I just want peace and quiet and to be alone by myself. Flanagan doesn't enjoy living this way, but she feels she has no choice. A third daughter is away at college, and Flanagan feels a responsibility to pay for all three to attend. The hectic struggle of Flanagan's family, replicated in millions of other U.S. households, represents a major shift in American life during the last few decades. That means families have less time to do things other than paid work, such as making meals, getting children ready for school, and cleaning around the house.
Studies show that's the first thing to go when working families start feeling the time crunch.
Although having two incomes is a financial boon for many households, researchers say the grind is taking its toll. It's the Quality That Counts Eighty percent of workers consider having a schedule that allows them to spend time with family very important, according to a study by the Radcliffe Public Policy Center. Beyond the time involved, the quality of the job itself can create problems that bleed over into the personal life of workers, experts say. According to Ellen Galinsky of the non-profit Families and Work Institute, much of the focus on improving the quality of life for workers is now trained on what happens on the job. Indeed, employees can make changes in their own lives to reduce stress and improve their home lives.