Work less, say no more

The announcement yesterday that 56 of the 61 businesses who took part in the 4-day working week trial organised by 4 Day Global, will continue with the practice has been greeting with a mixed response from the business world. Inevitably, some leaders have responded with a shrug and a list of reasons why it sounds nice, but wouldn’t work here.

But I think it’s something all businesses should consider. Especially start-ups.

 At the end of 2022, I felt burnt out and miserable. Work was a grind. I was exhausted. At home we’d had a long run of what turned out to be the seemingly endless post-Covid viral bonanza that all parents of school age children can relate to. But we feared something much worse. I felt stressed, anxious and like I was failing at pretty much everything. I’d lost all of my sense of agency.

I knew something had to give. And so far, 2023 has meant big changes for me (some of them not out of choice, admittedly!), but almost overwhelmingly positive.

The biggest change has been that I have been working less. And I’ve been saying no more. Without consciously meaning to, I have adopted the 4-day week principle.

And do you know what? It’s working.

I feel much more able to add value to my clients, and I mean really add value, rather than just doing the things in the contract. I’m picking up new business and I’m doing the things that I enjoy again. Rather than trying to be a version of what I think is expected, I’m being me again because my optimism and energy is back.

I’ve been able to really think about what I enjoy doing, where I can make an impact and just focus on that. I’ve started being creative again, and I’m working with a brilliant variety of people who I really respect on things that really do matter to people’s everyday lives and the future of the planet.

I’ve been more present for my family. And I feel more like a whole person again rather than someone chained to an overwhelming to-do list, with some parenting responsibilities added on in my ‘spare’ time.

I’ve made a promise to myself that I’m going to stick with working less and saying no more. And it’s going to be my main piece of advice for every start-up I work with.

It might sound counter intuitive when you’re trying to build a business, and you feel like every second counts. But when you are the business, you need to believe in what you’re doing and feel fulfilled. Prioritising yourself is putting the business first.