When I moved from Washington, D.C. to Rome, Italy, what struck me most wasn’t just the ancient city landscapes and grand churches, but the unique pace of life of the locals. Compared to the fast-paced work culture in most parts of the U.S., the residents of Rome seemed to have a special sense of leisure and ease. People always appeared to be “doing nothing,” as if they were never in a rush to complete anything.
I often saw elderly people leisurely peeking out of windows, gently scanning the pedestrians on the street; or young families strolling down the avenue in the evening, occasionally stopping to greet friends; even the office work culture here was vastly different from the U.S. People didn’t rush through emails while eating sandwiches, but instead took time to truly enjoy their lunches. Many restaurants had professionals gathering together, immersing themselves in hearty meals and lively conversation.
Since the 17th century, Europe’s upper class has been recording their travel experiences, and for a long time, people have viewed the Italian lifestyle as somewhat “lazy.” However, this view is not entirely accurate. Even though people may appear to be taking leisurely bike rides for a relaxed lunch, they often return to the office to continue working until 8 PM.
Clearly, the Romans understand an important principle: finding balance between working hard and enjoying life. This concept deeply moved me. After all, on the surface, doing nothing seems contradictory to high productivity. However, the truth is, immersing oneself in work does not necessarily lead to higher efficiency. In fact, it can be counterproductive and may even result in burnout and the loss of passion for one’s work.
1. Does Longer Working Hours Lead to Lower Efficiency?
Studies show that if we work over 14 hours a day, the quality of our work significantly declines over time. As work nears its end, our thinking and creativity are severely suppressed, preventing us from producing high-quality results. Moreover, prolonged overwork can damage our cognitive abilities and health, and may gradually cause us to lose interest and enthusiasm for our work.
Josh Davis, author of The Power of Two Hours, compares mental labor to doing push-ups. He argues that although we might think completing tasks all at once is the most efficient, from a physiological standpoint, this is not sustainable. The brain is like a muscle—it becomes fatigued if not rested, resulting in decreased efficiency. By focusing on a few tasks at a time and taking breaks, we can maintain high efficiency until we reach our final goal.
2. The “Must Do” Mindset
Many people in modern society tend to compare the brain to a machine, assuming that the brain should work non-stop like a computer. However, psychologists and productivity experts point out that this mindset can place a huge strain on both our physical and mental health. Andrew Smart, in Autopilot, emphasizes that we cannot continuously improve productivity without rest. Constantly pushing ourselves to work beyond capacity triggers warning signals from our bodies, and over time, this leads not only to physical issues but also to serious mental health problems.
For example, long periods of intense work increase the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, and have been shown to significantly raise the incidence of depression. In Japan, the overwork-related health issues have even led to the phenomenon of “karoshi”—death by overwork.
Therefore, while work pressure and responsibilities are unavoidable, should we consider taking proper breaks amid our busy work schedules? The answer is clearly yes. Research shows that taking appropriate vacations not only extends life expectancy but also improves overall health and productivity. A study of Helsinki business owners found that executives and entrepreneurs who took fewer vacations faced earlier health problems and shorter lifespans.
3. The Relationship Between Workload and Productivity
People often directly link productivity with workload, believing that longer working hours lead to higher productivity. However, philosopher Bertrand Russell once argued that while work is important, true efficiency does not stem from endless work hours. He wrote in 1932, “While leisure is pleasant, if the working time were only 4 hours, many would feel lost.” He believed that society’s excessive pursuit of efficiency actually suppresses people’s ability to enjoy life and explore their interests.
In fact, many of the world’s most creative and productive professionals understand the importance of reducing workload. They not only value their work responsibilities but also prioritize rest, entertainment, and socializing. This lifestyle allows them to achieve peak productivity in a short amount of time. For instance, author Henry Miller in his writing commandments mentions: “Get the job done, but also take breaks! Stay human, go out, and enjoy life.”
4. Shorter Work Hours Are Better for Brain Health
Since the Industrial Revolution, working hours have continually evolved. In the early 20th century, Ford Motor Company experimented with the 8-hour workday, finding that employee productivity increased significantly, and overall work efficiency improved dramatically. In just two years, Ford’s profits doubled. This successful case prompted many companies worldwide to adopt similar work time arrangements, proving that adequate rest greatly enhances productivity.
Modern research further suggests that reducing work hours, especially for adults over 40, may have the best effect on cognitive abilities and overall health by working just 25 hours per week. Sweden’s recent 6-hour workday trial also demonstrated this, with employees experiencing notable improvements in both health and productivity.
5. The Importance of Active Rest
However, rest is not limited to completely emptying the mind. Often, the moments when we seem to be doing nothing are actually moments of deep thinking. Scientific research has found that during rest, the brain activates the “default mode network,” which is essential for memory processing, imagining the future, and creative thinking. Therefore, while we may appear to be resting, the brain is conducting important internal operations.
Studies show that activities like meditation, reading, thinking, and reflection not only help us relax but also enhance our creativity and problem-solving abilities. In fact, as neuroscientist Mary Helen Immordino-Yang states: “When you stop, look back on what you’ve done, and gain a broader perspective, you often find solutions to many problems.”
6. The Hidden Costs of Long Working Hours
As many people discover when they begin meditating, it’s not easy to endure moments of doing nothing. Research has shown that when people are asked to do absolutely nothing, they would rather choose to receive electric shocks than endure brief periods of inactivity. This reveals that society’s over-reliance on productivity has led many people to become accustomed to constant work and thought, to the point that even short pauses can cause anxiety.
However, the good news is that we don’t need to do absolutely nothing. A little beneficial activity, such as going for a walk, meditating, or engaging in deep conversations with friends, can effectively reduce the negative impact of prolonged work, boosting our work efficiency and creativity.
7. Conclusion: Rest as a Strategy
In conclusion, we can draw an important takeaway: reducing workload and properly scheduling rest time not only doesn’t hurt our work efficiency, but it may actually enhance productivity, helping us maintain a clear mind and perform better during our busy workdays. As poet Jenny Robinson said: “We don’t need to fear relaxation—it helps us stay awake and creative.” Only by balancing rest with work can we truly unleash our full potential.