WORK LIFE BALANCING

from distress to eustress

STRESS

2
 stress.
noun.
 a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It
can come from any event or thought that
makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous.
Stress is your body's reaction to a challenge or
demand.
Common Sources of Stress

4
 ༝ Attitudes and
༝ Fear and uncertainty
perceptions

༝ Unrealistic ༝ Change
expectations

5
 What
are the
effects
of
stress?

6
How do you de-
stress? 

7
Stress Response
• Redirection of blood
• Heightened alertness
• Glucose/fatty acids
• Immune system/digestion
The Concept of Stress (Medical)

• Fight-or-flight (Canon,
1915) Walther Bradford Canon

• General adaptation
syndrome, GAS (Selye,
1932,1976)

Hans Selye
The Concept of Stress
(Psychological)
• Role conflict and ambiguity
(Kahn et al, 1964)
• Cognitive appraisal and
coping (Lazarus et al, 1967)
• Ego ideal – self-image
(Levinson, 1975)
• Employee character strengths
(Wright, Huang, 2008)
The Concept of Stress (Public
Health)

Preventive Stress Management in Organizations, second edition, 2012

Threat Rigidity
• Restricted information flow
• Constriction of control
Work-life/Home-life
• Workaholism 
intimacy
• Work/information
overload (24/7)
• Leisure time (play) >
resilience
Work-Life Programs
• Flexible working conditions
• Leave options
• Child- and dependent care
benefits
• Pro-family organizational
culture
• Worksite wellness/assistance
programs
Why work-life programs?

• Expands discretion and

control
• Offer support
(life-skill educational programs)
 Effectiveness work-life
programs

• 50% lesser burnout and

distress (Cascio, 2011)
Presence

Marlies Witjes
 The Relaxation
Response
• Muscles relax
• Heart beats slower
• Blood pressure decreases
• Breathing becomes slower
• Metabolism decreases
• Nitric oxide increases