Depression, while often hiding in plain sight, ranks among the top three workplace problems for employee assistance professionals, resulting in 3% of total short-term disability days. For context, that’s more disability than what’s caused by heart disease, hypertension and diabetes—all in the form of an illness that isn’t nearly as visible as a broken bone.…
Winter is taking hold for people in the northern parts of the U.S., and while the light-filled days of spring are just a couple of months way, a significant number of people in your workforce may be struggling with seasonal affective disorder. The American Psychiatric Association reports that approximately five percent of Americans suffer from…
The holidays are here. The season of giving, spending, celebration, and for many, the season of high calorie overeating. According to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the average American gains about a pound between Thanksgiving and the beginning of January. Even though the weight gain isn’t as high as…
It’s almost that season—time for school buses and alarm clocks. And if you’re like most families, you’ve probably been letting your sleep schedule slide in favor of late evenings spent enjoying the extra hours of daylight with a bike ride or the glow of a backyard fire pit in the warm night air. We don’t…
The Results Can Be an Important Indicator of Your Life Expectancy When is the last time you tried standing on one leg? If you haven’t done that in a while, give it a try. Stand close to a wall or table for support. New research has shown that balancing on one foot is…
By Cheryl Jones, Director of Mindfulness at Aetna As if the intensity of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic with its health and economic implications wasn’t enough, we now find ourselves in the midst of rising racial and political tensions. It feels as though our sanity and our humanity are at risk. I believe mindfulness (awareness that…
There are so many health benefits that come alongside having a dog as a companion. Whether it’s the popular Poodle, or the less well known Silver Labrador, all dogs provide benefits such as encouraging more exercise and therefore having better heart health. They can even help people with mental health problems, and bring many benefits…
The pandemic couldn’t stop summer from arriving! As vacation season kicks off, it is a good time for HR teams to encourage the value of taking a break. As we all know, vacations are important for emotional and physical health of employees. In fact, studies show that they build a far more engaged, happy, and…
If you don’t like running, you are far from alone. Half of all runners say they either hate it or barely tolerate it, and only eight percent say they love it. Surprised? If you’re among the millions who run a little or a lot, anywhere in the world, the odds are high that you aren’t…
Children who are living with disabilities often cope with stress and anxiety as they navigate the world around them, and their parents often struggle with those feelings as well. When it comes to helping your child feel better, learning some methods of self-care can benefit you both. Finding a healthy routine, starting a relaxing hobby,…
