Do you treasure outdoor time?  

If not, you may not have found your ideal outdoor activity just yet. But with warmer weather approaching, it’s time to start warming up to the idea of spending more time with mother nature. The health benefits are huge, too.

Those who spend time outdoors are happier and often experience both physical and mental health benefits. Outdoor time offers vitamin D boosts, decreases stress, and can even improve sleep habits. It can also strengthen mental capacities and increase attention spans, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Start planning to soak up the sun and nature time. Here are 23 easy ways to do it.

In recent health news: Despite the U.S. spending the most on health care, America still has the worst health outcomes among high-income countries.

The report, published by The Commonwealth Fund in its U.S. Health Care from a Global Perspective, found Americans are more likely to die younger — from avoidable causes — than residents of other countries. For example, the U.S. obesity rate is nearly double the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) standards.

For American employers, providing useful healthcare coverage is essential in keeping employees well. But it comes at a cost — especially for unhealthy employees who continue to develop more chronic health concerns — and that cost isn’t getting cheaper. Adding more fuel to the fire is the fact that starting April 1, about 15 million people will lose Medicaid coverage, with many switching to employer-based plans instead.

If you provide health insurance to workers or just want to see them generally healthy, this post is for you.

Here’s a look at important recent health news and ways for employers to keep healthcare costs down while also encouraging workers to stay healthy.

What is work-life balance?

Ask each of your employees and you’ll likely get similar answers. For every person, what they feel they need to prioritize at work and home is personal. And it will always change.

But one thing that doesn’t change is the importance of ensuring harmony in one’s personal and professional life. Keeping a healthy balance (and love of) work and life activities are essential to good health, happiness, and strong relationships. Without a delicate balance in each area, stress, overwhelm, and burnout can take even the best employees down.

Here we dive into the question of “What is work-life balance?” and the benefits of making an effort to keep both work and life in equilibrium.

When was the last time you reviewed your company’s bereavement leave policy?

If your company is invested in providing better mental health resources, updating that essential policy is a great start. Grief is often heavy and can cause a variety of mental health concerns for workers — everything from fatigue to depression and even anxiety attacks.

Sadly, our culture lacks a standard for dealing with workers who experience a painful loss. One of the most challenging aspects of grief is getting back to a normal routine, including work. If an employee is unable to properly grieve and is forced right back into work, it can create an unhealthy mental state.

Consider this a grief-in-the-workplace guide for managers to build a better and stronger bereavement leave policy that supports employees in the best way. You’ll find insights into what grief looks like and wisdom from grief expert Michelle Cramer, author of Unshattered Grief who is also an Advanced Certified Grief Recovery Method Specialist.

How often do you think about how powerful your thoughts are?

Your thoughts have the power to make you feel energized or drain you. They also have the power to influence your mood and how you perceive the world.

Just like muscles, your mental health needs exercise, too. During stressful times — like the flailing economy, lay-offs, and more — thought exercises can be helpful in keeping you grounded. These simple mental health activities can help you better cope with life’s challenges, too.

If you need to break your negative thinking loop, this post is for you.

Below, learn what thought exercises are, how they can benefit anyone, and ways to boost mental health through exercises.

February 4 is World Cancer Day.

While the C-word might be scary to talk about, raising awareness about cancer screenings and ways to stay healthy are important in the workplace.

These valuable discussions aren’t limited to just one day in February, either. Every month has an awareness day or the full month focused on specific cancers, further opening the door for discussion.

Below, discover easy ways employers can promote awareness among employees and essential facts to share when it comes to cancer.

How should employers promote nutrition in the workplace?

If you’ve been wondering where nutrition in the workplace fits into your overall wellness plan, just knowing it belongs there is a start.

While you can’t force workers into eating healthily, there are simple ways to promote nutrition and healthy food choices in the workplace. Employees who feed their bodies nutrient-dense foods are more likely to be productive, stay healthy, and have higher levels of efficiency.

Whether you’re sharing weekly recipes and nutrition tips from a reputable source, or simply overhauling the vending machines, every action counts.

Below we dive into how diet impacts workers' health and performance, the benefits of promoting nutrition at work, and just how to do it.

When was the last time you thought about employee satisfaction?

If you have a solid team that regularly produces high-quality work, you may take for granted that leadership still needs to make an effort to ensure workplace happiness. One of the top ways to get honest feedback from employees is to keep it anonymous.

“Most employees are afraid they'll be reprimanded or put on watch if they voice their opinions, so they tend to lie,” says Christa Reed, head of job market research at JobSearcher, a job search website. “But an anonymous survey protects their identities, so they're more open to being honest.”

Below, learn more about conducting employee satisfaction surveys, the right questions to ask, and expert insight on ways to get valuable feedback.

The nagging cough after COVID…just how long does it last?

A dry cough is one of the most common COVID symptoms that patients complain of upon infection. The COVID virus is here to stay, and, unfortunately, so are many of its lasting side effects, including a chronic cough.

This post will share what you need to know about that annoying COVID cough  and how long the cough may last after infection — plus you’ll get useful tips to help soothe your throat.

How good are you at mindful listening? 

As a leader, are you listening to your employees' needs — like really listening?

If not, you may be finding yourself on the other end of resentment, receiving lazy work, and even employees who are looking at quitting. With so many distractions in our lives, it’s easy to try to multitask while talking to someone. That’s where mindful listening comes into play.

This post will cover what mindful listening is, the benefits of using it in the workplace, and tips for how to practice it.