The 5-day work week is the problem.
I’ve had a rough month.
I’m currently unemployed, and while that in itself is manageable, the process of looking for a new job has been difficult for my mental health.
In an effort to manage the amorphous nature of my days, I tried time-blocking my schedule to create structure. I was not trying to force myself into constant productivity; I was simply trying to establish a healthy, repeatable habit that would not break my brain. However, as I have learned multiple times in the past, over-stuffing a schedule often backfires. Within a few weeks, the routine fell apart, and I felt worse than when I started.
Philosophical Foundations for Leisure
I began to suspect that my frustration stemmed from trying to mirror the traditional five-day work week. This led me to reflect on the work of Seneca, specifically his text On the Shortness of Life. It is fascinating (and oddly comforting!) to learn how ancient humans dealt with the exact same existential frustrations we face today.
Seneca observed that people often postpone their actual lives until their fiftieth or sixtieth year, which he considered a foolish forgetfulness of mortality. He also described being busy as a sort of mental illness, noting that people become so occupied with the act of being busy that they lose time for things that actually matter.
There is a comfort to be found in knowing that the absurdity of the human condition has remained consistent for two thousand years.
Rebalancing the Routine
The one part of my morning routine that consistently made me feel good was my 20-mile bike ride. However, I eventually realized that riding 100 miles over five days, with only two days for recovery, was a bit much for my aging bones.
Since the bike ride anchored my week, I decided to adjust my entire schedule. I switched from a five-day work week to a four-day schedule in May 2026. This change has provided significant benefits:
I now have regular three-day weekends.
I spend one full day sleeping and doing absolutely nothing, which is incredibly refreshing.
This intentional rest acts as a motivator to pursue genuine leisure during the remaining two days of the weekend.
Building Stronger Guardrails
This shift has not been a magic bullet, but it has helped me bounce back from depression more easily. While I over-stuffed my initial time-blocked schedule, the key pillars—like the 20-mile bike ride—helped shape helpful mental guardrails. This new weekly framework provides a stronger structure to hang my creative ambitions on.
Seneca argued that we must be indulgent to the mind and provide it with leisure, as leisure serves as nourishment and strength.
So if a four-day week has already shown this much promise, I’m already beginning to wonder how a three-day week might treat me.
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