When reading last Sunday’s New York Times, I came across Roxane Gay’s advice column, Work Friend. A reader, Brit, had written in about unhappiness with work and at first I thought her letter was a parody. In it, she speaks of working in a dream job that calls on her skills and qualifications, that challenges her (presumably in good ways) and for which she is surrounded by amazing colleagues and supervisors. So, what’s the problem? She reported being unhappy with the unsustainable 40-hour work week and questioned whether she should make a change.

Frankly, I had to re-read her letter a few times to understand exactly what was making her unhappy. A 40-hour work week is standard, after all, and the job she describes seems to have many qualities that most of my clients would love to experience in the workplace.

What the reader writes about is interesting. She mentions that she is 27 and doesn’t believe working 40 hours a week allows sufficient time for the commitments in her life including self-care, creative pursuits and typical family activities and considerations. While 40 hours a week doesn’t seem like a lot to most (in fact it may seem like a luxury for those who work much longer hours), I began to wonder does it allow enough time for rest and enjoyment of the other areas of life?

In her response, Ms. Gay rightfully acknowledges that having to work only 40 hours a week would be a dream for many and that a 40-hour-work-week is just part of life. After all, it’s been embedded in the U.S. culture for many decades. And that’s true. But, here is where my thinking shifted. Many Millennials, such as Brit, have entered the professional world valuing personal pursuits and down time. They believe that workers need sufficient down time and vacation in order to be happy at work and at home. And, I think they’re on to something.

As I research and work with work-life balance issues, I do see that long hours have a negative impact on our ability to enjoy life (even if we enjoy our work!) and certainly the longer hours many people work exacerbates levels of stress and unhappiness actually decreasing levels of productivity according to recent studies.

Workers in other countries have been enjoying work with fewer hours, more vacation and a healthier work-life balance without any apparent loss in productivity and flow of business. In fact, some companies are finding that a reduction of hours in the standard work week can actually increase workplace productivity. In addition to improving individual health and wellbeing, working fewer hours provides workers a natural impetus to prioritize important projects to ensure they’re completed, reducing levels of procrastination and increasing focus.

Is there any way we can do the same in the U.S.? Although a strong case can be made that we would all be better off with a culture of fewer work hours and more flexibility, this isn’t always within our control. But, I believe there are things we can do to gently exercise more balance in life individually while maintaining and even increasing work productivity in less time.

Here are some ideas:

1. Give yourself a realistic, internal deadline for your work and stick to it. Adding a bit of deadline stress is helpful. In fact, an earlier deadline can help you increase focus to complete a project ahead of time, meet your goals and avoid procrastination.

2. Along those lines, pretend you already work reduced hours and prioritize your work accordingly. Use your time wisely. If you have only 35 hours to get the same amount of work done, you’re more likely to prioritize effectively and increase productivity.

3. Ensure your workspace supports your desire to focus and be productive. Declutter your desk, cube or office to block out the “noise.” Only bring in items that support a calm, peaceful environment that inspires you to stay focused.

4. Take regular breaks. Instead of hindering productivity, regular breaks will increase your concentration and maintain your level of performance. Take “health breaks” such as going for a walk, listening to music, talking with a colleague, or doing something creative. Get your blood pumping or just take a breather to clear your head and refocus.

5. Set boundaries. Say no. When you already have a full workload, just say no. A diplomatic way of communicating this to a colleague might be, “I’d like to help with this, but I’m unable to do it justice with my current workload, so I’ll have to pass this time.” Additionally, say no to unnecessary meetings where you can. According to Harvard Business Review research, employees at most companies spend 80% of their days in meetings, on the phone and responding to emails. As much as you can, say no to the nonessential meetings so that you have more time for critical thinking and work responsibilities, as well as more energy for other parts of life.

Employers in other countries are experimenting with reducing hours with great success, but we have a long way to go to shift the American culture away from an unhealthy workaholic mentality. In the meantime, if you’re ready to explore a change along these lines, what can you do to support an increase in productivity and make a case for a reduction of hours in your work? In doing so you will not only be taking care of yourself, but contributing to an overall shift to a culture valuing increased satisfaction, health, personal time, and genuine productivity for all employees.