Why “Microshifting” Is the Latest Work-Life Balance Trend
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The Trend: A new work schedule is gaining steam following all those post-pandemic return-to-office mandates. Microshifting, or breaking your workday into short bursts rather than getting through a single eight-hour stretch, is a way to make work fit around your life. The term is relatively new, but plenty of people have been doing it for years without a name for it.
What People Are Saying: Microshifters report real improvements in their overall well-being and say their best ideas surface only after stepping away from work. There’s a downside, however, as some experts point out that microshifting can prioritize individual needs over team dynamics. This trend also makes boundaries a little fuzzy because when your schedule is always flexible, you’re also kind of always on the clock.
What to Know: About 65% of office workers say they want more schedule flexibility, and many report they’d give up part of their salary to get it. Whether or not microshifting is realistic for your job, it’s a signal that the traditional 9-to-5 isn’t working for a lot of people.
