Remote work still captures the imagination of many employees, but the reality has grown more challenging. By one estimate, work-from-home jobs are now four times harder to land than their on-site counterparts, suggesting that this dream, while alive, is slipping out of reach for many.

For decades, the 9-to-5 workday has been a fixture of employment. But fresh discussions from Wsj’s “Lifestyle” section question whether this familiar schedule still holds up as the most efficient or balanced way to work. Could shifting work hours unlock new levels of productivity and well-being?