References
NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require a password.
Impact of COVID-19 on Work/Life Balance
About A Third of U.S. Workers Who Can Work from Home Now Do So All The Time (Pew Research Center, Mar. 30, 2023)
Roughly three years after the COVID-19 pandemic upended U.S. workplaces, about a third (35%) of workers with jobs that can be done remotely are working from home all of the time, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. This is down from 43% in January 2022 and 55% in October 2020 – but up from only 7% before the pandemic.
The future of work: How should we view work-life balance? (University of Cincinnati, Feb. 7, 2023)
Two professors and a staff member from the University of Cincinnati's Carl H. Lindner College of Business discuss how employees and employers can take steps to improve work-life balance, how paid time off should be handled and the potential for a four-day workweek.
Work, Life And COVID‐19: A Rapid Review and Practical Recommendations for the Post‐Pandemic Workplace (Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, Sep. 28, 2022)
1) work‐life boundaries have become more permeable, with behavior‐based and time‐based work‐life conflict emerging as the more salient forms of work‐life conflict; 2) technical work demands have increased, as employees grapple with techno‐invasion, techno‐overload and techno‐complexity; and 3) psychological and emotional work demands have intensified.
Impact of Work/Life Balance
The Surprising Benefits of Work/Life Support (Harvard Business Review, Sep. 1, 2022) E
“Companies need to spell out and uniformly offer policies in three areas: flexibility, time off, and childcare. Doing so, studies show, helps workers and managers alike by lowering stress, improving productivity, boosting retention, and increasing diversity.”
To See How a City Embraces Remote Work, Look to Helsinki (City Metric, Jul. 19, 2021)
“The adjustment to remote work, if continued after the crisis, offers a chance to improve companies’ geographical diversity and for employers to demonstrate trust in their workforce.”
The Impact Of A Hybrid Work Environment On Real Estate (Forbes, Jul. 19, 2021)
Whether you end up working from home, the office or a mix of both, office spaces will continue to exist and welcome those who value bouncing ideas around, brainstorming and working alongside their peers. The most positive note I can highlight is that employees will now have more options to manage how, when and where they chose to be most productive.
The Importance of Striking the Right Work-Life Balance (Entrepreneur, Oct. 17, 2018)
- It affects your health
- Long hours don’t make a difference
- Your personal relationships are at risk
Strategies for Achieving Balance
15 Leadership Tips To Boost Both Work-Life Balance And Accountability For Teams (Forbes, May 2, 2023)
15 Forbes Coaches Council members share tips to help business leaders looking for ways to better support employees’ overall health and wellness both inside and outside of work while still driving high expectations of accountability for meeting individual, departmental and organizational goals.
Remote work and work-life balance: Lessons learned from the covid-19 pandemic and suggestions for HRD practitioners (Human Resource Development International, Apr. 1, 2022) E
- Offer remote work as an option: Provide a balanced preview of remote work; Offer a range of remote work options.
- Prepare to support transition and remote work: Develop skills required to support remote workers; Support employee transition.
- Provide ongoing support to sustain remote work: Listen to remote workers; Develop deals through dialogue; Facilitating access to development opportunities.
How To Achieve a Sustainable Workweek: Implement Five Essential Routines for Better Work-Life Balance (Personal Excellence, Mar. 1, 2022) E
Fortunately, the answer to decision fatigue is simple: routines. While we’re all familiar with the concept of routines, it’s worth the reminder that routines are defined as a sequence of actions you regularly follow. Routines differ from habits in that, habits require little or no conscious thought, while routines require a bit more intention and effort.
How Saying 'Yes' And 'No' Could Revolutionize Your Work/Life Balance (World Economic Forum, Jun. 6, 2021)
The key to this alternative approach is to prioritize and learn to say “no” in order to be able to say “yes” when it matters most. Also key is to manage expectations by being clear about what the priorities are.
Finding the Right Work-Life Balance When Working Remotely (Insurance Journal, Apr. 5, 2021) E
Be flexible, set a hard stop time each day, set up “away” and “snooze” capabilities, take time off, and focus on things that really matter.
5 Ways to Leave Your Work Stress at Work (Harvard Business Review, Mar. 22, 2019)- Communicate appropriately
- Transition before you get home
- Find a confidant
- Set a day aside
- Gratitude
eBooks & Other Resources
The following eBooks and audiobooks are available to NAR members and association staff:
Balance your Life and Work (eBook)
Finding Work-Life Balance (eBook)
Find Your Work-Life Balance (eBook)
Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional Life (Audiobook)
The Myth of Work-Life Balance (eBook)
Work–Life Balance (eBook)
Work–Life Balance (eBook) E
Work / Life Balance For Dummies (eBook)
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