New research enabled by giant data sets shows that the effects of air pollution are probably twice as bad as previously estimated. Air pollution also exposes people to a greater risk of catching COVID-19 and dying from it. In the US alone, quantifying the benefits of air quality through avoided deaths, avoided healthcare spending, and the concomitant increase in labor productivity would lead to $700…
Funding for mental health-focused startups rises in 2020–TechCrunch, August 26, 2020 This is a summary of research group CB Insights’ recent analysis of venture capital funding trends for wellness-focused start-ups. While in the tough economic climate of the pandemic, sleep and fitness tech saw fewer deals and dollars in the first half of 2020 than they did at the same time last year, one sector…
“In these unusual and trying times, it is perhaps more important than ever to remember the profound benefits of movement. Making a concerted effort to live a life that includes physical activity is challenging, but the rewards of doing so unlocks a multitude of benefits that can help individuals and communities live healthier, happier lives.” —Josh McCarter, CEO, Mindbody As we touched on in an…
Entrepreneurial life has been great preparation for our current pandemic lifestyle. By Sandy Abrams, author and wellness entrepreneur By default, you’ve become the C.E.O. of your household, your kids’ schooling, a new remote work life, foraging for toilet paper and hand sanitizer and whatever else that may currently have fallen into your lap. Welcome to entrepreneurial life; where you’ve got to take charge of something…
The nagging anxieties and uncertainty caused by fear of the pandemic and its second-round effects (on employment, incomes, social and political stability) are not going away. The psychological impact of the pandemic is becoming ever more apparent. According to a recent poll, more than 50% of American adults (more than 1 in 2!) assert that COVID-19 is taking a toll on their psychological wellbeing and…
The pandemic brings many positive domino effects. Habit formation will become an important part of the economic story of COVID-19. Four to five months is long enough to get into a new routine, and it is likely that WFH (working from home), outdoor exercise, more home cooking, and many other COVID-related types of behavior will persist beyond the direct pandemic period: habits once adopted tend…
