Burning Beneath

In our modern world, the chains of the past have been replaced by the constraints of our daily routines. We labor extensively, often at the cost of our personal well-being and happiness. This relentless cycle prompts a critical question: Are we truly free, or have jobs and wages become the new instruments of bondage? Financial obligations now serve as the whip, driving us to maintain a grueling work schedule. But must it be this way? Isn’t it time to challenge the status quo and advocate for a life that prioritizes human dignity and joy?

We are told that hard work is the key to success, yet most of us spend our days chasing a paycheck just to cover basic needs, leaving little time for fulfillment. The system is designed to keep us dependent—working long hours, sacrificing rest, and postponing happiness until retirement, when energy and health have already faded. Somewhere along the way, we stopped living and started merely existing, trapped in a cycle where work defines our worth. We dedicate nearly an entire year to our jobs, yet receive only two weeks of vacation—a time we desperately try to stretch into memories of a life we barely get to experience.

Some countries have begun to challenge this outdated structure by implementing a four-day workweek, reducing the total hours to 32 per week. Iceland was among the first to conduct large-scale trials, proving that a shorter workweek did not diminish productivity but instead improved employee well-being. Germany followed, and now Japan is preparing to implement its own version of the four-day workweek. These changes signal progress, but they are not enough. Why stop at 32 hours when we can push further? Why continue to work eight-hour shifts when studies show that people are just as productive in shorter periods of focused work?

The reality is, the “eight-hour workday” is a lie. When we account for sleep—typically seven to eight hours—we are left with only 16 waking hours. From that, eight hours are consumed by work, but it doesn’t end there. Factor in the time spent commuting, preparing meals, handling household chores, and fulfilling basic responsibilities, and suddenly, the time left for ourselves, our families, and our relationships is reduced to scraps. Where does our life actually exist in this equation? When do we have time to truly rest, connect, and simply be? The truth is, we don’t. We have become trapped in a system that consumes our days, leaving us exhausted and with little energy for the things that actually matter.

This exhaustion takes a toll—not just on individuals, but on society as a whole. Overworked people suffer higher rates of stress, anxiety, and physical health issues, all of which place increasing pressure on healthcare systems. As stress levels rise, so do the costs of medical treatments, mental health services, and government spending on public health crises. A society that prioritizes relentless work is a society that breeds burnout, and the financial burden of that burnout is not just personal—it extends to the very governments that uphold these outdated labor structures. But what if we flipped the equation? What if, instead of sacrificing health for work, we worked less and lived more? A shorter workweek would allow people the time to rest, recover, and prioritize well-being, reducing long-term reliance on healthcare and saving governments billions in avoidable medical costs.

What if the standard workweek was four days, with a maximum of five hours per day? Imagine the profound impact it would have on our lives. Instead of spending the majority of our waking hours working, we would have the time to nurture relationships, pursue passions, focus on mental and physical health, and truly engage with life. Studies have already shown that reducing work hours leads to increased efficiency, better mental health, and stronger job satisfaction. The truth is, we do not need to work this much to sustain society—we work this much because we have been conditioned to believe it is necessary.

The modern work structure is a relic of the past, built on the outdated belief that long hours equal productivity. But the world has changed, and so must our approach to work. If companies and economies can thrive on a 32-hour workweek, why not 20? If productivity remains stable with fewer hours, then the justification for grueling work schedules collapses entirely. We need to stop settling for minor adjustments and start demanding true reform—a society where work is a part of life, not the purpose of it.

It is time to break free from the illusion that exhaustion is a requirement for success. A shorter workweek—both in days and hours—is not a radical idea; it is the next step toward a more balanced, sustainable way of living. If we were given back our time, we could rediscover what it means to be human. Life is not meant to be an endless cycle of labor and recovery. It is meant to be lived. The change has already begun. The only question left is: Are we ready to reclaim our time?