For many, sundays are synonymous with rest, a complete disconnect from work. However, for a growing number of office workers, the seventh day has become a strategic workday, a "new normal" allowing for greater flexibility during the week. Sam Hindman, a New York writer, embodies this shift. She now dedicates a few hours on sunday to work, not to overload herself, but to earn pockets of leisure time later in the week.
Hindman finds these quiet sunday hours invaluable. "I'm contributing to future rest by allocating my time wisely," she explains. This proactive approach, free from the usual deluge of messages and client demands, allows her to tackle tasks requiring deep focus. The benefit is tangible: a tuesday morning at the gym or an extended thursday lunch with friends, moments she wouldn't otherwise have. Her work-life balance philosophy has evolved from rigid separation to flexible integration, aligning professional duties with her personal rhythm.
The Covid-19 pandemic, 5 years in the past, significantly blurred the lines between work and personal life. While some sought to strictly separate the two or even take a "digital detox" on fridays, a segment of office professionals has embraced an inverse strategy: transforming sunday into a gentle work-start day. This approach offers a less abrupt transition into the work week.
This trend is supported by data from ActivTrak, which analyzed over 200,000 employees across 777 companies. Their findings indicate that individuals who work on weekends typically spend about 5,5 hours over both days off. This practice is particularly prevalent in larger enterprises, specifically those employing between 1,000 and 5,000 staff members.
Unlike the intense "996" work culture (9h to 21h, 6 days a week) prevalent in China, or the high-pressure environments found in Silicon Valley, this sunday work trend is largely voluntary. The quiet weekend hours are often reserved for tasks demanding deep concentration, minimizing interruptions from colleagues or clients.
Further evidence comes from Ramp's corporate card spending data. In San Francisco, meal orders placed on saturday saw a significant increase during the first 8 months of 2025. This suggests a growing number of employees are either returning to the office or working remotely on weekends, contributing to the shift.
Fanni Gabor, who works for a digital identity security company, exemplifies this career-first mindset. Her weekends frequently involve meetings with executives or dedicated time for projects requiring deep analytical thought. "We can earn more money, but we can't get more time," Gabor states. For her, repurposing sunday as a "new monday" is a deliberate strategy to manage her finite time effectively. This structured approach ensures she maintains her fitness routine, healthy eating habits, and sufficient sleep throughout the week, preventing the rush and burnout that often accompanies a traditional 5-day work sprint.
In a dynamic job market marked by volatility and increasing performance demands, proactively tackling work during days off is becoming a way for many young professionals to regain control over their lives. It's a shift from passively existing in an "always-on" state to actively shaping their work-life integration.
Ngoc Ngan (According to Business Insider)
