Why Are We Counting Down to the Weekend?

As I write this, it's Friday morning and I'm sat at the bus stop waiting for the early morning bus into work. I'm so glad it's Friday. It has been a big week. Lots of deep thinking, long hours and I'm tired. As I sit and think about my week and think about how glad I am that it's Friday, the first thought that I have is I don't think this is healthy.

The second thought I have is that I'm not alone in being glad that it's a Friday.

This feeling is more endemic than many of us take pause to think about. Particularly those of us who can do something about it.

Why does it happen?

While there may not be one single study that perfectly encapsulates "that Friday feeling," it's a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors.

The weekly rhythm of work and rest becomes deeply ingrained. As Friday approaches, we subconsciously prepare for a shift in our activity levels and social interactions. Socially, Friday often signifies a collective release. The shared anticipation of the weekend creates a sense of camaraderie and shared experience, further amplifying the positive emotions.

The weekend represents a break from routine, offering opportunities for leisure, social activities, and personal pursuits. This anticipation of these rewards contributes significantly to the positive feelings associated with Friday.

And here’s my issue. We perceive two days not working as a reward. Which means there's something wrong with our relationship with work.

What should we do about it?

The million dollar question. How do we create an environment, where everyone contributes to a whole, without directing and putting people under pressure. How do we get more done without pressuring people to do more?

I was chatting to someone on one of my previous posts earlier this week. She was concerned about the position I took in that post, because her reality was that the execs would always expect the teams to do more than they signaled they could, to a level that constantly felt unhealthy. It sounded like that team had a lot of Friday Feeling.

So if this is our new norm, what do we do?

For me, it is why I chose to set up a self managing company. A company where the responsibility and authority is spread equally amongst everyone. A company where there is no hierarchy and no boss to impose unreasonable pressure. Unfortunately, we still have to work with clients who are more traditional. But you start change where you can, right?

What are you doing to improve the world of work for those you work with and around? We know what we have is not healthy. So it starts with every single one of us to do something, no matter how small, to move the needle back in the other direction.