For some people, the thought of figuring out how to reduce their anxiety only brings on more anxiety.

But, there are simple tools to make it feel less daunting. Some of the best meditation apps for anxiety are designed to quell anxious thoughts that so often spiral out of control.  

In fact, meditation is scientifically proven to benefit the anxious. 

According to Mayo Clinic, there are plenty of benefits to meditation, including anxiety reduction and increasing self-awareness. Anxiety not only robs you of the present moment, but chronic anxiety puts you at a higher risk for heart disease and high blood pressure

If you’re tired of dealing with the negative effects of anxiety, meditation may be the answer. And, no, you don’t have to do it for hours daily to see the benefits.

Need some guidance?

We rounded up both free and paid versions of the best meditation apps for anxiety below. Check them out to bring a little more zen to your life.

Ready to host your next work wellness challenge?

Before you dive headfirst into planning, an organized approach can ensure the wellness budget and time are used effectively.

Wellness challenges are an excellent way to bring teammates together for a fun, common goal. It’s an opportunity to bond over well-being instead of work projects. This post defines a wellness challenge, the benefits of hosting one, and the step-by-step approach to take to make sure it’s done well.

Read on and you’re off to the wellness challenge races!

Looking for ways to celebrate Earth Day at work?

In the workplace, discussing food waste reduction is one of the best ways to honor the earth while also celebrating Earth Day. As a team, come together to learn about ways to save money and eat consciously this Earth Day, which falls on April 22.

Not surprisingly, daily, at least one pound of food is wasted per person in America.

This article will help you and your employees look at ways to minimize the food waste problem at both home and at work. Celebrate the beautiful world in which we live and help your employees learn a bit more about being eco-conscious (and healthier!) this Earth Day.

Here’s a look at how your employees can celebrate Earth Day at home and work and reduce food waste.

It’s no surprise that in 2020, workers were more stressed-out than ever.

In the workforce, adapting to a “new normal” must include workplace health initiatives focused on improving workplace well-being. A special focus on mental health and stress management is an absolute must, according to the Mental Health America’s new Mind the Workplace 2021 Report.

The major takeaways of that report included:

• Employees don’t have stress management support
• Most employees are dealing with burnout symptoms
• Employees are worried about their current financial situations
• Workplace stress is severely impacting employees' mental health

The data compiled is from the Work Health Survey, which gathered insight from 5,030 U.S. employees across 17 industries. The survey ran from February to September 2020 and included details on burnout, supervisor support, workplace stress,  financial insecurity, and mental illness.

Chances are good your employees are dealing with these very same issues with or without your knowledge. As lockdowns ease and workers return to the office, productivity will thrive in companies where employee well-being is a daily consideration.

If you’re seeing these same concerns in your own workplace, there is hope to fix it.

Below, you’ll find strategies to tackle issues like burnout, stress management, and other employee concerns with ease.

Work doesn’t have to be a drag.

In fact, striving for a happy workplace is a near guarantee of productivity and loyal employees. Research confirms workers are indeed 13% more productive when they have a reason to smile at work.

As a leader, looking for ways for employees to enjoy — not just endure — work is a priority that can easily get overlooked for daily business operations, especially in survival mode. Making time to ensure employees are feeling happy and fulfilled goes a long way. Plus, the perks are good for companies, too.

Happy workers are:

• Loyal
• Motivated
• More productive
• More successful

The happiest of workplaces are ones where employees feel appreciated, productive, and have a sense of control over their own work goals. A workplace where they feel well taken care of is one where most employees will happily thrive.

 This article covers 17 different ideas to make that happen.

National Walking Day is right around the corner.  

On April 7, walkers everywhere will hit their local sidewalks in stride.   

That makes this time of year the ideal time to start discussing the benefits of walking for health. The quarantine weight eventually has to come off — no excuses even if gyms are still closed — and walking is the perfect way to do it. It may also be the very easiest way to get fit.

Given that over 40% of Americans are obese, talking about physical activity needs to be a priority sooner rather than later. For some workplaces, this may include extending walking programs beyond National Walking Day.

Ready to share with employees the benefits of walking?

Read on to learn more and discover how to host your own walking event for National Walking Day in five simple steps!

Looking for some self-care books for your team?

This list contains the perfect list of self-care books every workplace library needs. If you haven’t started a workplace library, it may be time to consider one. After all, research shows reading is a healthy activity that benefits both the mind and body.

A few reasons to encourage your team to read:

• It helps reduce stress
• It can improve memory
• It may help writing skills
• It can create more empathetic feelings
• It expands one’s knowledge of various topics
• It increases vocabulary and comprehension

Plus, reading itself can be considered a self-care activity that’s a healthy, relaxing way to unwind. It’s important to build-in self-care activities daily to keep stress levels low and create a life balance. Self-care books are one way to help your employees learn how to do just that.

Read on to see our reading list full of book choices to keep your employees reading all year long.

Need a few good reasons to talk about food for brainpower?

Here are two: March is National Nutrition Month and Brain Awareness Week is March 15-21.

This month, consider ways you can bring food into your wellness campaigns and discussions. Food is fuel and there’s no doubt putting good fuel into the human-machine that is the body makes it run more efficiently.

Everyone has the power to improve brainpower characteristics like memory, cognitive recall, and more just by changing the way they eat daily.

 Ready to feed the brain?

 Check out the menu below of the best foods to boost brain health.

These days, instant stress-relief is a welcome opportunity.

That’s why stress busters are a great option to have in your back pocket to use anytime.

With more cases of anxiety popping up in the general population, along with other pressing stressful events, having a healthy way to cope with stress can reduce blood pressure, ease nerves and evoke calmness.

Stress is associated with a variety of unpleasant potential health conditions like anxiety, depression, fatigue, heart disease, and more. Because of this, it’s helpful to have several stress busters you can use any time you feel stress building up.

Here’s a look at 17 ways to knock stress down, plus 17 correlating challenges to help you mellow out!

Considering working out in the morning?

There are plenty of benefits to doing so, including a recent study proving individuals who worked out before noon on average lost more weight than those hitting the gym after 3 p.m.

If you’re an early riser, you might consider adding your workout routine to the top of your day’s to-do list. Whether it’s running, swimming, weightlifting, or dancing, when you get your blood flowing and endorphins going, you’re guaranteed to start your day off right.

Plus, when you fully commit to a workout routine, you’ll find you feel energized, happier, and healthier — all perks you get when you stop hitting snooze five times in a row. Morning exercise, in particular, is found to increase energy, lower blood pressure, and help individuals make healthier eating choices.

Below, find out all the reasons your body will thank you for hitting the gym in the AM, not PM.