Time and Attention 158: Working 90-Hour Weeks
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Oct 28, 2025 Dive into a fascinating exploration of productivity experiments, highlighting a daring attempt at working 90-hour weeks for a month. Discover the surprising results where 20-hour weeks proved more effective, thanks to intentionality and the deadline effect. Experience the benefits of a three-hour siesta, which not only recharged energy but also enhanced focus. Reflect on the complexities of managing time versus energy, and consider the implications of relaxation guilt on our lives. These insights challenge conventional wisdom about work and rest!
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Personal Experiments As Research Triggers
- Chris uses N-of-1 experiments as launching points to explore research and generate hypotheses.
- He stresses these are exploratory and not scientific but useful to prompt deeper reading and learning.
Actual 90-Hour Weeks Are Brutal
- Chris worked 90 hours one week, 20 the next, then 90, then 20 during a month-long experiment.
- He found many people overestimate their hours and discovered 90-hour weeks were much harder than expected.
Energy Beats Hours For Knowledge Work
- Time alone doesn't equal productivity; energy and attention matter more for knowledge work.
- Chris found that piling on hours reduced his energy and attention, lowering output despite more time spent.
