Introduction: Stress-related ill-health is one of the fastest-growing reasons for sick leave and an extensive societal problem. It affects the individual, the workplace, and society at large. People can experience stress in all areas of everyday life and often cope by stopping prioritizing themselves. Agenda 2030 third goal aims to promote good health and well-being for all and ensure people's opportunity to reach their full potential and contribute to society's development. However, the focus is often on interventions to rehabilitate people back from ill health, not to promote their health.

The aim was to explore what the risk factors, and what promotes well-being in people with stress-related ill-health from both a work and everyday perspective.

Method Through mixed methods with both quantitative tree analysis of 218 people before entering a work rehabilitation program, and qualitative content analysis of concluding notes of 54 people after the intervention a compilation was made.  

Results The findings of the studies show a highly relational process, where it is impossible to divide life into private and work, and presupposes balance in everyday life in multiple dimensions. It also indicates that risk factors aren’t about gender, age, or education- but about complex occupational patterns in daily life and a lack of social context.

Conclusion: Work and everyday life are highly intertwined. Perhaps the key to promoting our health and preventing stress-related ill-health is not to scale down on occupations and sleep more, but to add more meaningful occupations that give us a sense of participation and fellowship.