5 Ways to Start Your Year Off Right

Like many other people, you may be thinking about what you would like to accomplish in 2021 or what life changes you could make. Common New Year’s resolutions include losing weight, exercising, getting organized, learning new skills and saving money.

To achieve your resolutions, try the following strategies:

• • Set a goal that motivates you.
• • Set a goal that is specific.
• • Set a goal that is manageable or attainable.
• • Write down your goals to establish intention.
• • Share your goals with others to increase accountability.

Ready, Set, Go!

2020 has likely given you time to reflect and think about what you’d like to change about your lifestyle. This is a good time to make positive life changes and strive for an overall healthier self. Consider the following five tips to start the new year off right:

1. Check in on your mental health. Mental health is just as important as physical health in building a healthy lifestyle. Reach out to a professional if you need help.

2. Be social. Isolating during the COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t have to mean loneliness. Reconnect with others virtually or while practicing social distancing.

3. Get regular checkups. Stay up to date on your annual physicals and necessary health tests. Screenings can help identify health issues to be addressed.

4. Drink more water. Consuming sugary drinks, like juice or soda, can cause liver damage, premature aging and anxiety. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption as well.

5. Count nutrients, not calories. Focus on improving the overall quality of your diet and not getting hung up on calories. Achieve this by adding more fiber, protein and probiotics to your diet.

If you do just one thing in 2021, consider making time for yourself. Identify the activities that make you happy or fulfilled and prioritize them. Talk to your doctor or mental health professional for guidance and support with lifestyle changes. Read More

At the end of the calendar year, workplace holiday celebrations are experiences that many employees look forward to. However, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations are evaluating how to engage employees safely this holiday season. Leaders find themselves tasked with deciding whether they should cancel or postpone celebrations, or offer an amended version that prioritizes safety—with many choosing to offer a virtual holiday party.

Considerations for Employers

Holiday celebrations can positively impact employee engagement, but benefits should be weighed against other factors such as financial costs and concerns over safety. For employers choosing to offer a celebration, an event can be comprised of a variety of activities—with many options that can take place virtually. These include a:

• Secret Santa gift exchange
• Gingerbread house contest
•  Online escape room
• Trivia contest
• Ugly sweater contest
• Holiday karaoke
• Online escape room

• When hosting a holiday event, employers should make sure to follow best practices, such as:

  • • Keeping attendance optional
  • • Keeping events general rather than religious celebrations
  • • Ensuring employees are aware of policies and expected behaviors

  There are a variety of ways that leaders can recognize employees this holiday season, and employers should consider which initiatives are appropriate for their workplace. For additional employee engagement resources, contact Deutsch & Associates, LLC Read More

‘Tis the season for holiday planning. Yet, gatherings of families and friends, crowded parties and travel may put Americans at an increased risk for COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you carefully consider the spread risk of in-person holiday celebrations.

Several factors contribute to COVID-19 spreading in group settings. Those include community spread of the coronavirus, event location, event duration, quantity of attendees and the locations where attendees are coming from. It’s also important to consider attendees’ behavior both prior to the gathering and during the celebration.

Before a Gathering

If you choose to attend an in-person event, consider the following tips prior to the gathering:

• • Check whether the host has steps in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
• • Bring along supplies like extra masks, tissues and alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• • Avoid contact with people outside of your household for 14 days before the gathering.

• Also, it’s important to stay home if you do not feel well or are at a higher risk for serious complications from COVID-19.

  During a Gathering

  Consider the following tips from the CDC to reduce your risk of being exposed to, contracting or spreading COVID-19 during an in-person event:

  • • Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from people you don’t live with—and be mindful in areas where it may be harder to do so, such as restrooms and eating areas.
  • • Wear a mask at all times when around people who don’t live in your household.
  • • Limit contact with commonly touched surfaces or shared items.
  • • Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

  If you want to celebrate the holidays as safely as possible this year, consider celebrating virtually or with members of your own household. Read More