Everyone feels incredibly refreshed after a three day weekend, which is why it should come as no surprise that experts have found that working a four day work week is much healthier than a five day one.

Professor John Ashton, one of the top doctors in the United Kingdom, is calling for the British work week to be reduced from five days to four. He argued that “the stress that people are under, the pressure on time and sickness absence, [work-related] mental health is clearly a major issue.”

Ashton pointed out that British workers rarely take a lunch hour, instead working through their lunch period. This trend is happening in the U.S. as well, as it was recently found that less than 20 percent of American workers leave the office during their lunch break.

Ashton has touted the many benefits of working four days instead of five.

“We need a four-day week so that people can enjoy their lives, have more time with their families, and maybe reduce high blood pressure because people might start exercising on that extra day,” he said.

Companies that have switched to a four day work week have noticed many improvements in their employees, especially in their productivity. In 2015, workers in Sweden who worked fewer hours got sick less often and were more productive.

In addition, less time in the office means less sedentary time, which can greatly improve your health.

Alex Williams, a lecturer in sociology at City University, London, said a shorter work week can be good for the environment as well, since an extra day of commuting back and forth is avoided. Reducing someone’s work week by ten percent even reduces their carbon footprint by fifteen percent!

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