Running Head: Final Project o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 1
7-1 Project: Project Submission
Southern New Hampshire University
IDS 402
August 16,2022
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In recent times, several studies have been conducted to explore the concept of work-life balance.
Work-life balance is considered to be imperative for each and every person. It is a central issue
that has been affecting the well-being, personal as well as professional lives of individuals in
contemporary times (Gautam & Jain, 2018). The high demands of work over the past years have
taken a toll on the overall quality of life of individuals (Mensah & Adjei, 2020). According to a
survey by the World Health Organization (WHO), working for excessively long hours can lead to
the death of hundreds and thousands of individuals on an annual basis (Kelly, 2021).
Social or global issue relating to wellness
The global issue relating to wellness that has been identified revolves around work-life
balance. The issue has existed for a long time as people lead a personal life as well as a
professional life. However, the severity of the issue has magnified in the contemporary era owing
to the high competition and uncertainty in the professional setting. In the globalized era, when
people face tough competition at diverse levels, it leads to changes in their priorities in life which
could ultimately impact their wellness and quality of life. The lack of work-life balance can take
a toll on an individual since it can lead to depression, anxiety, self-confidence issues, etc. It can
also adversely affect the physical health of a person by causing exhaustion and burnout
(Gragnano et al., 2020, p. 4).
Population significant to the chosen topic
The specific population group that is vital to the wellness topic relating to work-life
balance involves working professionals. As these individuals have to focus on their personal life
along with their professional life, they face high risk when it comes to the issue of work-life
balance. The inability to strike a balance between these two dimensions can negatively affect
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one’s psychological and physical health. Kesri has pointed out that the poor work-life balance of
employees can lead to stress and hamper their wellness (Gragnano et al., 2020).
Impact of the society on the chosen issue
The larger global society has a significant impact on the work-life balance issue. In the
globalized era where boundaries between nations are gradually vanishing, people face immense
competition in the professional setting. To thrive and sustain in the competitive times, they are
forced to give high priority to their work over their family. In the long run, such a choice can
have an impact on their personal life and their individual well-being. The high uncertainty and
competition that people face in society further pushes them to prioritize their work so that they
can maintain a position in the social setting. The lack of necessary social support can increase the
gap between the personal and professional dimensions (Oludayo & Omonijo, 2020). o o
General education interdisciplinary lens for analyzing the topic
The specific interdisciplinary lens that has been chosen for analyzing the work-life
balance topic is the history lens. This specific lens has been chosen as it can help in capturing the
evolution of the wellness concept. The complexity that people in contemporary times have been
facing due to the lack of work-life balance can be clearly articulated by examine the issue
through the lens.
Thesis statement
The thesis statement that has been framed for the wellness topic is ‘The lack of proper work-life
balance can adversely affect the quality of life of working professionals in contemporary times
by resulting in physical and psychological complications.’
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Critical Analysis of the Wellness Topic
The wellness topic that has been selected for the project is work-life balance. The paper aims to
critically analyse the topic and shed light on the ways it impacts different institutions. Work-life
balance has become important in recent times in order to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. It has a
significant impact on different institutions. From the historical lens, it has been found that in the
former times, the work setting was less competitive and less complex. It enabled individuals to
prioritize their personal lives. However, in recent times, the advancement in technology and the
competitive environment have led to an increase in pressure in the work setting, thereby
compromising the work-life balance (Dhas & Karthikeyan, 2015). The lack of work-life balance
has negatively impacted the families of individuals. It has given rise to conflicts. As a result of
misbalance, individuals fail to give sufficient time at home (Sheikh et al., 2018). However,
maintaining a work-life can help in minimizing conflicts and leading a healthy family life.
From the humanities lens, it has been found that individuals experience intense pressure
to thrive and sustain themselves in the highly competitive professional setting. It has a positive
impact on market-driven organizations. For instance, it can significantly contribute to the
increase in the revenues of the organizations. However, it has negatively impacted the personal
and family lives of the individuals. Long hours of work have resulted in dissatisfaction among
the employees and lowered their performance (ArunaShantha, 2019).
From the natural and applied sciences lens, it is evident that a lack of proper work-life
balance affects the psychological well-being of individuals. It often results in mental fatigue.
This can have serious impacts on family and market-driven organizations. Due to mental fatigue,
individuals may not be able to carry out their family responsibilities, thereby resulting in
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conflicts. On the other hand, it also has a negative impact on the performance of the individuals
in the work setting. It can affect productivity and, ultimately, the profits of market-driven
organizations (Adnan, 2019). From the social lens, it has been found that the lack of work-life
balance affects the relationships of the individuals. The healthy relationships of individuals in the
family and organizational setting may be negatively impacted. Thus, regardless of the general
education lens that is used to investigate the wellness topic of work-life balance among working
parents, it s a serious matter of concern in the 21st century. The impact of poor work-life balance
can be felt on diverse individuals, including working professionals, their family members,
spouses, children, employers, and colleagues.
Social Practice
In modern culture, social practices have been influenced by the issues in wellness. For instance,
organizations are now conducting interviews and surveys in order to determine the work-life
balance of the employees. Work-life initiatives and programs are being introduced in order to
provide employees with flexible work options as well as leave policies to reduce absenteeism.
Many local governments even govern the introduction of workplace wellness programs to
improve productivity and reduce health-related costs (Sabharwal et al., 2019). In recent times, the
wellness topic of work-life balance among professionals, including working parents, has been
gaining considerable attention. Employers have been focusing on this area since it can have a
major impact on the productivity and performance of the staff members.
Work-life balance among working parents
Maintaining a proper work-life balance is imperative for all professionals, especially
working parents. Factors like high work pressure, technological advancement and globalization
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have led to an imbalance in the personal and professional lives of individuals (Pahuja, 2017). The
complexities for working parents get further magnified since they have an extra responsibility
towards their children. Chen has argued that working parents can face immense stress in striking
a balance between their family and work (Chen et al., 2022). It can lead to adverse outcomes such
as a decline in family satisfaction, deteriorated physical and psychological health outcomes and
poor performance at work. The challenge that working mothers may face owing to poor work-life
balance is likely to be higher as compared to working fathers since mothers are considered to be
the primary carers of their children (Moriwaki et al., 2022).
Benefit from change
One element that can benefit from change within the topic is the promotion of work-life
balance by organizations in recent times. Organizations can consider developing a positive
culture that supports the well-being of the employees. Introducing work-life balance policies can
help in the creation of a supportive environment. It can increase the job satisfaction of the
employees and motivate them to work better, thereby contributing to the increase in productivity
of the organizations. As the number of professionals is high in prevailing times, it is essential to
focus on their wellness and well-being. Bringing about a change can positively influence their
overall quality of life.
Potential obstacle that could interfere with working parents’ engagement with the topic
A major obstacle that could arise and interfere with working parents’ engagement with
the work-life balance topic is the unavailability of time. In the prevailing globalized era, the
degree of competition has intensified significantly. Its impact can be felt in the labor market. The
high pressure to survive and sustain in the professional setting has diminished the time that
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people have for themselves. Thus, the time factor could act as a major obstacle that could deter
working parents from engaging with the topic and understanding its consequences. Rose has
identified time pressure as a major deterring factor for working parents, especially working
mothers (Rose, 2017).
Factors that could impact the wellness topic
A number of factors may come into play and have a significant impact on the wellness
topic, relating to work-life balance among working parents. One of the chief factors that have the
potential to impact society’s engagement with the subject matter is the biased behavior about
gender roles. According to the social role theory, the main role that women are expected to play
is that of a principal caretaker role, and they are expected to take care of routine domestic work.
On the other hand, men are expected to act as the breadwinners of the family (Hentschel et al.,
2019). On the basis of gender stereotyping, if women decide to enter a profession, they are
expected to take care of their family life and their professional lives. The case is no different for
working mothers because they are expected to take care of their responsibilities as a wife, a
mother and a professional by striking a balance between these roles. Such a form of bias
increases work-life balance complexities for working mothers as compared to working fathers.
The general expectation of the society of women increases the burden for them when they enter
the professional landscape.
Another factor that might impact the wellness topic is social values. Such values
fundamentally are the key principles that are morally acceptable in society. Values such as
education, individual rights and honesty might influence how people perceive the work-life
balance issue among working parents (Council, 2003). For instance, a person with a limited
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education background might fail to understand how adverse work-life balance may impact family
life and relationship with children. o
Benefits and challenges
A number of benefits of addressing the wellness issues have been identified. One of the
major benefits is that it can promote the physical, mental, emotional, as well as occupational well-
being of the individuals. It allows the individuals to lead a healthy life and perform better in their
personal space as well as in the work setting. Despite the benefits, there are a number of
challenges in addressing wellness issues. One of the major challenges is finding the appropriate
strategies or programs that can address the wellness issues of the individuals effectively. In the
cut-throat competitive professional landscape, it can be a daunting and stressful activity for a
working parent to dedicate complete time to their children while optimally carrying out their
professional responsibility. The availability of inadequate support from the family members and
employer can increase the overall complexity of the situation.
Recommended strategies
The critical analysis of the wellness topic has helped in developing vital skills that can
help in the achievement of both personal and professional goals. Some of the skills include
problem-solving skills and analytical thinking. Such skills can help to address the work-life
balance issue by exploring it in an in-depth manner. Proper wellness can help me to strike a
balance between my personal and professional responsibilities. I will not have to neglect one of
the areas to progress in the other. Instead, I will be able to dedicate myself to my family members
and take care of my family-related functions and roles while ensuring that my work does not get
affected adversely because of my personal commitments. o
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Reflection on critical analysis
To understand an issue or event in greater detail, critical analysis is important. The core goal of
critical thinking is to ensure more personal autonomy, independent thinking, and reasoned
judgement (Enciso et al., 2017). It allows a systematic evaluation of different arguments to
ensure the credibility of resources. Critically analysing the issue of wellness has helped in
broadening my perspectives. It has helped me in understanding the diverse perspectives and
consequences that exist within the community. It has expanded my limited thoughts relating to
the event in wellness. Critically analysing the wellness event also allows gaining access to more
information, thereby ensuring greater knowledge of the event (Crawford, 2015). For instance, I
had a view that work-life balance only affects the mental health of individuals. However, the
critical analysis of the event has enabled me to understand that it has the potential to impact
various other aspects of life. It can impact the physical well-being of individuals. It can even
affect the family life of the professional. Moreover, it can also have a significant impact on the
whole community. The critical analysis allowed me to understand the importance of the event in
wellness to ensure a positive impact on the community.
The type of bias that I have is confirmation bias. It can be defined as the tendency of an
individual to search for an individual that specifically supports their prior values and beliefs
(Peters, 2020). People with such bias tend to distort or ignore any other information that
contradicts their previous values and beliefs. For instance, I had a perception that the lack of
work-life balance impact only the working professionals and not their family members or the
community as a whole. This bias restricted me from searching for information that showed work-
life imbalance did have an impact on the family members as well as the community at large.
Therefore, having an awareness of one’s bias is important. It can change the perception and
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outlook of an individual. It helps in correcting the mistaken views of the people. It will allow the
individuals to be more attentive to the real facts. It also prevents individuals from becoming
unreasonably confident about their ideas and beliefs.
Critically analysing diversity can have a positive influence on my field of study. It will help me
to overcome personal biases as well as negative stereotypes relating to different groups. It will
also enable me to search for reliable information, thereby promoting better problem solving and
effective decision-making. Critically analyzing diversity will allow me to recognize and respect
the perceptions of others in my future profession. It will help me better understand the views of
other individuals around me and work in a collaborative manner. Studying wellness will lay the
foundation for a better understanding of other important topics involved in my profession. It has
helped me to understand that the choices and decisions made by individuals today will have a
significant impact on their short-term as well as long-term wellness. A holistic understanding of
wellness will serve as the basis for optimum success in the future profession.
The study of wellness topic is considered to be of paramount importance since it
influences the quality of life of every individual. The in-depth comprehension of wellness can
help to understand diverse dimensions of the topic, including physical, psychological, emotional
as well as spiritual dimensions. It can give a holistic insight into how the integration of different
elements help in fuelling the body, engaging the mind and nurturing the spirit (Stoewen, 2017).
By studying wellness, I will be able to focus on good stewardship and care about myself as well
as others while maintaining a balanced professional and personal life. A broader understanding of
the chosen wellness topic that revolves around the work-life balance of working parents can
enable me to effectively strike a balance between my personal responsibilities and professional
obligations.In case the wellness topic relating to work-life balance among working parents was
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analyzed using another general education lens such as the humanities, the analysis would have
mainly focused on how individuals collectively behave in the organizational setting. Rahim has
argued that when individuals work collectively in an organizational setting, the organizational
climate can play a moderating role (Rahim et al., 2019). It can influence the level of satisfaction
that professionals, especially working parents are able to derive in the professional context. For
example, managers or employers need to ensure that flexible work arrangements are made for
working mothers so that their responsibilities towards their children or family does not get
comprised or neglected as a result of their professional duties and role. The insight on the
wellness topic through the humanities lens would have been much broader in nature since it
mainly lays emphasis on human beings at the collective level. There exists a vital association
between work-life balance and the organizational commitment of employees. The ability to strike
a balance between one’s personal and professional lives can influence the commitment and
passion that one demonstrates towards his or her work. Thus, the choice of the general education
lens has played an instrumental role in shedding light on the work-life balance topic, especially in
the context of working parents. o o
The thorough analysis of the wellness domain can play a key role in my life since it can
influence the manner in which I interact and engage with people with diverse points of view,
cultures or perspectives. For example, I will be able to understand the relevance of social
interactions in life and extend a helping hand who is facing challenges in their professional life.
In spite of the fact that my views and perspectives may vary from another person, wellness is a
universal topic, and it is of value for every individual, regardless of the background to which he
belongs. This insight can help me to be more cooperative with others so that they can get
adequate support while trying to balance their personal and professional responsibilities.
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References
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Kelly, J. (2021, May 18). World Health Organization Survey shows working long hours led to the
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