A Proposal, for a four hour work day
Bertrand Russel by Norman Rockwell
My parents taught me to keep Sundays sacred to one of the seven deadly sins: Sloth. As non-churchgoers, I became accustomed to walking downstairs on a Sunday late morning to find both of them sprawled out in the living room or backyard sometimes talking and sometimes not. Long finished reading the Sunday newspaper, greetings lead to offering me the parts of the Sunday newspaper I preferred: comics and travel. I never read the sections that are what newspapers originally were meant for. Because then my head would be full of worry and would ruin the novelty of sitting on the couch facing out the living room window watching the birds and the flowers enjoy the breeze.
It’s true the world does not cleanse itself of wars, does not wash off the blood, does not get over its hate. It’s true. Yet is is equally true that we are moving toward a realization the violent ones are reflected in the mirror of the world, and their faces are not pleasant to look at, not even to themselves. And I go on believing in the possibility of love.
I am convinced that there will be mutual understanding among human beings, achieved in spite of all the suffering, the blood, the broken glass.
— Pablo Neruda (the greatest poet of all time)
My Sundays are a bit different now. It still includes extolling sloth, but now while savoring a nice cup of coffee.
My go-to place for coffee when in the USA is Blue Bottle Coffee Company, San Francisco, CA.
What does “idleness” mean?
Is it vegging out in front of the tele? Is it checking your emails? Is it reading? Is it walking your dog? Is it perusing through WordPress blogs?
To me, the epitome of idleness is just waking up and staring at the ceiling. This differs from staring at the ceiling before going to bed because of the associated purpose of falling asleep. When I idle in bed, I refuse to get on with the actions of the day. I am just there — useless.
To do nothing at all is the most difficult thing in the world, the most difficult and the most intellectual–Oscar Wilde 1891.
Leisure away from Roma: staring at Lake Albano (home of Castel Gandolfo, summer residence of the Pope)
I just finished a book “In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays” by Bertrand Russell. The admirable Russell wrote:
“Without a considerable amount of leisure a man is cut off from many of the best things…What will happen when the point has been reached where everybody could be comfortable without working long hours?”
Russell also suggests:
a world where no one is compelled to work more than four hours a day.
Russell made me think of the current strategy some companies are using in light of current economic tightening:
“We keep a large percentage of the working population idle, because we can dispense with their labour by making the others overwork. When all these methods prove inadequate, we have a war: we cause a number of people to manufacture high explosives, and a number of others to explode them, as if we were children who had just discovered fireworks. By a combination of all these devices we manage, though with difficulty, to keep alive the notion that a great deal of severe manual work must be the lot of the average man.”
While Russell does not delve into strategies for achieving worldwide four hour workdays, his idealism shines most in the last paragraphs of his essay:
“There will be happiness and joy of life, instead of frayed nerves, weariness, and dyspepsia. The work exacted will be enough to make leisure delightful, but not enough to produce exhaustion…At least 1 per cent will probably devote the time not spent in professional work to pursuits of some public importance…men and women, having the opportunity of a happy life, will become more kindly and less persecuting and less inclined to view others with suspicion. The taste for war will die out, partly for this reason, and partly because it will involve long and severe work for all…Modern methods of production have given us the possibility of ease and security for all; we have chosen, instead, to have overwork for some and starvation for the others.”
Sadly, the universal four hour workday remains limited to our dreams. But even in primitive times, the cavemen lounged around after times of intense hunting.
Leisure away from Roma: Taking time for fragolini dessert
Soon Sunday will be over, and Monday will force us to conform to the rhythms of the day. Soon August will be over, and September brings preparing the kids for school. Soon summer will be over, and Winter adds holidays that paradoxically bring more work.
Don’t make excuses for not claiming your share of dolce far niente.
A wonderful post. I never thought of the fact that not working on Sundays because you’re honoring the sabbath could be considered sloth, but I can see the point.
I think in many cases people really are closer to the 4 hour work day than we think we are. Are people really spending all 8 hours of their day fully devoted to their work? No, they’re spending a decent portion of the day talking with co-workers, going over the same pointless things several times, and then they rush to get their work done as quickly as possible. We really probably wouldn’t see a loss of productivity in most jobs if they were reduced to a 4 or 6 hour work day. And pretty much everyone would be happier with a shorter work day, and as Russell said, a lot of people probably would give more of their time to volunteering and helping others if they had more time to give.
You are right, there are a lot of non-work activities that occur on the clock hindering actual real work progress from taking place. However, I have worked in a hospital where every single minute during the 8 hours I was scheduled was all about work..and yet worked in offices in which coffee breaks and chit-chatting with coworkers took up a good portion of my work day.
I suspect that we would accomplish much the same in a 4-hour day as we do in the 8-hour day. People would get things done faster to get out and enjoy the day, there would be a small enough time to actually focus, and a enough time recharging to not want to waste work time or simply space out because of how long it’s gone on (everybody seems to hit a point in the afternoon where at least 3/4 of the room is brain dead). Will it ever take off? I doubt it. But I think there’s about that much functionality going on if you looked at the week as a whole and the amount of time that gets spent actually producing anything (or how long it should take if tasks are not needlessly drawn out). I am in favor of leisure, recharge, and doing nothing. It is a way to rebalance. Life happens in the pauses in between.
You mention good points in your comments as well. I too, doubt a four hour work day will ever become reality, but the essay written by Bertrand Russell reminds us simply to “not work too much”. And I like that: “Life happens in the pauses in between.” Thank you
From an early age, we (esp. Americans) are taught that idleness is a shameful thing and that being a workaholic is admirable. When I married a European and moved overseas, I had something that I never had before – lots of free time. It took me years to not feel like I was “useless”. Now I see it as my own form of wealth. I don’t have a lot of material possessions, but I have free time. Because of this free time, I’ve been able to become a published writer. Even today, over a decade later, I still get snide comments from family/friends in the US about my abundance of free time, as if it’s something that I should be ashamed of. The quote by Mr. Wilde is so true. Most people would rather fill the empty spaces with external chatter than have to formulate their own thoughts or to just be, period.
It is true that we are taught that constant hard work is an admirable quality. But, I believe that diligence should be balanced with leisure. I like how you referred your free time as your own form of wealth. I , too, may not have a lot of material things like the latest laptop or the fanciest pair of heels, but I would not want to spend all my life working for those. Friends and family in the USA find near abomination that I do not own a dryer for my clothes.
I’m a workaholic forced to succumb to idleness so it’s really nice to know I’m doing “the most difficult and the most intellectual” thing.
About your newspaper reading habits [as a kid], I still do have the same habit. My focus is on —> the crossword puzzles and sudoku.
and I agree PABLO NERUDA IS THE GREATEST POET OF ALL TIME 🙂
The news is too filled with horror stories, no? I’ve tried to relax with the newspaper by trying out crossword puzzles and sudoku, but I find that it takes too much of my brainwork that I feel like I am at work again.
so true…to do nothing is difficult…
i was looking forward to this weekend..i just wanted to sit home and do nothing,…stay lady and idle.. 🙂
if only i could get one more day…
I suppose that is the problem with the 40 hour work week…it does not allow us time during the Monday through Friday to take of the pesky errands or cleaning chores that we usually reserve for the weekend. Weekends should be for the sole purpose of leisure — or else we keep wishing for “one more day”…
What great company for an idle Sunday: Russell, Neruda, Wilde and you. Well done.
You are very welcome — happy to have contributed to a Sunday of leisure.
I love Russell’s essay on idleness. I personally think a six hour work day would be about ideal. I recently learned that Henry Ford instituted the 40 hour work week because that was what maximized productivity. If people worked longer hours, they got less done, not just per hour but also per week. That was for workers on the factory line. Some people suggest that for modern “knowledge workers” maximum productivity might occur at less than 40 hours per week.
Thank you for sharing that interesting bit of history. While not knowing the reasoning or experiences behind Henry Ford’s conclusions backing a 40 hour work week, I suppose Russell’s idea of a 4 hour work week may not be optimal for manufacturing jobs. In one of his other essays, Russell states that mankind should better benefit from the productivity of machines. So it should be a goal to work smarter, not harder.
Great post Frances. Perfect for a Sunday morning.
Thank you for stopping by!
I think a four day work week would increase productivity and improve the quality of life for many of us. It’s time that Americans reclaim some time for our families, hobbies, health.
Absolutely — however, I know with the current state of economies of the world, the idea of a four hour work day is far from being implemented.
Reblogged this on because i am and commented:
one great!
I will change my Sundays then, when I am in my own abode. Thanks for the great Sunday morning!
Truly happy to have inspired someone to savor idleness on a Sunday!
Awesome post! I’m so glad to be back and reading such a good write-up. To do nothing at all is the most difficult thing in the world, the most difficult and the most intellectual–Oscar Wilde 1891. I agree. And you know, I’ve really been contemplating what to do. Work hours are fine on my end; I’m more concerned about the work I do – should I comply with societal standards and work what I should to be accepted, or can I pursue my dreams to do something I like but probably wouldn’t give me the money and status?
My advice is to answer your true calling in life. Money and status are just material things I try not to give significance in my life. After graduation from grad school I keep in touch with friends in California that earn the six figures entitled to our profession. They seem happy with their fancy cars, trips to spas, and big homes not yet filled with children. “To each his own”….
Interesting concept. And are you also in that profession your degree has entitled you to? I feel that I might be taking a path that leads me far from my degree. I might be walking further away from my friends and the people around me who had expectations of my career choice, derived from my degree.
Yes, I still use my degrees in my profession and it may be scary for your to steer away from a path that is opposite to that of your degree, and the expectations of people who support you, but I feel that you should choose the path you want. Life is too short and you do not want to live a big “what – if” the rest of your life. Sure, you may be uncomfortable for some time as you change your path, but if you are unhappy with your current situation, do something to change it =)
Great, Frances! That’s exactly what I have been planning to. If I want to get somewhere, do something to get there. If I’m unhappy about something, do something to change it! There you go. I’ll get to my goal somehow, even if I took the rockier path! 🙂
That is so true! I know I have days when I accomplish nothing by just lying in bed and idling, or maybe passively rewatching an old movie for no reason.
But some people can’t distinguish that from a day spent in your room, writing/reading/editing photos/lying on the floor with the dog, while chilling out to music.
That said, a 4 hour work day sounds great, but doesn’t that tend to collapse your economy like in Spain and stuff?
I do not know of a country with an established 4 hour workday — definitely not in Spain, although there is the characteristic “siesta” common (but not in all places). I feel that the banks, and moreover, the governments failure to keep the banks in line are the big culprits to the collapsed economies.
I know that the 4 hour workday is a utopia far from being achieved, but Russell’s essay on Idleness also reminds us to basically take a rest from our work.
Singapore’s a place of perpetual overtimes and a grossly unbalanced work/life mix, so yeah I do see the point of a shorter work day. Honestly, ppl get so tired and unfocused that they stop putting in good work after a while… but still we get whipped and prodded to work!
Esther Vilar figured it all out and concluded that 25 hours per week would suffice: Die 25-Stunden-Woche. Arbeit und Freizeit in einem Europa der Zukunft. Mit einem Vorwort von Oskar Lafontaine. Econ-Taschenbuch-Verlag, Düsseldorf 1990, ISBN 3-612-23068-9.
(As her books break too many taboos they are not much translated.)
Thank you so much for introducing me to her because I found a book of hers to add to my reading list!
I liked this post. It resonstes with me because I have often wondered what society, America in particular, would aspire to if we simply took time to relax our brains and put energy into actually living life instead if trying to survive it. Great post!
Perhaps if societies like the USA start learning to really savor their time off from work and actually utilize their vacation time (I have many USA friends who rather stockpile their vacation time), then these individuals can really LIVE to respect (and therefore preserve) the simple things in life — nature, friendship, etc.
Oh you tease me with your pictures of Italy I have never been. How beautiful
Yes, in Italy there are many beauties — nature, architecture, art, and FOOD!
I would certainly not be burned out by Thursday evening if the work days were shorter, I would have more patients for my children, more time to laugh, more of everything really!
…more time for the important things in life!
4 hour day – ideal! then I wouldn’t feel the need to be ‘slothful’ on weekends coz I’m so damn tired from the week. They say economies collapse if we all worked 4 hours days (and parts of the EU is evidence of this), but they would just need to adapt to the new pace. The reason the earth is so depleted is because of the pace we have worked and progressed at. Slowing down…… I like it.
Although unlikely to be done with a snap of a finger, Russell states that even with a 4 hour work day established, economies will not collapse. The world as a whole would have to work smarter, not harder.
Have always been all for the four day work week. Lovely post and of course I love Pablo Neruda. Funny I was just reading one of his poems yesterday.
Which Neruda poem were you relishing?
Oda a la cebolla!
Ah, I know that one. “Nos hiciste llorar sin afligirnos” is my favorite out of the lines. This poem inspired an idea for one of my future blog posts: Ode to an aubergine….stay tuned~ =)
ping me when it is up!
Great post Francis. I love the 4 hour day..Great idea. Best, Jenny
Terrific post… While I’m all for the four hour day… I can’t imagine it… As the years tick by, my Sundays have become quite hectic. 🙂
What a pity! I implore you to practice some dolce far niente…if not Sunday pick another day. If not a full day…pick a few hours of the day! We all deserve it =)
True… we all do. TY! 🙂
Great post. I like ur idea of four hour day, I am in for that 🙂
I want to let you know that I’ve nominated you for a Reader Appreciation Award – http://wp.me/p2tORJ-dV. I’m usually not one to do these “pass it on” things, so I’ll understand if you don’t want to accept it. If not, feel free to delete this comment. 🙂
Many thanks for the Reader Appreciation Award…I appreciate your visits to my humble blog =)
You’re welcome! I really enjoy reading your posts.:)
Terrific post, as usual. 🙂
Something strange happens when I try to do nothing, that I end up doing stuff. It´s almost by inertia. I get really bored if I do not.
Perhaps you require more practice on purposeless idleness =)
Wouldn’t it be awesome to work just four hours a day then to have the rest of the time to do whatever you want to do? 🙂
A four hour workday then the rest of the day solely for what we desire is a glorious idea!
Great post!! I also love having a lazy Sunday, the smell of coffee brewing on the air, a sunny kitchen, table strewn with Sunday papers, the dogs lulling on the floor at your feet and the radio a low murmur in the background. Absolute bliss!
Indeed…as you described your Sunday — that does sound like bliss! Almost time for the next Sunday!
I consider Bertrand Russell to be one of my intellectual mentors. In Praise of Idleness is a timeless read, which is most relevant in today’s disruptively action-oriented times. We ought to pause and…pause some more.
Enjoyed your read, you-that-thinks-who-cannot-write! Since you praise inaction so eloquently, we are likely to be great friends!
A pity that great thinkers as Bertrand Russell must remind society to take time for leisure — what is our world coming to?! A simple idea that many often do not realize and relish.
Hmmm your 4-hour work day proposal is good. 🙂 However, a total re-orientation of employers & employees should be done such that both will become results-oriented despite of shortened work hours.
On Idleness, I think it goes the same with ‘procrastination’? 🙂 Haha ‘just a thought.
While appealing, a four hour work day is far from society’s reaches. The working world is largely inefficiently organized to implement worldwide four hour word days. On Idleness, Russell calls for more leisure in our lives and yes, that means procrastinating the mundane tasks or work. Oh well…Praise for Procrastination! Thank you for commenting…always a pleasure to read your visit =)
Yep, I agree with you. This world’s ever growing demand & dwindling scarce resources will be unsustainable with a 4-hour work day. That’d be doomsday, I guess 🙂
Your welcome on the commenting part 🙂 I love visiting blogs which offers different perspectives to life issues & where I am able to learn something. Keep it up!
Nice picture of Bertrand Russell. I like Russell’s wittiness. Do you remember his argument that we have two heads, the head we are aware of, and the other one that is much bigger because it has to contain an accurate, very detailed model of everything we can see and be aware of. Regarding the work week, ever since I started working for myself my work/recreation patterns have become very fluid. I can have a three-hour lunch and work in the evenings, or do whatever I want. The reason I leave weekends free is to interact with other people who are free at that time, and join events that are programmed for the weekends.
Although left-handed, I did not inherit the artisitic abilities it is said this characterisitic accompanies, so kudos to Norman Rockwell in his portrait of Russell. Aha! I never thought of the possible association Rockwell made when making this painting of Russell whose notion of two heads is, I have to admit, fairly complicated for myself to grasp. I envy your self-employment and its freedoms you enjoy…I hope that one point of my life I am able to make such an achievment!
Have always loved the idea of a four day work week…I imagine one might actually get a lot more done. For a time, I remember that a four day school week was also being considered in some districts–but I don’t imagine that would have the same sort of positive effects.
Whatever the case, a well done post, my friend!
A pleasure to read your comment, thank you! Finding the right balance between work and leisure will assist our ability to shine in both components.
I love the sound of your Sundays and I totally agree, I bet the world would be a much happier and even more productive place if we all had time to ‘stop and smell the roses’.
Productivity and overall life satisfaction levels will indeed be achieved through times of leisure.
Excellent post, if only employers realized that no one is actually productive for all 8 hours!
Well, in some settings, there is no choice to be nothing but productive for all 8 hours, unfortunately. But especially in the office settings, for example, there is a lot of “meeting at the watercooler for a chat” types of activities to distract from true work productivity.
Four hours? That’s waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long…..lol
Haha….I still would not mind settling for a four-hour work day!
I am in favor of a work day where people actually work. If they feel like working, they shouldn’t be there to waste their time and my time. If they are only productive for four hours, then great. 🙂
By the way, I know you visited earlier, congratulations on your award…if you are into it…if not, I hope you consider it as a compliment from me. LOVE your posts and think you can definitely WRITE. 🙂
Absolutely…I great appreciate the recognition from fellow bloggers!
Love this, well said!
Thank you for visiting !
nice feel to this post, and it’s sunday morning where I am so that’s rather appropriate – but I need to work today argh
Poor you having to work on a day usually reserved for a day of leisure — but thankfully, there are 6 other days of the week as an alternative to practice some idleness.
You lie, Frances. Frances can write.
And great post. It’s always a fine line between laziness and resting, so I choose not to draw one. Hell, at the end of the day, we’re all heading in exactly the same direction; straight toward the grim reaper’s cold hand of death. Might as well make the most of it – life, that is.
Thanks for leading me to your blog. The air is nice over here.
Many thanks for the compliment and calling me a liar, hehe. Laziness, resting, leisure, idleness, waste of time, etc — yes, let’s just enjoy life’s moments that have nothing to do with stress.
Great post. I believe a four hour work day would cure many of our social ills.
As long as those four hours are used efficiently then I believe humans would be able to savor their life more and live in peace and harmony — sounds idealist, I know.
Four hours a day pursuing your passion, not something YOU HAVE TO DO to make money and don’t particularly like.
I would love to either do 4 hours a day or a four day week. It would give me more time to write. I am on the phone for six hours each day and by Thursday I can’t string a sentence together.
Yes, writing does seem like a nice, quiet repose from all the chatter you have to do within 6 hours of the day! Although, I a 4 hour work day is not (yet) part of my life, thankfully, I’ve managed to obtain a 4 day work week.
I will have to push for that. My life seems to fill up any time I have available.
It seems that almost everybody likes Russells’s idea, published in 1932. In 80 years, however, no church, party or union has included it in their programs, at least as far as I know. Or does anybody know any organization actively promoting the idea?
Although Russell’s idea is 80 years old, I do not think that society has accepted it because of a bigger idea that drives the world today, called capitalism.
Wasn’t capitalism 80 years ago, too? Except, of course productivity, which did get bigger in the meanwhile so that today it would be possible to produce everything people need in 4 hours a day. Or less.
Its all I really work anyway…
It’s all really work, but less work and more time for leisure away from the office should be a goal in life.
Yes, let’s keep our eye on that distant light that puts us back in charge of our own destinies. Relax, exhale, listen, live, love, repeat.
Here’s to making most days lazy Sundays! The only thing standing in our way is so painfully encapsulated in this pointed documentary that is a must see! Check it out at: http://www.heist-themovie.com/
Merci Frances
Thank you for the movie recommendation, I like to watch documentaries!
That was absolutely wonderful! Thank you. A four hour work day is a wonderful dream. Currently, I struggle with finding time to be idle, but I’m workin’ on it!
Well, working on a bit of relaxation is a start =)
A wonderful post. i just started working again and I’m already ready for that 4 hour day.
The word recreation: to re-create. That’s what the Sabbath is about.
Welcome back to the working world.
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