You can become the leader you aspire to be by remembering those who inspired you and taking an inventory of your finest leadership moments, writes Art Petty, who offers a series of questions to guide you through the exercise. Petty encourages you to talk with your team about the behaviors you expect of yourself and ask them to be accountability partners.

Job-hunters can expand their skill set by wisely selecting volunteer work, Keira Wilson of the Johns Hopkins Life Design Lab writes in this commentary. The right positions can improve problem-solving, "active preparedness" and the "comfort to navigate ambiguity," Wilson writes.

Videos, personal visits and calling via phone or video are far more effective than emails if you need help, write Mahdi Roghanizad and Vanessa Bohns. "[I]f your goal is to get the 'yes,' our research demonstrates that asking face-to-face will almost always be your best bet," they write.

A recent Grant Thornton report found 68% of HR leaders increased the number of employees eligible to receive bonuses this year, while a WorldatWork poll found 79% of employers surveyed used sign-on bonuses to attract talent. "If flexibility is not an option, it is critical to differentiate your value proposition in a meaningful way," says Tim Glowa, principal at Grant Thornton.

Much has been made of the so-called "COVID baby boom," but the numbers actually represent the country's lowest rate of population since its founding. From a business perspective, it's interesting to see that while the pandemic was a catalyst for people to embrace remote work in less urban areas, New York only lost 1.6% of its population, suggesting the massive migration trends reported earlier in the pandemic may have been overblown.

Almost 3 in 4 US workers feel able to affect change in their work-life balance and 84% have reevaluated the way work affects their life, according to a Randstad USA report. In addition, more than 50% are job hunting due to not feeling "fairly rewarded for their work" and 60% say they are inspired by others to seek new roles.

Seasonal affective disorder can have a detrimental effect on sleep and mood, especially during winter months. Avoiding daytime naps, keeping anxiety symptoms under control, exercising outdoors, going to bed later and sticking to a daily routine are some ways to counteract the effects of SAD.

Peppermint candy canes are a perennially popular Christmas treat and decoration -- but they're harder to find this year, due in part to a fungus that's killing mint plants. The US is also producing nearly 25% less peppermint now than it did 10 years ago, according to the USDA. Peppermint fans may have to opt for one of the other many flavors of candy canes.