It's OK to reach for more in life, but getting stuck on the "hedonic treadmill" of wanting more for the sake of power or prestige can simply become a way to avoid discomfort, writes Gregg Vanourek. He offers seven ways to get off the treadmill, including practicing gratitude, not comparing yourself to others and not defining yourself by possessions.

Surveys suggest that a four-day workweek increases worker well-being but not engagement, which could mean a company's culture needs fixing rather than focusing on how many days are worked, write Gallup's Jim Harter and Ryan Pendell. "[I]t makes more sense to use a flex-time model than to legislate hours or days worked -- with an emphasis on upskilling managers to bring role clarity, ongoing coaching and accountability," they write.

Cultivating a sense of well-being can help improve our relationships, enable us to be present and appreciate the beauty around us, writes LaRae Quy. "We may need to forfeit our obsession with feel-good moments and stop complaining long enough to gain perspective and find joy and contentment in the long run," Quy writes.

Mood boards can be used to visualize a business idea or product pitch, but don't just collect items -- curate them to create a theme. Use more than digital images on the board and add personal photographs, text and cut-out images to create a 3D feel.

Employee burnout is one of the reasons workers might leave their jobs. This is driving many companies to pay better attention to their employees' mental health, offering certain perks and benefits and demonstrating their commitment to employees' well-being.

Nearly 70% of employers across 43 countries are having difficulty hiring, according to a Manpower Group quarterly survey, although US respondents reported "average" difficulty. Employer optimism is on the rise despite the 15-year high in their frustration with finding workers.

Turnover contagion, in which employees leave en masse after a colleague or supervisor resigns or is fired, is a real concern for companies. Here is a closer look at the phenomenon and a few tips for handling employee resignations.

Italian pastry chef Nicolas Gentile dresses and lives like a hobbit out of JRR Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" series and plans to create a hobbit village on five acres of land where he lives. Actors from the movies series sent Gentile several Instagram messages showing their appreciation. Gentile, who is documenting his efforts on Instagram, says he's not trying to escape real life, but his efforts "show that our land, like Tolkien's Middle-earth, must be saved and protected."