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Work/life balance

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We are seeing a grim explosion in workplace anxiety and stress among today’s young people.

Gen Z has ‘workplace anxiety’. Here’s what employers need to do

There is a growing movement of young people setting firm boundaries at work, leaving on the dot and refusing to answer emails outside work hours.

  • Ella Nunn

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Community garden co-ordinator Millie Allsopp, in Sydney’s Manly Vale, likes how growing vegies gets her out of her unit and meeting new people.

The 10-minute backyard habit I used as a stress-buster

Growing vegetables is not only a good way to get access to healthy food, it could also be a path to better mental health and community cohesion.

  • Dani Valent
Employers argue the union’s position could reduce work from home arrangements.

My 9 to 5 is wearing me out. Should I try ‘microshifting’ instead?

Brought on thanks to the pandemic, this new work from home trend could go a long way towards improving your work/life balance.

  • Jonathan Rivett
Stress wearing you down? There’s ways to make 2026 a better, more balanced year.

Four things you can do without to make 2026 less stressful

The world is filled with more noise than we can possibly manage, and adding more isn’t the way to muddle through. It’s time to take things off the table.

  • Donna McGeorge

Do you work too hard? The Brisbane suburbs where people work the longest hours

Search our interactive map to see how many hours full-time workers in your suburb are spending on the job.

  • Marissa Calligeros, Dominique Tassell and Craig Butt
If you want different results from your time off, take your break in a new way and see what you can discover about yourself

Guilty of these holiday habits? You might not be switching off after all

Whether you’re structured or spontaneous, flat-out or freewheeling, how you holiday mirrors how you work.

  • Tim Duggan
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Are we seeing a cultural change in workplace norms brought on by Gen Z, many of whom started their careers working remotely?

Why doing less is the smartest career move you can make

People are finally waking up to the idea that constant hustle isn’t a badge of honour, but a barrier.

  • Donna McGeorge
Rachel Shaw says working with reclaimed wood to create beautiful, small objects has given meaning to her life again.

‘It felt instinctual’: How Rachel found her mojo in a block of wood

Some of Rachel Shaw’s students are still salty that they were excluded from woodworking classes at school. She’s helping them to make up for lost time.

  • Robyn Willis
Employees take naps during lunch hour at Tencent in Guangzhou, China

This work trend could lead to an early death. Some people swear by it

If Silicon Valley wants to glamorise overwork, let them. Australian businesses hopefully won’t follow suit.

  • Tim Duggan
Consistently falling asleep on your way to work after a good night’s sleep might be an indicator of a sleep disorder.

Dozing off on the train? Why falling asleep on your commute could be a problem

For some, the gentle rocking of the train or the temperature-controlled environment of the bus is enough to encourage them to nod off. But is it something to be concerned about?

  • Abby Seaman