What Time Poverty Is Costing You And How To Take Control
Workers across industries are feeling the strain of time poverty as responsibilities outpace ... More recovery.
It's Sunday night, and you're winding down from the weekend. Just as you begin to relax, a quiet storm rolls in; your mind fills with everything the week demands. Deadlines, meetings, errands. One by one, they stack up. That familiar weight settles in. The week hasn't started, but already, anxiety takes over with a feeling of having no time.
Time poverty isn't a new concept. The chronic feeling that there's never enough time, coined by Claire Vickery in 1977, has gained significant traction over the decades as the next silent epidemic stigmatizing corporate cultures. Although it affects workers in and out of the office, the same trend also presents fertile ground for bold solutions.
A Lane Report study revealed that nearly two-thirds (62%) of Americans don't use all of their paid time off. A comprehensive survey found this trend is climbing, just shy of doubling from 2020. Five and a half percent of American workers did not take any paid time off in 2023.
The Harvard Business School conducted a study that found time poverty takes a serious toll on well-being, physical health and productivity. In the study of 2.5 million Americans, the impact of feeling chronically short on time was more damaging to well-being than unemployment. Yet despite its wide-reaching effects, time poverty is often dismissed. While governments and organizations invest billions in addressing material poverty, the scarcity of time remains largely unacknowledged—and, in many cases, made worse.
The 'double burden,' also known as the 'second shift,' introduced by Arlie Hochschild, describes the strain faced by individuals, most often women, who juggle paid employment alongside a heavy load of unpaid caregiving duties.
This crisis is systemic. Time poverty thrives in environments that reward overextension and undervalue recovery. By rethinking how time is structured, supported and respected, individuals and organizations can reclaim control.
Beyond policy changes, companies must reimagine the lived experience of their workers. That starts with empathy. Employees lead complex lives. When leaders design systems that account for real-world constraints, employees feel seen. Flexibility stops being a perk and becomes a shared value. It's not just about optimizing hours; it's about honoring the humanity behind the work.
Reclaiming time starts with the permission to value your own bandwidth. In a culture that glorifies busyness, slowing down can feel rebellious. Creating space to reset is an act of self-leadership. It signals to others that your time is worth protecting. Small shifts in awareness, routine and self-advocacy unlock a sense of agency that transforms your overall well-being.
Reclaiming time requires both systemic change and individual boundaries.
Policymakers shape the canvas. Laws supporting programs like universal paid family leave, legislated scheduling rights and public childcare help create time equity.
Time poverty is more than a personal issue; it's an organizational and societal challenge that contributes to stress, burnout and health crises. But it also presents an opportunity. With structural support, time can become a renewable asset instead of a dwindling liability.
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