If you had the choice of working less hours a week, how many of us would make the choice to cut back on our work? All of us probably. Recent studies show that taking those extra days off each week do more than you might think.

The 2016 study showed that workers over the age of 40 will perform their best when they are only working three days a week instead of the usual Monday-Friday grind. The study based their results on more than just opinions too.

They tested 3,500 women and 3,000 men and analyzed their work habits. After analyzing their findings, researchers concluded that people who worked an average of 25 hours per week tended to perform the best. Anything over 25 hours resulted in a decrease in cognitive test scores due to fatigue and stress.

Several signs can point to workplace stress. They include turning to alcohol or drugs to relax, working long hours but having nothing to show for it, feeling sleepy and fatigued all day, feeling sad or depressed, your eyes are sore and your body is aching, and your relationships seem to be falling apart.

Some countries, like France, have made it illegal to work employees too many hours, even going as far as making it illegal to even email employees after work hours. Some studies have shown that even decreasing the work week to four days could result in significant improvement in work as well as people’s lives.

If you are one of the many people who work at least five days a week, be sure to fill your life with things that you value including family, friends, hobbies, and community involvement. Keeping your focus on these things can help you feel happier and less stressed while working longer hours.

Are you one of the people that works a hectic five day a week schedule? Did you find this study helpful? Be sure to share it with your family and friends and see what they think.