Someone at work ever tell you they’ve “got a case of the Mondays”? Well having low energy at the office is something many of us go through at some point – and the solution is to take a break – and take a lot of them!

Your boss might find taking too many breaks as a negative, but a new study shows that “microbreaks” can help boost performance – helping us bounce back from morning fatigue and improving your skillset in the afternoon.

Microbreaks are just that – micro – five minutes is usually enough – and it shouldn’t be scheduled; it’s in your employers best interest to let you take it when you need to to help manage energy and work productivity throughout the day.

A microbreak can be a snack, a chat with a coworker, some light stretching – even a crossword puzzle – and the more tired you are at the beginning of the day – say, after a poor night’s sleep – employees that took more microbreaks were able to maintain their energy as the day went on.

Researchers also found if employees believed their employers cared about their workforce, then they’re more likely to take these breaks – they felt more empowered, and it was ultimately good for both the employer and the employee.

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When it comes to prioritizing health, it won’t just make you feel better, but it came make you look better as well. And there’s an easy way to do that without the gym – just be more thoughtful to others.

It’s not philosophy – it’s science – being compassionate affects the aging process.

There’s something in our DNA called telomeres which decrease as we get older and causes us to age – but scientists say those who are compassionate, loving, and empathetic have telomeres that stay stronger longer.

So even if you’re coworkers annoy you, be more patient and you’ll end up looking younger!

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Believe it or not, just because we’ve had some cooler temps, this is the most dangerous time to be outside since it’s the worst time of year for sunburns.

Despite not going to the beach, you have the best chance of getting a bad burn because the sun’s angle is the same as it is in late August. And since it isn’t too hot, we’re less likely to cover up and wear sunblock. That’s part of the reason why May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

So, make sure you keep that in mind when being outside – especially if you’re fair-haired or have skin that burns easily. But prevention is always best, so try to find shade or stay inside between 10am and 2pm, use sunglasses and wear a hat, and put on sunblock before you step outside – as long as it’s 30 SPF or higher.

Do that, and you’ll have a healthy spring!

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Did you get a poor night’s sleep last night? The best way to recover – tell yourself you didn’t!

A new study found how much our mood can be affected. And after a bad night’s sleep, just thinking you had a good one might benefit you more than if you did!

Researchers looked at sleep patterns to compare how restful sleep was compared to the mood of the participants. And if they simply thought they had a good night’s sleep, they were more likely to be in a good mood. If they thought they didn’t, then they’d be more likely to be in a bad mood.

But since you know whether you did, you can still use this trick. Especially if you wear a sleep tracker and it tells you that you had a better sleep than you initially thought.

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You know you’re not supposed to just sit around all day – but being on your feet is impractical. What’s the right balance?

Experts now have the answer! A new study found the exact time we should sit, stand, sleep, and exercise each day. And there’s plenty of time to relax, but we probably are doing too much of that already.

Here’s the perfect balance:

When it comes to sleeping, 8 hours and 20 minutes is what you want to strive for.

Sitting – 6 to 7 hours total. And for many who sit behind a desk and have a long commute to work, you’re probably doing way more than that.

Standing should be about 5 hours – and that also applies to walking around, not exercising.

When it comes to exercise, it’s 4 hours – that’s physical activity, and half can be light activity like household chores, the other half actual exercise.

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