Blog - Page 3 of 8 Wellness Society

Leadership Dilemma: Do Employees Want More Autonomy Than Ever?

Posted on February 26, 2023November 25, 2023 by Alison Jones

The COVID behavioral experiment is one that will certainly be analyzed for years to come. Although it was not conducted intentionally, individual responses to COVID have become a laboratory for studies and observations on human behavior, interactions, personality traits, and societal norms.

As a student of psychology and an organizational development coach, I am doubly intrigued by human behavior and how it exhibits itself in the workplace, especially after a defining event with the magnitude of COVID. In this blog, I’d like to focus on the impact COVID has had on the human need for autonomy in the workplace. Next week I’ll cover some suggestions for what managers can do to recognize this need and to respond appropriately in the workplace.

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Got the Home Office Blues? Five Tips to Restore Your Sanity

Posted on February 10, 2023November 25, 2023 by Alison Jones

In January 2022, 60 Minutes aired an interview on the rise of telework. During this interview, Karin Kimbrough, LinkedIn’s chief economist, provided a startling statistic: one in seven jobs is now remote. Even more startling? This ratio was 1 in 67 pre-COVID pandemic.

In case there was any doubt, telework is here to stay.

I’ve worked exclusively from a home office for over 25 years. When I began back in 1997, it felt very risky. The internet was just taking off, and technology was nowhere near what it is today. I didn’t even have a cell phone. On top of that, I was leaving my very secure, very traditional job at the Department of Justice in Washington D.C. to work for a company with no office space and a landline as my primary form of communication. Part of me wondered what I was thinking.

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Five Simple Stress Busters

Posted on June 19, 2022November 25, 2023 by Alison Jones

In my last blog, I discussed some of the science behind stress. We all know that stress can take its toll on our physical and mental well-being. Research continues to probe the ways stress is linked to disease and can shorten our life span. And it can certainly make our remaining years less enjoyable.

So what can you do about stress? Of course there are a whole slew of suggestions on wellness and time management skills to help prevent some of the stressors before they even occur. Proper nutrition, regular exercise, a solid support network, a positive mindset, and sleep are all vital. But not all stressors can be predicted or planned around. Here are some simple tips to reduce stress via physical activity and healthy eating choices when you find that you are feeling unusually anxious or ready to shut down.

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Stressed Out? The Simple Science Behind Stress

Posted on June 18, 2022November 25, 2023 by Alison Jones

Stress that is left unchecked can lead to a wide range of mental and physical health problems. We all know stress can contribute to high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and headaches, but did you know that stress has also been linked to diabetes, and some studies even suggest a possible link to cancer? Let’s take a brief look at some of the science behind stress.

What is Stress Anyway?

In a nutshell, stress is a physical, mental, or emotional reaction to change. This often occurs when we believe a situation is “too much” and is endangering our well-being. At the heart of all stress is the feeling of a loss of personal control – even if the change is a positive one. Continue reading “Stressed Out? The Simple Science Behind Stress” →

Living Out of an Abundance of Abundance

Posted on August 21, 2021August 22, 2021 by Alison Jones

We’ve all heard the phrase “out of an abundance of caution.” Lately, out of an abundance of caution, we’ve worn masks, closed schools, socially distanced, reduced capacity, locked ourselves down.

I’m not here to debate the necessity of any of this. I’m here to pose a question:

Are you living your life out of an abundance of caution?

Were you essentially wearing a mask and hiding indoors before COVID ever hit? Out of an abundance of caution, have you decided that unseen and safe are better than seen and exposed?

This isn’t about common sense safety – wearing a seatbelt, locking a door – or sound decision-making – weighing pros and cons, doing research, vetting an idea. And I’m not talking about personal preferences, like whether to skydive (no, thank you) or invest in high-risk stocks.

Keep reading!