The August bank holiday is finally here – and boy, do we feel ready for it. Now that the weather has changed for the better, plenty of us will be spending the weekend drinking in the park with friends, or perhaps you’re marking the occasion with a BBQ, or even going to your favourite restaurant. And let’s not forget all the new books waiting to be read, films to be watched and Netflix series to be binged.

Whatever you decide to do there’s no denying that a glorious long weekend allows professionals to enjoy more time away from work to sleep, relax and clear their minds. No small thing, especially when you consider the fact that a traditional two-day weekend does more harm than good.

That’s right, a study has suggested that a two-day weekend acts as more of a disruption to the circadian rhythm (the body’s internal clock that directs sleep cycles) and can impair people’s moods and mental capacities upon returning to work. While people can make up for some of the sleep they missed during the week (whether it be by sleeping in or afternoon naps) two days of sleeping in is enough to adjust the circadian rhythm such that they have to jolt back into their regular rhythm when they wake up early on Monday morning.

When people get that extra day or two off to relax, though, they have more time to sleep, exercise, or work on their relationships.

The result? A clearer mind and a happier outlook during the week.

It is worth noting that a three-day weekend doesn’t just benefit employees: it also benefits bosses, too. Alongside the landmark UK trial (which was found to have virtually no downsides, by the way) in 2018, a company in New Zealand implemented a similar eight-week trial, which saw workers come in for just four days a week.

The results were overwhelmingly positive: before the trial commenced, just over half (54%) of staff felt they could effectively balance their work and home commitments. After the trial, this number jumped to 78% - and the plus points didn’t stop there. Staff stress levels decreased by 7% across the board as a result, while stimulation, commitment and a sense of empowerment at work all improved significantly, with overall life satisfaction increasing by 5% points. As an added plus, workers were even shown to have more creativity – and were noticeably more “helpful” and “engaged”, too.

In short, it seems that workers can complete their work satisfactorily, or even better in some aspects, during a four-day week – and enjoy greater work-life balance and reduced stress. We recommend showing this article to your boss, pronto. 

Image: Getty