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What can be done to improve work-life balance? Advice and insight on rebalancing the working week to give HE professionals time for the important things in life
It is well reported that university staff and faculty are frequently working an unhealthy number of hours in any given week. Often, this is to the detriment of relationships, family time, hobbies and other personal commitments – and, worryingly, the trend seems to be arcing upwards. This collection of resources offers everyday tips on how to redress work-life balance, advice on which areas of the job to prioritise when climbing the academic ladder and calls on management to do their part by putting employee well-being higher on the agenda and modelling positive behaviour.
Copyright © 2025 THE - Times Higher Education. All rights reserved. You can have it all , just not all at once
It might just be possible to achieve a good work - life balance in academia , but it requires focusing on certain areas of your life and career at certain times , says Lucas Lixinski
Using the ‘ pick three ’ method to avoid burnout in higher education
One can accomplish only so many tasks in a given day , so try selecting three from five designated priorities and ensuring they are …
Recognise work - life imbalance and restore resilience
How can academics stay energised and resilient ? The first step , says Aaron Davis , is take stock of those tasks and worries that deplete …
A calendar activity that can help in the battle against burnout
Working out how you want to spend your time versus how you actually spend it can be a useful tool for ensuring investment in your …
Looking for a tenured teaching job ? I ’ ve got one piece of advice : get lucky
By reinforcing the myth of meritocracy , we perpetuate a system grounded in cruelty and false promises . It needs to stop , says David Webster
In the search for work - life balance , going part - time could provide an answer
James Derounian makes the case for part - time work , particularly as academics advance in their careers – and gives tips on how to begin the transition and make a success of it
The summer life of a teacher can be a boon for creativity in the classroom
For me , what makes a teacher interesting in the classroom is proportional to what interests them outside it , says Zachary Michael …
Walk the walk to benefit your academic research
Walking can be used to benefit academic research , help with problem - solving and promote creative thinking . Here , Anna …
Why my hobbies make me a better scholar
Non - academic skills , both motor and cognitive , can enrich research capabilities in unexpected and often unexamined ways , …
Conversations around stress must move beyond ‘ I ’ m fine , how are you ? ’
Sara Metz offers practical advice on adopting the ‘ stress continuum ’ – a shared language and system to help staff and students reflect upon and discuss their well - being
Pedagogical wellness specialist : the role that connects teaching and well - being
Does faculty well - being affect student outcomes ? Exploring this question in the wake of post - Covid burnout and trauma led UCI to create a new position that prioritises teacher wellness
Universities need policies and practices to tackle work - life balance
Broadly speaking , some countries do family - friendly policies and practices better than others – but there are great benefits to be …
Broccoli and birdsong : the shifty discourse of ‘ staff well - being ’
When institutions put responsibility for wellness onto individuals , they also deflect their role in staff burnout and mental ill …
Recognition of academia ’ s ‘ invisible labour ’ is long overdue
We must ensure that academic citizenship becomes a key part of our job descriptions , on par with teaching , research and …
Slowing down earlier in the pandemic went well – so why speed back up ?
The online tools adopted in the past two years do have positives , but they ’ ve also created a new kind of pressure – the pressure to be everywhere at once
Tame the to - do list and manage an academic workload
Reduce procrastination , forget multitasking and get the to - do list done . From delegating to prioritising urgent versus important tasks , here are six practical ways to balance teaching , research and service for university faculty
Early career researchers can say no , too
Coming up with a series of questions for ECRs about each ‘ opportunity ’ as it arises can help them decide what is worthy of their time , …
Salary negotiation – a guide for faculty members
In the age of inflation , increased competition and an emphasis on adjunct faculty roles , knowing how to effectively negotiate …
The boundaries to set so your students don ’ t take over your life
As the role of university teacher evolves , a key workplace challenge is how to offer proximity without becoming a 24 / 7 bot service
