You know that thing where you wake up and immediately grab your phone? Yeah, me too. Before I even brush my teeth, I'm already three Instagram stories deep and wondering how I got there.
Here's what's wild—companies are making over $100 billion a year just from keeping us hooked on our screens. They've figured out exactly how to grab our attention and hold onto it. And honestly? It's working.
But while they're getting rich, we're getting... well, kind of miserable. All that scrolling and checking messages is messing with our memory and focus. Plus, studies show that social media use is making us more stressed, lonely, and likely to make bad health choices. Not exactly what we signed up for, right?
The numbers are pretty eye-opening. More than half of people say they're burned out at work, and only 58% feel okay talking about mental health at their job. Meanwhile, 64% of companies are finally waking up and realizing they need to do something about employee wellness in 2025.
So here's a crazy idea: What if we just... stopped letting apps decide how we spend our time? What if instead of mindlessly scrolling, we actually moved our bodies? I'm talking about real movement—stretching between Zoom calls, taking the stairs, doing something active with your coworkers.
That's the whole point of our new +Health Challenges. They're not another thing to stress about or add to your endless to-do list. They're actually designed to help you and your team break out of that scroll-and-sit cycle. Think of them as little pockets of sanity in your day—ways to connect with your teammates while actually taking care of yourself.
Look, changing your life doesn't have to be this huge dramatic thing. Sometimes it's as simple as deciding to move with purpose instead of just moving through the motions. Your team is probably ready for this—they just need someone to make the first move.
This newsletter dives into how moving in-between our busy lives really improves overall mental health. If you have any solutions that work for you, please reach out and let me know.
Talk soon, Yon Hardisty
In this issue:
Intentionally Actioning:
Your Health
Don't Miss:
Wellness Wednesday's
Promoting Diversity in the Workplace:
How to Respect Differences and Build Community
Plot Twist:
June Isn't Mental Health Month (But Let's Talk About It Anyway)
Watch Our Latest Webinar
Understanding Mental Health Together
Watch our recent webinar with Marco Ansaldo, a Wellness & Compliance Advisor, who dives into the keys of understanding mental health, mental illness, when and how to ask for help, and how to support those suffering with mental health.
This recent webinar provided essential information for tackling these critical topics. The in-depth session equipped attendees with the knowledge needed to address these important issues effectively.
The Secret Sauce of Starting Strong: Why Your 20/30/40/50-Something Self Will Thank You Later
Let's be honest – when you're young, invincible, and running on a steady diet of optimism and questionable takeout choices, the idea of "intentionally actioning your health" might sound about as appealing as watching paint dry. But here's the plot twist: starting healthy routines in your younger years isn't just about looking good in photos (though that's a nice bonus). It's about building the foundation for a brain that stays sharp, a body that cooperates with your ambitions, and a future self who won't spend their golden years wondering why they didn't listen to that annoyingly wise newsletter they read decades ago. Think of it as making deposits in your health savings account – except instead of earning interest, you're earning the ability to remember where you put your keys and actually enjoy hiking without sounding like a broken accordion.
The beautiful truth about our bodies is that they're remarkably adaptable learning machines, especially when we're young. Starting healthy routines early creates neural pathways and physical habits that become as automatic as brushing your teeth (hopefully that's already automatic for you). When you establish regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and stress management in your twenties and thirties, you're essentially programming your body's default settings for success. Your cardiovascular system learns to be efficient, your muscles maintain their strength and flexibility, and your bones bank calcium like they're preparing for a mineral apocalypse. Plus, let's face it – it's infinitely easier to maintain good habits than to break decades of bad ones while simultaneously battling a slower metabolism and creaky joints that sound like they're auditioning for a horror movie soundtrack.
Now, here's where things get really exciting – and by exciting, I mean "scientifically mind-blowing in a way that makes you want to immediately lace up your sneakers." Recent research is revealing that the connection between physical activity and mental clarity isn't just a feel-good myth your gym teacher made up. Moderate-intensity exercise can help improve your thinking and memory in just six months, according to recent Harvard research. A groundbreaking 2025 mega-study found that physical activity improves general cognition, memory, and executive function in both healthy and clinical populations, reinforcing its value for mental sharpness at any age. The research is particularly encouraging for younger folks: "For children and teens, exercise was especially beneficial for developing memory, while for people with ADHD, it helped improve focus, reduce impulsivity, and enhance executive function." Essentially, your daily jog isn't just sculpting your calves – it's literally rewiring your brain for peak performance.
The mental health benefits are equally impressive and, frankly, something we all need to hear more about in our stress-saturated world. Exercise acts like a natural antidepressant, anxiety reducer, and stress-buster all rolled into one convenient, side-effect-free package. When you move your body regularly, you're triggering the release of endorphins (nature's happy pills), reducing cortisol levels (the stress hormone that makes you feel like you're constantly being chased by invisible tigers), and increasing the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which is basically miracle grow for your neurons. The research consistently shows that people who exercise regularly report better mood regulation, improved sleep quality, and enhanced resilience to life's inevitable curveballs. It's like having a built-in emotional support system that never judges you for crying during commercials or eating cereal for dinner.
So here's your gentle nudge (okay, maybe a slightly firm push) toward intentionally actioning your health: start where you are, with what you have, right now. You don't need a gym membership that costs more than your rent or equipment that looks like it belongs in a NASA training facility. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park farther away from store entrances, dance while cooking dinner, or simply commit to a 10-minute walk after lunch. Remember, the best exercise routine is the one you'll actually stick with, not the one that looks impressive on Instagram. Your future self – the one with sharp mental clarity, emotional resilience, and the energy to chase grandchildren (or grand-puppies) – is counting on the choices you make today. And trust me, they're going to be absolutely thrilled that you decided to be intentional about your health while you still thought 30 was "old" and complained about your back after sleeping wrong. No matter your age, start small, stay consistent, and watch as your intentional actions compound into a lifetime of vitality. Stay resilient so that your brain, body, and future self will send you thank-you cards.
P.S - Healthtek has recently released it's brand new +Health Challenges app for Android and iPhone. Make sure you take a look since right now, you can download it for FREE by scanning the QR code or pressing Get the App.
Don't Miss!
Wellness Wednesday's
Where
Twitch
When
Every Wednesday at 9 AM PT
Connect
Online (Twitch)
With Counselor
Bev
Join us at 9:00 A.M. PT for Wellness Wednesday, where we help individuals cultivate mindfulness, relaxation, and focus. It's free to join, and we encourage everyone to offer this opportunity to your clients.
A diverse and inclusive workplace is one where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute. Diversity goes beyond visible traits — it includes a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, such as race, culture, gender, age, religion, ability, and more. When organizations prioritize inclusivity, they create an environment where collaboration thrives, creativity grows, and all employees have the opportunity to succeed.
Plot Twist: June Wasn't Mental Health Month (But Let's Talk About It Anyway)
Why Your Calendar Confusion Might Actually Be the Perfect Mental Health Moment
Okay, let's address the elephant in the room – the one wearing a tiny calendar hat and looking slightly embarrassed. If you're reading this thinking "Wait, isn't Mental Health Awareness Month in May?" then congratulations, you've been paying attention! Mental Health Awareness Month was indeed established in 1949 and is officially observed in May. But here's the thing about mental health: it doesn't check your calendar before deciding to show up. Whether it's January blues, March madness (the emotional kind, not the basketball kind), or June jitters, your mental wellbeing deserves attention 365 days a year. Plus, if we're being honest, most of us missed half of May's mental health messaging anyway because we were too busy trying to remember if we watered our plants or just dreamed about watering our plants.
June does have its own special mental health focus, though – it's Men's Mental Health Month, dedicated specifically to breaking the silence around men's mental health struggles and encouraging conversations that have been overdue for, oh, about a century or two. And frankly, this timing couldn't be more perfect. June is when summer officially kicks in, school lets out, vacation planning reaches fever pitch, and suddenly everyone's Instagram feed looks like a highlight reel of perfect beach bodies and exotic adventures. If that doesn't trigger some mental health conversations, I don't know what will. It's like the universe is saying, "Hey, remember when you thought you'd have your life together by summer? Let's talk about that." June becomes the ideal time to check in with ourselves and others, especially when the pressure to be "summer ready" starts making our inner critic sound like a particularly harsh personal trainer.
The beautiful irony of calendar confusion is that it perfectly illustrates how we approach mental health – we think it belongs in neat, designated boxes, like a doctor's appointment or oil change reminder. "Oh right, it's Mental Health Month, better post an inspirational quote and call it good until next year!" But mental wellness is more like that friend who shows up unannounced – sometimes welcome, sometimes inconvenient, but always deserving of attention. The truth is, every month should be mental health month, just like every day should be "remember to drink water" day and "don't leave your coffee on the car roof" day. We don't need official permission from the awareness month committee to prioritize our emotional wellbeing or have conversations about the state of our inner world.
June's unique position as the gateway to summer makes it an unexpectedly perfect time for mental health awareness. This is when seasonal depression lifts for some but kicks in for others (hello, reverse seasonal affective disorder), when social anxiety spikes due to beach trips and barbecues, and when the pressure to be perpetually fun and sun-kissed can feel overwhelming. It's also when many people have more free time to actually reflect on their mental state instead of being buried under work deadlines and winter survival mode. Summer's slower pace can be both a blessing and a curse – suddenly you have time to think, which means you also have time to overthink, worry about that weird thing you said three years ago, and wonder why everyone else seems to be having more fun than you are.
So whether you stumbled upon this newsletter article thinking June was officially Mental Health Month or you're just someone who believes mental health deserves year-round attention (gold star for you), let's make June our unofficial mental health check-in month. Use this time to schedule that therapy appointment you've been postponing, have honest conversations with friends about how you're really doing, practice saying "no" to summer plans that drain your energy, and remember that taking care of your mind is just as important as remembering to reapply sunscreen. Your mental health doesn't need a designated month to matter – it just needs you to show up for it, calendar confusion and all. And hey, if you want to celebrate mental health awareness in June, July, and every month in between, I think that's exactly the kind of rebellious self-care energy we need more of in this world.
We all need to recognize how mental health impacts our lives.
If you've found a place or method that promotes mental health year round, please let me know.
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