For most of documented history, life didn’t come with an “off” switch. Farmers worked as long as the sun was up, not a day missed. Craftsmen toiled until their tools grew dull. They still do, both farmers and craftsmen. Life was a constant cycle of doing—because survival left little room for rest.

In the 18th century, the Industrial Revolution was in full swing. And factories were relentless, demanding constant output.

Workers were burned out. Exhausted, they struggled to keep up with the punishing hours, sometimes working 12-16 hours daily. The inevitable result: productivity began to drop. Workers began protesting for better pay, shorter hours, and more humane conditions.

Sunday, the traditional day of rest, was fine for Christians. But it ignored Jewish workers who observed Shabbat—a day of rest from Friday evening to Saturday evening.

In 1908, the fog lifted.

A cotton mill in New England (United States) decided to give its Jewish workers a two-day weekend. It wasn’t an act of charity but a practical decision to avoid losing skilled workers. The mill’s Jewish employees could now observe Shabbat without missing work.

Soon, a few progressive industries in the U.K. and U.S. started experimenting with half-day Saturdays, hoping to boost morale.

But these were exceptions, not the norm. The real change would come from one of the most influential figures in the history of business, and, of course, capitalism.

Henry Ford wasn’t just building cars; he was reconfiguring the culture of work. In 1926, he introduced a 40-hour workweek with Saturdays and Sundays off—not just out of kindness but because he could see the bigger picture.

A well-rested worker could be a more productive worker.

His workers now had time to recharge and maintain a healthier work-life balance. They came back to work refreshed and more productive.

Ford wasn’t being entirely selfless.

He understood that well-rested workers with extra leisure time would spend their paychecks—and hopefully, those paychecks would go toward buying Ford cars.

It worked. Ford’s workers were happier, more productive, and, perhaps most importantly, more loyal.

But many industries resisted, claiming a shorter workweek would hurt productivity. Ford’s results, however, proved otherwise. By the 1930s, labor unions had taken notice. They unanimously pushed for a standard 40-hour workweek, and by the 1940s, the two-day weekend became the norm in the U.S.

In 1940, the Fair Labor Standards Act officially established the 40-hour workweek—making the weekend a guaranteed break for workers.

From there, the concept of ‘weekend’ spread globally, becoming a key part of modern work culture.

If you find yourself wasting a weekend doing absolutely nothing, remember: weekends are the result of centuries of hard toil by workers who fought for time off, a luxury not always afforded in history.

The weekend means something different to everyone. For some, it’s a time to simply unwind; for others, it’s about catching up on what the week left behind. But if weekends are only about chilling, burnout still looms just around the corner.

The ideal weekend strikes a balance—a mix of rest, productive small tasks, and moments that nourish the soul. Whether it’s running errands, indulging in a hobby, or spending time with loved ones, a thoughtfully spent weekend ensures we’re not just resting but resetting for the week ahead.