Have you ever felt that time off wouldn’t be worth it because the planning and preparation effort — not to mention mountain of catch-up work — would be so overwhelming? If so, you’re not unusual. More than 50% of Americans take less than their allowed vacation time each year. Some reasons...
In her late twenties, business writer Cat Fu was diagnosed with stomach cancer. After doctors operated, she returned to Japan and tried to put it behind her. But a year later the tumors were back, and this time they'd spread to her liver. Fortunately, the surgeons found a new procedure to remove t...
Workplace wellness programs that provide tempting incentives to employees who volunteer for optional health screenings, commit to exercise regimens, or improve their cholesterol levels have been contentious for some time now. But starting January 2019, they may become even more controversial. Tha...
The most popular article in the New York Times' Smarter Living newsletter last year was an interview with Millie Tran of the NYT Global team sharing advice on one of the most important questions we face during our lives: What am I going to do with my life? Tran explained that she had been sharin...
Psychological research suggests that the stick works better than the carrot. Corporate wellness programs seem like a win-win idea. In order to get employees to exercise more and take care of their health, businesses can simply reward them with bonuses if they reach a certain number of steps walked ...
"Step away from the sad desk salad."
Business writer Alyssa Spatola recently published a piece that’s been getting a lot of attention – which seems surprising considering how basic the premise is. She explains that almost every day she eats a quick lunch at her work desk. “I voluntarily forgo...
As business writer Jo Confino recently argued, having a meaningful job doesn’t automatically translate into personal happiness. In fact, the truth often works the other way around: it’s our personal happiness and fulfillment that gives work its sense of purpose. Confino recalls meeting senior...
In the book “The Balance Myth: Rethinking Work-Life Success," business executive Teresa Taylor explains, “I never believed the hype that women have to choose between a career and a personal life to live their best life. You shouldn't, either.” She urges workers to abandon the frustrating and ...
Our jobs shouldn’t suck the life out of us. So in the current trend toward enhanced worker wellness, we’ve seen the spread of standing desks, office meditation sessions and healthy snacks in our places of employment. But those measures are just the first step. Recently corporate research firm ...