More Professionals Struggling with Work-Life Balance, FlexJobs Survey Finds

Once again, FlexJobs has conducted our annual survey on love and relationships. FlexJobs surveyed over 1,200 people to determine how work impacts their work-life balance, relationships, health, stress levels, physical fitness frequency, and more.

Across ages and lifestyles, one thing is clear: more people are struggling with work-life balance than three years ago.

According to the January 2018 results:

30% of people are currently satisfied with their work-life balance, compared to 45% in the same survey three years ago.
37% of respondents today report being stressed by their level of work-life balance, up from 29% in 2015.

One of the most common sources of stress is work. In the FlexJobs survey, 86% responded that work conflicts with their efforts to take care of their overall health.

Check out our list of the “Best Jobs to Find Work-Life Balance.”
Each offers flexible work options!

Let’s dive deeper into how work affects people’s work-life balance, physical and mental health, and relationships, and the role flexible work can play.

(Flexible work refers to professional-level jobs that have a telecommuting, flexible schedule, freelance, or part-time component.)

The Positive Impact of Flexible Work on Health and Love

The Impact of Flexible Jobs on Personal Health and Non-Romantic Relationships

The vast majority of those surveyed say that having a more flexible job would impact their lives in many positive ways.

94% thought a flexible job would have a positive impact on their personal life.
89% thought it would help them take better care of themselves.
88% believed it would decrease their levels of stress.
69% thought it would increase the frequency they exercised.
88% said it would create more time to spend with family.
78% thought it would help them be a better friend.

The Impact of Flexible Jobs on Romantic Relationships

When asked about romantic relationships specifically, respondents said the following:

44% thought having a flexible job would make their sex lives better, and another 30% were optimistic it would (i.e., having less stress in their lives would make them happier, feel more attractive, have more time for their partners, etc.).
84% thought it would help them be a more attentive spouse/partner/significant other.
53% thought it would increase time available for dates/date nights.
47% said it would benefit their romantic relationship, and another 31% were hopeful it would.

The Impact of Flexible Jobs for Working Parents

Of the more than 500 respondents with children 18 and under living at home, 95% thought having a job with work flexibility would help them be a better parent. And 91% thought it would help them be healthier and take better care of themselves.

Working parents also anticipated an improvement in the quality of their romantic relationships:

Nearly half of working parents, 46%, thought having a flexible job would improve their sex life, and another 31% were optimistic it would.
86% thought it would help them be a more attentive spouse/partner/significant other.
53% thought it would increase time available for dates/date nights.
47% said it would benefit their romantic relationship, and another 31% were hopeful it would.

Demographic Info of Respondents

Age: 11% between 20-29 years old; 75% between 30-59 years old; 14% 60+
Relationship status: Not currently in a relationship (23%), Dating (4%), Serious/Engaged (17%), Married (56%)
Children: 64% have children and 36% do not have children

Photo Credit: bigstockphoto.com

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