Source: Sleep Foundation Org Most people know firsthand that sleep affects their mental state. After all, there’s a reason it’s said that someone in a bad mood “woke up on the wrong side of the bed.” As it turns out, there’s quite a bit of truth behind this colloquial saying. Sleep is closely connected to mental and emotional health and has demonstrated links to depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other conditions. Research is ongoing to better understand the bidirectional relationship between mental health and sleep. Both are complex issues affected by a multitude of factors, but, given their close association, there is strong reason to believe that improving sleep can […]
Maximizing returns from your wellness initiatives requires strategic planning and thoughtful implementation. To turn your wellness program from a cost center into a value generator, follow these research-backed approaches. Source Set Clear Goals and KPIs Begin by establishing specific, measurable objectives aligned with your organization’s broader goals. Without clear metrics, it’s impossible to demonstrate success. First, identify which outcomes matter most—whether healthcare savings, reduced absenteeism, or increased productivity. Then, create a timeline for achieving these results, recognizing that true ROI may take three to five years to fully materialize. Consider tracking these key metrics: – Participation and engagement rates – Healthcare cost trends – Absenteeism and sick day reductions – […]
Corporate wellness programs have become more popular than ever, with companies increasingly recognizing their potential beyond just employee health benefits. In fact, studies show that comprehensive employee wellness programs can return an impressive €6 in healthcare savings for each €1 invested. This remarkable ROI isn’t just theoretical—Johnson & Johnson’s wellness programs cumulatively saved the company €250 million on healthcare costs over a six-year period, generating €2.71 for every euro spent. Source Despite these impressive numbers, many organizations still question whether the investment is truly worthwhile. However, recent research from a massive global dataset of over 25 million workers reveals that companies with high workplace wellbeing experience a third less annual voluntary […]
For more than a century, people around the world have marked International Women’s Day on 8 March. But what is the day for, and why does it matter? Source: BBC How did International Women’s Day start? International Women’s Day (IWD) grew out of the labour movement. The seeds were planted in 1908, when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay and the right to vote. A year later, the Socialist Party of America declared the first National Woman’s Day. The idea to make it an international event came from Clara Zetkin (in the photo), a communist activist and advocate for women’s rights. In 1910, […]
For many of us, work can become our number one priority. Unfortunately, that may happen at the cost of everything else. We want to succeed professionally, but when that becomes a primary focus, we may begin to lose sight of other priorities such as our health and our personal relationships. Source: Upwork What is work-life balance? Work-life balance can be hard to define. In an ideal world, it’s a state of equilibrium between a person’s professional and personal priorities. It’s also prioritizing your work time equally as much as time for your family, well-being, interests, health, and relationships. What this balance looks like in reality is different from person to […]
We’ve all heard the phrase, “New year, new you.” With a new year comes a fresh start and a clean slate. It’s a chance to identify and set goals for yourself and your business. It’s also a pivotal time for reflection and taking stock of lessons learned in your personal and professional life. What worked for you last year might not align with the requirements and expectations of the upcoming months. And that’s OK. There is nothing wrong with a healthy adjustment and recalibration of priorities. If you are still working on your 2026 to-do list, here are my top tips for how to set goals for yourself and your […]
In high-stress workplaces such as service industries, AI interventions can play a significant role in supporting employees’ work. AI-driven scheduling systems allow employers to create fair staffing processes, while AI-enabled tools take over repetitive job functions to free employees for more creative work. Wearable devices monitor employees’ levels of stress, and buildings outfitted with smart technology adjust environmental factors to make workers more comfortable. But ethical considerations arise because AI systems collect and analyze workers’ personal data. Employers must maintain a balance between efficiency and privacy. In the bustling corridors of hospitals and the fast-paced environment of hotels and restaurants, the quality of service delivered often depends on one crucial […]
Dr. Anita Gupta is a C-suite Healthcare Executive Leader, Board Member and Physician-PharmD. Working as a physician, I quickly learned how the realities of modern work can impact everyone, not just patients, but coworkers and care teams as well. As I witnessed colleagues struggle with burnout and stress-related declines in health, I began to understand how well-being is not a nice-to-have but a must-have. Today, professionals across industries are beginning to understand this fact, with growing expectations that their organizations will support their well-being. In light of this, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a powerful way to deliver more targeted and effective wellness programs. Especially with the rapid pace […]
As an education professional who is interested in school-based yoga, you might have already witnessed the benefits of yoga for your students. Still, a question remains. How and why is yoga beneficial for children and adolescents, and specifically, in the school setting? Scientific evidence for yoga in schools has grown exponentially over the past 5 – 10 years, and while the results are still preliminary, scientists are beginning to understand why yoga and mindfulness can serve as such a valuable component of school curricula nationwide. Research suggests that school-based yoga cultivates competencies in mind-body awareness, self-regulation, and physical fitness. And classroom teachers benefit as well. Taken together, these competencies may […]
At a time when stress in U.S. schools is on the rise, the results of a new study hammer home what others have shown: that yoga in schools may be a great benefit to kids’ mental health. The results, published in Psychology Research and Behavior Management, add to an already-convincing body of evidence, showing the range of benefits that yoga and meditation can confer on kids’ psychological development. Source: Forbes The new study, from Tulane University, randomized third-graders who had some degree of anxiety to receive either a yoga and mindfulness intervention for eight weeks, or to receive usual care. Students in the yoga/mindfulness group had 10 sessions of Yoga Ed. either in the fall or spring; […]
