We live in a society where it is normal to spend many hours per day on our cell phones. It has become so normal because of social medias lure to get people to use the platforms, and the addictive nature of said platforms. Social media sites tap into our dopaminergic system by creating anticipation of finding "that one post" or "that one video" that makes us laugh and feel good. The hunt for content is addictive, not the content*.

The other big issue with the way social media is designed in the modern era, is that it is very overstimulating to my brain. It makes other activites that aren't nearly as stimulating feel mind numbingly boring in comparison. This leads to decreased productivity, and an inability to focus. For students especially, this can make procrastination easier and focusing harder. Like why would I want to do something that takes a long time to get a reward when I can get the reward just from scrolling on TikTok for a few seconds. From the standpoint of gaining the reward quicker, which one would you choose?

I will go into more detail in future blog entries, but that is the simplified version because I am too tired to continue writing this crap.

*Content itself obviously can be addicting depending on the person's tastes in content and what they fancy. You know what I mean, we all like that one movie/show/youtuber etc.

The five-day school week is far too long. By the end of the week so many students are exhausted and don’t have the time or the will to invest in themselves. Some students want to pursue a hobby, or they want to spend more time with their friends and family. Nowadays, students, especially those in high school, are stressed out with their classes, extra-curricular activities, and for some, working a part-time job. If schools were to switch from a five-day to four-day school week, students would benefit socially, physically, and mentally from an extra day to spend on themselves. They would also get a break from the stresses of their classes, extra-curriculars, and part-time jobs.

A four-day school week will help students with their mental health and stress. Nowadays, because of higher parent expectations for students, competitive college applications, and more work from teachers, students are stressed more than ever before. Students must balance school, clubs, sports, if they are a senior, college applications, and some have a part-time job on top of that. Poor mental health and stress on Gen Z has been at an all-time high, and having to do 5 days of school per week on top of having a personal life is very challenging. It would certainly help if students can get an extra day per week to just unwind, or at least do their work at home. Having ample time to rest has been scientifically proven to improve cognitive function and lower stress, which can increase productivity while at school.

If schools were to switch to a four-day school week, then not only can students be more productive and relax more, but they can also work on themselves and pursue hobbies. For instance, students can take that extra day to work on their physical fitness, spend time with family and friends, and find hobbies. A lot of students do not have the time to just do something they want to do. When people do things or hobbies that they want to do, it helps lower stress, and it allows them to feel more relaxed. Students are always told what to do every day and some may rarely get a chance to do something they would like to do for once. If students can participate in activities that allow them to unwind and relax, then in turn they will be more productive and will score better on exams.

Despite all the benefits to a four-day school week, some may argue that a reduced school week will not prepare students for the typical Monday through Friday work week that many adults experience; while that is a good point, many workplaces are also switching to a four-day work week to improve productivity in their offices. On another note, some argue that productivity may go down in schools if a reduced schedule is put into place. Many students may not take the time to be more productive with their time and spend it in non-productive ways; however, this is very subjective, and most students would likely just enjoy the extra day to themselves, even if that means they will not be doing anything productive with it.

In conclusion, there are many benefits to a four-day school week. The extra day that students could get has the potential to decrease stress, improve focus, and increase productivity.