#Wellbeing economics

[queerbrownvegan]

From my latest collaboration with the Wellbeing Economy Alliance! Their organization is dedicated to challenging economic growth as the only metric of wellbeing, because it fails to encompass so much.

Countries have started to enact goalposts for "wellbeing economies" which ask not only, "how will this contribute to economic growth?" but how will this help enrich people's lives and wellbeing? The changes have already been inspiring.

The key issue with GDP (which was never intended to be focused on so intently) is that it only accounts for spending. Why can't that be used as a metric? Things like oil spills positively contribute to GDP (more money spent on clean up), more hospital visits, virtually anything that requires money is "positive" for GDP. This metric also is biased toward rich people who spend exorbitantly more than the average person.

On our way to a sustainable future, wellbeing economies help provide a broader framework to make key decisions and measure social progress 🌞

Full post on my Instagram!

[txttletale]

I know little about the stuff of states. What strings do you think could go with the US' military support to Ukraine? I am not asking for proof or evidence, just some examples of what the US could be asking Ukraine in turn.

alright so--it's important not to think of this conspiratorially. a lot of people, when they hear 'US aid has strings attached', imagine a shadowy figure on the phone with zelensky saying 'oh, we'll help you in this war... but you have to do something for us...'. but it is usually¹ more structural than that. for example, i think we can all agree that if ukraine were to unconditionally surrender to russia, that would be bad.

but there are a huge range of other conditions that could be pursued as prerequisites or preferences for a peace treaty--and when the US & friends make ukraine's military effort dependent on their continued support, and then publicly declare support for maximalist war aims like 'punishing' russia, reannexing crimea, or arresting putin, they incentivise the ukrainian state to pursue those goals militarily and diplomatically & strengthen the political capital of these maximalists and militarists within ukraine compared to more moderate factions.

then there is--of course--the fact that all the weapons and planes and so on given to the ukrainian military (including a lot of nazis!) aren't going to go anywhere. by putting them in the hands of a US-aligned government and their allies (which, again, include a lot of nazis), the US is materially strengthening that political wing in ukraine for decades to come no matter what the outcome of the war. like, influencing through resource provision in international politics rarely means 'giving people stuff to make them align with you'--rather, it means 'giving the people who already align with you stuff'.

so tldr: by provisioning the ukrainian state to fight this war and expressing specific policy goals wrt russia, the USA is de facto materially promoting those policy goals within the ukrainian government and military, as well as materially promoting the power & influence of said government and military over its citizens!

[omegaphilosophia]

Why Many Modern-Day Jobs are Detrimental or Useless to Society

In the contemporary world, a significant number of jobs have been criticized for being either detrimental or useless to society. This critique has been fueled by growing concerns about the negative impact certain professions have on individual well-being, the environment, and the overall social fabric. The concept of "bullshit jobs," popularized by anthropologist David Graeber, highlights the existence of jobs that contribute little to society while consuming time, energy, and resources. In this discussion, we'll explore why some modern-day jobs are viewed as detrimental or useless and examine the implications for individuals and society as a whole.

Detrimental Jobs: Harmful to Society and the Environment

Environmental Degradation:

Many jobs in industries like fossil fuels, fast fashion, and industrial agriculture are seen as detrimental due to their significant contributions to environmental degradation. These jobs often involve activities that harm ecosystems, contribute to climate change, and deplete natural resources. The environmental cost of these industries raises questions about their long-term sustainability and the moral justification for their continued existence.

Exploitation and Inequality:

Certain jobs are criticized for perpetuating exploitation and widening social inequality. This is particularly evident in low-wage, labor-intensive industries where workers endure poor working conditions, long hours, and minimal pay. The existence of such jobs reflects a system that prioritizes profit over human dignity, contributing to the perpetuation of poverty and social injustice.

Misallocation of Talent:

The financial sector, especially roles focused on speculation and high-frequency trading, is often cited as an example of jobs that misallocate human talent. While these roles may generate significant profits for individuals and corporations, they contribute little to the real economy or societal well-being. The focus on financial manipulation rather than productive innovation can lead to economic instability and undermine the broader social good.

Perpetuation of Harmful Industries:

Jobs in industries like tobacco, arms manufacturing, and junk food production are seen as detrimental because they perpetuate products and services that harm public health and safety. These jobs often exist in direct conflict with societal goals like reducing disease, promoting peace, and improving quality of life.

Useless Jobs: The "Bullshit Jobs" Phenomenon

Lack of Meaningful Contribution:

According to Graeber, a significant number of jobs exist that provide little to no meaningful contribution to society. These "bullshit jobs" include roles such as corporate bureaucrats, telemarketers, and certain types of middle management. Employees in these positions often feel that their work is pointless, leading to widespread dissatisfaction and a sense of alienation.

Artificial Job Creation:

In some cases, jobs are created not because they fulfill a societal need, but because of artificial demand generated by economic or corporate structures. For example, many administrative roles in large organizations may exist simply to manage complexity that could be avoided or streamlined. This creates a situation where resources are spent maintaining inefficiencies rather than addressing real societal challenges.

Psychological Impact:

The existence of useless jobs can have a profound psychological impact on workers. When people feel that their work lacks purpose or value, it can lead to stress, anxiety, and a decline in mental health. This, in turn, can reduce overall productivity and contribute to a broader sense of societal malaise.

Resource Waste:

Useless jobs consume valuable resources, including time, energy, and money, that could be better spent on addressing pressing social issues such as healthcare, education, and environmental conservation. The opportunity cost of maintaining such jobs is significant, as it diverts resources away from potentially transformative projects.

Implications for Society

Economic Inefficiency:

The proliferation of detrimental and useless jobs can lead to significant economic inefficiencies. When large portions of the workforce are engaged in activities that do not contribute to societal well-being or actively harm it, the overall productivity and resilience of the economy suffer.

Moral and Ethical Concerns:

The existence of such jobs raises important moral and ethical questions about the nature of work and its role in human life. Should jobs that harm the environment, exploit workers, or contribute little to society be allowed to continue? How do we balance economic growth with ethical considerations?

Need for a Paradigm Shift:

Addressing these issues may require a fundamental rethinking of our economic and social systems. This could involve redefining the concept of work, prioritizing jobs that contribute to the common good, and creating policies that encourage meaningful employment. A shift towards a more sustainable and equitable economy might involve promoting green jobs, supporting social enterprises, and investing in education and healthcare.

The critique of modern-day jobs as detrimental or useless highlights the need for a deeper examination of the role of work in society. As we face global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and social fragmentation, it is crucial to question whether our current economic structures are serving the greater good. By rethinking the types of jobs we value and prioritize, we can work towards a more just, sustainable, and meaningful future for all.

[princetonuniversitypress]

Hope & Happiness

I have spent much of my career as an economist studying the determinants of happiness in people in different countries and cultures around the world and, in turn, exploring how happiness affects important life outcomes such as work, health, longevity, and social life. While at first wellbeing was not considered the domain of economists, it is now a subfield in economics and includes collaboration with scholars in other disciplines, such as psychology, psychiatry, and the biological sciences as well...These are uncertain times. Given the damage that despair has already caused, including the prematurely lost lives of well over 100,000 Americans in 2021 alone, its spread to the next generation is a daunting thought. It is urgent that we expand our knowledge and put what we do know into practical policies. The science of wellbeing provides us with new tools to do so. Critical moments require radical new thinking on the importance of restoring hope.

Read more from Carol Graham.

Carol Graham is the interim vice president and director of economic studies at the Brookings Institution and College Park Professor at the University of Maryland. She is the author of Happiness around the World: The Paradox of Happy Peasants and Miserable Millionaires; The Pursuit of Happiness: An Economy of Well-Being; Happiness for All? Unequal Hopes and Lives in Pursuit of the American Dream (Princeton); and other books, as well as numerous articles in academic journals.

#Happiness#hope#health#science#DeathsofDespair#economics#MentalHealth#psychology#wellbeing#people#books

[medicinemane]

.

[nochd]

"Money does in fact buy happiness but only up to a certain salary" ---this has been updated with more data.

It appears that happiness does continue to increase with wealth, but it does so logarithmically, and the shallowing logarithmic curve is what looked like it going flat.

What this means is: the happiness that a person gets if they start with $1000 and gain another $100, is the same amount of happiness that a person gets if they start with $1,000,000,000 and gain another $100,000,000.

From which it follows that the total amount of happiness-as-a-function-of-wealth in the world always increases when money is taken off a rich person and given to a poor person.

[cummunityguidestarblog]

How Local Communities Can Benefit from Eco-Tourism: A Sustainable Approach to Economic Growth

How Local Communities Can Benefit from Eco-Tourism: A Sustainable Approach to Economic Growth Introduction Eco-tourism is more than just a trend; it’s a powerful tool for sustainable development. As travelers become more conscious of their environmental impact, local communities stand to gain economically and socially by embracing eco-tourism. In this article, we’ll explore how eco-tourism can…

[familythings]

Can Money Buy Happiness? New Insights from Wharton Professor Matthew Killingsworth

The never-ending debate about whether money can actually buy happiness has been going on for ages. As society changes and the economy evolves, it’s important to take another look at this question from new angles and modern research. Meet Matthew Killingsworth, a renowned professor at the Wharton School, whose latest research provides fresh and groundbreaking insights into this age-old…

[effectivethings]

5 Effective Ways to Successfully Quit Smoking

Tips toSuccessfully Quit Smoking Quitting smoking is no small feat. It demands perseverance, motivation, and a solid strategy. If you’re aiming to kick the habit for good, here are five effective ways to help you navigate the journey: Estimated reading time: 3 minutes Photo by George Morina on Pexels.com 1. Ask Yourself the Vital Question Begin with introspection. Frequently ask yourself,…

[txttletale]

What I don't get is that other your support of AI image generation, you're SO smart and well read and concerned with ethics. I genuinely looked up to you! So, what, ethics for everyone except for artists, or what? Is animation (my industry, so maybe I care more than the average person) too juvenile and simplistic a medium for you to care about its extinction at the hands of CEOs endorsing AI? This might sound juvenile too, but I'm kinda devastated, because I genuinely thought you were cool. You're either with artists or against us imho, on an issue as large as this, when already the layoffs in the industry are insurmountable for many, despite ongoing attempts to unionize. That user called someone a fascist for pointing this out, too. I guess both of you feel that way about those of us involved in class action lawsuits against AI image generation software.

i can't speak for anyone else or the things they've said or think of anyone. that said:

1. you should not look up to people on the computer. i'm just a girl running a silly little blog.

2. i am an artist across multiple mediums. the 'no true scotsman' bit where 'artists' are people who agree with you and you can discount anyone disagrees with you as 'not an artist' and therefore fundamentally unsympathetic to artists will make it very difficult to actually engage in substantive discussion.

3. i've stated my positions on this many times but i'll do it one more: i support unionization and industrial action. i support working class artists extracting safeguards from their employers against their immiseration by the introduction of AI technology into the work flow (i just made a post about this funnily enough). i think it is Bad for studio execs or publishers or whoever to replace artists with LLMs. However,

4. this is not a unique feature of AI or a unique evil built into the technology. this is just the nature of any technological advance under capitalism, that it will be used to increase productivity, which will push people out of work and use the increased competition for jobs to leverage that precarity into lower wages and worse conditions. the solution to this is not to oppose all advances in technology forever--the solution is to change the economic system under which technologies are leveraged for profit instead of general wellbeing.

5. this all said anyone involved in a class action lawsuit over AI is an enemy of art and everything i value in the world, because these lawsuits are all founded in ridiculous copyright claims that, if legitimated in court, would be cataclysmic for all transformative art--a victory for any of these spurious boondoggles would set a precedent that the bar for '''infringement''' is met by a process that is orders of magnitude less derivative than collage, sampling, found art, cut-ups, and even simple homage and reference. whatever windmills they think they are going to defeat, these people are crusading for the biggest expansion of copyright regime since mickey mouse and anyone who cares at all about art and creativity flourishing should hope they fail.

[titleknown]

The doubly sad part is, the economy being in such a shithole is probably leading to that mindset, because being that kind of secure seems just as far away as being a trillionaire.

Like, it puts me in mind of this:

Watching #grindculture #hustle TikTok is so sad because it's all of this talk about investing every day until you're a trillionaire, but then you actually consider what a lot of young people interested in this content want and it's like: a nice house with a yard, a nice car, enough money to ensure your family's needs are covered, savings that keep you financially secure, two relaxing vacations a year, and some money left over for hobbies.

You don't want to be the Wolf of Wall Street, you just want to earn $250,000 a year as a household, but you've been convinced that those two goals are the same thing! Why are you teaching yourself how to trade options on Robinhood when your heart's desire is just to acquire what every orthodontist in the country has. Winner-take-all wealth distributions have fucked our brains

[ot3]

If you genuinely believe it is acceptable to join the us military because you're desperate or you don't know any better then you are prioritizing the right of an American citizen to be ignorant and self interested over non-americans right to live. Yeah I understand people have to make certain difficult choices if they're poor! But you have to draw a moral line about what you would or would not do to improve your own economic status at some point. The place I draw that line is at joining the united states military and if that's not where your line is drawn then you either don't know enough about what this country has done and should really look into it, or you're too racist for harm committed outside of this nations borders to impact your decision making.

Talking about how "vulnerable" the people who join the military are is something that can only hold any weight if your frame of reference for vulnerability begins and ends within the borders of the united states. Even the absolute least privileged US citizen reaps imperial benefits that are completely out of grasp of most people on the planet. Being ignorant of the crimes the us military has committed is the privilege of someone who has never been victimized by them. Being in a position where you have the option to economically benefit from participating in the military occupation of foreign countries, participating in any step of that apparatus at all, is arguably one of most the definitive and egregious manifestations of colonial privilege that the average american has access to.

Meanwhile, the people in many of these formerly colonized and/or currently occupied countries have had their economic opportunities gutted. The upward mobility you all seem to think justifies any amount of service to the empire is not even an option for them. Cobalt, coffee, rubber, chocolate, bananas, sweatshop, chemical plants, all of their labor and natural resources being siphoned off to boost our economy, funnel money into our military, which is then used to continue massacring them and collapsing their governments if they dare to try and improve domestic conditions. God forbid they own their own water and land! And God forbid they try to come here either because we all know how that works out!

I don't know how else to say it. I am begging you to consider these people as being as fully human as you are. If you wouldn't justify murdering your neighbor for college tuitionyou shouldn't justify joining the army for it either. The bare, bare, rock bottom minimum of allyship against colonialism is not joining the army and not justifying anyone else's decision to do so either. I'm not trying to moralize. I'm not trying to grandstand. This is a fully earnest plea to please consider the wellbeing of the people victimized by imperialism, not just the ones carrying it out, coerced or otherwise. There are plenty of moral gray areas in life but this is not one of them if you consider the lives of people in the global South to be valuable.

[ms-demeanor]

if we're like, showing graphs and stuff, this is the type that i think a lot of people on tumblr are thinking of when they think about the economy.

Only one third of people with family incomes below $50k spent less than their income each month. I would guess that a lot of people on tumblr who get aggro about this topic (and the vast majority of people on r/povertyfinance, who discuss this sort of thing a lot) fall into this earning category.

Real wage increases only matter if you got a raise (one third of workers got a raise last year, which means that 2/3rds didn't - included in the economic wellbeing report linked above). Whether or not rent is outpacing wages only matters if you're not going to be rent burdened (more than a third of renter households are cost burdened in every state and 12 million rental households spend more than half their income on rent). Employment rates lose a lot of meaning when you're working multiple jobs to make ends meet (the percentage of multiply employed workers was falling in the US from 1996 to the 2010s, when it plateaued, then it started rising slightly then collapsed in 2020 and has been rising steeply since then and it's too soon to tell if it's going to go back to the plateau or keep going up).

Four in ten adults in the US is carrying some level of medical debt (even people who are insured) and 60% of people with medical debt have cut back on food, clothes or household items; about 50% of people with medical debt have used up all their savings.

Tumblr is the broke people website and yeah, people who are working two jobs to afford $900 for one room and utilities in a three bedroom apartment are not going to feel great about the economy even if real wages are raising and inflation-adjusted rents are actually pretty stable. "The Rent is too Damn High" has been a meme for 14 years so, like, yeah. Even if it's pretty stable when adjusted for inflation it is stable and HIGH.

It's hard to feel good about the economy when you're spending the last few days of the pay period hoping nothing unexpected hits your account, and it's VERY frustrating to be told that the economy's doing well when you've had to start selling blood to buy groceries.

Sure, unemployment is low, that's neat. It's good that inflation has stabilized (it genuinely has; prices are not likely to fall back to pre-inflation rates and eventually you'll likely be paid enough to reach equilibrium, but a lot of people aren't there yet).

But, like, it costs eight thousand dollars a year out of pocket to keep my spouse alive. I'd guess that we've paid off about a third of the 40-ish thousands of dollars he's racked up since his heart attack. His medical debt is why I don't have a retirement plan beyond "I guess I'll die?" So talking about how good the economy is kind of feels like being chained in the bottom of a pit that is slowly filling with water while people on the surface talk about the fact that the rain is tapering off. Neat! That's good! But I can't really see it from where I'm standing.

Inflation really is getting better. My state just enacted a $20 minimum wage for fast food workers. The Biden administration has worked hard to reduce many kinds of healthcare costs. A lot of people have had significant portions of their student debt cancelled.

But a lot of people are still having trouble affording groceries and it doesn't seem helpful to say "your perception of the economy is decoupled from the reality of the economy" on the "can I get a few dollars for food today?" website.

[probablyasocialecologist]

Degrowth basics

"The word degrowth stands for a family of political-economic approaches that, in the face of today’s accelerating planetary ecological crisis, reject unlimited, exponential economic growth as the definition of human progress."

What is Degrowth? | Caracol DSA

Why degrowth is the only responsible way forward | OpenDemocracy

Degrowth and MMT: A thought experiment

We Need A Fair Way To End Infinite Growth | Current Affairs

Degrowth: A Call for Radical Abundance | Common Dreams

Can degrowth save us and the planet? | Nottingham Trent

Defending limits is not Malthusian | Undisciplined Environments

Can We Have Prosperity Without Growth? | New Yorker

The Urgent Case for Shrinking the Economy | The New Republic

Giving Up on Economic Growth Could Make Us Cooler and Happier | The New Republic

A guide to degrowth: The movement prioritizing wellbeing in a bid to avoid climate cataclysm | CNBC

What is ‘degrowth’ and how can it fight climate change? | Popular Science

Enough for Everyone | Yes! Magazine

Toward a Post-Capitalist Future: On the Growth of “Degrowth” | Lit Hub

All we are saying is give degrowth a chance | The RSA

A pathway out of environmental collapse | newsroom

On Technology and Degrowth | Monthly Review

What is degrowth (and more importantly, what is it not)? | META

Green growth

"There is no empirical evidence that absolute decoupling from resource use can be achieved on a global scale against a background of continued economic growth."

Is Green Growth Possible? | Jason Hickel & Giorgos Kallis

The Myth of America’s Green Growth | Foreign Policy

The decoupling delusion: rethinking growth and sustainability | The Conversation

Is green growth happening? | Uneven Earth

Green Growth | Uneven Earth

The Delusion of Infinite Economic Growth | Scientific American

Degrowth is not austerity – it is actually just the opposite | Al Jazeera

A response to Paul Krugman: Growth is not as green as you might think | Timothée Parrique

Deceitful Decoupling: Misconceptions of a Persistent Myth | Alevgul H. Sorman

Degrowth isn’t the same as a recession – it’s an alternative to growing the economy forever | The Conversation

Degrowth and the left

"In the middle of an ecological emergency, should we be producing sport utility vehicles and mansions? Should we be diverting energy to support the obscene consumption and accumulation of the ruling class?"

The Left should embrace degrowth | New Internationalist

Ecosocialism is the Horizon, Degrowth is the Way | The Trouble

Degrowth: Socialism without Growth | Brave New Europe

Toward an Ecosocialist Degrowth: From the Materially Inevitable to the Socially Desirable | Monthly Review

For an Ecosocialist Degrowth | Monthly Review

Degrowth and Revolutionary Organizing | Rosa Luxemburg NYC

The necessity of ecosocialist degrowth | Rupture

Degrowth is Anti-Capitalist | Protean Mag

Degrowth Communism | PPPR (Part one | Part two | Part three)

Economic Planning and Degrowth: How Socialism Survives the 21st Century | New Socialist

Degrowth and the South

"Southern countries should be free to organize their resources and labor around meeting human needs rather than around servicing Northern growth."

Who is afraid of degrowth? A Global South economic perspective | IBON Foundation

The anti-colonial politics of degrowth | Jason Hickel

Unlearning: From Degrowth to Decolonization | Rosa Luxemburg NYC

Degrowth requires the Global South to default on its foreign debts | Resilience

Journals/Reports

Degrowth: a theory of radical abundance | Jason Hickel

A systematic review of the evidence on decoupling of GDP, resource use and GHG emissions, part II: synthesizing the insights

What does degrowth mean? A few points of clarification | Jason Hickel

Providing decent living with minimum energy: A global scenario | Global Environmental Change

Urgent need for post-growth climate mitigation scenarios | Nature Energy

Degrowth and critical agrarian studies | Julien-François Gerber

Decoupling debunked – Evidence and arguments against green growth as a sole strategy for sustainability | European Environmental Bureau

Incrementum ad Absurdum: Global Growth, Inequality and Poverty Eradication in a Carbon-Constrained World | David Woodward

Degrowth can work — here’s how science can help | Nature

A New Political Economy for a Healthy Planet | Jason Hickel

Planning beyond growth. The case for economic democracy within limits

Millionaire spending incompatible with 1.5 °C ambitions | Cleaner Production Letters

Is green growth happening? An empirical analysis of achieved versus Paris-compliant CO2–GDP decoupling in high-income countries | The Lancet

Books

Exploring Degrowth: A Critical Guide | Pluto Press

A People's Green New Deal | Max Ajl

Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World | Jason Hickel

Breaking Things at Work: The Luddites Are Right About Why You Hate Your Job | Verso Books

The Future is Degrowth: A Guide to a World Beyond Capitalism | Verso Books

The Imperial Mode of Living: Everyday Life and the Ecological Crisis of Capitalism | Verso Books

Marx in the Anthropocene: Towards the Idea of Degrowth Communism | Kohei Saito

Degrowth & Strategy: how to bring about social-ecological transformation

27 Essays and Thoughts on Degrowth | Giorgos Kallis

Videos

Yes To Limits To Growth! | The Other School

How Degrowth Can Save the World | Andrewism

How We End Consumerism | Our Changing Climate

Demystifying Degrowth | Rosa Luxemburg NYC

Degrowth is not Austerity | John the Duncan

Degrowth and Ecosocialism | Planet: Critical

Degrowth in 7 minutes: Fighting for climate by living better | Think That Through

The Future is Degrowth (w/ Aaron Vansintjan) || SRSLY WRONG

"Degrowth means power to the working class!"with Jason Hickel | GND Media

Others

degrowth.info

Degrowth Journal

Doughnut Economics

[bilbobagginsomebabez]

I do not understand the point of this post. this just means everyone is poor.

class is relative. it doesn't matter if $10 could feed you for a week in India, it's not enough for a single meal here. the absolute number value assigned to the shit you need is immaterial. it's about whether you can get the shit you need with the amount of resources you have access to. the majority of americans cannot currently meet their basic needs for food and shelter with the resources they have access to. this is 62% of the people in our country, they make enough each paycheck to pay the majority of their bills. a single unexpected expense means homelessness.

it doesn't matter if GDP is a really big number or if we earn "stupendous amounts" in "absolute money." we can't afford food, and starvation is the same everywhere.

One of the horrible things about the prosperity of the United States is that they've managed to make the cost of living so high that their incredibly high levels of wealth only really show up on the periphery of people's lives.

Americans earn stupendous amounts of absolute money but you can only tell because they have the ability to spend money on things that don't actually improve their lives very much, often because they don't have another choice.

People's claims about the failure of the United States online are often overblown yelling that exaggerate the size of the genuinely bad situation faced by the most vulnerable people, but by GDP per capita you'd really expect the United States to be a much better place to live.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Life Domains

There are a great number of divisions and domains in life (Rojas, 2006; Cummins, 2003; Headey & Wearing, 1992; Veenhoven, 1996), encompassing anywhere from a small range to the infinite possibilities of human activities and areas of being (Rojas, 2006).

Vanderweele (2017) generally suggests that there are 5 domains of human life that should be focused on to promote human flourishing:

Spirituality. This area of life should be prioritized but is often neglected (Moberg & Brusek, 1978). Although the words religion and spirituality are often used interchangeably, a person does not have to practice a faith to be spiritual (Mercadante, 2014). Spirituality enables a purpose in life and dictates how someone may think, feel, and behave to allow them to gain fulfillment (Mercadante, 2014). Spirituality is based on an individual’s principles and focuses on creating a good life for themselves (Dierendonck, 2011). When a person’s actions are not in line with their spiritual beliefs, this can cause an imbalance within this life domain.

Family. An essential but influential domain. Family does not have to be biological. More importantly, it relates to people with whom you have a meaningful relationship (Robins & Tomanec, 1962). The family domain is an area of life that can become imbalanced when a person’s roles and responsibilities are not being fulfilled. This may be because another domain is receiving more attention, such as work (Rao & Indla, 2010). It may be that the beliefs, values, and behaviors of the person are not in line with other family members. When this domain is imbalanced, it results in fractured relationships, estrangement, and separations (Olah, Kotowska, & Richter, 2018).

Work. Plays a fundamental part in the life of most adults throughout all societies. It has an economic and instrumental role because it provides a livelihood (Scoones, 2009). Work provides a will to learn, develop, and accomplish goals. Work also has a psychosocial aspect. It gives meaning to an individual’s life and satisfies their need to be part of society (Sharabi & Harpaz, 2007). It is important that people enjoy what they are doing, where they are working, and who they are working with. If an individual is investing too much time in this domain to the detriment of other domains, it may cause an imbalance.

Health. This domain concerns physical, emotional, and mental health and wellbeing. Individuals can learn how to develop a healthy lifestyle from an early age through education (Cutler & Lleras-Muney, 2014). Physical health can deteriorate from work stress and financial demands. Poor health can affect independent living and the ability to work and engage with family members and the community. This can be detrimental to positive emotional and mental health and wellbeing (Wong, Chan, & Ngan, 2019). It is essential to adopt a healthy lifestyle and promote healthy living. Understanding how to exercise, eat healthily, relax, and connect spiritually helps to promote overall health.

Community. Relationships outside the family are essential (Darling, Hamilton, & Shaver, 2003). These can be with friends or specific communities, such as the neighborhood community, faith or sports-based interests, or hobbies that allow a person to develop a sense of belonging with others (Darling et al., 2003). Community allows people to be united and, like family, allows a sense of safety and security (Bowe et al., 2020). It provides a sense of achievement and fulfillment, especially when an individual is working toward a shared community goal, such as raising money for a good cause or helping others within the community (Bowe et al., 2020). Nevertheless, spending too much time with the community and neglecting other domains, such as family, can cause an imbalance.

This is a simple and easy-to-understand model that illustrates the main life domains recognized by most people. Vanderweele's interpretation is widely recognized and will help you understand how life domains interact with each other and how you can find balance between them.

The following are strategies or techniques that can be used to balance life domains.

Compensation is a technique that increases positive life domains to counteract negative life domains. Decreasing the not-so-good parts of negative life domains reduces the unhappy influence from these domains on overall life satisfaction (Lee & Sirgy, 2018).

Accept and acknowledge that not everything can be done in every domain all the time. There will always be limitations to getting everything done due to constraints on time, energy, and money. The ability to accept ourselves is a crucial factor in improving our overall feelings of emotional wellbeing (MacInnes, 2006).

Breitman and Hatch (2000) wrote a book on a straightforward idea to balance life domains. Their book concerns the art of saying ‘no’ without feeling guilty. The use of this two-letter word can help us rid ourselves of all the things that are preventing us from living positively in all domains.

Planning time and organizing activities that are the main priority can help to minimize stress. Poor organization and time management may cause life domains to feel stretched and overloaded. 

Ensure time is scheduled for relaxation. Many studies have found this is important in reducing stress, anxiety, and low mood (Manzoni, Pagnini, Castelnuovo, & Molinari, 2008).

Flourishing - a condition denoting good mental and physical health: the state of being free from illness and distress but, more important, of being filled with vitality and functioning well in one’s personal and social life.

Languishing - the condition of absence of mental health, characterized by ennui, apathy, listlessness, and loss of interest in life.

Sources: 1 2 ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs