As we near the end of another year, we tend to focus on what’s to come. As is true in the health and wellness world, every year brings new discoveries, movements, research and ideas. Let’s take a look backward and remember some of the major health events of 2014.

The holidays are a time for family, friends, fun and food. With those can come stress, weight gain, illness and even injury. To avoid these holiday hazards and remain healthy throughout the happiest time of the year, take our advice below! 

Your contractor wouldn’t remodel your house without consulting you. Your hairdresser wouldn’t cut without asking what style you want. Your doctor wouldn’t treat you without discussing your symptoms. So why would you build your wellness program without feedback from your employees?

The best way to learn is to check out how others have been successful. A recent report by the CEO Council on Health and Innovation gave us a sneak peek into the wellness programs of some of the top U.S. companies. Here are five ways these big-name companies promote workplace health.

The holiday season is traditionally a time for showing employees appreciation; office parties, small gifts, and even bonuses are common expressions of gratitude. This season, forget the typical gift baskets and humdrum fruitcake and consider a gift that promotes health.

When was the last time you gave your culture a checkup? Are your policies and environment supporting or hindering those who are trying to embrace a healthy lifestyle? Culture audits are extremely valuable to assess where your company is on its path to wellness and what your potential barriers may be.

Lately, there's been quite the buzz about employer-sponsored wellness programs, particularly in light of the EEOC's legal tussle with Honeywell. With various concerns floating around, we thought it'd be fun to give you a peek at both sides of the coin.

A Little Background

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a suit in October against large corporate employer Honeywell. The EEOC raised concerns in its suit regarding the wellness program and linked insurance incentives at Honeywell.

A 2005 study in the Creativity Research Journal revealed a link between moderate aerobic exercise and increased mental function, primarily an increase in cognitive creativity. Possibly the most fascinating element was not only that exercise increased creativity, but that the effects were both immediate and sustained over time. The report found that two hours after a moderate aerobic exercise, creativity was effectively experiencing the same benefits as immediately following the exercise.

According to the World Health Organization, as many as 450 million people worldwide suffer from a mental or behavioral disorder, and the average costs for employees with depression may be 4.2 times higher than those incurred by a typical employee. Mental health issues such as depression can lead to other health problems and snowball into a hefty chunk of change, both for you and your employee.

As a busy wellness professional, it’s easy to get caught up in daily tasks and lose focus of what is really important. When you lose focus, you may become uninspired and complacent. You are not alone. With many wellness initiatives achieving less than 20% participation, your program may be struggling to engage and inspire employees. But does that mean once something is said to be six feet under, it can't rise again?