How can I get fit for the new year?

 If that question has been weighing on your mind (especially after you go in for that third cup of eggnog…) you’re not alone. Exercise and eating healthier are popular choices for New Year’s resolutions.

Yet research indicates about 80% of people abandon their goals by February. If you’re determined to get in shape in the new year, it’s possible with some planning and resourcefulness.

For added inspiration, we got insights from 13 experts on how to crush your fitness goals in 2023.

Here’s how to get fit for the new year:

Looking for ways to stay healthy in winter? 

As the cold weather sets in, it’s essential to think about how the changing of seasons impacts your health mentally and physically. If you have diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases, or other chronic health conditions, it’s important to understand what your risk is for cold-related health effects.

Luckily, there are multiple ways — from exploring mindfulness to staying hydrated — that can ensure the body stays healthy and strong this season.

Below, discover unique ways to keep your mind and body feeling good all winter long.

Need some thrilling workplace wellness campaigns to kick off 2023?

We’ve got you covered.

Yes, it’s certainly time to start wellness goal planning for 2023. For wellness coordinators and committees, resolutions should absolutely include workplace wellness goals and where you want to see your workplace go well-being-wise.

Your workers are your best asset, so ensuring they are well and thriving through your wellness programs and beyond is a wise move. Stumped on simple ways to reinvigorate your upcoming campaigns? No worries.

Below we share several unique ways to get everyone at work excited about wellness:

Do you want to know how to start meditating daily? 

If it’s on your new year’s resolutions list, you’re not alone. Globally, it’s estimated between 200 to 500 million people meditate. Those folks may be onto something, too. The health perks of meditation are huge and bring about more self-awareness, fewer negative emotions, and even pain relief.

Starting a new skill or practice is hard. Trying to quiet the mind for meditation practice in a world that’s full of distractions can definitely be hard. It can feel even more challenging when it feels like there’s no roadmap or time to get started.

This post will share all the reasons to start meditation daily for improved health and tips to do it including starting small, finding the right quiet time to do it, and more.

How does employee connection look in your workplace?

Today, with the increase in hybrid and remote work, it’s even more essential that workers feel connected to their workplace. When an authentic employee connection happens, it’s shown to boost both creativity and productivity. In fact, engaged employees are estimated to be 17% more productive than their peers.

It's important to keep work relationships light-hearted and fun but also serious enough to keep work flowing. Does your workplace do that well? If there’s room for improvement, focusing on employee connectedness is one area to start in.

Below you’ll learn why employee connection matters, what it looks like, and how it benefits workplaces.

Workplace mental health is a hot topic these days.

As the world moves past the pandemic and its unique experiences — in-house work to remote work only and back again, for example — it added extra mental strains on everyone, but especially employees.

In October, the U.S. Surgeon General launched the national workplace mental health guide in Philly. The framework released includes a 30-page guide to help employers and their workers build a work environment based on five main areas: protection from harm, connection, and community, work-life harmony, mattering at work, and opportunity for growth.

This post will cover the guide’s details. Plus, you’ll learn tips for how to implement and sustainably grow company mental health programs now and in the future.

National Handwashing Awareness Week is almost here.

During the first full week of December — and well into cold and flu season — comes a celebration of clean hands. This year the dates fall Dec. 4-10.

While you may be tired of hearing “wash your hands” from every public health official, it’s true that washing hands saves lives. It keeps germs from spreading in spaces like workplaces, schools, and the general community.

In an effort to not bore you with another wash your hands well lecture, we’ve rounded up the best handwashing memes and gifs on the internet. Share these far and wide during National Handwashing Awareness Week.

Here’s to spreading humor, not germs.

Need some fun, new healthy living apps to download?

Healthy living is more than just eating well and staying fit. It comes down to a series of everyday choices you make as you go about your day. Thanks to our digital devices, tracking habits, setting goals, and finding accountability through wellness apps is easier than ever.

Most of us spend way too much time on our phones. Why not download useful apps that help with health and wellness to make your digital time a healthier experience?

Below we share nine of the best apps to download for a healthier life and digital experience.

Looking for some calming activities you can do at work and home?

You’ll find them here.

Daily life can be hectic and crazy, but it doesn’t mean you should let it get to you every minute of every day. Learning some coping techniques and exploring calming activities can help you feel more centered and less reactive to daily life.

 By practicing calming activities you may:

• Improve digestion
• Slow your breathing rate
• Reduce stress hormone activity
• Minimize muscle tension and stress

Whether you’re waiting for a remote Zoom call to start, sitting alone in your cubicle, or trying to relax for the day, you’ll find the calming activities below can help you enjoy a sense of calm.

Diabetes Awareness Month is in November, a great time to discuss the topic of diabetes, risk factors, and how to control pre-diabetes.

Right now, more than 130 million people in the U.S. alone live with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Keeping it under control is essential to preventing dehydration, seizures, and other serious health issues.

For employers, this means a better understanding of the condition can prepare you to help diabetic employees as needed. It can also open up conversations around generally good health and staying well to avoid issues like prediabetes.

Read on to learn how healthy habits like yoga, cutting carbs, exercising regularly, and other habits can keep those at risk or with diabetes healthier. Plus, discover resources to share with workers on the topic of diabetes.

Here’s to starting conversations that lead to more diabetes awareness!