Working Less Leads to A Happier Life, New Study Shows

Workaholism has become a real problem in the world of today, but many believe that they will not be able to get ahead unless they are working an impossible number of hours. In spite of the fact that this is the case, working too much has been shown to have a very negative impact on one’s health. The Health Economics Review just published a study which reveals that working a fewer number of hours can actually lead to a higher amount of life satisfaction.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that it’s not just the number of hours you work which can impact your life satisfaction. Income is also a major factor because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up easing life’s many woes. People in higher income brackets reported that they were more satisfied with their life than those in lower income brackets.

However, working too much can dent the positive benefits of a high level of income. It can lead to feelings of social inclusion and cohesion which can make people unhappier than might have been the case otherwise. Balancing these two conflicting needs is of paramount importance, and the introduction of a shorter work week in various experiments may be able to push things in the right direction with all things having been considered and taken into account.

Working less means that you will have more time to spend with your family and friends, and it also has the potential to give people time for passion projects. In European countries, people don’t earn a lot due to high taxes but these taxes then go on to fund the welfare system which takes care of education, healthcare, transportation and retirement which is a fair exchange.

People will never be truly satisfied with their lives if they are made to work an unreasonable number of hours. This can also lead to decreased productivity down the line, and it might also result in employee burnout in the long run.

Read next: Commuting For Work Can Actually Improve Your Mental And Physical Well-Being As Per This Study
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World