Rethinking the Conventional Work Week, Work vs. Productivity, Using the Brain Smartly to Hack Our Work with Joe Sanok.

Do you often feel strung out and overwhelmed by an endless list of things to do?

In our culture “doing” is very highly valued. Do this, do that, do more in less time and then use the time you win to do even more.

We operate as human doings and not human beings and it is exhausting. How can we switch this around and become centered in being human beings again? Today’s guest has some pretty profound and applicable answers to that.

Joe Sanok is the author of Thursday is the New Friday: How to Work Fewer Hours, Make More Money, and Spend Time Doing What You Want. In his book he examines how the four day workweek boosts creativity and productivity. Joe has been featured on Forbes, GOOD Magazine, and The Smart Passive Income Podcast. He is also the host of the popular The Practice of the Practice Podcast, which is recognized as one of the Top 50 Podcasts worldwide with over 100,000 downloads each month. Bestselling authors, experts, scholars, business leaders and innovators are featured and interviewed in the 550 plus podcasts Joe has done over the last six years.

In our conversation we will talk about the difference between work and productivity and why personal discovery is so important.

In Joe’s words: “This life is ours. We believe that we are made for slowing down and doing creative and impactful work, that weekends are not enough, and that our best work comes after we slow down.”

In this episode with Joe Sanok, you’ll discover:

-Where did the 5-day, 40 hour work week originate?…04:00

-Having “purpose” with your work is a relatively new concept…06:34

-The fallacy of constant “busyness”…08:33

-How the pandemic awakened people to “self-discovery”…10:37

-The difference between “work” and “productivity”…14:20

-The value and importance of taking breaks – long and quick…16:32

-How shorter work weeks enhance productivity for varying industries…21:02

-Recommended resources for cutting down on our more mundane tasks…23:23

-How to become a human being vs. a human doing26:15

-How to make Thursday the new Friday…29:15

-Ways to tactfully establish boundaries with your employer…38:05

-Considerations re: fewer hours for hourly workers…40:21

-How new technology will change the workplace as we know it…43:10

-Joe’s best personal practice…45:15

Resources mentioned:

Joe’s website

Thursday is the New Friday: How to Work Fewer Hours, Make More Money, and Spend Time Doing What You Want