A three-day-week gets the best performance from workers aged¹ over 40, a study has found.

 

一项研究发现，40岁以上的人如果每周上三天班，工作表现最佳。

 

Researchers found the cognitive² performance of middle-aged³ people improved as the working week increased up to 25 hours a week.

 

However, when the week went over 25 hours, overall performance for the test subjects decreased as "fatigue⁴ and stress" took effect.

 

The report, which was published in the Melbourne Institute Worker Paper series, invited 3,000 men and 3,500 women in Australia to complete a series of cognitive tests while their work habits were analysed.

 

It was found those working 25 hours a week performed best while those working 55 hours a week showed results worse than retired⁵ or unemployed⁶ participants.

 

One of the three authors, Professor Colin McKenzie from Keio University told the Times: "Many countries are going to raise their retirement⁷ ages by delaying the age at which people are eligible⁸ to start receiving pension benefits. This means that more people continue to work in the later stages of their life.

 

"The degree of intellectual stimulation⁹ may depend on working hours. Work can be a double-edged sword, in that it can stimulate¹⁰ brain activity, but at the same time long working hours can cause fatigue and stress, which potentially damage cognitive functions.

 

"We point out that differences in working hours are important for maintaining cognitive functioning in middle-aged and elderly adults. This means that, in middle and older age, working part-time could be effective in maintaining cognitive ability."

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