Tried a 4-day work week for 3 months and it felt like a total scam until I fixed one thing

I was so hyped to switch to compressed hours at my marketing job in Austin. First 2 months I was dead tired by Thursday and my output tanked. Turns out working 10 hours straight with no real break was killing me more than a 5-day grind. I started taking a proper 30 minute lunch and two 15 minute breaks spaced out and now I actually get more done than before. My boss even noticed the change last week. Anyone else try compressed hours and hit a wall like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

joelsanchez1d ago

Oh man, that break thing is genius! I've seen so many people crash and burn on compressed hours because they treat it like a marathon without pit stops. Proper breaks really change the whole game, I bet most people skip them thinking they're saving time when it actually hurts their focus. Your boss noticing the improvement is proof you're onto something real. Glad you figured it out before giving up entirely on the schedule.

nelson.finley1d ago

My buddy in Denver tried compressed hours and ended up sleeping in his car between shifts because he couldn't handle the drive home and back. Three days of that and he quit. Your break trick is solid though, I noticed the same thing when I was doing 12s at a warehouse back in 2019. The 10 hour grind turns into a zombie walk without forcing yourself to step away.