The Balanced Life: Using Strategies from Behavioral Science to Enhance Wellbeing

by M. Joseph Sirgy

Overview

The balanced life is a state of equally moderate-to-high levels of satisfaction in important and multiple life domains that contribute to overall life satisfaction. This book strives to improve the reader's understanding of what the balanced life is, and how it can be both achieved and maintained. Its primary goal is therefore to identify the major principles of life balance, and to introduce a comprehensive construct of the balanced life reflective of these principles. It discusses how life balance substantially contributes to subjective well-being – defined as life satisfaction, a preponderance of positive over negative feelings, and absence of ill-being – and explores strategies to attain life balance. It argues that achieving life balance, through manipulating one's thoughts and taking concrete action, will lead to increased personal happiness. Aimed at professional, academic, and lay audiences, this book is grounded in scientific studies related to work-life balance and the balanced life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781009124546
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	05/05/2022
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	6.02(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.43(d)

About the Author

M. Joseph Sirgy is a management psychologist. He has published extensively in the area of business administration, business ethics, and quality of life. He co-founded the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, the Macromarketing Society, and the Community Indicators Consortium. Over the years, he has received numerous awards for his research, teaching, and service to the management discipline.

Table of Contents

Part I. Introduction; 1. Life balance: setting the stage and understanding the language; 2. The imbalanced life; Part II. Inter-domain strategies to increase overall life satisfaction and achieve balance; 3. Engagement in social roles in multiple life domain; 4. Engagement in roles in health, love, family, material, social, work, and culture domains; 5. Engagement in new social roles; Part III. Inter-domain strategies to increase domain satisfaction and achieve balance; 6. Integrating domains with high satisfaction; 7. Compartmentalizing domains with high dissatisfaction; 8. Reallocating resources across domain; 9. Reducing role conflict; 10. Using skills, experiences, and resources in one role for other roles; 11. Concluding thoughts.

Editorial Reviews

‘Coming from one of the world’s most productive scholars in the field of wellbeing/quality of life research, this book provides a splendid analysis of the many dimensions and facets of life and work, and strategies for achieving a good life by means of an optimal balance among all these elements.’ Alex Michalos, Professor Emeritus, University of Northern British Columbia, USA

‘Professor Sirgy’s latest book evenly depicts Joe’s life philosophy and deep academic grasp of ‘the balanced life’. His text vividly represents contemporary wisdom, distilled from many leading authors, resulting in a coherent and authoritative account. The excellence of this publication is consistent with Joe’s esteemed standing among his academic colleagues.’ Robert A. Cummins, Professor Emeritus, Deakin University, USA

‘In a wide-ranging exploration of life balance across a variety of behavioral disciplines, the reader is provided with an expansive, cogent, and thoughtful examination. This exhaustive examination of how one might benefit by understanding one’s complex, yet clearly connected life domains is an excellent worthwhile read.’ Don Rahtz, Professor of Marketing, College of William and Mary, USA

From the Publisher