Why People Don’t Want to Work 40-Hour Weeks

Why People Don’t Want to Work 40-Hour Weeks Anymore—And What That Means for Your Mental Health Pt. 1

Feeling Burnt Out? You’re Not Alone.

If you’re feeling exhausted, unmotivated, or questioning whether you can keep up with the demands of a full-time job—you’re not lazy, and you’re definitely not alone. A growing number of people, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, are rethinking the traditional 40-hour workweek. The question they’re asking is simple: Is this really how life is supposed to be?

The last few years have sparked a major cultural shift, leaving millions, especially young adults, facing what many are calling a quarter-life crisis—a time when people in their 20s and 30s reconsider their priorities, goals, and what truly matters in life.

The Cultural Shift: Why the Quarter-Life Crisis Is Happening Now

In past generations, the “midlife crisis” was a common phenomenon—an experience usually reserved for people in their 40s or 50s. Today, however, that reckoning is happening earlier.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many to confront their mortality, job stability, and work-life balance. With entire industries shifting overnight, workers began re-evaluating what they truly wanted from their careers.

This shift in perspective led to a reevaluation of priorities:

✔ People are prioritizing mental health over hustle culture.
✔ Many are realizing that a traditional career path isn’t the only way to find success. ✔ Work-life balance is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity.

The 40-Hour Workweek Doesn’t Support Mental Health

For decades, working long hours was often seen as a badge of success. But now, research clearly shows that excessive work leads to detrimental effects, including:

• Increased rates of anxiety and depression (American Psychological Association, 2023)

• Chronic stress, which harms the immune system (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2021)

• Emotional exhaustion and detachment, key signs of burnout (World Health Organization, 2019)

The reality? You weren’t meant to work yourself to exhaustion. If you’re struggling with stress or mental fatigue, it’s not a personal failing—it’s a sign that your work-life balance needs an overhaul

Why Seeking Therapy Can Help

If you’re feeling lost, burnt out, or overwhelmed by career stress, therapy can be a powerful tool to help you regain clarity and control over your life.

Here’s how therapy can support you through career-related stress:
– Identifying Burnout: A therapist can help you recognize burnout early and develop strategies to recover.
– Clarifying Priorities: If you’re feeling stuck or uncertain about your career path, therapy can help you redefine success on your own terms.
– Work-Life Balance Strategies: Learn how to set boundaries, manage stress, and build a life that aligns with your values.
– Exploring Career Transitions: If you’re considering a career change or non-traditional work path, therapy can provide guidance and confidence.

Burnout isn’t just a phase—it’s a sign that something needs to change. Therapy offers a safe space to process your emotions and take actionable steps toward a healthier, more fulfilling life.

More Hours ≠ More Productivity

A groundbreaking study from Stanford University found that productivity drops significantly after 50 hours per week, and there’s almost no difference between working 55 and 70 hours (Pencavel, 2014).

The key takeaway? More hours doesn’t mean better work—it just means more exhaustion and diminishing returns.

Countries like Iceland and Sweden have already experimented with shorter workweeks, and the results are clear:

✔ Employees are just as (or more) productive.
✔ Stress and burnout decrease.
✔ Job satisfaction rises (Haraldsson & Kellam, 2021).

The outdated belief that working long hours equates to success is being replaced by a healthier, more sustainable approach to productivity.

Next in this series: In Part 2, we’ll explore the rise of hustle culture, the impact of remote and flexible work, and how both employees and employers can embrace this shift for better mental health.

References

American Psychological Association. (2023). Workplace mental health: Employee stress and burnout. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/topics/healthy-workplaces/workplace-burnout

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2021). STRESS…At Work (99-101). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/99-101/default.html

World Health Organization. (2019). Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: International classification of diseases. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international -classification-of-diseases

Pencavel, J. (2014). The productivity of working hours. IZA Discussion Paper No. 8129. Retrieved from https://docs.iza.org/dp8129.pdf