The 4-day workweek has gained massive attention over the past few years, with proponents touting it as a game-changer for productivity, mental health, and work-life balance.
But as we head into 2025, it’s time to take a closer look at whether it’s truly the solution for modern work—especially with AI transforming how we approach tasks. Here’s why I believe the 4-day workweek might not make sense, and why a balanced 5-day approach, enhanced by AI, is a better path forward.
The idea of a 4-day workweek used to seem appealing, but as I’ve grown, I’ve come to see that life isn’t just about maximizing downtime or avoiding effort. True fulfillment comes from making the most of every part of life, including work. By fully engaging with what we spend most of our time doing, we give ourselves the chance to grow, achieve, and find deeper meaning in our efforts.
AI Is a Productivity Multiplier, Not a Time Reducer
AI isn’t about doing less work; it’s about doing better work. Tools like ChatGPT, automated workflows, and advanced analytics empower us to accomplish more in the same amount of time. They allow us to focus on high-impact tasks, innovate faster, and tackle complex problems with less effort. Reducing the workweek to four days risks undermining these advantages by compressing timelines unnecessarily.
Instead of using AI to cut hours, we should use it to elevate the quality of our work within the existing structure of a 5-day week. The goal should be smarter, more balanced work—not less work.
The Stress of Compression
While advocates claim a 4-day workweek improves mental health, the reality is more nuanced. Compressing five days’ worth of tasks into four often leads to rushed work, reduced focus, and higher stress. AI might help reduce some of this pressure, but it doesn’t eliminate the need for deep thinking, collaboration, and iteration—all of which require adequate time.
Moreover, certain industries—particularly those with client-facing or operational demands—simply can’t afford to stop functioning for three days each week. A 5-day workweek allows for the flexibility and continuity needed to maintain high-quality outcomes.
Balance Over Reduction
The conversation around workweeks should shift from reducing hours to achieving better balance. AI enables us to optimise our workflows, automate repetitive tasks, and spend more time on creative or strategic endeavours. By leveraging these tools, we can create a 5-day schedule that feels less overwhelming and more fulfilling.
For example:
Use AI to handle mundane tasks like scheduling, reporting, and data analysis, freeing up time for meaningful work.
Integrate focus blocks into your week, supported by AI tools that minimise distractions.
Build systems that encourage deep work while maintaining space for personal growth.
This approach keeps the best aspects of a traditional workweek while adapting to the realities of modern technology.
The Importance of Downtime
While a 5-day workweek allows for continuity and balance, it’s equally important to protect and value downtime. Rest and recovery are not luxuries; they’re essential for maintaining creativity, focus, and long-term productivity. Overworking—even within a 5-day framework—can lead to burnout, diminishing the very benefits AI and optimised workflows are meant to provide.
Downtime isn’t just about disconnecting; it’s about recharging. Whether it’s spending time with family, pursuing hobbies, or simply stepping away from screens, these moments fuel our ability to bring energy and innovation back into our work. The key is to use both work and rest intentionally, creating a rhythm that sustains both high performance and well-being.
AI and the Future of Work
There’s a common misconception that AI is a tool for reducing labor, but the real opportunity lies in enhancing what humans can achieve. By embracing AI, we have the potential to redefine productivity—not by doing less, but by doing more impactful work. The 5-day workweek provides the structure to make this possible without rushing or overloading employees.
Rather than framing AI as a way to work less, we should see it as a way to reclaim balance and ambition. It’s a tool that allows us to solve bigger problems, create better solutions, and ultimately enjoy a more satisfying work experience.
Closing Thoughts
The 4-day workweek may work in limited contexts, but it’s not a universal solution—especially in a world where AI has become integral to how we work. Instead of focusing on cutting hours, let’s focus on creating balanced, flexible work systems that allow us to maximise the benefits of AI without sacrificing quality or continuity.
The future of work isn’t about working less. It’s about working better.