I am an addict

I have an addiction.

What is it?

It’s to stimulation.

It’s to my brain buzzing away, being active with those gamma waves whirring – most of the time.

Apparently it is illegal to work over 48 hours in a week in the UK…

I don’t dare to add up the hours that I often work in a week – it is more than 48.

In addition, it’s not all work and no play.

Fiona doesn’t like to be a dull girl.

And I have family to spend time with…

So, I burn the candle at both ends.

Do you recognise this syndrome?

Is this you?

Or maybe you are seriously trying to follow the emerging trend for a four-day working week.

The results from a recent trial of employees working for a variety of firms across sectors on such a thing are in.

The UK pilot has been promoted by 4 Day Week Global, a not-for-profit organisation founded in New Zealand, and overseen by the thinktank and research organisation, Autonomy, comprising a team of academics. Here is an extract from their report:

The trial was a resounding success. Of the 61 companies that participated, 56 are continuing with the four-day week (92%), with 18 confirming the policy is a permanent change. Some of the most extensive benefits of shorter working hours were found in employees’ well-being. ‘Before and after’ data shows that 39% of employees were less stressed, and 71% had reduced levels of burnout at the end of the trial. Likewise, levels of anxiety, fatigue and sleep issues decreased, while mental and physical health both improved.

Other key business metrics also showed signs of positive effects from shorter working hours. Companies’ revenue, for instance, stayed broadly the same over the trial period, rising by 1.4% on average, weighted by company size, across respondent organisations. When compared to a similar period from previous years, organisations reported revenue increases of 35% on average – which indicates healthy growth during this period of working time reduction.

Wow!!

Now, you may not be an employee.

Like me, you might be running your own business or self-employed.

And the life of the self-employed can mean significantly longer hours…

Am I dreaming the impossible dream?

And of course, there is the fact that I seem to be addicted to this way of life, it has become habitual.

But…

I’m going to be working on it.

Why?

Sometimes it is taking me longer to complete tasks than it should because my brain is so rarely resting, and I catch myself over thinking.

I am feeling tired and need more sleep – essential to replenish and refresh your brain and simply stay healthy.

I have huge stores of energy, but I need to artificially prime the pump with caffeine to get up and bouncing.

People say I look well on my lifestyle, but the truth is I don’t leave the house or turn on the Zoom screen without applying makeup, not only to enhance, but to cover up as effectively as possible my looking tired.

And perhaps there is another way…

How am I going to do it?

Watch this space!

Contact me at fiona@locuscoaching.com to find out how I can help you to stand out, speak up and be heard, however you may be feeling.

---

Comments