Wellness has transformed health in modern day society.

Milestone One 5

 

 

 

 

IDS 402 Final Project Milestone One: Critical Analysis Portfolio and Presentation Proposal

Shivone Smith

Southern New Hampshire University

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

Wellness has transformed health in modern day society. Just like wellness, work-life balance has also become a buzzword for the past few years of modern society and the changing the work environment. Maintaining a work-life balance is essential for an overall quality of life as it can satisfy the occupation dimension of “personal satisfaction and enrichment of one’s work”, the environmental dimension, social dimension and trickle down through of the dimensions (Garcia, 2015). Our society, goals and priorities are forever evolving as we learn through the four general education lenses.

Lens Connections

History

Analyzing history is utilized to form solutions and improve problems for the present and future. Looking through the lens of history, baby boomers yearned for job stability and saw value in employment as they were exposed to many hardships at an early age. Baby boomers stay at companies for longer duration than other generations not prioritizing a work-life balance with a greater level of stress as many hold higher level positions. The generation raised by baby boomers witnessed the unbalance of their parents’ work-life balance resulting in that generation putting more emphasis on utilizing benefits such as PTO, vacation time, maternity time, etc. The millennial generation has brought the most changes to the workforce in response to work-life balance as priorities and new studies have shifted the issue.

 

Humanities

Humanities is our history and philosophy. It is the question of how do we manage a good life? Both men and women struggle with the constant balance of work responsibilities and home life including leisure time, family life and so on. “46 percent of fathers felt they did not spend enough time with their children, as did 23 percent of mothers” (Comstock, 2019). Demographic variables played a key role of work-life balance. For example, “working women who belonged to the age group of 35 to 55 years were experiencing depression and generalized anxiety disorder; such symptoms emerged to be a hurdle in their success at the workplace and household lives” (Prithi, & Vasumathi, 2018). From a humanities standpoint, arts and self-expression can be a useful tool to help take a break from daily stressors and help rebalance one’s spiritual, intellectual and emotional dimensions.

Natural and Applied Sciences

The natural and applied sciences use the scientific method to observe the natural world through observation and experimentation. This lens helps us to better understand how the natural world shapes us and our place within nature. How has culture change over the decades affected work-life? How has the shift in society with a higher emphasis on personal well-being affected work-life balance? How does the imbalance of work-life affect individual’s health? “The psychological and physical problems of burned-out employees cost an estimated $125 billion to $190 billion a year in healthcare spending in the United States” (Kohll, 2018). With the continuous evolving technology today, has this given more of the flexibility for a better work-life balance or has this increased the workload? Technology has now allowed for emails and work-related items to be easily at everyone’s fingertips resulting in work following individuals home. This has caused blurred lines between work and home life.

Social Sciences

Social scientists study the relationship between individuals and society. An individual with an unbalanced work-life greatly reduces the overall quality of life. This can lead to great levels of stress, decreasing work performance and efficiency and a diminished state of wellness. “A better work life balance will help to achieve professional satisfaction and personal freedom for employees” (Prithi, & Vasumathi, 2018). Continuing studying how people are juggling their daily lives and asking questions can lead to healthier ways to manage work-life. The connection of work-life balance to the lens of the social sciences is looking through all the lenses, like history, to gain a deeper insight on cause and effect. Over the years, work-life has not been balanced resulting in long-term health issues like depression, irritability, anger and other emotional symptoms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Comstock, N. W. (2019). Work and life balance. Retrieved from https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=16&sid=0c37327c-8cfd-4dda-9ad7-3f370a01e413@sdc-v-sessmgr03&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ==#AN=98402240&db=ers

Garcia, C. (2015, April). What are the Eight Dimensions of Wellness in Your Life? Retrieved from https://eds-b-ebscohost-

com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=7118a9d6-de1d-4026-a61c-9165beedd5d4@pdc-v-sessmgr01.

Kirkland, A. (2014). What Is Wellness Now? Journal of Health Politics, Policy & Law, 39(5), 957–970. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1215/03616878-2813647

Kohll, A. (2018, May 23). The Evolving Definition Of Work-Life Balance. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/alankohll/2018/03/27/the-evolving-definition-of-work-life-balance/#7f1bb449ed3e

Prithi, S., & Vasumathi, A. (2018). The Influence of Demographic Profile on Work Life Balance of Women Employees in Tannery Industry – An Empirical Study. Retrieved from https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=3&sid=85956487-9053-41f2-aeb8-8f75a0d4c6a9@sdc-v-sessmgr02&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ==#AN=134098580&db=hlh