Hidden costs of returning to the office in Japan

For dual-income families in Japan, returning to the office more often can mean less time for housework, less sleep, and fewer opportunities to relax. A new survey suggests that the extra commuting time is putting pressure on weekday routines, leaving many working couples with some difficult choices about how to fit everything in.

LOBBY (a Japanese housekeeping service) surveyed 330 dual-income employees aged 20 to 50 whose office attendance had increased over the past year. More than half (56.7%) said they had less time for housework on weekdays, while 77% of those affected had lost at least 30 minutes a day for household tasks.

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Of course, if you're trying to squeeze in your cleaning into an already obligation-filled day, that time has to come from somewhere. Among the respondents, 57.2% said they were cutting back on sleep and rest, while 51.9% were sacrificing hobbies and leisure. 

I think with sleep and personal time among the first things to go, finding a better balance may mean rethinking not just how we work, but how much housework we expect ourselves to manage!