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Work/life balance

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Ayaan Mohamud (left) says negotiating extended leave with her workplace was nerve-wracking.

Exhausted at work? This could be just the thing you need

Asking your boss to take extended leave without pay can be nerve-wracking. But that doesn’t mean you should avoid it.

  • Nina Hendy

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Australia regularly ranks among the world’s best places to live. But a recent survey of its workforce tells a different story.

Australia is a great place to live, but a lousy place to work

This has long been considered the “lucky country”, but when it comes to the workplace, it seems we’re not so lucky after all.

  • Tim Duggan
People who don’t take time out for regular holidays may be missing out on important health benefits, research has shown.

The secret to living longer? You’ll find it on holiday

We all need a break from the office sometimes but few of us realise what regular holidays can mean for our long-term health, from reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke to our mental wellbeing.

  • Beth Howard
Kishwar Chowdhury, who is developing cooking classes for Caulfield Grammar students, with her son Mikayle.

Why some school students are learning 60 hours a week

Some schools are offering organised activities 12 hours a day, as parents juggle working and commuting with children’s needs.

  • Bridie Smith
Having a sad desk salad? Try taking a real break instead.

Does skipping your lunch break make you a better worker?

The pressure to be constantly available, perpetually productive, and always switched on has become the norm. But the cost of this relentless pace has become clear.

  • Téa Angelos
Commuters wait at a Sydney train station.

Why doesn’t my boss agree that commuting is a waste of time?

For too long, the time and cost associated with lengthy commutes was waved away as a necessary evil. That era is over.

  • Jonathan Rivett
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Bored at work? Lucky you.

Why there’s nothing wrong with having a ‘boring’ job

Rather than view it as a negative, it’s time to admit that there are lots of underrated positives to having a typically ‘boring’ job.

  • Tim Duggan

How’s your work-life imbalance? This ‘loopy’ office show is uncannily gratifying

Severance has become Apple’s most-watched series. It taps the anxiety and compartmentalisation of the modern working person.

  • Julia Baird
Lauren Bernays with husband Jeffrey - a flexible worker. Photo by Jason South. 11th March 2025.

‘They’re not treating us like adults’: Women call for work flexibility

Peter Dutton says federal public servants will need to return to the office full-time if the Coalition wins. Experts warn it will lead to an exodus of skilled women.

  • Gemma Grant
Once stigmatised, these days there’s nothing wrong with taking some time off work.

Why you should ask for some time off work – and how to do it

Sabbaticals were once frowned upon, but these days there’s nothing wrong with taking a career break. Here’s how to make it happen.

  • Caterina Hrysomallis

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/topic/work-life-balance-1msz