The six-hour workday as a strategic tool for climate impact, quality of life, and social sustainability

GoClimate shows how the path toward a more sustainable society can begin in the workplace. By establishing a six-hour workday as the norm from the start, the company has created a culture where people can bring their whole selves to work, still have energy left, and where both climate impact and creativity thrive.

– We believe that true sustainability starts from within. When people feel well and live in balance, better results follow. A shorter workday isn’t about doing less, but about having the capacity to do more, in a sustainable way, says Cecilia Lindén, co-founder of GoClimate

The research is clear: Shorter working hours improve health, increase motivation, and maintain productivity

Multiple studies consistently show that reducing working hours can contribute to:

• Less stress, better sleep, and lower mental exhaustion [1]
• Higher quality of life and improved work–life balance [2]
• Better focus and improved decision-making [3][4]
• Maintained or increased productivity and efficiency at company level [5][6]

Overall, research shows that people perform better when the workday is aligned with the brain’s capacity – not old industrial norms.

Voices from the team: “There is space for all of me in my everyday life”

Desirée at a climate manifestation. Photo: Ossian Sandin/ Tidningen Syre

Activism that brings energy back into work

Desirée, a marketer at GoClimate, uses her extra time for climate activism through Rebellmammorna:
– The six-hour workday has given me room to take part in climate demonstrations. I’ve found community, new friends, and a sense of purpose. It makes me more motivated in my job as well; everything is connected.

She also shares how she fulfilled her dream of living in the countryside:
– I commute to Stockholm a few days a week, and on the other days I look out over the fields. This is exactly how I want to live the transition.

Tove with the horse Alcor.

Social engagement that strengthens joy at work

Tove, Head of Marketing, describes how the six-hour day transformed life as a single parent:
– There is space for all of me in my everyday life. I can be the parent I want to be, volunteer with the Stockholm City Mission, and still have energy left. It makes me calmer, happier, and more motivated at work.

She has also returned to her passion for horseback riding:
– I often solve work problems while packing hay bags or caring for my horse. It’s surprisingly meditative – and the creativity carries back into the office.

Leo enjoys the extra time with the kids and producing music.

A better everyday life for parents – and more energy at work

For Leo, a developer at GoClimate, the shorter workday has transformed the whole family rhythm:
– We can eat breakfast in peace without waking up at five. It sets the tone for the whole day. In the afternoons, I have the energy to be with my kids, not just survive.

When he doesn’t have the kids, he spends his afternoons on music:
– I recorded an entire album alongside my job. The brain can’t handle eight hours of intense coding. Six hours is perfect for staying focused.

Pia arranges the climate course The Week.

Flexibility that creates meaning

Pia, also a developer at GoClimate, describes how shorter working hours have made room for volunteer work, mentorship, and community engagement:
– I have time to volunteer without sacrificing sleep or time with my children. The balance makes me both happier and more effective at work.

A flat culture built on responsibility

GoClimate operates without a traditional hierarchy. Everyone takes responsibility – and gets room to grow.
Leo puts it this way:

– It doesn’t feel like I work for someone, but that I work for all of us. That creates real engagement.

Facts: What the research shows

Curious to learn more about how we at GoClimate work with reduced working hours and self-management? Get in touch!