We all want to live our best lives, but in today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in the chaos and lose sight of what really matters. And let's not forget about those desperate late-night Google searches for ways to turn our lives around magically. (But hey, no judgment here, we all do it!)

The good news is that there's a simple solution — focusing on your habits! 

Picture your habits like a garden. Cultivate a beautiful, bountiful life by planting the right seeds. The same goes for your happiness and health. Certain habits nourish or deplete your mind and body! In fact, seven healthy habits, in particular, have a huge impact on our well-being.

So, let's dive into these secret habits of happiness and start living our best lives!

We've had years of experience holding flu shot clinics and have heard every excuse in the book for skipping out on your yearly vaccine. If you or your employees have reservations or have heard rumors about the flu shot, send this handy list to them to ensure they know the facts about getting protected from the flu. 

Excuse #1: I've heard you can get the flu from the flu shot. 

We hear this one all the time! It’s by far the most widely spread misconception about the vaccine. Flu shots are currently made in one of two ways: the vaccine is made either with flu viruses that have been ‘inactivated’ (killed) and are therefore not infectious, or with no flu viruses at all.

It's scientifically impossible to get the flu from a flu vaccine. In addition to this, the shot does not offer instantaneous protection, but rather takes a week or two to kick in. Therefore, anyone who comes down with an influenza virus right after getting the shot already had the virus in their system.  

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word “invest?" You probably associate it with the stock market or some other financial venture, right? But today, we’re referring to a whole different kind of investment. We’re talking about the magic that happens when you make the bold commitment to invest in yourself.

At TotalWellness, we love helping people reduce stress—both in life and in the workplace. Like with our straightforward pricing for biometric screenings or our worry-free wellness program, Beata.

And there's no better stress reliever than llamas. Sweet natured, friendly, and blessed with awesome hair, llamas are also full of good advice. Let llamas show you how to find calm amidst the chaos. Download your free calendar today!

But before you download your copy, read through some of our tips on how to handle and cope with stress in a healthy way. 

When it comes to the best nutritional habits, everyone has their own opinions and ideas. But one thing everyone agrees on is that most of us should be eating more vegetables. 

Why? Our diet has tremendous effects on our short-and long-term health, especially when it comes to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, the average American consumes a total of only three servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

Eating fruits and vegetables is one of the simplest and most delicious way to lose weight, eat better and feel better. But did you know that eating fruits and vegetables may help you feel happier?  

For small businesses, having a worksite wellness program is no longer an added bonus. Small business owners are adopting wellness programs to reduce health insurance costs, recruit and retain employees, and create a healthy workforce.

The good news, is you don’t need millions upon millions of dollars set aside in a wellness budget. All it takes to be successful in wellness is to tailor what you’re doing to what your employees need.

In our new ebook for worksite wellness professionals at small companies, Wellness Essentials for Small Businesses, we take a look at the logistics of a solid employee wellness program. 

Happy New Year!

The new year offers a fresh start for everyone. We make resolutions with a renewed sense of hope. But so often we find New Year’s resolutions coming from a negative perspective—lose weight, break bad habits, stop doing this or that. It's really no surprise that 92% of resolutions fail. Many people use the new year as an opportunity to make large bucket lists or attempt extreme makeovers. That’s a nice aspiration but for most people this type of approach is doomed to fail.

The holiday season is traditionally a time for showing employees appreciation; office parties, small gifts, and even bonuses are common expressions of gratitude. This season, forget the typical gift baskets and humdrum fruitcake and consider a gift that promotes health.

When was the last time you gave your culture a checkup? Are your policies and environment supporting or hindering those who are trying to embrace a healthy lifestyle? Culture audits are extremely valuable to assess where your company is on its path to wellness and what your potential barriers may be.

As a busy wellness professional, it’s easy to get caught up in daily tasks and lose focus of what is really important. When you lose focus, you may become uninspired and complacent. You are not alone. With many wellness initiatives achieving less than 20% participation, your program may be struggling to engage and inspire employees. But does that mean once something is said to be six feet under, it can't rise again?