behavior-hack
The Shutdown Ritual
Work that keeps intruding on your evening isn't about the work. It's about the missing plan for it. A three-minute closing ritual releases the loop.
wellbeing
think-piece
The High-Wellbeing Paradox
In our data, employees in the top quartile of wellbeing report more daily stressors than the bottom quartile. Not fewer. The standard playbook (remove stress, raise wellbeing) breaks on this finding.
think-piece
Your EAP Is a Waste of Money
Employee Assistance Programs have a 2-10% utilization rate. Not because employees don't need help, but because EAPs were designed for a version of stigma that no longer explains the problem.
research-drop
The Cognitive Load Tax
Judges grant parole 65% of the time in the morning and nearly 0% by late afternoon. The same decision fatigue is draining your team's best thinking before lunch.
think-piece
Stop Buying Ping Pong Tables
Companies spend billions on perks that don't move engagement, retention, or performance. The research points to three things employees actually want, and none of them are free snacks.
think-piece
Burnout Has Six Causes
Christina Maslach's research identified six drivers of burnout. Workload is only one. The other five (fairness, control, community, reward, values) predict it more strongly. Most organizations only address the wrong one.
think-piece
The Unlimited PTO Trap
Unlimited PTO sounds generous but often reduces time off. Without a clear number, people guess wrong. And they almost always guess low.
behavior-hack
The 90-Minute Rule
Your brain cycles through 90-minute focus periods, then demands rest. Fighting this costs energy. Working with it is free leverage.
think-piece
The Most Productive Thing You Can Do Is Stop Working
Top performers don't outwork everyone else. They out-rest them. Elite violinists, writers, and scientists share one pattern: deliberate rest that lets their brains consolidate learning and solve problems unconsciously.
research-drop
Your Manager Affects Your Mental Health More Than Your Therapist
Managers influence employee mental health as much as spouses do, and more than doctors or therapists. Most companies still treat management as a promotion, not a skill.
behavior-hack
The Shutdown Ritual
A 3-minute end-of-day ritual that reduces evening stress by 40%. No meditation required. Just a checklist.