Many professionals dream of shorter workweeks. A compelling study from Australia's Melbourne Institute provides strong evidence that a three-day schedule—around 25 hours—helps maintain productivity for those over 40 without risking burnout.
To discuss this with your employer, here's the research-backed case.
The study, conducted by Australian and Japanese researchers, analyzed 3,500 women and 3,000 men over 40, assessing cognitive performance through tests like reciting number sequences and reading words aloud.
"Our results show a clear impact on cognitive functioning based on weekly hours worked," the researchers noted. "Up to about 25 hours, cognition improves. Beyond that, longer hours harm performance."
These findings held true for both men and women, making a 25-hour workweek the sweet spot for brain health.
Not feasible? The study found a standard 40-hour week outperforms unemployment for cognition. But exceeding 55 hours is worse than not working at all.
"Work's intellectual stimulation varies with duration," explained Colin McKenzie, economics professor at Keio University. "It sharpens the mind up to a point, but excessive hours lead to fatigue, stress, and cognitive decline—especially with repetitive tasks over eight hours daily, five days a week."
In short, 25 hours per week emerges as ideal for sustained performance.
Who wouldn't want similar research tailored for other regions?
Researchers call this the "sandwich generation," balancing childcare or eldercare alongside jobs. These demands compound fatigue without built-in rest.
At 40, subtle brain aging effects begin, underscoring the need for balanced schedules to protect cognitive health.
