The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted work-life balance across the country. The Bureau of Labor Statics reported that the percentage of Americans working from home increased from 22% in 2019 to 42% in 2020. Additionally, research estimates the average workday is up from 8 hours to 9.2 hours due to changes in work environments brought about by pandemic-related demands. Some two years later, employees continue to work remote, hybrid, and/or extended schedules. The result? Employee burnout and “the great resignation.” 

COVID-19 served as a catalyst for change, highlighting among other things a pressing need for community education on time management training and establishing a healthy work-life balance. To prepare FCS Cooperative Extension agents to combat this challenge in their communities, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service developed the Time Well Spent: Productivity Skills for Success curriculum. The Time Well Spent curriculum offers four, one-hour lessons designed to help employees recalibrate work-life boundaries, increase productivity while decreasing stress, and establish healthy routines in their personal and professional lives.

The curriculum was launched in February 2022 by the Family Finance and Resource Management team with Kentucky Family and Consumer Sciences Extension. The Time Well Spent curriculum reminds clientele that the resources we manage include more than our finances, but also our time, energy, and relationships. Learning to better steward our individual resources can have positive impacts on our families, mental and physical health, and workplace.

In preparation for county delivery across the Commonwealth, FCS agent trainings were held in Scott, Daviess, and Boyd Counties from February 22-24, 2022. A total of 76 agents each received 3 hours of face-to-face training. The training delivered objective-based learning through interactive activities from the curriculum’s four lessons: (1) Productivity vs. Procrastination, (2) Organizing Your Time and Workspace, (3) Establishing Priorities and Building Focus, and (4) Work-Life Balance.

73 agents completed the post-training evaluation. As a result of the program, 100% reported an increased ability to prioritize roles and responsibilities, 99% indicated they plan to replace at least one unproductive behavior with a productive one, and 99% plan to schedule time to work with minimal interruptions. 100% found the program to be effective, practical, and educational. 

Qualitative feedback from agents who attended the Time Well Spent: Productivity Skills for Success training speaks to the program’s success. When asked to describe key takeaways from the training, agents highlighted the application and usefulness of the material. Agents reported learning about the importance of self-care, work-life balance, and prioritization to be among the most significant and applicable aspects of the training. Highlighted excerpts are below, which represent the overwhelmingly positive response to the program:

“I plan to use this material to apply to my work and personal life. It is a dynamic tool to help get organized.”

“It's hard to pinpoint just one thing. I felt that this program hits some significant issues that we and our clientele are struggling with. It gives practical solutions to very real issues which is so refreshing!”

“This material applies to me in ALL areas of my life. I learned from it personally, but I will also teach this in my county.”

“The curriculum is so well-written and relevant to almost everyone. Easy to understand. Easy to teach and very relatable.”

“I love everything about the curriculum! It will be wonderful for clients, but I needed this so much for myself.”

“This should be for all agents and staff!”

“I plan to offer this program to my county. This was the BEST training I have received.”

In addition to the initial February agent training, the Time Well Spent curriculum was offered through four concurrent sessions at the Chi Epsilon Sigma annual meeting for state University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Support Staff in Lexington, KY, April 21-22, 2022. An average of 31 participants attended each session, with 25 completing post-session evaluations. As a result of the program, 100% reported they could list at least three strategies to combat procrastination, 100% indicated they will use the techniques learned to enhance their productivity, and 100% reported they will replace at least one unproductive behavior with a productive one. Further, 100% of respondents indicated the program was respectively effective, practical, and educational; 100% could list at least three ways to practice both personal and professional self-care; and 100% could list steps to be taken when feeling overwhelmed. Select open-ended responses are highlighted below to the question, “What is the most significant thing from this program you will apply to your life?”

“Learning to prioritize so that I don't get overwhelmed.”

“Focus on listing ways of self-care - be proactive!” 

“Thank you for all your insights! You brought all the things together to be “productive” as a worker & a person.”

“I will be more aware of how valuable my time really is.”

“This is a class that everyone who works can benefit from.”

“Tools to rescue self from drowning.”

“The steps to take when you feel overwhelmed.”