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These days, a favorite leisure pick is a historical series portraying Manhattan's elite during a prosperous era. An interesting thread casually mentions steelworkers demanding better conditions for the principle of “888”: eight-hour periods for work, sleep, and leisure.

This demand was hardly revolutionary during that period. The phrase, linked to activist Robert Owen, was first used in 1817. Historically, a centuries-old regulation restricted construction workers in the Americas to eight-hour shifts.

How would these historical figures or a ruler from the past make of “996”? This phrase refers to laboring from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days each a week – amounting to 72 hours of intense work. Originating in the tech sector in China, 996 was famously called a “blessing” by a well-known e-commerce founder. But, laborers pushed back, organizing through the internet and prevailing in labor disputes against employers.

Now, 996 is back – though it likely remained in practice. Sources show that workers in various sectors are required to put in long shifts. In Silicon Valley, adhering to the 996 model is seen as a way to get ahead. Recruitment posts openly require extreme work schedules and stress that job seekers need to be thrilled with the opportunity. Some recruiters are instructed that a readiness to work 72-hour weeks is absolutely required.

One publication announced that hustle mentality is back and more intense than before. A founder summarized the mindset as: “No drinking, no drugs, 996, lift heavy, run far, marry early, track sleep, eat steak and eggs.” Another wrote online about routinely working on Saturdays and Sundays and doing their best work late into the night.

Many people don't understand by this trend. Hadn't we all fallen out of love with the grind mentality? Recent successes from reduced-hour experiments show that the vast majority of participating companies opted to keep the alternative arrangement. Observing global examples, progressive labor practices that reconcile family, community, life and work do not necessarily reduce efficiency and can create happier, healthier citizens.

Take the case of the Netherlands, where the average labor schedule is approximately 32 hours. Despite this, the nation remains surpassing other economies and places high in the most recent global well-being index.

Additionally, reports indicate of increasing disinterest in overwork, especially among younger generations. Studies from leading companies showed that work-life balance was listed as the top priority in choosing an employer. For the first time, this aspect came ahead of pay as a motivator.

So what does there exist new, intense push for excessive labor? A couple of ideas might explain this trend. First, it could be the last gasp of a declining mindset – an “extinction burst” before it disappears. Another view proposes recent research showing that too much labor leads to cognitive shifts. Studies find that those with extreme schedules show alterations in areas of the brain associated with cognitive control and feelings control. Observing a few famous industry personalities, such a conclusion seems plausible. Only individuals with altered mental states could believe that these conditions are healthy or productive.

Because tech enthusiasts often love innovation, perhaps their overworked selves could be swayed that inhumane working practices are passe through audacious alternatives. What exactly might catch on? Many desire shorter workweeks, approaching a scholar's once-predicted 15-hour workweek. Others propose a set proportion of tasks to downtime, or spending one day in the office and longer periods in leisure. Maybe with a catchy name and rumors that it enhances life, these alternatives could be the next big trend in high-pressure sectors.