While it can be a touchy subject, addressing drug use is a key component of workplace health and safety. With opioid abuse increasing at a startling rate of 500% in the last seven years, opioid misuse might be one of the biggest health threats to your workforce. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially declared the abuse of prescribed medications in the U.S. an epidemic.

Opioids are a class of drugs that have morphine-like effects. This includes oxycodone, hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, morphine, and many others. Medical professionals prescribe opioids as a treatment for moderate to severe pain caused by workplace injuries, surgeries, or, in some cases, chronic pain. While these drugs are effective in treating pain, they can also produce euphoria or a high, which makes them more prone to abuse.

Using these prescriptions for anything other than its medical purpose is considered to be abuse. This abuse can include mixing the medication with alcohol or taking more than the recommended dose – leading to many health consequences and even death. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), more than 90 Americans die after overdosing on opioids every day. 

Research has made it clear: you don’t want workaholics running your business. It’s not uncommon for American employees to be working more than the standard 40 hours a week. In fact, according to 20-Something Finance, the U.S. is the most overworked developed nation in the world. They also stated that 85.8% of males and 66.5% of females work more than 40 hours a week. 

It’s important to realize that working 55+ hours a week isn’t “overachieving,” it’s just plain unhealthy. A 2015 research article suggests that employees working a 55-hour week face a 33% increased risk of stroke than those working a 35 to 40-hour week. The side effects of long hours are more than just physical, too. Working crazy hours diminishes the opportunity for a healthy work-life balance, which can mentally drain employees.

As an employer, it’s your responsibility to make sure your company promotes the health of your employees. If your company demands that employees put in overtime hours over an extended period of time, it’s time to make some changes – for both the sake of your employees and your company. Let’s take a look at some of the negative impacts of long hours:

It’s time to take a deep breath. Being a full-time employee is more stressful than ever. With longer hours, stricter deadlines, and added responsibilities, many of us feel stressed on a daily basis. This stress can turn into chronic stress, which can cause physical and mental health consequences. 

Feeling stressed at work can lead to poor concentration, moodiness, and a decrease in overall work performance. When this stress is left unmanaged, many employees are susceptible to burnout. A company ran by burnt-out employees will experience increased absenteeism, less productivity, and higher turnover.

The bottom line is that stress is bad for everyone involved. Luckily, there are steps you can take to make your life a little less stressful. This is where mindfulness comes into play. We believe that practicing mindfulness is one of the best ways to reduce the stress in your life. But how can being more mindful impact your daily life?

A mind really is a terrible thing to waste. As we get older, our brains begin to age and lose neurons, and, eventually, our brain tissue starts to shrink. Cognitive decline can lead to an increased risk for illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

While this might sound scary, rest assured that there are plenty of things you can do to keep your mind healthy and sharp for as long as possible. And, as it turns out, this doesn’t mean you have to play tedious memory games every day to do so! With some healthy habits and hobbies, you can easily flex your brain muscles and help combat the effects of an aging brain to keep it sharper longer. 

Try out some of these daily brain-boosting activities to keep your brain healthy and strong:

Chances are, you’re probably slouching right now as you read this. From your office cubical to lounging at home, everyday life makes it difficult to maintain proper posture. But it’s important to understand that poor posture is more than just a “cosmetic” issue. It can have some serious health consequences. 

Slouching for hours each day can lead to soreness and pain, poor circulation, fatigue, poor digestion, and even arthritis. Even more surprising, poor posture can lead to mental side effects as well. A 2012 study found that a “slouched or despondent body posture can lead to decreased energy and feelings of depression”. Yup, that’s right, slouching can make you sad. 

Maintaining proper posture throughout the workday might sound like a lot of work, but the benefits make the extra effort completely worthwhile. According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), correct posture: 

You know that stressing out is bad for your health, but you just can’t help it! Projects keep piling up, you’re struggling to fulfill commitments, and you haven’t even had time to sit down and enjoy a meal. Does this sound like you? If so, you need to learn to reduce the stress in your life before it’s too late.

Chronic stress can lead to health problems such as weight gain, depression, and even contribute to heart disease. Not to mention, both your personal and professional life will suffer from unmanaged stress. While there’s no magic potion to cure stress completely, you can certainly make your life less stressful instantly with these 11 tips: 

Imagine feeling energized all day long: no afternoon slump, no heavy eyelids, and no nodding off at your desk. Sounds like a fantasy, right? Well, we believe that feeling energized and productive all day long is totally achievable when you practice healthy habits.

When that feeling of afternoon fatigue settles in, many of us reach for another cup of coffee or hit the vending machine for a sugary, caffeinated beverage. However, sugar and caffeine are only a temporary fix that can lead to a nasty crash later. 

If you are looking for some natural ways to feel energized all day long, here are some tricks that will keep you from ordering that extra shot of espresso:

Lately, we’ve been offering a lot of advice for reducing workplace stress.

That’s because we believe workplace stressors shouldn’t get in the way of a happy, healthy life – and we’re sure most employers would agree. One aspect of employee stress that doesn’t get the attention it deserves is financial stress. Fortunately, a lot of companies are getting on board and addressing the importance of financial wellness.

The rising popularity of financial wellness programs was an expected workplace wellness trend of 2017. More and more companies are starting to offer financial wellness programs for employees – for good reason too. It’s clear that employers are aware of the dangers of financial stress in the workplace.

According to GreenPath Financial Wellness, 78% of employers say financial concerns can negatively impact employee productivity, while 71% of employees say their top source of stress is personal finances. Employees struggling with financial troubles have difficulty focusing on work and performing their best.

During times of stress and hectic days at the office, you might think you don’t have time for a healthy meal. However, consuming fast food and sugary snacks will contribute to your feelings of stress and anxiety even more. Eating healthily is one of the best things you can do for your body during times of stress. Certain nutrients will help balance your mood and relieve any tension.

When you’re under a lot of pressure and feeling anxious, your body produces a stress hormone called cortisol. High levels of cortisol can lead to high blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Over time, high levels of cortisol can have many negative effects on your health and even heighten your risk of certain diseases. When you eat to beat stress, you want to focus on foods that will reduce these cortisol levels and keep blood pressure levels in check.

Instead of stress-eating or skipping meals altogether, try eating healthy snacks and meals that contain stress-busting foods. Check out this list of eight healthy foods to eat when you’re feeling stressed out:

It seems like almost every adult responsibility requires us to be a morning person. Unfortunately, for a lot of us, that just isn’t the case. Most of us aren’t even tolerable to be around until our cup of coffee has kicked in.

But wouldn’t it be nice if it didn’t take all those caffeine jitters to make us feel alert and happy in the morning? What if you could wake up and instantly feel ready to take on the day? That’s what morning people feel like! Believe it or not, anyone can learn to become a morning person. With a healthy routine and a little practice, you will find yourself a lot less grumpy when that alarm clock starts buzzing.

Read on to learn 10 tricks that will transform a night owl into a morning person: