A curated collection of can’t-miss news from this week, including 2021 wellness trends and more. Sign up to get the TURNER Weekly Download in your inbox.
The pandemic wasn’t just a threat to our physical health. It also was a threat to our mental health. That’s why wellness is now a key factor in office culture. “An office that fosters wellbeing will also be good for mental health and engagement,” writes Forbes’ Tracy Brower. “For this reason, overall wellbeing has become a primary concern for employees and employers.” She recommends providing access to daylight and views, biophilic or natural elements or wellness rooms for obtaining emotional support or time away.
Many of us could use a fresh start, wellness-wise, in 2021. To help, the New York Times recently kicked off the Fresh Start Challenge, a 10-day wellness-boosting journey. Day 1 encourages you to ask yourself: How are you, really? “Find a word that describes exactly what you’re feeling. Unsettled? Energetic? Delighted? Frazzled? (Avoid standard answers like ‘good,’ ‘fine,’ or ‘OK.’) Emotions are brain messengers, and studies show that regularly labeling your emotions and creating a ‘feeling vocabulary’ is good for your health.
Apple has enhanced its personal health offerings by introducing secure sharing and new insights. The tech giant announced that iOS 15, iPhone and Apple Watch users can now share health data with loved ones or a care network, view Trends, and measure their Walking Steadiness. “We’ve added powerful features that give users the most comprehensive set of insights to better understand their health trends over time,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. “Many people around the world are caring for someone, and we want to provide a secure and private way for users to have a trusted partner on their health journey.”
One positive outcome of the last year is that more people are feeling welcome in the fitness world, writes CNN’s Lisa Respers France. “In the past, I didn't feel comfortable going to a yoga or Pilates class or even walking on a treadmill in public,” she says. “It wasn't just because of my weight. I often didn't see people who looked like me, and I didn't always feel welcomed in some gyms.” Now, with increased virtual options, she’s more comfortable discovering her own version of wellness.