The pandemic has caused an upsurge in the number of professionals who are considering a new career path, but many of those falter because they cultivated self-sufficiency so much that they became isolated and unable to ask for help or feedback, according to Harvard Business Review's Heather Cairns-Lee and Bill Fischer. Some are also hesitant to engage in personal reinvention -- and fail to take the first step by throwing themselves deeper into their work.

Having meaningful relationships with colleagues could open up new career opportunities, allow you to learn and teach new skills and foster a happier, more productive work life, StandOut CV founder Andrew Fennell writes. Building long-lasting relationships takes commitment, however, so it's helpful to be proactive in offering help to others and to schedule time for relationship-building activities, Fennell writes.

It's possible to make meetings more efficient by shortening their duration to 25 minutes. Here is a look at three steps necessary to hold a successful 25-minute meeting as well as an example of how to put these recommendations into practice.

A recent KFF Employer Health Benefits Survey found that annual employer-sponsored health insurance premiums for families average $22,463 this year, compared to $22,221 in 2021, and the change in premiums this year was actually less than the 8% rise in inflation and the 6.7% increase in employee wages during the same period. Average family premiums have gone up 43% in the past 10 years, which surpasses the 25% growth in inflation and 38% growth in wages seen over that period, and family and individual premiums are expected to rise more sharply in 2023.

A law that goes into effect Tuesday in New York City will require all but the smallest companies to include salary ranges for both publicly listed and internal job postings, including remote and hybrid positions. New York City is one of a growing number of jurisdictions that are requiring salary transparency from companies.

Having a great morning routine that involves some sort of meditation is key for setting the tone for your day, weeks and life, says Superhuman app founder Mimi Bouchard. "Seeing your mornings from a bird's eye view really helps you understand the compound effect of how powerful your mornings really are," Bouchard says.

From SmartBrief writer Cathy Guiles: My cousin Paul Sturtevant has used our family archives to debunk a longstanding ghost story about our 19th-century ancestor Hattie Martindale. People in her hometown of Kirtland, Ohio, spread rumors (later retold in the media) that she secluded herself and covered her face with a veil after her fiance supposedly fell in love with and married her sister -- and after Hattie died, her ghost continued to hate men. In reality, Hattie Martindale was a smart, charitable and religious woman who sought treatment for a severe eye condition (hence the veil) and was institutionalized for supposed "mania" in conditions that would be considered inhumane today. Her sister Lucy and brother-in-law Thomas had a happy marriage and seem to have been devoted only to each other. Paul writes that Hattie's story reflects common attitudes at the time about women, mental illness and disability -- and I'm glad he's set the record straight.

I am Janet Connor Kahler, editor of Your Career. I have been with SmartBrief for 13 years in a variety of jobs, including my current job as content production manager. I have experience in hiring, training and managing workers and have taught college courses that include resume writing and job interviewing. I am based in Columbia, S.C., so I'm very familiar with remote work. And I would say I'm better at running a small meeting -- my style is conversational.