Uncategorized

World Happiness Report Released – “Denmark Ranks as Happiest Country; Burundi, Not So Much” – The New York Times, 3.17.16

The fourth World Happiness Report was released last week, and Denmark has reclaimed its place as the world’s happiest country, while Burundi ranks last. This year’s report finds that “inequality is strongly associated with unhappiness — a stark finding for rich countries like the United States, where rising disparities in income, wealth, health and well-being have fueled political discontent.” The world happiness leaders: Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia and Sweden. All are nations with strong safety nets and more homogenous populations.

In the wake of the Global Wellness Institute’s recent report, a hot issue to watch is how workplace wellness programs are going to evolve in the foreseeable future. And a big question, and new research ponders, what works better – penalties or rewards – carrots or sticks? Do humans respond better to losses or gains?  

The second-annual Global Wellness Day, the brainchild of Belgin Aksoy (creative director, Richmond International), will be celebrated worldwide this year on June 11. This very special day, which brings together exercise, healthy eating and inner peace/happiness at a series of public events (at spas, hotels, fitness studios, public parks, etc.) recently became a GWI Initiative. Global Wellness Day was an amazing success in 2015, and will blossom further this year as its being celebrated in 100 countries at 1,000 locations with 70 official Ambassadors across all continents.

“Harvard Researchers Discovered the One Thing Everyone Needs for Happier, Healthier Lives”
– The Washington Post, March 2, 2016
(Hint: It’s close, intimate relationships)

Waldinger, a Harvard psychiatrist in charge of the Grant Study (it began in 1938 – the longest study of human development) presents its conclusion: the happiest and healthiest participants were the ones who maintained close, intimate relationships. It is that simple! By contrast, commercial projection of a good life – wealth, fame, career success – won’t bring health or happiness (contains a TED video presentation).

On Feb. 17, at a very unique press event in Manhattan, the GWI released two related pieces of research on workplace wellness. 

1) “The Future of Workplace Wellness” (an 80-page report) analyzes everything from the realities of the increasingly unhealthy, aging, stressed global workforce to the state of workplace wellness programs worldwide. The report includes predictions on how both work itself, and workplace wellness strategies, will change radically in the future.