truth is I have years of overworking. I have years where my value and identity were tied up in always going above and beyond.
Interrupting that habit, reevaluating when I bring most value reevaluating how (and if) I’m prioritising properly. I reflected on when I’m truly at my best - ie I have headspace, I’m not chained to my desk, I get fresh air, I play with the kids, walk the dog - all of these things inspire ideas. They give me an opportunity to listen to podcasts and audio books to inspire me.
I was hard. Unlearning a lifetime of habits and beliefs is never going to be a walk in the park. But turns out a walk in the park is exactly what I needed. It was so worth it.
This year I’m tweaking the twork for myself. I’m doing 3 full days (trying to keep afternoons free as possible to increase my chances of leaving at 5 but if I work on it’s ok). Wednesdays and Fridays I’m off. I’m allowed to check Slack and emails once in the day, if it suits around my plans that day otherwise I’m off off.
Twork (tweak for better work) - build your own summer hours experiment
Based on my experiment last year and armed with my learnings for the Summer ahead, here is what can you do to create your own summer hours.
1. Define your summer hours - working shorter hours, ensuring you leave on time
Defining Your Summer Hours
What change can you make over the summer period?
Clearly define your summer hours. The clearer you are, the more likely it is to happen. Write out your new working hours and block your diary for anything outside those hours.
Clearly set expectations with those around you.
Of course, I understand that not everyone has the flexibility I have, but you can still find ways to create your summer hours. Whether it's leaving work on time, taking proper lunch breaks, or starting and ending your day promptly, small changes can make a big difference.
2. Prioritise
If you are struggling to see how to reduce hours, examine what is essential & impactful.
Sometimes we see tasks as essential because they are expected or part of how things are always done but are they impactful? Or are they a nice to have (and therefor at least in the short term get dropped)
What tasks can you reduce or eliminate during this period?
3. Mindset
If you are reading this thinking ‘I couldn’t possibly’, then I invite you in Adam Grant's words to ‘think again’.
I thought I absolutely could and the reality is really tough to navigate. My own long-ingrained beliefs that my value is in working harder and longer make it near impossible to leave my desk at 2 pm unless I’m compelled to.
Hold yourself accountable, create a personal to-do list that gives you a reason to stick to your new hours and tell everyone so they hold you accountable too. What beliefs do you need to let go of to make this possible?
“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.” Henry Ford
4. Break the Late Work Habit:
- Summer is the perfect opportunity to break the habit of working late.
- Trust me; you can achieve more by focusing on priorities in a shorter timeframe (remember Parkinson’s law)
- Realise and accept it will take time to implement, sometimes we are undoing years of habitual late working.
Extra tweak to the twork
The Temptation to Stay
Believe me, it's so tempting to stay glued to my desk, ticking off those to-dos. But to counter this, I've added personal appointments and activities to my calendar that force me away from my workspace. Having external commitments keeps me in check and reminds me that life exists beyond my computer screen.
For me that might be doctors appointments for the kids, self care, days out (yet to happen) or committing to my summer project of decorating the kids rooms (time is ticking by way too quick).
Set up something in your day at end time that forces you away from your desk. Send the childminder home, book an exercise class, promise the dog a walk - whatever works for you.
A lot of overworking is habitual.
Habitual expectation to be present and available regardless of outputs. This is the time to break the habit.
Bonus Benefit: The Unexpected Productivity
Despite leaving my desk at 2 p.m., I noticed something fascinating. Throughout the afternoon, my mind continued to churn with solutions and ideas for challenges that arose during the day.
I'm not checking emails or Slack; I'm simply allowing my brain the space to process and innovate.
It means I can still be present with the kids or whatever I’m doing after 2 pm but my head is clearer and solutions and answers come way quicker when I’m back to work in the morning.
Take care and stay well!
Michelle Wallace
Founder
A Better Work
At A Better Work we work with our clients to make work better and more fulfilling. It's not about happiness, it's about feeling a sense of accomplishment, and building teams that work brilliantly together in good times and bad.
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