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Lisa Stovall

With over two decades of experience in employee wellness and internal communications, Lisa Stovall brings her passion and expertise to every project as a senior content writer, strategist, and editor at TotalWellness. Equipped with a Master’s in Health Promotion, she’s all about creating workplaces that are healthy, happy, and thriving. When she’s not at work, Lisa loves getting her 10,000 steps in — whether it’s a stroll through the park, exploring new trails, or enjoying a neighborhood walk with her two dogs. For Lisa, health and wellness are not just her career, but a personal passion she brings to life with vibrant energy and a fun approach that makes her a trusted voice in the wellness community.
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Recent Posts

The 10 Most Popular Wellness Articles of 2025

Posted by Lisa Stovall on Mon, Dec, 22, 2025

As we wrap up another year of helping teams feel healthier, happier, and more human at work, we took a peek at what you clicked on the most in 2025.

Spoiler: you really love a good list.

Before we jump into the countdown, let’s take a moment to appreciate what a year it’s been. In 2025, you showed up for your wellbeing in ways big and small — a stretch between meetings here, a mindset shift there, a tiny habit that somehow changed everything. And along the way, you clicked, saved, shared, and revisited the articles that made you feel inspired, supported, or just a little more like yourself.

When we looked back at what you loved most this year, one thing became hilariously clear: you adore a good list. Top 10, Top 8, Top 12… if it’s numbered, you’re all in. And honestly? Same. There’s something comforting about a tidy set of tips that you can read in two minutes and try right away.

So here they are: the blogs you loved, bookmarked, sent to coworkers, and returned to on days when you needed a reset. A little inspiration. A tiny spark.

Let’s count down your top 10 of 2025.

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Topics: Healthy Workplaces

Hydration Hacks: Simple Ways to Drink More Water During the Workday

Posted by Lisa Stovall on Mon, Dec, 15, 2025

TL;DR: Most of us do not drink enough water during the workday, and even mild dehydration can affect your mood, focus, and energy. Simple hydration habits like sipping before meetings, using a fun water bottle, adding fresh flavors, drinking warm water for a quick reset, or joining a team challenge can make staying hydrated easy and enjoyable.



Ever notice how differently your day feels when you’re even a little dehydrated?

Your head gets foggy. Your mood dips. Your focus wanders. Your energy tanks. Suddenly everything feels harder than it needs to be — from replying to emails to making simple decisions.

That’s because water isn’t just “good for you.” It’s literally fuel for your brain and body.

Your brain is about 75% water.
Your body is more than half water.
Even a1–2% drop in hydration can mess with your focus, memory, mood, and energy.

And yet… most of us forget to drink water all day long. Not because we don’t want to, but because we’re busy, distracted, and sipping coffee like it’s our full-time job.

Hydration doesn’t have to be complicated or boring. With a few clever tweaks, you can turn water-drinking into something that boosts your energy, sharpens your focus, and keeps you feeling more like yourself all day long.

Here are simple, fun ways to sneak hydration into your workday without thinking too hard about it.

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Topics: Wellness at Work

Reset in 5: A Simple Desk Routine to Reduce Stress

Posted by Lisa Stovall on Mon, Dec, 08, 2025

TL;DR: Reset in 5 is a quick five-step desk routine that helps you breathe better, release tension, and get your focus back in just a few minutes. It’s your mid-day pause button — designed to calm your body, clear your mind, and help you feel more like yourself at work.



Some days, work feels like a sprint that forgot to include water breaks. Your shoulders creep up, your jaw tightens, your eyes glaze over, and suddenly you realize you’ve been breathing like a tiny stressed-out hamster.

You don’t need an hour-long yoga class to reset.

You just need five minutes.

Five simple moves.

Five tiny rebellions against the slow creep of desk-induced doom.

This routine is built for the days when you’re juggling too much, moving too fast, or forgetting you have a body attached to the brain you’ve been using all morning. It’s your mid-day reset button. Your nervous-system rescue mission. Your quiet signal that you get to pause, breathe, and start again.

Ready for a reset that actually works and takes almost no time?

Let’s do it.

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Topics: Healthy Workplaces

6 Key Elements of Organizational Care That Improve Employee Well-Being

Posted by Lisa Stovall on Mon, Dec, 01, 2025

TL;DR: Only 1 in 4 employees strongly believe their organization cares about their well-being. When people feel cared for, they’re more engaged, more loyal, and less stressed. As organizations face rising costs, shifting expectations, and growing burnout, the future of work depends on how well leaders build cultures of care.


You can feel it the moment you walk into a workplace that genuinely cares about its people.

Not the “look, we bought a meditation app” kind of caring — the real kind.

The kind that shows up in how teams treat each other, how leaders communicate, and how work actually gets done.

For years, organizations have understood the basics: supporting well-being leads to healthier people, stronger teams, and better business outcomes. That part hasn’t changed. What has changed is the way we think about well-being itself.

Employee wellness is no longer a side project. It’s becoming core business infrastructure. The systems, habits, and cultural norms that fuel performance.

But this shift isn’t happening in a vacuum.

Economic pressure, changing employee expectations, and rising healthcare costs are pushing organizations to rethink what meaningful support actually looks like. The result is a moment of real choice.

Heading into 2026, the question becomes:

Will well-being evolve into a true engine for growth and culture. Or continue to sit on the sidelines as an unrealized promise?

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Topics: Healthy Workplaces

Your Holiday Stress Survival Guide

Posted by Lisa Stovall on Mon, Nov, 24, 2025

TL;DR: The holidays can feel busy and overwhelming, so self-care matters. Slow down with small routines, protect your time, notice little joys, support your body, and give yourself permission to rest. 


The holiday season has that weird ability to feel both magical and mildly unhinged at the same time.

There are glittering lights. There are festive gatherings. There are family traditions that somehow require both emotional stamina and engineering skills. Meanwhile, your to-do list is quietly multiplying.

We’re told it’s “the most wonderful time of the year,” but honestly? For a lot of people, it’s also the most demanding.

And then there’s the pressure.
Pressure to make memories.
Pressure to be a Pinterest Mom with flawless sugar cookies.
Pressure to serve Hallmark-main-character energy at all times.
Pressure to feel joyful even when you’re running on vibes and caffeine.

It’s… a lot.

Which is exactly why seasonal self-care matters. It’s not about tapping out or skipping the season. It’s about giving yourself enough space, energy, and emotional support to actually enjoy it — to feel grounded instead of frazzled, calm instead of chaotic, and present instead of pulled in a hundred directions.

Think of this guide as your holiday permission slip. It won’t eliminate the chaos, but it will help you stay human inside it.

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Topics: Healthy Workplaces

How Changing Your Words Changes Your Mindset

Posted by Lisa Stovall on Mon, Nov, 17, 2025

Ever catch yourself saying, “I can’t do this” or “It’s just not my day”?

We all do it.

But your words aren’t just commentary, they’re instructions to your brain.

When you speak with kindness, curiosity, and possibility, you open doors in your mind that lead to action and progress. Words like “I can,” “I will,” or “I’ll try again” create energy. They remind your brain that there’s still a path forward, even when things feel uncertain.

Think about how different it feels to say “I’m stuck” versus “I’m figuring it out.” One closes the story. The other keeps it going. That’s the quiet power of hopeful language, it helps you move from obstacles to options, from doubt to determination.

Let’s explore how shifting your words can help you see new paths, strengthen your mindset, and build more hope every day.

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Topics: Healthy Workplaces

The Joy of Movement: How to Find Fun in Everyday Activity

Posted by Lisa Stovall on Mon, Nov, 10, 2025

TL;DR: Moving your body should feel good, not like a chore. When you find activities you enjoy, you naturally build more energy, reduce stress, and improve your health. Small moments of movement throughout the day can make a big difference for both your body and mind.


Remember when moving your body felt fun?

Like racing your friends to the end of the block or dancing around your room without a care in the world? Somewhere along the way, many of us lost that feeling, and movement started to feel like a chore.

But it doesn’t have to. Moving your body is one of the simplest ways to feel more alive. Whether it’s dancing while you cook, walking your dog, or stretching in the morning sun, every bit of movement counts.

Research from the World Health Organization shows that staying active can lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes, depression, and even some cancers. But that’s not all. Movement can lift your mood, sharpen your mind, and boost your energy in just a few minutes.

The best way to rediscover movement’s magic is to make it part of everyday life. Here are a few ways to begin.

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Topics: Wellness at Work

The Smart Way to Start Monday

Posted by Lisa Stovall on Mon, Nov, 03, 2025

TL;DR: Start your week strong with the 15-minute “Monday Mood Uplift.” Move, plan, and connect to boost focus, energy, and positivity — one small reset that makes Mondays feel lighter.


We’ve all been there.

It’s Monday morning, the alarm feels extra loud, your inbox is bursting, and you’ve got a classic case of the Mondays creeping in.

You’re not imagining it. Research shows that Mondays really can feel harder. The sudden shift from weekend rhythm to work mode spikes stress hormones and lowers motivation. Add in a flood of unread messages, and it’s easy to start the week in survival mode instead of thriving mode.

But you can change that story in just 15 minutes.

A short, intentional reset — one that mixes a little movement, a bit of reflection, and a touch of connection — can lift your energy and set the tone for a better week. 

That’s the idea behind the Monday Mood Uplift.

It’s a simple three-step ritual designed to help you shake off the sluggish start and step into your week with clarity and confidence. Because when you start Monday grounded, the rest of the week flows better.

 Let’s dive into how this small shift can make a big difference.

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Topics: Healthy Workplaces

Ditch the Plastic: 7 Swaps to Protect Your Brain and Body

Posted by Lisa Stovall on Mon, Oct, 27, 2025

TL;DR: Microplastics may be part of modern life, but your choices still matter. Protect your health by making a few simple swaps that lower your exposure.


You can’t see them, but they’re everywhere.

In the water cooler at work. The lunch you packed. Even the clothes you wear to the office. Tiny plastic particles have quietly slipped into our daily lives. So common, most of us don’t even realize they’re there.

They’re called microplastics, and even though they’re smaller than a sesame seed, there are tons of them out there. Literally. Somewhere between 10 and 40 million metric tons end up in the environment every year. And if we keep going like this, that number could double by 2040. 

We’re still learning exactly how microplastics affect our health. Research is ongoing, and the science is evolving. What we do know is that these tiny particles are everywhere, and awareness is the first step toward minimizing exposure.

While plastics have become part of daily life, reducing your exposure doesn’t have to be complicated. Consider this your Microplastic Defense Plan, some simple ways to limit invisible plastic in your day-to-day routine.

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Topics: Healthy Workplaces

8 Wellness Non-Negotiables to Help You Feel Your Best at Work

Posted by Lisa Stovall on Mon, Oct, 20, 2025

TL;DR: You deserve a workday that lifts you up, not one that wears you down. These eight wellness non-negotiables aren’t “nice extras.” They’re foundational. Start with one or two, and let small changes build momentum.


You know that feeling when your to-do list has its own to-do list?

Between back-to-back meetings, endless pings, and a lunch that’s somehow still sitting untouched at 3 p.m., it’s easy to put yourself last.

That’s where wellness non-negotiables come in. These are the simple daily habits that anchor you, no matter what’s happening around you. They’re the routines that help you reset, recharge, and stay centered through the chaos.

Think of them as your personal baseline. The small choices that keep your energy steady, your mood balanced, and your focus clear. From getting enough sleep to drinking more water and moving your body every day, these essentials are what make everything else work better.

In this article, we’ll explore eight wellness non-negotiables that can help you protect your energy, build resilience, and show up as your best self — even on the busiest days.

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Topics: Wellness at Work

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This Year's Most Popular Articles