"Rethinking how we do work is not rocket science," ThirdPath Institute Founder and President Jessica DeGroot is fond of saying. "You just have to know what your options are, what your barriers are, and what really matters most to you. Change is possible right now!"

The work you do will always offer you both great opportunities and possible limitations for how much flex you can find. This section is designed to give you a picture of the key factors you will need to think about as you begin to examine how work can be done differently in order to create time for other life interests.

Most importantly, in order to really imagine all possible solutions, you will want to approach this section with what you want in mind - not what your boss, your spouse, or your friends and family think makes the most sense. We have found that others' perspectives can sometimes limit one's thinking; the best solutions will develop when you let yourself dream big.

Take a look at the four factors which influence work redesign - Schedule, Physical Presence, Work Flow, and Substitution - and think about how each of these concepts could be applied to you and your work.

What kind of Schedule works best for you?
How much does your job require you to be Physically Present to accomplish it?
How much can you control the quantity and Work Flow of your job?
How easily can someone else do the work you do - is Substitution an option for you?

To help illustrate these ideas we will use this section of the website to show how Adam - a salesperson, husband and father of two young children - applied these concepts to find more time to stay actively involved in his life outside of work.

Adam's story
When Adam joined the import-export company he now works for, he knew he was going to need to be smart about how much and when he would work in his new sales position. The business is located in Central America; Adam works out of a home office on the eastern coast of the USA, and he does business across the continental United States.

As the parents of two children, Adam and his wife had established a clear commitment to share in the care of their two young children right from the start. Adam was going to need to be available to do his share of childcare a few half days each week, as well as have time in the evenings to cook, have dinner with his family, and then help put the children to bed.

Although it required constant juggling and negotiating with his wife (they traded work days when one of the children was sick, or when one or the other had to travel for their jobs), Adam loves his work-family arrangement. He has consistent and significant time with his children, and is able to handle the demands of a challenging job while his wife also continues to pursue her own professional aspirations.

To read how Adam redesigned his work in order to create time to stay actively involved in his life outside of work, click on the four ways Adam found more flexibility: Schedule, Physical Presence, Work Flow and Substitution.