BlogHeader-1

 

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.
Find me on:

Recent Posts

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.

Read More

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?

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

Topics: Wellness at Work

Health in a Cup: Why Tea Belongs in Your Break Room

Posted by Lisa Stovall on Mon, Oct, 13, 2025

TL;DR: Move over, coffee, tea’s having a moment. This quiet powerhouse boosts focus, calms stress, and supports overall wellness. Simple, affordable, and easy to sip anytime, tea is the small daily ritual that can make a big difference in your mood, mind, and energy.

Coffee may rule the breakroom, but tea?

Tea is the quiet powerhouse your wellness routine may be missing.

For centuries, tea has been brewed not just for flavor, but for focus, calm, and a long list of health benefits. And in today’s hustle culture — where burnout is common and self-care often takes a backseat — a simple cup of tea might be one of the smartest wellness moves you can make.

From soothing stress to supporting brain function, tea offers something for everyone.

And the best part?

It’s accessible, affordable, and fits perfectly into the rhythm of your workday. Whether you’re in the office or working remotely, swapping one of your daily drinks for a cup of tea could be one of the simplest wellness upgrades you make this year.

Let’s spill the tea on why this ancient brew still deserves a starring role in your wellness routine.

Read More

Topics: Healthy Workplaces

10 Stress-Relieving Activities That Feel Like a Warm Hug

Posted by Lisa Stovall on Mon, Oct, 06, 2025

TL;DR: Stress is part of work life, but relief can be simple. This article shares 10 quick, calming habits that feel like a warm hug, from deep breathing to mindful breaks and short walks. Small pauses, done often, help employees reset, recharge, and show up as their best selves.


If stress had a soundtrack, most workplaces would be stuck on a loop of buzzing phones, endless pings, and back-to-back meetings.

No surprise then: according to APA’s 2023 Work in America™ Survey, a whopping 77% of workers said they felt work-related stress in just the past month.

And stress doesn’t just hang out in people’s heads. It leaks into burnout, turnover, and checked-out employees. It even comes with a jaw-dropping price tag — costing U.S. companies up to $300 billion a year in lost productivity and healthcare. That’s a lot of drained energy and missed potential.

But here’s the twist: the antidote doesn’t have to be big or complicated. Sometimes the tiniest pauses can pack the biggest punch. Think of them like mini resets for the nervous system. Simple moments that leave people feeling calmer, clearer, and more supported.

In this article, you’ll discover 10 quick stress-busters your employees can use right away. Share them in a newsletter, kick off a meeting with one, or lead by example. Sometimes just a few minutes of calm is all it takes to change the whole day.

Read More

Topics: Healthy Workplaces

EWBHeader

Subscribe

This Year's Most Popular Articles