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The irony of modern work life hits you somewhere between your third consecutive hybrid meeting and the moment you realize you’ve been holding your breath for the past hour. We’ve engineered every process for maximum output, yet reports consistently show that workplace burnout is affecting us more than ever. As someone who followed the straight-A path from childhoodchasing perfect grades, moving from one goalpost to another through MBA to big tech product executiveI’ve witnessed this optimization obsession firsthand while shaping experiences for over half a billion users. But what if the solution isn’t another wellness program or time management technique? What if it’s something far simpler, and more subversive? What if the solution is putting aside your work and engaging in a little play? Research from Johns Hopkins University’s International Arts + Mind Lab, detailed in the 2023 bestseller Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, shows that engaging in art reduces the stress hormone cortisol, no matter your skill level, with some benefits appearing in as little as 20 minutes. A 2025 study of nearly 2,500 people across five countries found that creativity can be reliably predicted by how often the brain switches between its default mode network (active during mind-wandering) and its executive control network (which handles focused attention and cognitive control). These brief creative interludes enhance productivity by allowing different brain networks to make new connections. Ive found that weaving micro-creativity practices into my days has increased my daily joy, aliveness, and overall wellbeing. At work, these creative breaks help me shake off the energy from difficult meetings, discover fresh perspectives when I’m stuck on problems, and connect more meaningfully with teammates who join me in these playful moments. Here are a few practices I love that you can use now to sneak a little play into your workday. 1. Become a Workplace Tea Alchemist Turn your coffee break into a micro-adventure by experimenting with tea combinations. Mix Earl Grey with chamomile, or green tea with cinnamon. Research the origins of different blendsdid you know Bigelow started as a small family business in 1945? If you’re more of a coffee drinker, create your own flavor experimentsadd a dash of cardamom or vanilla extract, or challenge yourself to draw a heart in your foam. (Wonky shapes count as art too!) This curiosity-driven exploration activates what psychologists call openness to experience, which correlates with better conflict resolution abilities and cognitive flexibility. 2. Replace To-Do Lists with ‘To-Doodle’ Lists Instead of writing “Review Q3 budget” in stark text, sketch it. Draw a treasure chest for budget review, a mountain for the challenging client presentation, or abstract shapes that represent your energy around each task. This isn’t about artistic skill; it’s about engaging the right brain’s pattern recognition while planning left-brain tasks. 3. Invite Random Hallway Interactions Ask one unexpected question to someone you see regularly but rarely talk to deeply, like “If you could teleport anywhere right now for lunch, where would you go?” or “If colors had personalities, which one would be your best friend?” The security guard who greets you each morning might have fascinating insights about the most interesting characters in the building. One such conversation led me to discover that Dolly Parton finds creative inspiration in graveyards, where she walks among headstones, finding sparks for her next song! 4. Open Team Huddles With ‘What I’m Saying No To’ Bingo Start each team huddle by sharing one thing you’re actively choosing not to do this week, but make it a game. Create a bingo card with common “no” categories like “unnecessary meeting,” “weekend work,” “social obligation,” and see who gets bingo first as team members share their weekly boundaries. This ritual normalizes boundary-setting, reveals hidden priorities, and creates psychological permission for intentional choices about time and energy. 5. Become a Workplace Note Fairy Write tiny, anonymous notes of appreciation and leave them where colleagues will find them: “Thank you for always restocking the coffee!” Your enthusiasm in meetings is contagious!” “Someone here gives the best hallway wavesthank you!” The act of crafting these small surprises shifts your brain from problem-focused thinking to wonder. One teammate told me that leaving weekly mystery notes became her favorite stress-relief ritual! 6. Go on Office Color Hunts Set a timer for three minutes and hunt for a specific color throughout your workspace. How many shades of yellow exist in your office? This micro-adventure forces you to notice your environment with fresh eyes and activates “attention restoration,” the mental reset that comes from shifting from directed attention to fascination. The beauty of these three-minute playful acts lies in their accessibility. Unlike meditation apps or wellness programs, they don’t require special equipment or cozy conditions. They work precisely because they fit into the existing structure of your day. More importantly, they address what organizational psychologist Dr. Christina Maslach identifies as the core drivers of burnout: lack of control, insufficient rewards, and values mismatch. These micro-creative acts restore a sense of agency, provide immediate intrinsic rewards, and reconnect you with the playful, curious aspects of yourself that often get buried under performative environments. The goal isn’t to become more creative in order to be more productive. It’s to remember that you’re human, not a productivity machine. And sometimes, that three-minute reminder is exactly what it takes to feel alive again in a world that has optimized everything except joy.
Category:
E-Commerce
Lululemon Athletica‘s founder Chip Wilson said on Monday he had launched a proxy fight by nominating three independent directors to the company’s board, just over two weeks after the apparel maker announced the exit of CEO Calvin McDonald without a clear successor. Lululemon shares have shed nearly half their value this year as the company struggles to find its footing with younger and affluent shoppers, while battling stiff competition from fast-growing newer rivals such as Alo Yoga and Vuori, as well as pressure from activist investor Elliott Management. Wilson has nominated three director candidates to Lululemon’s board, including former On Running co-CEO Marc Maurer, former ESPN Chief Marketing Officer Laura Gentile and former Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg. The board installed Chief Financial Officer Meghan Frank and Chief Commercial Officer André Maestrini as interim co-CEOs while they search for a permanent replacement. Reuters had reported that Elliott Management, which disclosed a $1 billion stake in the company earlier this month, had been working closely for months with former Ralph Lauren executive Jane Nielsen for a potential CEO role. When asked whether Wilson was teaming up with activist investor Elliott in pushing for the board change, a person familiar with Wilson’s thinking said he was not working with any other investor. At the same time, Elliott’s campaign for a new CEO would not interfere with his plans, the person added, asking not to be named. Wilson had spoken to Nielsen, but any CEO selected by the company before board changes would not have Wilson’s support, the source said. “The recent CEO change announcement was the third total failure of board oversight, with no clear succession plan in place. Shareholders have no faith that this board can select and support the next CEO without input from a board with stronger product experience,” Wilson said in a statement. Lululemon did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The company’s shares rose about 1% in morning trading. “Adding three new board members seems like something that Lululemon would be willing to do. It might keep Wilson from constantly attacking the board, at least. The nominees appear to be fine, although only one of the three (Maurer) has direct experience in Lululemon’s industry,” Morningstar analyst David Swartz said. Wilson likely did not ask for a board seat for himself as he owns a significant stake in Lululemon’s competitor Amer Sports, Swartz added. The Wall Street Journal first reported about Wilson launching a proxy fight against Lululemon’s board earlier in the day. Wilson’s history with Lululemon Wilson is one of the biggest independent shareholders of Lululemon, with a 4.27% stake as of December 2025, according to LSEG data. The yogawear maker’s founder had previously called for an urgent search for a CEO to replace McDonald, led by new, independent directors with a deep knowledge of the company to restore a “product-first” mindset at the company. This is not the first time Wilson has pushed for changes at Lululemon’s board. After founding the apparel company in 1998, Wilson withdrew from daily operations in 2012 and resigned as chairman a year later following a recall of see-through yoga pants that led to the departures of top executives amid a public-relations storm. He also quit the director post in 2015 after clashing with the board over strategy. However, a proxy fight was averted after Wilson agreed to sell about half of his 27% stake to private-equity firm Advent International for $845 million in return for two additional director positions. Juveria Tabassum, Sanskriti Shekhar, and Anuja Bharat Mistry, Reuters
Category:
E-Commerce
The start of a new year usually brings new motivation to achieve goals like eating healthier or finally cleaning your basement. Many resolutions also focus on financial goals, such as paying off credit card debt, saving for a new house, or simply getting more educated about money. New Years is a really good time to review and realign your financial goals overall, said Erica Grundza, certified financial planner at Betterment, an investing and savings app. When building your goals for 2026, Grundza recommends focusing less on the past and more on an optimistic, yet realistic, vision for the future. She recommends that you focus on reestablishing the why behind your approach to money and how you want to make it work for your life. This can be as simple as saving $10 each week in a savings account, or a bigger goal like saving to buy a house in the coming years. Its all about your own journey. The Associated Press spoke with people who are making financial resolutions for 2026. Heres a look at what theyre planning and how you can draw inspiration for your own resolutions: Making achievable plans Resolutions can easily turn into unattainable goals that feel more like a dream, said MarieYolaine Toms, a coach and founder of Focused Fire, a financial coaching company. To avoid setting unrealistic expectations, Toms follows a no resolutions mindset and instead focuses on making an actionable plan. What I say every year is that I am not making resolutions, Im making plans that can be tracked forward, traced back, and tweaked until completion, Toms said. Recently, Toms encouraged her clients to check their credit report with the three credit bureaus and, based on their credit reports, make an attainable plan to start a savings account. For example, adding $25 to their savings account every week. Whether youre trying to pay off debt or save for a vacation abroad, the first step towards making a plan can be creating a budget. When making a budget, its best to find a technique that works for you, whether its the classic 50/30/20 plan or another budgeting style. If youre building a budget for the first time, you can find some expert recommendations here. Paying off debt After losing her job as a magazine editor in September, Rachel Pelovitz, 33, had to take a closer look at her finances. Having acquired a significant amount of debt over the last few years due to her husbands year-and-a-half-long unemployment, Pelovitz explored several options to pay it off. Ultimately, Pelovitz and her husband chose to sell their house and work with a debt consolidation organization. Rather than rely on getting more debt, we are currently selling our house, Pelovitz said. Pelovitzs main goal for 2026 is to pay off half of her credit card debt. And, with some of the money from selling the house, start investing moderately. If youve also experienced a layoff, you can read expert recommendations to help you take care of your finances and your mental health here. Building a savings account For Jenni Lee, 27, this is going to be the year when she gets strict about building her savings account. While Lee considers herself generally good with money, over the last six months she has overspent and wants to rein it in. The long-term goal for her savings journey is for Lee to buy a house. Im now in my late 20s, Im starting to really think about where I pinch now so it wont hurt later when I finally decide to purchase and own a place, said Lee, a tech worker and lifestyle TikTok creator based in Chicago. As she saves for her future home and possibly a trip to South Korea, Lee wants to cut unnecessary spending on clothing items and eating out. Social media microtrends are a common influence on peoples shopping decisions, and this can lead to overspending. If youre looking to avoid spending money on microtrends, you can find experts recommendations here. Building an emergency fund If you are in a position to do so, having multiple financial goals youre working towards at the same time can be a great way to speed up your progress. For Worcester resident Melanie Duarte, 23, her New Years money goals include paying off her student loans and credit card debt while building an emergency fund. I made sure to include it in my budget, even if its something as small as like $50. I just want to make sure I still put something in (my emergency fund) so that it eventually multiplies, said Duarte, who owns a marketing agency. Duartes family didnt speak openly about finances when she was growing up. But, since she opened her own business, Duarte has been slowly working on rewriting her relationship with money. If youre looking to start an emergency fund or create better habits while you save, you can read some experts recommendations here. Finding balance Finding a balance between saving for your long-term goals while also making sure you enjoy your money is important, but it can also be challenging. After the death of her grandfather just a few years after retirement, Tiana Stewart, 26, felt that he didnt get to enjoy the fruits of his labor. So, this past year, Stewart decided to enjoy her life and travel. I do understand saving for retirement is important, but I also want to enjoy my life and the money that I work for at this time, especially being in my 20s, said Stewart, who lives in Maryland. But now, as she reflects on her financial future, Stewart wants to focus on paying off debt, saving, and investing. Having a healthy balance between enjoying life and saving for the future is what she wants to work toward. For some, participating in budgeting challenges such as the no-buy year can be a great way to set boundaries on your spending and set aside money towards your financial goals. Many people start such challenges at the beginning of the year and commit to keep going until the end, but others start with a no-buy month. __ The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.
Category:
E-Commerce
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