Do time management interventions support wellbeing in the workplace? A systematic review
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Date
2026-04-27
Authors
Young, Anna Navin
di Di Blasi, Zelda
Foley, Sarah
Bourke, Aoife
Cronin, Sophie
Dwyer, Aoife
Fitzgibbon, Jay
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Abstract
Although empirical evidence demonstrates the association between time management and wellbeing, it is unclear whether time management interventions (TMIs) effectively support wellbeing in the workplace. Given rising concerns over employee wellbeing and the prevalence of time challenges in the workplace, TMIs may play a critical role in wellbeing promotion. This systematic review aimed to assess the effects of TMIs on workplace wellbeing, investigate the characteristics of these TMIs and evaluate the quality of these studies. Systematic searches of randomised controlled trials and quasi-experiments published on or before 10 August 2025 were conducted in seven databases. The search was conducted for TMIs delivered in a workplace context, measuring at least one wellbeing variable. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria (n = 442). A narrative synthesis reported on intervention content, delivery and effectiveness, revealing a limited and inconsistent evidence base to support TMI efficacy. Cochrane risk-of-bias tools were used, finding low quality across the studies. Findings call for more experimental evidence, with evaluation of a broader range of wellbeing variables needed. Drawing from the synthesised interventions, the process model of integrated time interventions is presented, providing theoretical advancements in the recognition of time interventions as wellbeing promoters. Finally, the review encourages higher quality intervention reporting practices to enhance the transparency and replicability of TMIs. © 2026 The Author(s). Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Association of Applied Psychology.
Description
© 2026, the Authors. Applied Psychology: Health and Well Being published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Association of Applied Psychology. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Keywords
Health promotion , Human , Humans , Occupational health , Procedures , Psychology , Quasi-experimental studies , Randomised controlled trial , Systematic review , Time Management , Time management intervention , Workplace , Workplace wellbeing , [AppliedPsychology] , Applied Psychology
Citation
Young, A N, di Di Blasi, Z, Foley, S, Bourke, A, Cronin, S, Dwyer, A & Fitzgibbon, J 2026, 'Do time management interventions support wellbeing in the workplace? A systematic review', Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, vol. 18, no. 3, 70149. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.70149
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