The 4-day work week has entered the chat and this time she’s bringing receipts. 

Not working on Friday is the new break room Pizza Party, except everyone actually wants the 4-day work week.

The latest trial for the longed-for concept began as a six month experiment for 62 companies in the UK.

54 of those 62 companies have stuck with it long after the 6 month mark and are entering onto their 3rd year, reportedly THRIVING with the 4-day work week model.

These companies are reporting happier workers, lower turnover and greater efficiency. 

An escape room could never.

I know all the business owners are reading this like, “hey can you give me more information about the 6-day work week because I would like to take one single day off, every now and then.” 

We get that too. Like everything, everyone has a unique perspective and reason why it is or is not the strategy that will change everything.

So whether you’re an employee hyping yourself up to mention it to your boss today, an entrepreneur who hasn’t had a day off in 10 years, or an executive with a team who needs to hear it…

Here are 4 ways to get more done in less time, with or without the 4-day work week:

#1. Play your schedule to your strengths

Just because your favorite Instagram CEO starts work at 4:30am, does not mean that it’s the only way. There were millionaires long before the ‘waking up early is the only way’ warriors. For some, including me, it absolutely is the best way to get work done. Just don’t trick yourself into believing that it’s the only way to get work done. The key is to play your schedule into your personal strengths. If you find that you’re more creative at night, allow yourself some time to grind it out after the kids are asleep. If you’ve been knocking out admin work as soon as you sit down at your desk and it’s working, make that your admin time. If you’re able, don’t box yourself into the hours of 9-5 if you know that you work better in something less conventional. If you work a scheduled shift, that’s great! Do you very best to optimize the hours you’re scheduled to be there. There are a million ways to Salesgirl.

Pro tip: You may not be able to use this strategy on everything, so prioritize whatever tasks are most important to your specific role.

#2. Plan your day the night before

There is no substitute for waking up (no matter what time of day it is) and knowing exactly what’s on the docket. As routine as it feels to turn your desk lamp off at the end of the day, you should also go ahead and write out what the next day looks like. It’s a lot like taking your makeup off after a night out… it’s the last thing you want to do in that moment, but dang it feels great once it’s done. 

Pro tip: Be wary of when you check your email and try to build it into your plan for the day if you can. If you don’t, Suzy’s urgent refund request and the Steve Madden sale will eat up your precious hours before you know it.

#3. Hack your brain 

When the sound machine starts that heavy rain around 9pm, ya girl is OUT in 10 minutes or less. When you sit in that 1 booth at that 1 coffeeshop, you write the best newsletters of your life. When the blue light blockers go on, the inbox is about to hit zero. Giving certain types of work or tasks a specific trigger for your brain to know “hey, it’s game time” is an underused cheat code to getting stuff done. Make James Clear proud by creating little micro-rituals around your work. After a couple of weeks, you’ll start to notice that your brain actually does start going into creative mode when you get your blanket out.

Pro tip: If you do a lot of heads down work, or struggle to focus when you do need to lock in - find a focus beat on YouTube that speaks to you and never look back.

#4. Leave white space when you can

Repeat after me: a full calendar does not make a productive day. In fact, lots of times it’s the exact opposite. Try to block off time to do “nothing,” and then fill it (or don’t!) as needed. Nothing can crush ideas and productivity faster than being unnecessarily busy. I know this is controversial but we are in the camp that yes, lots of things CAN, indeed, just be an email. 

Pro tip: If you’re able to call the shots, try to have 1 day per week where you schedule any meetings. This can help you avoid the start and stop that comes with having meetings spread randomly throughout the week. 

Can we make working hard AND smart a thing?

Xo, The Salesgirls

Salesgirl Social was recently featured on the Copy that Converts Podcast hosted by copywriting queen and loyal subscriber, Megan Wisdom. You can listen to that episode dropping today HERE!