Productivity waxes and wanes. I've experienced hour-long periods in which I accomplished as much as a typical day or week. I suspect a shorter work week would increase the frequency of these occurrences. The perceived relationship between productivity and time needs to die. The true relation is between productivity and "energy." An internal store of productive capacity. The focus on time leads to the continual (and largely wasteful) depletion of energy and eventually to burnout. This state is far more common than you might think. It's rare that an individual experiences the alternative and realizes something is wrong. Most people, rather than complaining or quitting, simply work hard enough not to be fired.