For both employers and employees, there is persistent concern over work-life balance. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for how employees can manage the boundaries of their work life and home life. In this study, researchers (Mueller et al., 2025) developed and tested a micro-intervention to help employees improve the fit between the boundaries they desire and the boundaries they actually have.
THE RESEARCH STUDY
Across two weeks, participants participated in a brief educational activity where they learned about work-nonwork boundaries and the importance of matching boundaries to personal preferences. Participants were then asked to identify a personal goal for improving their boundaries. Finally, participants completed self-reflection tasks for the following 10 days to monitor progress toward their goals.
Compared to control groups, participants who participated in the intervention later reported that their work-life boundaries more closely fit their personal preferences. Ultimately, this came in conjunction with increased satisfaction with their work-life balance and improved subjective well-being.
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
This study demonstrated an effective intervention to help employees manage the boundaries of their work-life balance. Organizations can better support their employees by considering the following:
- Create and implement micro-interventions to educate employees about the benefits of managing work-life boundaries.
- Promote inclusive work-nonwork policies, employee autonomy, and a supportive work culture.
- Adjust leadership and guidance on a per-employee-basis, rather than a rigid one-size-fits-all approach.
Mueller, N., Haerdter, L., Scholz, M., Steinke, J., Haun, V. C., & Kempen, R. (2025). Improving work-nonwork balance and well-being through a boundary fit microintervention. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 98, e70043.
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