Forbes: Work-Life Balance Vs. Work-Life Integration, Is There Really A Difference?

Forbes: Work-Life Balance Vs. Work-Life Integration, Is There Really A Difference?

Most people have heard the term “work-life balance,” but in recent years, the phrase “work-life integration” has been gaining popularity and given way to headlines such as “work-life balance is dead” and “work-life integration: the new norm.” Despite the growing popularity of work-life integration, is there really a difference between it and work-life balance? Source According to Merriam-Webster.com the word “integrate” is defined as “to form, coordinate, or blend into a functioning or unified whole.” Thereby concluding that work-life integration focuses on incorporating the different area’s of one’s life to create a whole picture. Balance, on the other hand, has almost twice as many definitions on Merriam-Webster including, “stability produced by even distribution of […]

Work-Life Balance is Dead | Here is why we should aim for work-life integration instead

Work-Life Balance is Dead | Here is why we should aim for work-life integration instead

Once upon a time, work took place outside of the home during designated hours. Today, that world is a fairy tale. If you checked your work email this past weekend, you’re likely aware that at most companies there is an unspoken expectation that employees tend to emails at all hours. Ron Friedman, Ph.D. is a social psychologist specializing in human motivation Source: PsychologyToday.com It would be easy to blame heartless managers or short-sighted CEOs for the collapsing boundaries between work and life. But the causes of this cultural shift are far more complex. As human beings, we thrive on feeling needed. Neurologically, certain elements of work can be addictive. Studies […]

Forbes: The Truth About Employee Well-Being: Research Shows What Really Works

Forbes: The Truth About Employee Well-Being: Research Shows What Really Works

It turns out, a basket of fresh apples and an awe-inspiring motivational poster don’t count as a comprehensive wellness plan. But, according to research, it also turns out that comprehensive wellness plans alone often fall short of truly impacting an employee’s overall well-being—a concept that encompasses much more than just physical health. Source | David Sturt and Todd Nordstrom As a disclaimer, we don’t have anything against apples and motivational posters. In fact, we’re huge fans of comprehensive wellness programs—those that provide a laser-tight focus on physical health and include healthy snacks, fitness routines, and comprehensive information that could help employees improve their own health. However, new research reveals that when […]

What is Employee Wellbeing, Why is it so important and What does Research say?

What is Employee Wellbeing, Why is it so important and What does Research say?

For most us, our lives are made up mostly of work. Companies are learning that acknowledging – rather than denying – this fact is not just the right thing to do, but also a sound business decision. In a recent interview, ‘Life is Good’ founder Bert Jacobs emphasized that focusing on things like employee wellbeing has an often under-acknowledged business benefit for organizations. Source According to Jacobs, focusing on employee wellbeing and purpose is “a smart strategy for building a strong business….The organization only hurts themselves if they’re not working in the best interest of everybody at their organization.” Why is this the case? Employee wellbeing is linked to employee […]

PhD Research on Stress Management Techniques | University of Athens

PhD Research on Stress Management Techniques | University of Athens

According to the World Health Organization, stress is a significant problem of our times and affects both physical as well as the mental health of people. Stress is defined as a situation where the organism‘s homeostasis is threatened or the organism perceives a situation as threatening. Stress coping methods are the cognitive, behavioral and psychological efforts to deal with stress. After a thorough literature review some of the following techniques were identified: Transcendental meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction. Source Life exists through the maintenance of a complex dynamic equilibrium, termed homeostasis, that is constantly challenged by internal or external adverse forces, termed stressors, which can be emotional […]

7 Meaningful Steps to Reduce Stress & Tension in Your Office

7 Meaningful Steps to Reduce Stress & Tension in Your Office

Most of us have worked with various different companies in our life span. Regardless of the deadlines and targets that need to be met, there are work environments that simply thrive on stress and others that keep it to a manageable minimum. Why is that? It often relates to the culture and actions that companies take to achieve just that. Increase results but make a strong effort by taking specific actions to reduce tension. Here are some steps towards that much desired balance: Source 1.  Identify the problem areas The first step to helping your stressed out employees is to find out what they’re stressed about. Stress comes in many […]

20 Easy Tips to Increase Productivity at Work (+4 you can start tomorrow)

20 Easy Tips to Increase Productivity at Work (+4 you can start tomorrow)

It seems like more and more companies are adopting the motto “do more with less”. So where does that leave you? Scrambling to complete deadlines, wearing 18 different hats, answering a river of emails and phone calls… you get the point. The goal of this post is to help you find ways for you and your team to increase productivity at work. Instead of trying to do a bunch of these at once, find a couple that you can implement within your organization or department and practice them for at least 21 days. (the time it typically takes to form a new habit) Source List your “crucial results” for the […]

Few Healthier Office Snacks & Drinks Your Coworkers Will Rave About

Few Healthier Office Snacks & Drinks Your Coworkers Will Rave About

‘Xmas is the season for office snacks and happenings! These unique office snacks will keep your colleagues happy, healthy—and impressed with you—all season long. Source Delightful Drinks Party treats should lift you up, not weigh you down. Choose any of these delicious beverages if you’re looking for a refreshing office party treat. Tea Set out a carafe of steaming water with an assortment of tea bags, some orange slices, and maybe even a few cinnamon sticks for an easy office party treat to warm your coworkers’ hearts. Lavender Lemonade Combine the crisp flavor of lemon with the floral aroma of lavender to create a beverage perfect for washing down all […]

7 Easy Ways to Start Eating Healthier at Work

7 Easy Ways to Start Eating Healthier at Work

Our aim is to educate you softly about methods that promote physical and mental well-being as well as new nutritional ways. If we influence your eating habits for the better, we will at the same time affect your routine. Affecting your everyday diet work pattern, will improve the body’s energy reserves, your mental strength and therefore your productivity. So, you might wish to consider the following: Source Ditch the junk. Empty your candy bowl and get rid of chips, crackers, and other unhealthy snacks stashed in your desk. The less you’re tempted by junk food, the healthier you’ll eat. Make time for meals. It’s easy to forget to eat when you’re slammed […]

What is Meditation as a practise of Mindfulness?

What is Meditation as a practise of Mindfulness?

Meditation is a practice that requires mindfulness. Contrary to what some people believe, its goal is not to empty the mind of thoughts, but to experience them objectively. That is to say, you experience your thoughts, feelings, and memories as if they were leaves floating down a stream. You watch them all come and go, holding on to nothing. You pay attention only to the moment you’re living in, but it’s a deep attention, which accepts both the painful and the pleasant experiences. Source In practice, some people try guided meditations, in which a 3rd party helps them to direct their focus on different aspects of the moment they’re experiencing. Others […]