An Australian study has highlighted the virtues of the three-day weekend on well-being: this longer break from work would reduce stress and burnout.
- The four-day week is being tested in companies around the world, especially in several European countries.
- The three-day weekend would reduce work-related stress, fatigue and burnout.
- Employees benefiting from a three-day weekend or a short vacation would be less sedentary during these rest periods than at work.
In several European countries such as Belgium, Germany or Spain, different companies are testing the 4-day week. According to a recent study published the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, having a three-day long weekend would be very beneficial for your health.
The mental health benefits of a three-day weekend
Researchers at the University of South Australia (UniSA) used data from the Annual Rhythms in Adults’ Lifestyle and Health (ARIA) cohort, which followed 390 adults for 13 months. For the purposes of this study, the volunteers wore fitness trackers 24 hours a day. Scientists looked at changes in daily movements before, during and after a long weekend or vacation.
During the study, participants took two to three vacation periods, each averaging twelve days. The most common type of holiday was ‘outdoor recreation’ (35%), followed by ‘family/social events’ (31%), ‘rest and relaxation’ (17%) and ‘other activities’. than hobbies”, such as caring for others or home renovations (17%).
Three-day weekend: reduced stress and burnout
According to the results, the participants engaged in 13% more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day, and slept 21 minutes more per day while on vacation. “When people go on vacation, they change their daily responsibilities because they are not locked into their usual schedule (…) In this study, we found that movement patterns changed for the better during vacation, with an increase in physical activity and a decrease in sedentary behaviors observed in all domains”explained Dr. Ty Ferguson, lead author of the study and researcher at UniSA.
Those responsible for this work have therefore shown themselves to be in favor of the introduction of the four-day week. “The shorter workweek is being tested by companies around the world. It’s no surprise that employees reported less stress, burnout and fatigue, as well as better mental health and better balance. between work and private life (…) It is important to note that our study also showed that, even after a short vacation, the increase in sleep remained high for two weeks, which proves that the health benefits of a three-day break can have lasting effects beyond the vacation itself,” pointed out Carol Maher, senior researcher at UniSA.