What does it take to be well? In one Gallup study, scientists surveyed people in over 150 countries, posing hundreds of questions about health, wealth, relationships, jobs, and communities. Through their research, they uncovered six key dimensions of wellbeing: physical, emotional, social, financial, career, and community wellbeing. 
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I now see a new one emerging: “stability wellbeing” – something that up until now, many of us (myself included) have taken for granted.

This past weekend, I went to a party and two friends (both named Brian) enthusiastically talked up their respective devices, a Garmin watch for one and a glucose monitor for the other.
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“When I drink,” my Garmin watch-wearing friend (Brian 1) explained, “You should see what happens to my heart rate variability during the night – and how it disrupts my sleep. It’s crazy!” 

The “new year, new you” mindset usually only rings true for the first few weeks of January before our often well-intended resolutions are pushed aside for the all too familiar. We need to dig deeper into what will work for our personal wellbeing. So, what questions can we ask to help us actually end the year a little healthier, a little happier, and a little better?

Here are four must-ask questions to kickstart your wellness journey:

What a year it has been, and I am so grateful for the community of like-minded people who, like me, are dedicated to finding meaningful ways to support wellbeing for all. In my conversations this year, and in particular with my rockstar LinkedIn Live guests, here are 12 lessons I’m taking with me from 2024.

Most people assume that it’s senior leaders who make the difference. We hear: It starts from the top. Sure—senior leaders are the ones with the greatest control over resources, company-wide policies, and overall tone. And to be sure—having this top-level endorsement makes a big difference. 

But why do most wellbeing initiatives fail, even those that start from the top? Short answer: With few exceptions, the burden gets shifted to the bottom —the individual employee. 

But, what if there's another way?

Workplace wellbeing has come a long way. What used to be little more than an assortment of health risk assessments, gym memberships, and walking challenges has blossomed into an array of multidimensional offerings. 

Employers are investing heavily in workplace wellness programs, with 70% of organizations identifying employee wellbeing and mental health as a top priority, according to a recent McKinsey Health Research Institute survey. 

And yet…. Employees are less healthy, and they are more stressed than ever before.

​Why? 

Gallup just released its 2024 State of the Global Workplace report, and its findings are both humbling and hopeful. Humbling in the fact that we’ve got a long way to go. Rates of engagement are still low (only a third of the global workforce is engaged), but hopeful in the fact that organizations can move the needle. 

Here’s how they can: Create cultures of care. When organizations do, employees experience higher levels of wellbeing — and achieve higher levels of performance. And, big surprise — ​ who plays the biggest role in creating these cultures of care? You guessed it! Managers! Just as I’ve been sharing for a long time: Managers really do hold the key in creating a positive experience at work. 

Let’s dive into three critical insights for managers:

Did you know that June is Employee Wellness Month?

It's the perfect time to prioritize employee wellness across six key domains of wellbeing: physical, emotional, social, financial, career, and community.

Here are five ideas pulled directly from our June 2024 Employee Wellness Calendar that you can use to support employee wellbeing. [Grab the full calendar here.]
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​We all know we need to move more to be healthier, happier (one of the best things you can do to reduce stress) and even smarter (one of the best things you can do for your brain!)! And, yet - too often, we tell ourselves, "I'd love to move more, but I don't have enough time." Good news. I'm here to tell you that you always have time if you keep in mind two simple terms: EAT and NEAT. 

What do they mean, and what's the difference?