The 4-Day Work Week for Small Business Owners
Many entrepreneurs, ourselves included, were motivated to start their own businesses by a desire to contribute meaningfully and joyfully to the world, but also a desire for more sovereignty of their time—and ultimately to work less! It's easy to believe that by running our own businesses, we will have more control over our time and be able to work less. However, in practice entrepreneurs without reliable processes, plans and support in place can easily get stuck running the wheel in an endless cycle of trying to catch up with all the demands of business and personal life—exactly what we want to avoid by becoming entrepreneurs! The shift to a 4-day work week could be the key to a happier, healthier, and more sustainable work environment. This blog explores the benefits, challenges, and real-world examples of how Costron + Co and Find Your Voice Music Therapy are implementing 4-day work weeks. We hope it’s helpful to you in your transition toward working less as an entrepreneur.
Why 4-Day Work Week? 3 Benefits to Entrepreneurs
1. Increased Productivity
A 4-day work week can boost productivity. Studies have shown that a shorter work week often leads to higher efficiency and output. Team members are more focused during their work hours, knowing they have an extra day off. For small business owners, this means getting more done in less time, potentially leading to faster growth and innovation.
2. Enhanced Well-Being
Well-being is crucial for the success of any small business. A 4-day work week provides everyone, including sub-contractors and staff, with a better work-life balance, reducing burnout and stress. When your team is happy and healthy, they are more motivated, creative, and loyal, which can result in lower turnover rates and a more positive work culture.
3. Competitive Edge in Team Culture and Wellness
Offering a 4-day work week can make your small business more attractive to top talent. In a competitive market, unique benefits can set your business apart from others. By adopting a 4-day work week, small business owners can attract and retain high-quality individuals who are looking for more flexible and progressive work environments.
12 Tips to get you working less
In a world where hustle culture often reigns, cutting back on work hours can feel like an impossible task. The pressure to always be productive, meet deadlines, and stay ahead of the competition creates an environment where working less seems counterintuitive. However, the benefits of a reduced work schedule—such as improved well-being, increased creativity, and better work-life balance—are too significant to ignore. So why is it so hard to work less, and how can we overcome these challenges? Understanding the obstacles and implementing effective strategies can help you achieve a more balanced and fulfilling work life. Here are some tips to help you navigate the transition to a healthier work routine. This can feel overwhelming for many folks, so consider working with an experienced coach or business mentor who can help you through these barriers to your four-day workweek.
Optimize Your Schedule
Evaluate your workload: Identify essential tasks and responsibilities. Determine which tasks can be streamlined, delegated, or eliminated. An invitation We invite you to consider a minimalist approach to your workload to create the lifestyle you hope for between personal and professional areas.
Set clear goals: Define what success looks like for your 4-day work week. Set realistic and achievable goals for both your business and personal life.
Create a structured schedule: Plan your 4 days in advance, allocating specific times for focused work, meetings, and breaks.
Implement time-blocking: Use time blocking to ensure dedicated time slots for deep work and minimize distractions. Ensure that all your essential tasks are slotted into time-blocks in your monthly calendar.
Organize Business Tasks
5. Focus on high-impact activities: prioritize tasks that directly contribute to your business goals and client satisfaction. Consider which tasks are lower priority, and notice which low priority tasks take up too much of your time.
6. Delegate: Identify tasks that can be delegated to team members or outsourced. Empower your team to take on more responsibilities.
7. Automate: Use automation tools for repetitive tasks such as email marketing, social media posting, and client scheduling.
8. Streamline: Simplify workflows, processes and procedures to save time and reduce effort.
Costron + Co.’s favourite softwares for streamlining and leveraging technology are:
Jane - client session booking and accounts receivable tracking
Quickbooks - invoicing and accounts receivable system
Asana - team tasks tracking and project management communications
Google Workspace (formerly G-Suites) - storage system for documentation, resources, team training etc.
Set and Honour Boundaries
9. Communicate your schedule: Inform clients, team members, and other stakeholders about your new work schedule and availability. You might send out a notice or announcement, post your hours and availability to your social media, and create an auto-responder in your emails for any times outside of your availability.
10. Establish non-negotiable boundaries: Set clear boundaries for work hours and personal time. Avoid checking emails or taking calls outside of your designated workdays. Include a notice of your expected response time at the end of your emails so that people are aware not to expect a response immediately, or even on the same day. Take up to 3-5 days to respond to an email if that is what feels realistic and comfortable for you.
11. Prioritize well-being: Dedicate time to nourishment activities such as exercise, a reflective practice (i.e. journaling, meditation, connecting with nature), and spending time with loved ones.
12. Take regular breaks: This is part of prioritizing your well-being, but also ensures that you stay refreshed and focused throughout your day
Business Mentor/Coach can help you implement the 4 Day Work Week
Transitioning to a 4-day work week can revolutionize your business, enhancing productivity, well-being, and team culture. At Costron + Co, we specialize in helping businesses implement effective systems and processes to make this shift seamlessly. Visit our website to learn more, and book a complimentary consultation to start your journey toward a more balanced and efficient work schedule. Let us help you create a work environment where you and your team can thrive.
