Identifying Work - Life Balance Crafting Behavioral Strategies :Based on Faculty Member's Lived Experiences

The present research aims at identifying the behavioral strategies of work-life balance among faculty members of the public universities of the north-east of Iran.

In this research, phenomenological research methodology was used. The study population consisted of faculty members of Ferdowsi university of Mashhad and university of Birjand who had an assistance professor degree with at least 5 years of work experience or an associate professor degree with a maximum of 5 years from the last academic promotion. The purposeful sampling method was followed and finally the adequacy of the sample was obtained after data saturation.

The results of data analysis by the method of thematic analysis showed that work-life balance crafting activities that have been used to meet the demands of different work and non-workings roles of the people included 16-themes and the wide range of activities can be categorized into "decreasing role demands strategy" and "role ambivalence accountability strategy".

The work-life balance crafting strategies framework will be able to assist university professors as a practical tool for best practices in achieving work-life balance based on their own specific conditions.