Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul class="summary-list"><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nvidia-stock-price-jensen-huang-alphabet-amazon-magnificent-seven-charts-2024-2">Nvidia</a> CEO Jensen Huang doubled down on his vision for "AI employees" in a recent interview.</li><li>Huang said he sees AI agents in all areas, including marketing and chip design.</li></ul>Don't be surprised if your future coworker is an AI.Nvidia CEO <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nvidia-jensen-huang-chipmaker-cofounder-ceo-wealth-net-worth-ai-2023-5">Jensen Huang</a> recently talked about why he thinks we'll all be working alongside "AI employees" eventually."There's no question we're gonna have AI employees of all kinds," Huang told the podcast "No Priors" in an episode published Thursday.Huang said he sees AI employees taking on all kinds of roles, including in areas like marketing, chip design, and supply chain.He believes the AI workers will be prompted the same way as human employees are today, such as by asking them to perform a mission, providing them with context, and engaging in back-and-forth conversations.Huang is referring to a concept he's mentioned before. At a fireside chat with Wired in July, Huang <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0WxJ7caZQU">talked</a> about the concept of "digital agents" that would "augment every single job in the company."A few weeks ago, Huang shared more on the idea in an episode of the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jensen-huang-wants-nvidia-to-have-100-million-ai-assistants-2024-10">"BG2" podcast</a>. He talked about a future in which AIs will recruit other AIs to solve problems while existing in Slack channels with themselves and other humans.The Nvidia CEO said that while this will change some jobs, it will also help secure employment. Huang said companies that use AI to become more productive will likely <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-third-quarter-earnings-report-q3-2024-2024-10">see better earnings or growth</a> — and that's unlikely to lead to layoffs.While some people might think SAAS platforms would be interrupted, Huang said in his recent podcast appearance that he thinks they're "sitting on a gold mine" of "flourishing agents" that specialize in various areas, collaborate with each other, and get rented out by other companies.Huang said Nvidia would create an AI agent for Open USD and "totally imagines" chip design company Synopsys with rentable chip designers."I might rent a million Synopsis engineers to come and help me out and then go rent a million Cadence engineers to help me out," Huang said.Other CEOs have painted a similar picture of AI employees joining the workforce.Zoom CEO Eric Yuan recently used the term <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/zoom-ceo-eric-yuan-ai-digital-twins-2024-6#:~:text=Zoom%20CEO%20Eric%20Yuan%20wants%20to%20leverage%20AI%20for%20%22digital,t%20replace%20in%2Dperson%20interactions.">"digital twins" to describe AI clones that attend meetings</a> and write emails for employees so that they can do other things, like "go to the beach." Yuan said it could reduce the workweek to three or four days.Such a future may seem far away, yet Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in the company's most recent earnings call that AI is already generating 25% of the company's code, which engineers then review and accept.And while Huang argues the benefits to a company's business from AI workers would stave off layoffs, it's worth noting that cuts could still occur as companies make adjustments as the technology evolves.Klarna's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/klarna-ceo-comments-ai-smaller-marketing-team-produce-more-savings-2024-5">CEO received backlash in May after posting</a> on social media that AI let his marketing team, which is "half the size it was last year," save $10 million while accomplishing more work.

Nvidia CEO says there's 'no question' that we'll all be working alongside AI employees

<keyword id="19902762" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Google" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Google" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Google">Google</keyword> laid off thousands of employees in 2023 and many found their lives turned upside down with just an email notification. After all, when you have given your heart and soul to an organisation, it is never easy accepting the fact that you are being asked to leave at a moment’s notice. The situation becomes even more complicated when you have been with the company for more than a decade. Something similar happened with <keyword id="23300967" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nicholas-Whitaker" source="keywords">Nicholas Whitaker</keyword>, who had been working with the company since 2010 and found out about his <keyword id="20118388" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="layoff" source="keywords">layoff</keyword> abruptly. <h2>The 3 am email bringing bad news</h2>“My layoff experience was traumatic. I got an email at 3 am to my personal email, that I only found because a colleague pinged me on Linkedin in the DMs to ask if I was ‘Ok’ and if I was ‘safe’,” Whitaker told <keyword id="21390875" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Business Insider India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Business Insider India">Business Insider India</keyword> in a conversation. He added that when his colleague enquired about his safety, he thought it was a “shooting or some natural disaster.” In other words, he didn’t even imagine that he was being laid off from Google. He then revealed that when he checked his work email, he discovered that he was locked out of his laptop and phone. He then checked his personal email and there it was, the “short and impersonal email” that told him that his role at Google was being eliminated. <h2>The layoff process was uncomfortable</h2>When Google announced large-scale layoffs last year, the company made a lot of headlines for handling them in an unprofessional manner. In March 2023, several Google employees had even written an open letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, asking him to deal with layoffs in a better manner. Whitaker, narrating his own experience, shared with Business Insider India that after receiving the dreadful layoff email at 3 am, he spent the next few months completing formalities to get his payments that were due. He said, “It took all of the next several months for me to mail back my laptop, badge and any gear that I had that was Google property. (I also had to) navigate unemployment, health insurance and get all of the documentation I had to submit to "self Offboard" and to receive payments that I was supposed to get.” “Along the way there were multiple errors and miscommunications from the team that made it all even more uncomfortable,” he said. Whitaker also noted a complete lack of communication and empathy from his old team at Google. “I got a single text message from my prior manager asking how I was doing a few days after I was laid off, but otherwise no one reached out to check on me or offer assistance from my old team. Overall I found the process to be brutally impersonal and inhumane,” he said. <h2>Experience at Google</h2>But was Google always “inhumane” in his experience? Not really. There were some amazing days too and Google, according to Whitaker, was a different company when he had joined. “My initial experience working at Google was like it was a completely different company. I started as a temp, contractor and then a vendor for Google back in 2010, and at the time I think it was something like 40,000 employees. It had a real startup feel to it. Teams were agile and collaborative, and there was a lot of room for growth. It may have been specific to my team and org, but it felt like you had a lot more room for experimentation and autonomy to make decisions, and failure wasn't seen as a bad thing, but a necessary part of innovation,” he said. Whitaker also said that a “class system” was there at Google, especially since he was a TVC (Temporary, Vendor and Contractor). “As a TVC you wouldn't be included in many of the activities and learning opportunities that full time employees had, and didn't get invited to extracurricular activities. There was a real bias towards culture at the time, and words like Don't be Evil, and be Googly were often used.” However, in general, he added that the atmosphere was positive and full of possibilities. “Colleagues generally were very supportive, collaborative and encouraging to work with. I was excited as this was my first time working in big tech, or Corporate America and I saw that period of time as a real coming of age for me. I learned how to be a professional at Google and appreciated all of the early guidance and support that I got from colleagues and leaders.” <h2>Helping others</h2>It has now been over a year since Whitaker was laid off. He now has his own venture and helps other people navigate their careers. Talking about what motivated him to kick-start his own venture, he said, “After 13 years in big tech, the last few years in particular being particularly difficult due to toxic teams and leaders, I didn't want to jump right back into that kind of experience again. A year before getting laid off, I had experienced a bad <keyword id="19956983" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mental-health" source="keywords">mental health</keyword> crisis that was the result of workplace bullying, gaslighting and toxic leadership. "I wanted to help others avoid and recover from similar situations and create a community where people can find mutual support and coaching on how to best navigate their careers in a conscious way. My severance after working so long at Google allowed me to fund the launch of my coaching business, and eventually ‘changingwork.org’." <keyword id="23300968" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Changing-Work" source="keywords">Changing Work</keyword>, Whitaker explained, is his way of addressing a deep need in corporate life — helping people rediscover their sense of purpose and alignment in their careers and finding ways to build more conscious leaders and businesses. He added, “What makes this so transformative for me personally is that it allowed me to step into a role where I could integrate all the lessons from my own career—especially the parts that were hardest for me. During my time at Google, I saw firsthand how high-pressure environments can lead to burnout, anxiety, and a disconnect from our true selves.” The recent tragic death of a young CA at Ernst &amp; Young (EY) employee in India has turned the spotlight on toxic work cultures prevalent in many high-pressure industries. Broader debates on burnout, mental health struggles, and unrealistic expectations in corporate environments in the workplace have occupied social media platforms. This incident serves as a painful reminder that companies must prioritize <keyword id="21050364" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employee-well-being" source="keywords">employee well-being</keyword> and mental health to foster sustainable, humane workplaces. And makes the work that people like Whitaker are doing all the more important. “I’ve spoken publicly about how mindfulness practice, coaching and therapy literally saved my life during some of my darkest times at Google. Changing Work is the culmination of that journey. It’s not just about helping others find balance and fulfillment—it’s about creating a space where I can live those values every day,” he concludes.

Fired from Google after 13 years of service, he used his severance to build a business around helping others with their careers

Yena Kim describes her Shiba Inu, Bodhi, as her "soul dog." She hadn't planned <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/couple-travels-works-with-dog-spends-double-budget-pet-2024-8">to get a dog</a>, but when she held him for the first time 15 years ago, she knew he was special. "I truly believe that we were meant to meet," Kim, now 37, says. "He was meant to be my muse and inspiration."Ten years ago, Kim was working what she calls her dream job at Ralph Lauren when she decided to quit so she could spend more time with Bodhi. "It killed me to see his sad face as I left home for work," she says, "so I designed a new job where I can spend all day with him."<a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/mensweardog/">Menswear Dog</a> was born. The social-media brand features Bodhi modeling menswear outfits that Kim makes. For a couple of years Kim built the account on nights and weekends while working a day job as a marketing consultant so that she could afford a place in Brooklyn with a yard for Bodhi and her other dog, Luc. She even went without health insurance for a while to make sure the dogs were taken care of. (The pups always had <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cat-got-cancer-assessed-pet-insurance-2024-10">insurance</a>.) Now she earns enough from Menswear Dog to focus on it — and her dogs — full time."Bodhi and Luc have forged a path for me and with me," she says, adding that taking care of her dogs has given her an "immediate sense of purpose."She isn't the only millennial who feels this way about her pets. The generation is leading the way when it comes to pet ownership — <a target="_blank" href="https://americanpetproducts.org/industry-trends-and-stats">almost a third</a> of US pet owners are millennials. And they adore them: In an online survey of American pet owners in April, more than a third of millennial respondents said they'd turn down a higher-paying job to spend more time with their animal companions.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/remote-workers-return-to-office-reason-pets-dogs-2022-11">rise in pet ownership</a> stands in stark contrast to another recent trend: the decline in parenthood. The percentages of US women between 30 and 39 in 2022 who had never had children were the highest they'd been since at least 1976. As more millennials <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/death-of-typical-american-nuclear-family-economic-crisis-marriage-divorce-2024-3">move away from traditional family structures</a>, adopting a pet has become a new milestone. As a result, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rise-of-dogs-and-childless-adults-shaping-real-estate-urban-amenities-2024-10">millennials are increasingly spending time and money pampering their animals</a>. A MarketWatch report said pet spending increased by 67% from 2013 to 2021, and businesses including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dogue-dog-food-cafe-san-francisco-luxury-tasting-menu-photos-2022-10">dog cafés</a> and luxury cat hotels have emerged to cater to the growing demand. But pet trainers and veterinarians say excessive pampering may be leading to health and behavioral problems.A recent study published in The Lancet predicted that by 2100, more than 97% of countries and territories will have fertility rates below the levels needed to sustain their populations. Meanwhile, the number of people with pets continues to climb. In China, whose population has been shrinking, the urban pet population is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-china-city-dwellers-rather-raise-pets-than-toddlers-2024-8">expected to surpass the country's number of toddlers by 2030</a>.Hayley Kellard lives in the UK and has never had much interest in having children. The 40-year-old says she's happy being child-free — but when it comes to dogs, it's a different story. Kellard's family has always gently mocked her obsessions, joking that she likes dogs more than people, but she says she doesn't care."I say I get 'proody' instead of 'broody,' because if I see a puppy I'll just sit on the floor and let it climb all over me," she said. "I just think dogs are less demanding, they're so much fun, they're so affectionate, and they mostly don't have tantrums."Before her Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Paddy, died in May, Kellard's life revolved around him. When she suffered from anxiety and depression, he was the only thing that got her out of bed some days. In his later years, Paddy lived in her spare room, where he slept on a double bed. Kellard and her husband even stopped going on vacations abroad because Kellard didn't want to leave Paddy at home alone. Instead, they'd go to dog-friendly cottages within the country. "Even at home, we got to a point where we didn't leave him home alone," Kellard says. "So if we were eating out, we'd go somewhere dog-friendly and would always order him a doggy sausage or share some of our meal with him."It's a real adjustment finding my new sense of purpose now my life isn't revolving around Paddy," she adds. By the end of Paddy's life, Kellard says, she was spending an average of £200, or about $260, a month on him — sometimes up to £400.Across the board, more pet owners are splurging on their animals. In its annual surveys, the American Pet Products Association has found that pet owners have reported spending more on things like treats, food, toys, and clothing each year. In response, a host of boutique pet stores have popped up. In 2022, San Francisco welcomed Dogue, a "pawtisserie" serving minimally processed artisan treats like pastries and "dogguccinos." New York City is home to spots like District Dog, which makes pup-friendly birthday cakes, and Love Thy Beast, which sells custom dog apparel. Luxury pet hotels such as Chateau Poochie in Pompano Beach, Florida, cater to dogs and cats with high-end boarding services: Cats can relax in "three-tier deluxe condos" with virtual coral reefs and private powder rooms, while dogs enjoy gourmet meals, spa treatments, and round-the-clock care.Despite how much effort Kellard put into taking care of Paddy, she says she still prefers pets over children because they require much less responsibility. "You can go on holiday for a week and leave your dog with a friend or family member. You can go out for a nice meal and leave the dog at home," she says. "I generally just find dogs a lot more relaxing than children. Children seem to need a lot more attention than dogs do."While some millennial dog owners <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-parents-dinks-childfree-boomers-economy-outlook-population-growth-birthrate-2024-2">are forgoing having children</a>, others are using dogs as training for parenthood.Michael Wang, who lives in New York City with his wife, Adriene Wong, describes their corgi, Dash, as their "starter kid." For years while the couple, who are in their late 30s, were dating, Wang protested Wong's desire to get a dog. "I was scared of commitment and scared of responsibility," he said. But on the way back from their honeymoon in December 2018, Wong revealed that they'd be getting a dog in a month. "What are you going to do? Divorce me?" she asked him.When Wang saw Dash in January 2019, his heart melted. He says he realized he'd been focusing on the negatives, such as the extra cost and responsibility, while forgetting about the "extra joy" a dog would bring into their lives. They decided to get their second dog, Lili, last November, a few months before their baby was due.The couple say they learn things from their dogs "all the time" and have been able to apply some of these lessons to parenthood. Wong says Dash and Lili have taught them patience in particular. But she says that "there's a lot more that goes into raising a human being than a dog, for sure."For some, approaching dog ownership as a trial run for parenthood may be more harmful than helpful for the dogs, given that the skills required to raise them are drastically different."We are not their parents, they are wholly different species from humans, and there is a total language barrier," says Mark Van Wye, the CEO of Zoom Room, a chain of indoor dog-training gyms in the US. Treating a dog as a "fur baby" and failing to create boundaries, he tells me, can lead to them thinking they're entitled to things such as toys, food, or even a space on their owner's lap. "This can lead to aggressive behavior, especially if they feel their 'rights' are being threatened," he says. "It's like giving a kid all the candy they want and then wondering why they're bouncing off the walls." Dogs who are treated as children could also become stressed — or at least their owners are increasingly concerned about them being stressed. The American Pet Products Association found this year that the use of calming products, such as anxiety supplements, diffusers, and chews, had grown by 168% for dogs and by 174% for cats since 2018. Van Wye says that dogs that are constantly doted on or "treated like they're fragile" often struggle with anxiety when they're left at home. "They've grown so accustomed to being the center of attention that they don't know how to cope when that attention isn't there," he says, adding that this can lead to destructive behaviors like excessive barking and chewing up furniture.Dogs' physical health is also a growing concern. A 2022 survey from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention found that 59% of dogs were considered overweight or obese, a 3-point increase from 2018. Sean Prichard, the head canine fitness coach at Pant &amp; Wag, a dog fitness company, says he has noticed more people coming to him with obese dogs. He says he believes the issue stems from owners feeding their dogs as if they were children rather than sticking to proper canine nutrition. "Instead of feeding the dog on a set schedule with a set amount, I have several clients who feed their dog whenever the dog 'asks' for food, and this includes giving the dog bites of human food," he says.Dog owners can't be blamed entirely for the changing behavior. Dr. Eliza O'Callaghan, a managing veterinarian for Small Door Vet's New York City locations, told me that the pandemic had "definitely left its mark on dog behavior." She's seen the biggest shift in young dogs that spent the first couple of years of their lives constantly surrounded by their owners. "Now, as people return to the office, many of these dogs are struggling with significant separation anxiety," she says.Wong says she and Wang are "very guilty" of treating their dogs as babies. "We tuck them into bed," she says. She says that when they got Dash, she wanted him to have the "best diet," so she looked up recipes to make for him at home and bought organic ingredients and expensive chicken from Whole Foods. Wong recalled one day when Wang came home, saw her cooking, and asked what was for dinner. "I looked at him and was like, 'Well, this is for Dash,'" she says.Eventually, she realized it was too much and started buying dog food."We love them. We want what's best for them," Wang says. "Do we go overboard? Yeah, maybe sometimes. And then we'll reel it back."When I ask Kim whether she thinks she's ever gone overboard pampering Bodhi, she says the thought had never occurred to her. "I know there are people that are critical of dog parents who do 'too much' for their dog," she says. "I would urge them to take this energy and direct it towards dog parents that do too little and neglect or abuse their dogs instead."Pouring energy into pets provides a sense of companionship and purpose that has traditionally been fulfilled by children — while avoiding the lifelong financial and emotional commitment kids require. But just like with children, it's possible to go too far. And no one wants to raise a spoiled brat, human or animal.<a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/aimee-pearcy">Aimee Pearcy</a> is a freelance journalist who writes about technology and digital culture.

Millennials are raising pets instead of kids. It's not going well for the pets.

Leading financial services company <keyword id="19904855" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Wells-Fargo" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Wells Fargo" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Wells Fargo">Wells Fargo</keyword> on Thursday said it has broadened its <keyword id="21638388" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Talent-Attraction" source="keywords">talent attraction</keyword> strategy by launching the <keyword id="23053308" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Transgender-Persons-Hiring-Program" source="keywords">Transgender Persons Hiring Program</keyword> in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword>, a move that will increase <keyword id="21441079" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diverse-Representation" source="keywords">diverse representation</keyword> across levels. Building on the programme's initial pilot with its 2022 cohort of 13 individuals hired in its technology function, the company aims to train and attract additional talent across multiple lines of business in 2024. The programme aims to provide <keyword id="23053309" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Employability-Skills-Training" source="keywords">employability skills training</keyword> and <keyword id="20128844" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Professional-Development" source="keywords">professional development</keyword> for transgender talent, Wells Fargo said in a statement. "Investing in diverse communities to upskill and unlock potential and, at the same time, set up the right environment for success is a critical area of focus for Wells Fargo," said Uday Odedra, executive vice president and Region head of Wells Fargo India &amp; Philippines. In partnership with community organisation <keyword id="23053310" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PeriFerry" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="PeriFerry" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="PeriFerry">PeriFerry</keyword>, the company currently sponsors 30 transgender individuals focused on enhancing their options for employment and building a robust talent pipeline at Wells Fargo. "By offering meaningful employment and professional opportunities to transgender individuals, we are not only enhancing our workforce <keyword id="20051946" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Diversity" source="keywords">diversity</keyword> but also driving a culture of <keyword id="20074544" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Inclusion" source="keywords">inclusion</keyword> that everyone can thrive in," said Sneha Suresh, executive director, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion leader, Wells Fargo India &amp; Philippines. As part of our commitment to continually enhance the inclusive environment, Wells Fargo India conducts sensitisation and awareness sessions with community partners, such as Periferry. Wells Fargo has an active Pride Connection Employee Resource Network (ERN), advocating for LGBTQ employees, customers and allies. The Pride Connection ERN facilitates reverse mentoring, promotes visible allyship, and engages senior leadership to support all employees. They organise floor huddles, conferences, rainbow conversations and training sessions to ensure day-to-day inclusivity across the business.

Wells Fargo launches Transgender Persons Hiring Program in India

<keyword id="20345865" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Olympic-gold-medallist" source="keywords">Olympic gold medallist</keyword> <keyword id="20206037" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Abhinav-Bindra" source="keywords">Abhinav Bindra</keyword> on Friday acknowledged <keyword id="19924382" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="training" source="keywords">training</keyword> <keyword id="20430758" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-athletes" source="keywords">Indian athletes</keyword> across <keyword id="20010841" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sports" source="keywords">sports</keyword> on the aspect of mental health remains a "work in progress", while adding that benefits of the same must reach grassroots level. Bindra said mental health directly influences overall <keyword id="19896695" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="well-being" source="keywords">well-being</keyword> of an athlete and sports administrators also share equal responsibility in it. "It's an area where there is work in progress - we all acknowledge that. We are a sporting ecosystem which is developing. It is slowly maturing," he said during a virtual interaction organised by <keyword id="21556305" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mpower" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Mpower" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Mpower">Mpower</keyword> to launch AMP: A Sports Psychology Division to Elevate Athlete Performance. "This is an aspect that not just from a shooting athlete's point of view, but across the board, which needs to be prioritised. It is something which has a direct influence on the performance of the athlete. "It has a direct influence on the well-being of an athlete. <keyword id="22977441" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sports-organisations" source="keywords">Sports organisations</keyword> and everybody involved in governance has to also ensure that our athletes perform well, but their well-being is of equal importance," he added. Bindra highlighted the presence of a mental health expert with the Indian contingent in Paris <keyword id="19933819" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="olympics" source="keywords">Olympics</keyword> as a step in the right direction. "We've seen progress made even during the Olympics in Paris. It was the first time there was a mental health expert who was with the team. There (also) was somebody for sleep," he said. "There are things that are happening. But we need to keep working with intensity to make sure that this perpetuates down to the grassroot level," he added. Bindra rejected the notion that athletes today are "softer" than those in the past. "I completely disagree. If that is the notion to be believed, then the softer ones are winning more than the tougher ones because that's what our results and our history tell us," he said. Bindra revealed how a meditation course, while planning to quit shooting, helped him find "love for the process" after winning the Olympic gold in 2008. "When I did win that gold medal at the Olympics, my energy was completely drained in the sense that I was physically, emotionally (and) mentally drained. It also required a period of time to just let go and then to recharge my batteries and that wasn't easy," he said. "I decided to go on a vipassana meditation course and it was interesting because I was wanting to actually leave the sport and move on to the next calling. That was my primary drive, to find my new calling." "I had to meditate for eight nine hours a day in complete silence for 10 days and all I did in that course was to think back to my sport and think back to how I loved the process of what I was doing," he said. Bindra said he was guilty of not realising his full potential since he judged himself on outcomes of tournaments. "For far too long, perhaps, I too was guilty in putting myself worth to wear my name, equating myself worth to where my name would appear on the ranking list of a sports competition and that was very silly," he said. "I became an Olympic champion, (a) world champion, I won many many championships but I failed in achieving my fullest and truest potential and now that I have a chance to look back I would attribute that failure to this lack of balance that I had in my life as an athlete. "I did not humanise my effort enough and I think that was while it helped me achieve goals it didn't help me get to my very best ability," he added.

Abhinav Bindra says training Indian athletes on mental health issues a 'work in progress'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Gen Z is contributing to a surge in all-inclusive resort bookings.</li><li>All-inclusives offer convenience and luxury, often at a good value.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@haleymahabadi/video/7243143948183702830">Haley Mahabadi</a>, a 27-year-old who works in social media marketing, is currently traveling across southeast Asia with her husband, staying in $30-a-night rooms.But when she really wants to relax, she prefers <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-spot-bad-all-inclusive-resort-red-flags">all-inclusive resorts</a>. All-inclusives typically work by having guests pay a set price per night in advance, and once they're on the resort they can visit any bar or restaurant and order whatever they want whenever they want without additional payments."You don't have any plans. You can just do whatever you want," she told Business Insider. "I think for a true relaxation vacation, it's perfect."She's stayed at an all-inclusive that catered to college kids — with bottles of unlabeled tequila that made her feel terrible the next day — and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/africa-luxury-safari-black-rhino-game-lodge-review-2024-11">luxury all-inclusives</a> where they serve top shelf liquor and have multiple gourmet restaurants. She even got married last year at an all-inclusive in Mexico, the Finest Playa Mujeres, which can currently be booked for December at about $640 per night for two guests.In addition to the relaxation and luxurious vibes, the set payment upfront is another bonus."I think it's kind of like the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/girl-math-personal-finance-trend-goes-viral-tiktok-2023-8">girl math</a> thing, where you pay so much in advance that it feels free when you're there," she said.All-inclusive hotels and resorts are exploding in popularity, with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-increasingly-dictating-family-vacation-itinerary-2024-10">Gen Z</a> leading the trend, according to three travel advisors who told BI they've seen a surge in demand for all-inclusives.Fora, a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/luxury-travel-advisors-on-industry-popularity-career-opportunities-2024-6">travel agency</a>, said it's seen a 324% increase year-over-year in bookings across top-booked all-inclusive brands in 2024. According to a recent report from the Expedia Group, searches on Hotels.com that used the "all-inclusive" filter jumped 60% from a year prior. A survey included in the report found 42% of Gen Z respondents said an all-inclusive was their preferred hotel type, more than any other generation."A lot of people, especially led by Gen Z, are entering what we're calling their all-inclusive era," Melanie Fish, a travel expert and spokesperson at Expedia, told BI.<div type="image" title="Pool near beach" height="5792" width="8688" msid="115358641" hostid="261" sizebytes="3958862"></div>Travelers love the ease and convenience of booking an all-inclusive as well as the feeling of luxury that comes with it, often at a decent value.Plus all-inclusives have evolved. It's not just buffet lines and budget-friendly accommodations — though those options certainly still exist. Now there's plenty of five-star all-inclusives with picturesque resort grounds, complimentary spa services, and multiple restaurants run by Michelin-starred chefs, with major brands like Hyatt and Marriott also leaning into the all-inclusive game.<h2 id="1e444bf1-367c-4277-95c5-6e4b710278f8">Why Gen Z loves all-inclusives</h2>Once guests book their stays at an all-inclusive, very little additional planning is required. They can skip spending hours researching where to eat or how to get around, and instead show up, relax, order whatever they want, and enjoy all the amenities around them without having to reach for their wallet.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@_samiic/video/7436034020158246174">Samantha Cintron</a>, a 26-year-old from Orlando who works in marketing, visited her first all-inclusive resort this fall, the Atelier Playa Mujeres near Cancun, which can currently be booked for around $790 per night for two guests.Cintron and her boyfriend, who got engaged on the four-day trip, were greeted in the lobby with champagne and warm towels. The adults-only resort had 13 restaurants, 12 bars, a gym, and nonstop activities, from paddle-boarding to beach volleyball to sushi-making classes.<div type="image" title="Rooftop pool at sunset" height="5464" width="8192" msid="115358649" hostid="261" sizebytes="2380498"></div>Gen Z has also been using <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/travel-agents-back-gen-z-millennials-vacation-planning-overseas-resorts-2024-6">travel advisors</a> more than older generations, another sign they appreciate the convenience of not having to spend too much time planning their trips.Minimal stress, ease of booking, and a luxurious feeling were the top three reasons Gen Zers said they loved all-inclusives in the Expedia survey. The travel advisors said their love of luxury is in part fueled by their use of social media."I also think with social media being so big and being an integral part of their lives, many people are motivated by sharing highly curated content and ultra luxury resorts," Malley Goodwin, a luxury travel advisor at Embark Beyond, told BI.All-inclusive bookings can range in price anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars a night per person, but even higher-end all-inclusives can be a good value for your money, including food, drinks, transportation, activities, and excursions.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kids-all-inclusive-resort-made-life-easy-for-family-2024-10">All-inclusives</a> have also become popular for group trips, like bachelorette parties or multi-generational vacations that include grandparents all the way down to great-grandkids, according to A'Rielle Thomas, a travel advisor for Fora. It's an easy way to handle expenses without having to divvy up bills at every meal or keep track of who ordered what, the travel advisors said.<div type="image" title="Pool with chairs" height="3590" width="5387" msid="115358642" hostid="261" sizebytes="2239354"></div><h2 id="5b448226-08ae-41d4-971a-aed34ec4c680">Demand for all-inclusives is expected to keep rising</h2>Amy Weinberg, senior vice president of brand, loyalty, and data at Hyatt, said they continue to see a rise in demand for all-inclusives since entering the space in 2013 with Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara. Its $2.7 billion acquisition of Apple Leisure Group in 2021 made it the largest operator of luxury all-inclusive resorts worldwide. [<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2021/08/16/hyatt-spends-27-billion-to-become-worlds-largest-operator-of-luxury-all-inclusive-resorts/">source</a>] The company has some of the most popular all-inclusive brands, including Secrets Resorts and Dreams Resorts."The Inclusive Collection is a significant driver of Hyatt's business, establishing us as a leader in the all-inclusive resort industry," Weinberg said in an emailed statement to BI.Last month Hyatt announced a deal that would expand its number of all-inclusive rooms by 30%.The Marriott Cancun opened in September, making it the first all-inclusive with the Marriott brand name, catered towards families on multi-generational trips.And Hilton <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://stories.hilton.com/releases/hilton-accelerates-expansion-in-the-caribbean-and-latin-america-with-record-room-growth-in-2023-and-a-robust-pipeline-of-nearly-110-hotels">said</a> earlier this year their all-inclusive segment was a "catalyst for growth," noting its Hilton Cancun Mar Caribe All-Inclusive Resort that opened in 2023. The company <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://stories.hilton.com/2024trends-business-travel">said</a> group bookings at all-inclusives increased by double digits in the first half of 2023 compared to a year prior, driven by the family-friendly Hilton La Romana resort in the Dominican Republic.For Gen Z in particular there may be an intangible benefit of all-inclusives that will continue to drive demand."There's a lot going on in our world and Gen Z isn't worried as much about competing for who took the most off-the-beaten-path vacation or how much they stuffed in their backpack," Fish said."They want a break from all the stimulation in the world."Have a news tip or a story to share? Contact this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:kvlamis@businessinsider.com">kvlamis@businessinsider.com</a>.

Gen Z is ushering in the all-inclusive era

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Several countries have implemented, or are considering, the right to disconnect after work hours.</li><li>There are clear mental health benefits to healthy workplace boundaries.</li></ul>In the past few years, there has been a keen interest in legally giving employees the right to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/impact-of-out-of-hour-emails-employee-wellbeing-2021-7">fully log off after</a> work.Having no duty to respond or check calls and emails can be a relief for employees who feel the expectation to be constantly available for their bosses' every request.However, some workplace analysts are not convinced a blanket ban on out-of-hours communication is the key to a healthy work-life balance — and it could even backfire.<h2 id="3bf68885-efdc-4180-93d4-8c0f8a903a35">A growing global trend</h2>So far, in varying forms, at least 17 countries around the world have implemented laws to prevent bosses from contacting their employees outside of business hours.In France, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-truth-about-frances-work-email-ban-2014-4">where the trend emerged</a>, workers are under no obligation to work at home, and ignoring calls outside work hours is no grounds for discipline. In Portugal, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/portugal-digital-nomad-labor-laws-boss-cant-text-after-hours-2021-11">it has been illegal for employers to text their staff out of hours since 2021</a>.In August, Australia joined the list with a new law allowing people to ignore their boss' emails after 5 p.m. The UK may not be far behind with the Labour government's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4711jg34vo">"right to switch off" guidance</a>.Similar bills have been considered in bills considered in New York, Washington, and California.The laws have led to fines. In 2018, for instance, the French arm of UK pest-control company Rentokil had to pay €60,000 ($64,000) to a former employee for asking him to leave his phone on when he wasn't working.Elouisa Crichton, an employment partner at Dentons, an international law firm, told Business Insider that a 5 p.m. email cutoff is "a bit of a blunt instrument and arguably puts the emphasis in the wrong place.""It's more about the expectation to respond," she said.<h2 id="4a0e2a32-4da1-496d-ae2a-34294a5aa419">Mental health benefits</h2>There are clear mental health benefits to healthy workplace boundaries.A January report from Gallup, previously reported by <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/employee-engagement-productivity-remote-work-hybrid-burnout-managers-office-expectations-2024-1">BI, estimated that </a>a lack of <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/return-to-office-company-culture-how-to-improve-employee-engagment-2023-10">employee engagement</a> at work may cost the US economy nearly $2 trillion in <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/employees-back-to-the-office-what-the-data-really-says-2023-9">lost productivity each year</a>.Professor Sir Cary Cooper, a professor of organizational psychology and health at the Manchester Business School, told BI that the right to disconnect guidance is largely a way to try to fight <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/employee-engagement-productivity-remote-work-hybrid-burnout-managers-office-expectations-2024-1">burnout among employees</a>.Working on weekends and vacations is "just not healthy," Cooper said, but has become normalized, especially since working from home has become so common, and people find it harder to disconnect after the workday.Bosses also set precedents, whether they realize it or not, if they send emails at all hours, Cooper said. It doesn't matter if they tell their staff not to respond until the morning."You're going to worry them," Cooper said. "Wait until the morning."If it truly cannot wait for some reason, bosses should write the email but set a delay so that it sends the next working day."If it makes you feel better to do it on a Saturday morning to your staff, do it," Cooper said. "But don't send it."Crichton said right-to-disconnect rules are likely to draw attention to excessive workloads in some industries and lead to tribunal claims linked to work-related stress."While the code may not revolutionize workplace practices overnight, it signals growing recognition of the need for balance in the digital work environment," she said.<h2 id="be42a1d1-2336-4afd-ae0d-50d573462dbb">Keeping things flexible</h2>However, there are downsides. If <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/signs-of-toxic-workplace-how-identify-spot-interview-2024-3">a workplace is toxic</a>, a ban on evening emails would do little to help.Cooper said that when attempting to improve a company's culture, you also don't want to eliminate flexible working altogether. This is when strict laws can do more harm than good.In his work on the book "Flexible Work: Designing our Healthier Future Lives," Cooper found that people have wanted flexible work for a long time. It's something that predates the pandemic and the global shift toward remote working."If you want to work flexibly, you might go pick your kids up from school at 3:30, spend time with them, and then work at night," Cooper said. "But if you're not allowed to deal with emails after 5 o'clock or in the evenings, weekends, or whatever, it's not giving you the flexibility you need."Instead of a blanket ban, flexible guidance can help implement a working day that will look different for everyone.Jeri Doris, the SVP of people at the HR and payroll platform Justworks, told BI that people should shift how they broadly view their work-life balance.Rather than seeing it as balancing time at work and time off, Doris said the focus should be on how to sustain a level of performance you are proud of."I think that that will look and feel differently for everybody," Doris told BI."Where do you do your best work? Is it at night? Is it in the morning?" she said."What routines and systems and norms do you need to have in order for you to show up in these moments when your energy battery is full? Hybrid work may be whatever it looks like for you."

Bans on out-of-hours work calls and emails are looming. They could bring trouble as well as peace.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Eva Longoria shared wellness practices that she lives by.</li><li>Longoria, who will turn 50 in March, added that she's 'excited' to age.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/eva-longoria-john-wick-investments-money-worth-2024-10">Eva Longoria</a>'s 50th birthday is fast approaching, and she's more than ready for the milestone.In an interview with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/eva-longoria-nov-2024-cover/">Marie Claire</a> published on Wednesday, the "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/then-and-now-desperate-housewives-2019-6">Desperate Housewives</a>" actor shared a list of wellness practices she lives by."I'm <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/daily-cold-plunge-at-home-benefits-not-worth-it-review-2024-5">cold-plunging</a>; I've got <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/beauty/red-light-therapy">red lights</a> on; I strength train with weights; I meditate; I'm journaling," she said. "I wake up with the sun; I'm doing the grounding; I have an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oura-smart-ring-review-why-wont-solve-back-to-work-2021-9">Oura ring</a> to track deep sleep; I'm taking <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/diet-nutrition/magnesium-benefits">magnesium</a> and other supplements.""I'm doing everything. Not because I don't want to age but because I do want to age," said Longoria, who turns 50 in March."For me, age is just a number, but I'm excited," Longoria added. "I refuse to believe my greatest success is behind me."In 2016, Longoria told "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.thecut.com/2016/04/eva-longoria-workout-routine-diet.html">The Cut</a>" that people should prioritize their time and efforts toward wellness."Everything is about balance. I think people waste more time than they think. They think, 'I don't have time to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/mental-health/how-to-meditate">meditate</a>,' or 'I don't have time to work out,' and yet they have time to be on Instagram for 30 minutes — like, that could have been their meditation session," she said.For Longoria, exercise is not just something she does. "It's part of my life," she told "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.today.com/health/eva-longoria-workout-rcna158708">Today</a>" in June.Longoria, who has a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology from Texas A&amp;M University-Kingsville, said she usually does <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-trainer-mom-older-strength-training-habit-five-years-longevity-2024-11">strength training</a> and trampoline cardio. She also said she eats in moderation and has no hard and fast rules for restricting her diet."I'm lucky that I gravitate to healthy things. I love fish and vegetables. I love chicken and vegetables. I love beef and vegetables," she said.A representative for Longoria did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.<h2 id="3c93f288-1cc0-43d5-b693-4d1c8bb07ea9">Simple habits to age well</h2>As humans live longer than ever, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/raadfest-cheat-death-longevity-loma-linda-blue-zone-2023-9">antiaging procedures</a> — from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stem-cell-injections-knee-joints-longevity-wellness-industry-bryan-johnson-2024-7">stem-cell injections</a> to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-plasma-exchange-therapy-why-is-it-longevity-treatment-2024-10">plasma exchange therapy</a> — are all the rage among <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-bryan-johnson-dont-die-summit-singapore-longevity-health-biohacking-2024-10">wealthy longevity-seekers</a>.But the key to aging well may lie in simple everyday habits. In November, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-tips-nobel-prize-scientist-cycles-daily-2024-11">Venki Ramakrishnan</a>, a Nobel laureate and the author of "Why We Die," shared three habits he lives by: eating nutritious foods in modest portions, cycling every day, and getting eight hours of good-quality sleep every night.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-better-sleep-millionaire-advice-2024-6">Sleep</a>, in particular, is "a way of resetting things and regenerating things," he said.Like Ramakrishnan, Mary Ní Lochlainn, a researcher in geriatric medicine at King's College London, includes <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/scientist-healthy-aging-research-eats-works-out-longevity-resistanc-training-2024-10">exercise in her daily routine</a>. Besides cycling, she adds resistance training to build muscle mass and prevent frailty. She also consumes vitamin D supplements and practices <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intermittent-fasting-benefits-and-risks-for-longevity-weight-loss-cancer-2024-4">intermittent fasting</a>, she told BI earlier this month.It's also important that these habits are picked up early. "People think 'I'll do all of that later,' but actually, it's much better to just be doing it now," she said.

Eva Longoria, 49, says she's doing 'everything' to age well — from cold-plunging to red-light therapy

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa poll shows Harris leading Trump by 3 points in the state.</li><li>It's a significant shift in a conservative-leaning state that Trump won by eight points in 2020.</li></ul>A new <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-iowa-poll-standing-harris-presidential-election-2024-9">Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll</a> published on Saturday showed Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of former President Donald Trump by three points in Iowa, a massive development in a state once <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-iowa-poll-standing-harris-presidential-election-2024-9">seen as a lock</a> for the former president.The Iowa poll — which is viewed as the gold standard of polling in the state and was conducted by the firm Selzer &amp; Co. — showed Harris ahead of Trump 47% to 44% among likely voters.Political experts told Business Insider that the Iowa poll is significant for the Harris campaign given that the demographic makeup of Iowa — rural, older, and largely white voters — is similar to some <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-harris-swing-states-election-2024-10">key swing states</a>."What makes Iowa a good conduit for states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, is because they're demographically very similar," John Conway, director of strategy for Republicans Voters Against Trump, said. He said all those states have a large share of white voters.Christian Grose, a professor of political science at the University of Southern California, also said the results bode well for Harris in other states. "This is probably good news for Harris in Wisconsin, Michigan, and elsewhere. If Harris is competitive in Iowa, combined with recent polling showing Trump with single-digit leads in Kansas and other red places, it bodes well for Harris."He added: "It's one poll, so normally, I wouldn't read too much into one poll, but this is a pollster who's pretty good and has been working in Iowa for a long time."The pollster — J. Ann Selzer — has had particular success predicting the Iowa caucuses, he added.Selzer founded Selzer &amp; Co. in 1996. She <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/selzer/">conducts polling</a> for private companies and public opinion surveys but Iowa politics remains her greatest strength, FiveThirtyEight reported in 2016.A representative for Selzer &amp; Co. did not respond to a request for comment.Patricia Crouse, adjunct professor of political science at the University of New Haven, said the Iowa poll is just one data point that shouldn't be used to predict the actual outcome, but that it's still a significant development for Harris considering Trump won the Hawkeye State in 2020 by eight points over now-President Joe Biden."I think we have to be very, very careful about how we're using polls in terms of predicting the outcome of this election, but I do think that even if it's just a moment in time — this poll that was just done — I still think it's significant that Harris is leading," she said. "Even if they were tied in Iowa, I think that's significant."<div type="image" title="Former President Donald Trump in Iowa." height="2636" width="3955" msid="114918467" hostid="261" sizebytes="223688"></div>Crouse said that Iowa's demographic is predominantly white and consists of an older generation of voters who typically skew Republican. That Harris might be gaining in a state like Iowa may signal that a different set of voters, including women and younger voters, are being underrepresented in polling."If Iowa flips to Harris, then it's possible that some of these swing states are being underestimated in their polls in terms of favorability for her," she said.<h2 id="ed1b80b8-1545-4cb3-b5aa-ee6ed22c4c35">Iowa's political shift has been dramatic</h2>A poll showing a Democratic presidential nominee with a lead in Iowa would not have caused such a stir in the past, given its longtime political competitiveness.In 2000, then-Vice President Al Gore won the state by less than a point over then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush. Bush flipped the state to the GOP in his 2004 presidential reelection bid, winning it by a razor-thin 0.67% margin.Iowa later played a key role in the launch of Barack Obama's presidency. In 2008, Obama won the state's Democratic caucus, which propelled his candidacy through the primary race. He went on to win the state easily that year and in his 2012 reelection bid.But the state has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/iowa-democrats-struggling-ascendant-gop-2024-presidential-race-trump-biden-2023-8">tilted toward the GOP</a> in recent years.Trump defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the state in the 2016 presidential election. Republican Joni Ernst was first elected to the US Senate in 2014 and continues to hold her seat. And the state legislature is dominated by conservative Republicans.But some cracks are starting to show in the GOP's armor.The Republican-controlled legislature passed a six-week abortion ban that went into effect in July and has proven to be unpopular with Iowans, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/iowa-poll/2024/09/22/most-iowans-support-legal-abortion-oppose-iowas-six-week-ban-new-iowa-poll-shows-fetal-heartbeat-law/75180451007/">according to polling</a> conducted by Selzer &amp; Co. in September.In the survey, 59% of Iowa adults opposed the new abortion law, while only 37% of Iowa adults approved of it. And notably, 69% of female respondents in the Selzer poll opposed the law, while only 27% of Iowa women backed the new restrictions.The law also appears to have taken a toll on the approval ratings of Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds.In the Selzer poll taken in September, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/iowa-poll/2024/09/24/rob-sand-tops-kim-reynolds-brenna-bird-iowa-elected-officials-governors-support-slips-lowest/75196313007/">Reynolds' job approval rating</a> sat at 45%, while 50% of Iowans disapproved of her performance. Since becoming governor in 2017, Reynolds has generally been one of the state's most popular politicians, which makes her most recent approval rating all the more striking.

Kamala Harris' new lead in top Iowa poll could bode well for her in some key swing states

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Good balance, strength, and a sturdy gait keep us mobile and independent as we age.</li><li>How long you can balance on one leg could reflect your health, according to a new study.</li></ul>How long a person can stand on one leg could reflect how well they're aging, according to a study.It comes at a time when <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rich-people-obsessed-longevity-luxury-hotels-iv-drips-mri-scans-2024-10">advanced diagnostic tests</a> to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-the-maximum-age-of-humans-115-or-older-2023-3">gauge "biological age"</a> are becoming popular among the wealthy and health-conscious.Good balance, muscle strength, and an efficient gait or walking pattern all help us stay mobile and independent as we age, according to the authors based at Mayo Clinic. Looking at how these factors change over time, and how quickly, can help clinicians develop better programs for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/exercise-for-healthy-aging-longevity-strength-training-personal-trainer-2024-8">healthy aging</a>, they said in the study published Wednesday in <a target="_blank" href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0310764">PLOS ONE</a>.On an individual level, measuring these things can make a person of certain weaknesses, which they can then take steps to improve, they said.Here's how to do the test and two other easy ways to determine whether you're <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biological-age-test-calculation-interpret-results-2024-2">aging healthily</a>.<h2 id="dbdcbc58-7ed3-4563-8f32-24e4dd3e522f">1) Balance test</h2>Many body systems, including the muscles, bones, joints, eyes, nerves, and inner ear, help us balance.Our ability to balance declines faster than both strength and gait, according to the study, and once it does, the risk of falling rises."If you have poor balance, you're at risk of falling, whether or not you're moving. Falls are a severe health risk with serious consequence," senior author Kenton Kaufman, said.More than one in four people over 65 fall each year, according to the National Institute on Aging. If a person breaks their bones, this can lead to other serious health problems and can cause long-term disability.In a 2022 study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine on 1,702 adults aged between 51 and 75, being unable to stand on one leg for 10 seconds was linked to a higher risk of dying from any cause within seven years.On average, the Mayo Clinic study's 40 participants, who were aged between 52 and 83, could stand on their nondominant leg for 17 seconds. The average for those over 65 was 11 seconds."If you can stand on one leg for 30 seconds, you are doing well," Kaufman said. "People can easily take steps to train their balance, for example, by practicing standing on one leg."<h2 id="333c2dc3-b61b-4531-8bb9-cce59300d24e">2) Five-second walking test</h2><div type="image" title="A woman walking fast on a bridge." height="1414" width="2121" msid="114588855" hostid="261" sizebytes="239302"></div>Many doctors at longevity clinics swear by a simple <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/longevity-experts-use-walking-test-to-measure-biological-age-2024-9">five-second walk test</a> to gauge a patient's fitness and longevity."It tells me how well people are functioning, how well their muscles are moving and working together," Dr. Sara Bonnes, medical director of the Healthy Longevity Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, previously told Business Insider.To do the test, have someone time how long it takes you to walk a six-meter stretch on a flat surface as quickly as you can.For adults over 75, finishing in under six seconds is considered good, while a time slower than 8.6 seconds suggests a person may be at risk for falls or hospital admissions, according to one 2005 study published in the Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences.<h2 id="66f867bc-3668-4aa0-bf99-c40dacf72f3d">3) 30-second sitting-to-standing test</h2>What's known as the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/media/pdfs/steadi-assessment-30sec-508.pdf?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/STEADI-Assessment-30Sec-508.pdf">30-second chair stand assessment</a> is a good indicator of strength, balance, and flexibility, Jennifer Tripkin, associate director for the Center of Healthy Aging at the National Council on Aging, told <a target="_blank" href="https://fortune.com/well/2023/03/23/can-sit-stand-test-predict-how-long-you-will-live/">Fortune</a>.It's typically used on older adults to test leg strength and endurance, but there's some evidence that it's also useful for measuring athletic performance in younger adults.The test involves going from a seated position on an armless chair to a standing position without using your arms as many times as you can within 30 seconds.In a 2012 study published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology, participants who got a low score on the test were five to six times more likely to die over a six-year period than those with a better score.How to do the chair test:1. Sit in the middle of an armless chair.2. Place your hands on the opposite shoulder, crossed at the wrists.3. Keep your feet flat on the floor.4. Keep your back straight, and keep your arms against your chest.5. On "Go," rise to a full standing position, then sit back down again.6. Repeat this for 30 seconds.According to the CDC, for women aged 60 to 64, a below-average score is 12, and for men, it's 14. For women aged 65 to 69, below average is 12, and for men it's 12.

3 simple tests that show how well you're aging, which you can do right now 

This article is part of "<a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/workforce-innovation">Workforce Innovation</a>," a series exploring the trends and leaders shaping enterprise transformation.When Peter Montgomery worked in advertising, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-to-quit-six-figure-job-for-mental-health">long days at the office</a> were part of the culture."If you left at 6 p.m., the old criticism was, 'Oh, you're having a half day, are you?'" he said.Now in a role overseeing the creative team at the cloud-based accounting platform Xero, Montgomery can make dinner most nights for his wife and two children.The flexibility built into his job allows him to head to his home in Wellington, New Zealand, in time to prepare one of his hit meals, like burrito bowls or Thai meatballs with coconut sauce. Cooking gives him a chance to connect with his family and unwind before, on some nights, he logs back on to crank out a bit more work."It's really satisfying — gratifying — to actually have the ability to make work fit around the needs of my family," Montgomery, 50, told Business Insider.<div type="image" title="Peter Montgomery stands in his kitchen" height="2268" width="3024" msid="112355413" hostid="261" sizebytes="296412"></div>That ability to make a career conform, where possible, to an employee's life is one of the simple and often inexpensive ways employers can boost their employees' well-being. Increasingly, employers are looking for novel methods to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-companies-boost-employee-wellbeing-build-healthy-culture-2021-11">improve workers' welfare</a> because provisions like health insurance aren't cutting it on their own.A recent Gallup survey found worker well-being slipped globally to 34% in 2023 from 35% the year before. The decline followed several years of modest gains during the pandemic, when many bosses were quick to check in on workers. In recent years, however, many have reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/burnout-work-boss-left-office-on-stretcher-2024-4">feeling burned out</a> and stressed by their jobs.Boosting worker well-being is good for employees, of course, but it's also good for the bottom line. And it's critical for boosting other measures of corporate and worker health — things like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/employee-engagement-productivity-remote-work-hybrid-burnout-managers-office-expectations-2024-1">engagement on the job</a>.<h2 id="69df1fe1-7cd9-4199-a2b8-983c72206fc1">Helping ease money worries</h2>Erica Golden, the chief people officer at Banyan Software, told BI that perhaps the biggest threat to employee well-being was worry over money. So the company, which owns more than 50 software businesses, is setting up what it's calling an employee resource fund. Workers can ask to tap into it when they face a surprise expense. That could be an unexpected medical bill or an outsize expense related to caring for a family member.The parameters for what might win approval, Golden said, are broad because the company wants to be responsive to a worker who might, for example, ask to draw $5,000 from the fund to deal with a unique financial hardship. A small number of business leaders review requests to keep the process simple and to respect worker privacy, she said."We just wanted them to be able to fill out a simple form and get what they need and feel that relief without a lot of judgment or protocol or their leaders really being involved in a lot of conversations," Golden said.To start, there's about $100,000 in the fund, she said.Golden said the company's leaders understood that employees facing crises would not be able to focus on their work. She added that these types of benefits were good for retaining workers. The employee resource fund also represents a modest shift away from big, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/workforce-innovation-series-c-suite-worker-well-being-dei-2024-6">one-size-fits-all benefits</a> that might not be as useful to all workers, Golden said.Leaders paying attention to what employees want are finding the questions on people's minds are, "Are you seeing me as an individual?" she said. "And: Would you be there if I was in a time of crisis?"Supporting employees extends to other areas, Golden said. Part of solving the well-being puzzle involves workers being able to feel they can trust their leaders — including with the direction of their careers, she said."Some of that is learning and development. This other piece is, 'I want to be able to make some choices about what gear I shift into for my career,'" Golden said. There might be times when employees need to pull back and take on a less intense role to make room for things going on in their lives.<h2 id="958d4c5c-85ed-42d1-97ee-389d90623e00">From legal services to pet insurance</h2>Other forms of flexibility can benefit workers and improve well-being. Bradd Chignoli, head of national accounts for group benefits at MetLife, told BI that many employers were offering more in their benefits packages than a decade ago.In some cases, workers pay for all or a share of these add-ons, he said. But that's often because these benefits are things workers have asked for in surveys. Chignoli said these offerings included <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-legal-advice-workplace-benefit-financial-help-2023-11">legal services</a>, identity-theft programs, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/thousand-dollar-vet-bill-pet-insurance-2024-3">pet insurance</a>.Laying out a wider variety of benefits better meets workers' needs — and thereby boosts their overall well-being — by lining up more-nuanced benefits, instead of the blanket approach, he said."If I'm Gen Z versus a baby boomer, there may be certain products that are better fit," Chignoli said. "If I'm single versus having three kids, there may be certain benefits that are more appropriate for me. So that's where a lot of that personalization comes in."For Xero's Montgomery, what works is leaving the office on time so he can prepare those meals for his family. He tries to instill the idea of achieving a personal balance in those who report to him.Montgomery tells his team the quality of their work can't decline but that flexibility is often possible. Sometimes, they have to work extra time or outside normal business hours, but not too often."It's the exception, not the expectation, that we do that," he said. "So there's always a balance."

You Searched For "All is Well" and got 11 results

Nvidia CEO says there's 'no question' that we'll all be working alongside AI employees

Ana Altchek

Fired from Google after 13 years of service, he used his severance to build a business around helping others with their careers

Divyanshi Sharma

Millennials are raising pets instead of kids. It's not going well for the pets.

Aimee Pearcy

Wells Fargo launches Transgender Persons Hiring Program in India

PTI

Abhinav Bindra says training Indian athletes on mental health issues a 'work in progress'

PTI

Gen Z is ushering in the all-inclusive era

Kelsey Vlamis

Bans on out-of-hours work calls and emails are looming. They could bring trouble as well as peace.

Lindsay Dodgson

Eva Longoria, 49, says she's doing 'everything' to age well — from cold-plunging to red-light therapy

Erin Liam

Kamala Harris' new lead in top Iowa poll could bode well for her in some key swing states

Lloyd Lee,John L. Dorman

3 simple tests that show how well you're aging, which you can do right now

Kim Schewitz

Boosting worker well-being doesn't have to be pricey

Tim Paradis

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides