Is 9-5 the best shift?
Working a 9-5 job can provide more stability, which may help reduce stress and anxiety levels due to the predictability of the schedule. On the other hand, shift work can be more taxing on mental health since it requires more flexibility and adaptation.
According to three out of five workers, the 9-to-5 workday is not the best way to work. They demand more flexible working hours, a better work-life balance, and more autonomy. This article offers three reasons why leaders should consider moving past the 9-to-5 in favor of more modern ways of working.
7-3 or 9-5? If you don't need to work with people at the start of your workday, 7–3 is more efficient. You have to fight less traffic on commute, you have uninterrupted time to concentrate on things, and you have less traffic on commute returning home. You *may* have to stay late some days for meetings, though.
For the most people, rotating forward through day, afternoon and night shift is better than backwards (night, afternoon then day). The frequency of rotation is also controversial. Some people advocate prolonged rotation, such as two to three weeks. Others advocate short rotations of two to three days.
So, what is the best shift to work? For most, the morning shift (approximately 7am-3pm) is best as it allows for a productive workday whilst not sabotaging time away from your loved ones. It is least likely to negatively impact your health as gaining adequate sleep and vitamin D is achievable for most.
It's all a matter of perspective. If you're the type of person who enjoys security, a sense of community, and structured routine, the 9-to-5 job is a good fit. But if you crave novelty, want to be your own boss, and have the personality to push yourself, you may find more enjoyment working outside the office grind.
Many people feel stressed by their nine-to-five jobs, and transitioning to a job that give you more freedom and enjoyment can help you decrease your stress. Depending on your personality and work style, you may feel less stressed working a nontraditional job than a nine-to-five job.
Henry Ford started the concept of 9-5 working hours in 1926 for his assembly line workers. Before that schedule, employees were working much longer hours. The 9-5 arrangement ensured employees were all there and engaged during business hours, and it made people more productive because they worked together efficiently.
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In the old days, many businesses had working lunches. People brought lunch to the office, and they worked while they ate. 9AM to 5PM meant eight working hours, including lunch.
Is 9 5 better than shift work?
In general, people who work the 9-5 shift have better sleeping, eating, and exercising habits than shift workers. Because of this, you will likely find that working 9-5 will lead to better overall health.
Although the longer shift is popular among nurses, 12-hour shifts are linked to long-term health risks. Research shows continual exposure to stress is taxing on the body and affects mental health, causing nurses to feel the effects of burnout. Nurses who work 12-hour shifts are more likely to report feelings of: Stress.

"Are you comfortable with night shifts?"-Answer 2
It is not like a impossible thing for me but I will prefer to work in day shifts, as I need the nights to focus on my physical and mental health. But if something urgent is required of me, I will definitely be available.
Ten years or more of rotating night shift work was associated with 20% decreased odds of healthy aging. This association was consistently observed for the individual component of healthy aging. Overall, the observed association did not differ substantially by age, BMI, and other lifestyle factors.
But generally speaking the typical 8 to 5 work day is still considered the gold standard in most workplaces.
Ideal work hours per day and week
Those who felt like they had the least time overall worked 8.6 hours, whereas those who felt like they had the most time worked just one hour less, or 7.6 hours. So to not feel starved for time, aim for a 7.6 hour workday. That would equate to a 38-hour workweek.
The traditional 9-5 encourages inactivity and sitting all day, of course, and you've probably heard all about how 'sitting is the new smoking'—about how prolonged sitting can increase your risk for heart disease, diabetes, stiff joints, and even some types of cancer, among a slew of other problems.
- Develop a training plan. You know what's easy after a long day? ...
- Be diligent. This piece of advice is simple but pivotal to the success of the 9-5 warrior. ...
- Don't go home after work. ...
- You're not tired. ...
- Distill your daydreams.
There are people who are perfectly happy with 8-hour shifts as an employee of a company. On the contrary, there are others who see no benefit to a 9–5 job and despise working for another person. Whichever one you are, a 9–5 job will always have a positive impact if you are in the right mindset.
The 9-to-5 workday used to be standard for all employees, but that's quickly changing. Freelancing and self-employment are on the rise, and there's been a rapid shift toward remote work. According to Gallup, at least 45% of full-time employees work remotely at least part of the time.
What is the disadvantage of a 9 5 job?
The disadvantage of a job is that you may not always be able to do the work or use the skills you want to use. You might be assigned tasks that bore or frustrate you or that you don't feel confident doing. You may be told what to do instead of being given the freedom to choose how to handle things.
The traditional American business hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, representing a workweek of five eight-hour days comprising 40 hours in total. These are the origin of the phrase 9-to-5, used to describe a conventional and possibly tedious job.
There's not a right answer—just make sure you're being honest with yourself about your earnings expectations. Some individuals might be comfortable quitting their 9-to-5 once their side hustle is netting them $25K per year, while others may want to wait until they can take home $100K annually.
- Start a business. Becoming your own boss is a great way to dictate your own hours. ...
- Become a freelancer. Depending on your career field, connections, and financial stability, freelancing is another good option. ...
- Get a remote job. ...
- Move abroad. ...
- Save money.
Many people know that the 9 to 5 workday was actually introduced by the Ford Motor Company back in the 1920s, and became standardized by the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938 as a way of trying to curb the exploitation of factory workers.
Yes, you can get rich working a 9–5 job. It just won't happen quickly, which is perfectly fine, especially if you like your job. You don't need to start a business to build wealth if you set up a simple saving system and stick to it for the long run.
- Personal trainer.
- Photographer.
- Nutritionist.
- Librarian.
- Artist.
- Writer.
- Chiropractor.
- Real estate agent.
The majority of people are at work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a small break in the middle of the day for lunch.
9-6 isn't unusual, and neither is 8-5, and lots of other variations. The thinking behind those is often that they include an hour for lunch — so you're still working eight hours, but the finish time is nine hours after your start time because of lunch.
Employees | Employed People | |
---|---|---|
Rank | Country | Work Week Hours |
1 | Mauritania | 54 |
2 | Egypt | 51 |
3 | Gambia | 51 |
Is 8 to 4 an 8 hour shift?
8am to 4pm is 8 hours - calculate time between any two hours while you type. 8am to 4pm is how many hours? Typically, you need to find a calculator, calculate the hours worked and then copy it over. This process takes time and you can easily make mistakes.
Higher productivity
Working ten hours for four days may increase productivity. Employees know that after the long hours, they get three days to themselves every week to relax and attend to personal tasks.
Not everyone is comfortable with working 10 hours a day. While longer weekends make some happy and motivated, others find those 10 hours exhausting. Research suggests that the average employee is only productive for about 3 hours per day. Plus, long working hours can cause fatigue, stress, and illness.
Working on shifts can give you a greater amount of responsibility. This is because, when working on late or night shifts, the teams are usually smaller, so you would be expected to do more. Shift work can be an opportunity to take on more responsibility and this can look great on your CV.
On the other hand, working 10-hour shifts on a regular basis has some pitfalls. As the Occupational Safety and Health Administration explains, those longer working days and hours can lead to: Worker Fatigue. Increased Levels Of Stress.
Surviving 3, 12-hour shifts in a row is tricky. The first two are okay but it gets rough towards the end if you don't look after yourself. This is, of course, made even harder if you work more than three in a row and you should take extra care when reading the suggestion below.
- Prepare for your shift. ...
- Get enough sleep. ...
- Bring a packed lunch. ...
- Use your breaks wisely. ...
- Schedule a holiday. ...
- Plan your rest days. ...
- Develop a strong support network. ...
- Prioritise your health.
Give as much notice as possible. As soon as you know you aren't able to work a planned shift, communicate with your manager. Giving ample notice is polite and professional because it allows your supervisor and coworkers to rearrange their shifts or duties to facilitate their workflow for the day.
What's the connection between shift work and health? A 2022 research review in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine links shift work to higher risks for serious health problems, such as heart attack and diabetes.
Night shift work increases the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. It disrupts the body's circadian rhythms—the 24-hour internal “clock” that controls when you sleep and wake. Studies have shown that eating at night alters the body's metabolism.
Is night shift easier than day?
Since humans are programmed to feel more tired and need sleep during the night, working during the day tends to be easier and more convenient for most people. So, if you enjoy sleeping at nighttime, the day shift is an ideal choice.
While night shifts can typically be slower, Keeping your body moving will keep your blood flowing and mind awake. Try not clock-watch, as this can increase fatigue and make the night feel longer.
During sleep, the body increases the production of proteins that fuel cell growth and repair—including collagen, the most plentiful protein in the human body, and one that is essential to healthy, youthful-looking skin. Deep sleep in particular is critical for this cellular repair work.
As a full-time employee, most employers will require you to be available most, if not all, of the week. This is why full-time jobs are often referred to as a “9-to-5,” referring to the time frame between 9:00am and 5:00pm.
Standard shift
A standard shift refers to a regular business schedule where employees work Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., often referred to as a 9-to-5 job.
Workforce Institute's research demonstrates that a 4/10 work schedule reduces employee stress and boosts their happiness and well-being. Having an extra day off each week allows employees to find a better work-life balance. In this context, offering 4/10 hour shifts have also shown to increase employee attendance.
Scientists have even figured out the perfect formula for this break, down to the minute. It's the 52/17 rule: 52 minutes on, 17 minutes off. Downtime replenishes attention and motivation, creativity and productivity.
Working for 80+ hours could be considered an extreme sport, and, as such, you shouldn't do it every day. If you still have to do it from time to time, sticking to a strict routine and blocking your time will help you succeed. Friendly advice: Don't make working 80+ hours per week into a routine.
A 50-hour workweek represents a workweek that exceeds the usual 40-hour schedule for professionals across industries. This means that instead of committing eight hours each day for five days, professionals may work 10 hours each day for five days, or work an additional sixth day to meet their 50-hour requirements.
Average Hours Worked Per Day
However, the nation's average of hours worked per day is a solid 8.5 hours, while the weekend days average landed at 5.4 hours. Similar to hours worked per week, these can vary based on several different things: Gender. Men reported 34 extra minutes of work time per day than employed women.
Is working 5 hours a day good?
Could a 5 hour workday really get more work done when eight hours sometimes isn't enough? Let's set out the case for a five hour working day. According to trials, five-hour workdays have the potential to not only enhance the quality and volume of work completed, but greatly improve employee productivity and happiness.
Workforce Institute's research demonstrates that a 4/10 work schedule reduces employee stress and boosts their happiness and well-being. Having an extra day off each week allows employees to find a better work-life balance. In this context, offering 4/10 hour shifts have also shown to increase employee attendance.
9-6 isn't unusual, and neither is 8-5, and lots of other variations. The thinking behind those is often that they include an hour for lunch — so you're still working eight hours, but the finish time is nine hours after your start time because of lunch.
- Make friends with your co-workers : ...
- Ask questions - there are no stupid questions : ...
- Take regular breaks: ...
- Eat snacks and stay hydrated: ...
- Don't bring work home: ...
- Plan time for oneself: ...
- Keep hobbies alive: ...
- Remember the reason for the job:
When countries outside of the EU are considered, Turkey, which straddles south-east Europe and western Asia, has the longest working week, clocking up a staggering 49.4 hours per week on average.
In the EU, in 2021, 27.9 % of employed people worked on average less than 35 hours per week (see Figure 2). 17.7 % had an average working week of 35 to less than 40 hours. The largest share (38.4 %) at EU level was for those with an average working week of 40 to less than 42 hours.
The traditional American business hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, representing a workweek of five eight-hour days comprising 40 hours in total. These are the origin of the phrase 9-to-5, used to describe a conventional and possibly tedious job.
A 9-to-5 culture is a common working schedule, but it isn't as bad as people make it seem. There are plenty of people who work 9-to-5 and get by just fine. Many people do so for several reasons that they enjoy. But this doesn't mean that all jobs with the same schedule are good.
The disadvantage of a job is that you may not always be able to do the work or use the skills you want to use. You might be assigned tasks that bore or frustrate you or that you don't feel confident doing. You may be told what to do instead of being given the freedom to choose how to handle things.
A 50-hour workweek represents a workweek that exceeds the usual 40-hour schedule for professionals across industries. This means that instead of committing eight hours each day for five days, professionals may work 10 hours each day for five days, or work an additional sixth day to meet their 50-hour requirements.
What country has a 6 hour work day?
Australia. In Australia, the six-hour day and four-day week is supported by the Australian Greens.
A study from the World Health Organization (WHO) found that working an average of 55 hours or more each week increases your risk of stroke by 35 percent and your risk of dying from heart disease by 17 percent, compared to averaging a 35-40 hour workweek.