Redefining Success: Work Smarter, Not Harder
With an uptick of “liquid working” and a push for more work-life balance in the West, a 4-day workweek is gaining momentum. While the idea is popular among employees, the fear of lower productivity has many employers hesitant to implement it on a broad scale. However, a new study that tracked 2,896 employees across 141 organizations worldwide over six months found not only that there are tangible health benefits (both physical and mental) of a 4-day work week, but also that productivity rates didn’t suffer — and, in some cases, improved. It’s a classic example of “work smarter, not harder”.
The Study
Led by Boston College researchers Wen Fan and Juliet Schor, the study was published in the journal Nature Human Behavior.1 It found that employees who had their workweek cut by eight hours or more (without a decrease in pay) experienced substantial physical and mental health improvements, compared to those who maintained a standard 5-day workweek model. The trial included participants from the USA, as well as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The research team analyzed metrics including burnout, fatigue, sleep quality, and work performance.
“Perhaps the most surprising finding so far,” said Fan, “is that there is no surprise, which is not typically the case in academic research. Usually, we would get some hypotheses supported while others refuted, but for this project, basically everything we expect to move moves, and in the anticipated direction. Hours reduced, well-being improved, and key organizational bottom lines sustained—all of these happened without the need for workers to intensify their work demands. I think this is an ideal example demonstrating how powerful, well-conceived work redesign efforts can make an impactful difference in the real world.”2
Schor and Fan noted that there are several key factors that contributed to maintaining productivity with a 4-day workweek. First, companies focused on decreasing or eliminating activities with low value, such as meetings that were replaced with phone calls, messaging apps, or other efficient forms of communication. Next, employees tended to use the extra day off for doctor’s appointments or other personal errands that typically had been crammed into a workday. They also used the extra day for hobbies, leisure activities, exercise, or catching up on household work, all of which enhance general life satisfaction and mental health. Earlier studies have found that shorter workweeks also improve sleep, while lowering anxiety and stress.3
Likewise, a previous 2022 study in the United Kingdom involving over 2,900 employees at 61 companies participated in a six-month trial to establish the effectiveness and productivity of a 4-day workweek.3 Interestingly, the shorter workweek did not cause a loss of productivity. Forty-six percent of leaders reported stable rates of productivity with 34% noting there was an actual slight increase. Another study in 2025 also found that a 4-day workweek can enhance employee wellbeing and performance through two psychological mechanisms of recovery and motivation “because better rested, better motivated brains create better work”.4
Employers also benefit by having lower employee health care costs, less turnover, and a tangible perk for attracting high-quality employees. “Not losing highly trained individuals, in fields like health care or teaching, to stress and burnout is certainly a worthwhile goal,” said Schor, “and at a time when we’ve seen many employers struggle to fill positions, the four-day week can be touted as a benefit.”2
Herbal Support for Cognitive Function and Wellbeing
As we have seen, a 4-day workweek has solid benefits for mind, body, and soul that are worth pursuing. However, not all companies are willing or able to implement a shorter workweek, whether from a practical standpoint or entrenched ideas about a traditional five-day approach. This is where targeted herbal remedies can help to fill in the gap by easing stress, alleviating fatigue, improving cognitive health, and supporting overall well-being. For these purposes, I recommend cordyceps, lion’s mane, and reishi medicinal mushrooms, along with lemon balm. Each is found in our convenient Brain Bundle. Here are the benefits of each concentrated extract:
CORDYCEPS MUSHROOM
Our powerful cordyceps tincture is formulated with dual-extracted, fruiting body mushrooms for full potency and effectiveness. This exceptional botanical is known to support the body, lungs, and brain for both chronic and acute issues.
LION’S MANE MUSHROOM
Our dual-extracted lion’s mane tincture uses only the fruiting bodies for full effectiveness and potency. This powerful botanical supports cognitive and nerve function, promotes increased energy, and eases symptoms of stress.
REISHI MUSHROOM
An excellent adaptogenic herb, Reishi tincture supports the body against the negative effects of stress. This mushroom helps foster better sleep and encourages healthier immune function. Our reishi tincture is dual-extracted and utilizes the fruiting bodies for full potency and effectiveness.
LEMON BALM
Lemon balm is an absolute powerhouse for brain, mind, and mood support. It is Nicole’s go-to herb for reducing stress and anxiety while helping to support clarity and focus.
ADHD, STRESS, and MEMORY HELP – Plus No More BRAIN FOG!!!
“Wow! The Lemon Balm really helps my ADHD so I can focus. It has also made a big difference in my memory and stress levels. I use the entire Brain Bundle and the Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail and Cordyceps have also been huge game-changers for me. My energy is better and I have less brain fog from the mushrooms. Thank you!” -Martha R.
At Nicole’s Apothecary, our clinically informed extracts honor traditional herbal wisdom, while delivering modern results — helping to ease stress, fight fatigue, sharpen focus, and restore balance. Stop by today to explore our Brain Bundle and discover how these time-tested herbs can powerfully support your wellbeing and quality of life.
Nicole Apelian
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Brain Bundle
References
- Fan, W., Schor, J. B., Kelly, O., & Gu, G. (2025). Work time reduction via a 4-day workweek finds improvements in workers’ well-being. Nature Human Behaviour. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-025-02259-6
- “Moving four-ward?” Boston College News, Thursday, September 18, 2025. https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/bcnews/nation-world-society/sociology/-study-pilots-four-day-work-week.html
- The 4 Day Week UK Results, 4 Day Week Global. https://www.4dayweek.com/uk-pilot-results
- Charlotte L. Rae, Emma Russell, How can a 4-day working week increase wellbeing at no cost to performance?, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Volume 29, Issue 1, 2025, Pages 5-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2024.10.014.
