Should you listen to your body?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
4 minutes ago
- Forbes
New Leadership Language—Neurodivergent Communication Styles
More than half of Gen Z identifies as neurodivergent, according to Jennifer L. Hartstein, PsyD, cofounder of Mental Capital Consulting. That reality is reshaping expectations of how leaders and employees connect. What was once seen as a private challenge is now a defining feature of workplace diversity. For organizations, the question is no longer whether to adapt but how quickly they can evolve their communication practices to meet a changing workforce. 'More and more people are being diagnosed as neurodivergent,' Dr. Hartstein explains. 'The most recent stat I saw was that 53% of Gen Z identifies as neurodivergent. That's the workforce. So how are we helping them be effective workers?' The answer begins with language. Neurodivergence—whether ADHD, autism spectrum or other cognitive differences—influences how people think and how they process and respond to the information. Leaders and employees alike must adapt their communication styles to foster productivity without sacrificing inclusion. How Leaders Can Communicate With Neurodivergent Team Members Dr. Hartstein emphasizes clarity over volume. 'Do not send long paragraphs and emails. Use bullet points. Highlight the key things you need them to walk away with,' she advises. Oversimplifying isn't the goal. Leaders who are intentional about respecting cognitive load lead by example. Overly dense messages risk disengagement, while streamlined communication makes expectations stick. She also stresses specificity in scheduling and requests. 'Nobody likes to be told, 'Hey, can we have a meeting?' Anytime anybody gets asked that phrase, we all get anxious. Also, be specific about what you need. 'Hey, can we talk on Tuesday about client X? These are the points I'd like to cover.'' Dr. Hartstein notes that while some leaders may resist the extra detail, the payoff is efficiency. 'You're going to take the anxiety away and that person ruminating over it; you're going to have a much more efficient meeting because everybody's prepared.' Questions, not monologues, keep conversations alive. These questions keep communication active rather than one-sided, while also respecting the cognitive styles of team members with ADHD: How Employees Can Communicate With Neurodivergent Leaders The responsibility does not rest solely with managers. Team members working with neurodivergent leaders should approach communication with the same principles of clarity, preparedness and self-advocacy. Dr. Hartstein points to the value of structure. For some team members, disclosing their needs and diagnosis feels overwhelming with a base of fear. 'HR is a place to sometimes start with that and say, 'Hey, I have this diagnosis, and I would like help,'' Dr. Hartstein explains. 'Go into the meeting prepared. Explain what you would like to talk about and prepare a list of what you need to succeed. For instance, 'I need to wear noise-canceling headphones at my desk,' or 'I would like the opportunity to work from home two afternoons a week because I'm more productive.' You might not get all of the things that you need, but if you walk in with your prepared script of how to ask for what you need, you are advocating for yourself.' Here are three ways you can successfully communicate with your leader as a neurodivergent: What emerges is a two-way model: leaders streamline and clarify, while employees prepare and advocate. Both sides reduce friction by moving away from vague cues and toward concrete communication. In Dr. Hartstein's view, that shift strengthens retention and engagement in a workforce increasingly shaped by neurodiversity. It's advice that applies equally whether leading, following or collaborating across the spectrum of minds at work. 'The idea of unmasking and showing up as your authentic self is scary and actually ultimately makes you a better employee,' Dr. Hartstein concludes. 'You have to walk through the fear.'
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
I tried a $25K-a-year luxury health club. Here's what I learned about how the wealthy do wellness.
22 vials of blood and a bone density scan later ... Health is an investment. At the new wellness center cofounded by former Whole Foods Market CEO John Mackey, it's a pricy one — between $7,500 and $25,000 per year, to be specific. So, when I was invited to check out the facility and get a complimentary health assessment as part of a press visit, I felt like I was getting a taste of how the wealthy do wellness — all without spending a dime. is just one of many wellness-focused facilities popping up around the country, and it comes at a time when preventive care is a major health focus. You've probably seen celebrities like Kim Kardashian getting full-body MRIs and other concierge medical services. Data-driven approaches to wellness are all the rage, and places like are answering the call. What $25K gets you According to its website, goal is to 'inspire and empower individuals to retake control of their health and achieve transformative, lasting results through evidence-based care and personal accountability.' It boasts a 'supportive community and compassionate care team that meets individuals where they are on their personal health journey.' It's part concierge doctor, part gym, part spa — designed to be a one-stop shop for meeting your holistic health needs. The space, located in an outdoor mall in El Segundo, Calif., is massive. In addition to its physician facilities, there's a pickleball court and high-tech strength equipment on the gym floor. There's also a slew of different longevity treatments for members to use, from red light therapy beds and lymphatic drainage suits to cold plunge tubs and individual infrared saunas. Not a member? There's also a cafe that's open to the public and serves up healthy food options. (Vegetarian alternative to bone broth, anyone?) But forget cafes anyone can enter: I was there to cosplay as someone who could afford to drop thousands a year out of pocket on her health. After all, access to all has to offer is expensive. While the fitness and recovery membership ($4,600 per year) offers gym and recovery treatment, it doesn't come with medical care. The lowest-tiered level for that option — the $7,500 per year Silver membership — comes with credits for the above-mentioned longevity treatments, plus advanced lab panel testing, a DEXA bone density scan, a cardiac screening and a gut and oral microbiome test. Also included are five appointments with a physician per year, access to an accountability coach and a nutritional consultation. The highest level — the $25,000 platinum membership — tacks on a Prenuvo full-body MRI, a 10-day wear of a glucose monitoring device, 10 practitioner appointments and something called 'spiritual health programming,' which involves meeting with a spiritual intelligence coach for an hour to create a growth plan that aligns with your wellness goals. As part of my free visit, I'd have my blood drawn for a complete lab workup, do a DEXA scan and have a longevity assessment on the gym floor with a trainer. 22 vials of blood, a DEXA scan and a fitness assessment believes the more you know about your health, the more equipped you are to tackle any challenges associated with it. I, too, love information — and as someone who writes about health and wellness for a living, I have more access to it than some. Earlier this year, I got a full-body MRI through SimonMED, hoping to learn more about what's going on in my body. (I learned I should get a follow-up head MRI with contrast to follow up on some surprising findings; insurance is still pending.) I also wear an Oura ring and religiously track my steps, sleep and 'readiness' via its metrics. Needless to say, I didn't blink when said they'd need 22 vials of my blood for the panel. I'd happily bleed for the sake of better health! holistic approach meant a half-day of assessments. First, a phlebotomist drew those 22 vials of blood from me (though lab results would take weeks). The DEXA body composition scan I did gave me more immediate results. Despite prioritizing my spin bike over weight training recently, the scan showed that I hadn't lost a significant amount of muscle like I'd feared. I was less thrilled by my lackluster results during the longevity assessment on the gym floor: While I hit the normal markers on almost every assessment (I wanted exceptional, obviously), I totally flubbed the farmer's carry. Curse you, grip strength. But the best part of the visit? After my bloodwork was done, I was handed a smoothie (to make sure I didn't pass out) and sat down with Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino, the lead functional medicine doctor at For more than half an hour, Tolentino and I discussed my health concerns: What were some pressing issues I was facing physically and mentally? How was my nutrition? My sleep? Stress levels? Did I take supplements? As a fairly healthy person, I didn't have many issues to bring up, but I did note that I occasionally had headaches from low blood sugar and needed to keep my cholesterol in check, as I have a family history on that front. And I mentioned I was relieved to see my DEXA scan confirmed I was keeping muscle tone, given I had slacked a bit on resistance training lately. Tolentino listened carefully and suggested how might be able to help. Here, you don't just have a doctor, you have a care team that's as invested in your health as you are. My bloodwork would be sent to a range of experts who would come up with a holistic plan to address all my health needs. That blood sugar issue? Maybe I could consider trying a glucose monitor. Tolentino added that a personal trainer could help create a realistic, sustainable resistance training plan, which a nutritionist would ensure was properly fueled. Putting all that data to use When my bloodwork results came back weeks later, I did an hour-long video call with Tolentino to discuss them. Tolentino went through each significant finding and explained, in detail, what it meant. Hormonal levels that appeared elevated, she said, were a result of the birth control pill I'm on and nothing to worry about. My iron levels, however, were something that should be addressed. Tolentino recommended taking a daily supplement and checking these levels again in six months. She noted that a nutritionist could also help make sure my diet has enough iron. All of this is a far cry from how I experienced medicine in the past. I've been frustrated with doctor visits that only cover one issue at a time. I could bring up my sore throat during an appointment, but sorry, no mentioning that secondary ear issue without a follow-up visit, thanks to insurance billing issues and doctors on a time crunch. All I hear is: a second copay. Another hour off work. The sense that it might be easier and cheaper not to dive that deep into any health concerns. After all, there's a reason I haven't made that follow-up head MRI appointment. But at I had the luxury of time, and I didn't have to worry about insurance drama. I didn't have to choose which medical issue was the most pressing to bring up. I felt heard by Tolentino, and encouraged to share as much as possible. The different parts of our bodies all function together. Shouldn't they be treated as a whole? The catch Yet it's impossible to talk about without acknowledging the so-called elephant in the room: the cost. charges membership fees that are out of range for most Americans. Health care providers who have an hour to listen to your needs? That's a luxury service. It's also worth noting that can't do everything, like, say, do a liver biopsy. Instead, its high cost comes with the pledge that it may (emphasis on may, of course) be able to prevent disease and allow you to live a happier, healthier existence. And while lifestyle interventions are crucial in order to protect against certain diseases — such as diabetes and heart disease — they're certainly easier to achieve when you have the luxury of a care team at your beck and call. That said, the information I received from did help me make some significant lifestyle changes. I'm now taking an iron supplement, but also being far more diligent about getting iron from nutritional sources, like leafy greens, tofu and nuts. And I'm also back to taking mid-afternoon walks: Tolentino informed me that my vitamin D levels were down a bit, and said that getting some sunshine during that time of day can be a great way to boost them. Overall, these changes are simple and low-cost — no membership fee required. Still, if I hadn't gone to I may not have felt compelled to take these health markers quite so seriously. While I won't be paying for a membership (in this economy?!), I do now feel more confident to tackle these challenges on my own. Solve the daily Crossword
Washington Post
34 minutes ago
- Washington Post
They beat addiction to help drug users recover. Their work is in jeopardy.
DETROIT — As Hannah Meissner hands sterile needles, fentanyl test strips and peanut butter sandwiches to drug users inside a mobile outreach van, she fears her job helping them stay alive — and break free from addiction — is at risk. Meissner beat an opioid addiction to work as a peer recovery coach and mentor for the Detroit Recovery Project, a nonprofit organization that could be decimated by grant cuts under President Donald Trump's proposed budget. She already lost one position running a youth addiction prevention program this spring when the administration slashed pandemic-era grants. The Wayne State University undergrad also worries about crippling debt after the administration moved to restrict eligibility for a federal student loan forgiveness program for public service workers.
