6 Unique Ideas to Get Active at Home

6 Unique Ideas to Get Active at Home

These days, physical activity is more important than ever! Most of us are spending more and more time at home, whether it be for work or school, and we are not getting the physical activity that we need.  Source When you get off track with your workouts or fitness, it can be quite overwhelming to think about jumping in again. Instead of setting a goal of 10,000 steps every day, focus on small movements that bring your heart rate up and increase blood flow. Here are 6 ideas to get you started: 1. Use Commercial Breaks as An Exercise Timer There’s nothing wrong with binging your favorite TV shows, but […]

7 ways to make yourself a happier person every day

7 ways to make yourself a happier person every day

In our daily routines fueled by drive and ambition, sometimes we find ourselves at a crossroads: Do we push harder toward achievement, or do we take a step back and instead seek quiet happiness? Some would argue that happiness is found in the achievement. If that’s true, then I ask for someone to show me. Achievement is fleeting. Source   What matters more is the feeling underneath it The challenge is how to navigate both worlds. Is it possible to both be in a position of power and be humble? Can you be wealthy outside and in? How does one navigate the grueling road of business or high-speed innovation, while […]

Zoom workout classes: What it’s like

Zoom workout classes: What it’s like

As gyms and studios remain closed many are taking their classes online – to Zoom, to be exact. Source: C|net I’ve been working out at home for the better part of the past two years — so when COVID-19 forced gyms and fitness studios to close down, I felt prepared to continue my workouts as usual. But even though Zoom quickly became the center of so many activities (work, hangouts with friends and family — and so much more) I hadn’t tried a workout class on Zoom pre-pandemic, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.  At first I thought working out on Zoom would be strange. Why would I want anyone else to see me when I […]

Why you should resist the urge to multitask during Zoom meetings

Why you should resist the urge to multitask during Zoom meetings

It’s so tempting, but it can wreak havoc on your productivity. Here’s how to find your focus instead. And remember…it’s a two way relationship between the presenter and the attendee. Source We’ve all heard that multitasking is bad and switching between activities makes it harder to complete them. But let’s be honest—many of us multitask during Zoom meetings, especially as we enter the 10th month of working remotely and our Zoom fatigue has worsened. But checking email or making a grocery list can have a negative ripple effect you may not realize, says Dave Crenshaw, author of The Myth of Multitasking: How “Doing It All” Gets Nothing Done. “Switching between tasks can […]

7 Trends That Will Shape Work in 2021 and Beyond

7 Trends That Will Shape Work in 2021 and Beyond

It’s fair to say that 2020 rocked many organizations and business models, upending priorities and plans as business leaders scrambled to navigate a rapidly changing environment. For many organizations this included responding to the social justice movements, shifting to a full-time remote staff, determining how best to support employees’ wellbeing, managing a hybrid workforce, and now addressing legal concerns around the Covid-19 vaccine. Source: HBR It would be nice to believe that 2021 will be about stability and getting back to normal; however, this year is likely to be another full of major transitions. While there has been a lot of focus on the increase in the number of employees […]

How to Stay Cool in Warm Weather – especially in Athens

How to Stay Cool in Warm Weather – especially in Athens

Keeping cool in warm weather is a multi-faceted challenge. Risks of getting too hot in warm weather include dehydration, and a variety of heat-related illnesses, including heat stress, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke. Keeping your body cool will also help to keep your mood calm too, for heat often exacerbates feelings of stress, tension and frustration. There are lots of simple and effective ways to stay cool in warm weather and most of them are very affordable. Source: WikiHow    1) Stay hydrated. Water is essential for keeping you cool during hot weather. Water keeps your body cool and should be drunk even if you don’t feel thirsty. […]

Two forms of exercise to keep your brain young

Two forms of exercise to keep your brain young

Exercise is the closest thing to a miracle drug that we have, according to a growing body of research. When it comes to keeping the brain young and staving off the effects of aging, two types of workouts appear to be the best: cardio and strength training. A new review of nearly 100 well-designed studies found positive cognitive effects were linked with activities like walking, cycling, and yoga when people did them for an hour three times a week. Source: Business Insider Exercise is the closest thing to a miracle drug that we have. Whether it’s a mood boost, better muscle tone, or a sharper mind you’re looking for, two types of workouts are […]

7 Easy Ways to Create a Zen Office Space

7 Easy Ways to Create a Zen Office Space

What do you think of when you hear the phrase “the modern workplace”? If you’re like a lot of people, it’s probably words like “ultra-connected,” “demanding,” “always on,” or “stressful.” No wonder companies experience such high turnover, low productivity, and burnout. Now imagine a workplace exemplified by the following: Peace. Calm. Tranquility. Focus. A little better, right? That’s the idea behind Zen Office spaces. Source Zen is a Buddhist philosophy that emphasizes meditation, intuition, and tranquility. Zen is also a practice that pulls you out of your routine, and trains you to live less automatically and more mindfully. More and more companies are embracing Zen principles to bring tranquility to their […]

The Pillars of an Effective Workplace Wellness Program via HBR

The Pillars of an Effective Workplace Wellness Program via HBR

Strategically integrated wellness programs have six strong pillars that simultaneously support their success, regardless of the size of the organization. Construct them well, and your institution could see the kinds of big returns that the 10 companies in our sample have garnered. Source: Harvard Business Review 1. Multilevel Leadership Creating a culture of health takes passionate, persistent, and persuasive leadership at all levels—from the C-suite to middle managers to the people who have “wellness” in their job descriptions. It’s easy to find employees who don’t participate in wellness programs. Some cite lack of time, little perceived benefit, or just a distaste for exercise. Others don’t know about available services or blame […]

What’s the Hard Return on Employee Wellness Programs? HBR

What’s the Hard Return on Employee Wellness Programs? HBR

Since 1995, the percentage of Johnson & Johnson employees who smoke has dropped by more than 2/3rds. The number who have high blood pressure or who are physically inactive also has declined—by more than 1/2. That’s great, obviously, but should it matter to managers? Well, it turns out that a comprehensive, strategically designed investment in employees’ social, mental, and physical health pays off. J&J’s leaders estimate that wellness programs have cumulatively saved the company $250 million on health care costs over the past decade; from 2002 to 2008, the return was $2.71 for every dollar spent. Source: Harvard Business Review What Is Workplace Wellness? Our extensive research on workplace wellness […]