The dominant residential model frequently implies living at a distance from the workplace. Economists, geographers and sociologists have shown the consequences of such a residential choice in terms of economic costs, modal choice, environmental impacts and the socio-spatial distribution of populations. The spatial-temporal approach presented here, which has been relatively little studied until now, aims to put into perspective the different ways in which long daily journey-to-work movements are managed, notably through programming activities. It examines the spatial-temporal equation of families who have to reconcile and articulate the different spheres of daily life (work, family, journeys) in situations where time-budgets are under severe strain due to the distances involved. This research is based on the gene- ral hypothesis that the solution to this equation requires putting into place social-spatial strategies and regular adjustments, both within households and within the close social and spatial environment. The daily mobility of Luxembourg’s frontier workers, characterised by long journey-to-work movements and the crossing of a state border, represents a relevant case for analysis, where the separation between places of work and residence takes on particular and accentuated forms. Although frontiers are tending to disappear within the Schengen area, the research hypothesises that borders retain an organisational influence on the daily routines of frontier workers. The heuristic analysis grid is based on the link between experiences and perceptions from which spatial-temporal associations emerge and correspond with particular spatial life-styles. The first level of analysis which considers spatial behaviour of all Luxem- bourg frontier workers, shows strong links with the place of residence and the constrained organisation of activities based on short distances. A comparison with the spatial-temporal behaviour patterns of non-frontier workers at Voiron (part of the Grenoble metropolitan area) confirms ...