New year, new beginning - and this year it feels even more like a fresh start with it being 2020. 

Like a lot of people I start the year with ambitious intentions. However, this year it might sound like the opposite as I am planning to work less. Well, less hours. The idea is that I will get as much done. 

Some countries are already experimenting with a shorter workweek. A four-day working week is nearly standard in the Netherlands, and Finland’s new prime minister, Sanna Marin, was on the news recently backing a four-day working week also. 

Both of these countries are just as efficient as any other, as far as I can tell. In fact, they might be even more productive. And in Norway, well they still do the five-day week but they only work about 33 hours a week with a minimum of 21 paid holiday days. 

We have nine bank holidays in Ireland every year, that’s one Monday off every month or so (if you look at it optimistically). Some companies offer reduced hours on Fridays during the summer months. Here’s to making that a standard every week, every month. 
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That’s my 2020 plan. To switch off from lunchtime every Friday. Being my own boss I can of course do this whenever I want. But it is the self-discipline of not checking my e-mails late at night and at the weekends that I will find challenging. 

I will be working towards a four-day working week. If we were all in on it we would become more productive. I am sure of it.

Happy new year!