Laura Newcomer

Environmental & Personal Wellness Expert

Laura Newcomer is a writer, editor, and educator with multiple years of experience working in the environmental and personal wellness space. Formerly Senior Editor at the health site Greatist, Laura now lives and works in Colorado. Her writing has been published on Washington Post, TIME Healthland, Greatist, DailyBurn, Lifehacker, and Business Insider, among others.

She has taught environmental education to students of all ages in both Pennsylvania and Maine, and prioritizes living an environmentally sustainable lifestyle. She’s a big proponent of creating self-sustaining communities and accessible healthy food systems that care for both people and the earth. In addition, her work frequently centers on workplace trends with an emphasis on wellness both in and out of the workplace.

An avid outdoorswoman, she can often be found hiking, kayaking, backpacking, and tending to her garden. Get in touch via Twitter or LinkedIn.

Articles By Laura Newcomer

30 articles

January 11, 2019

What to do at work when you’re going through something at home

in Career Advice

When we’re going through something in our personal lives, those issues don’t stay tidily contained to our existence outside of work. Instead, they tend to bleed into and affect every aspect of our lives, including our jobs. When you’re dealing…

6 minutes

January 2, 2019

What is business casual? (plus, examples)

in Workplace Culture

Business casual wardrobes are meant to offer employees some respite from dressing up in fancy clothes at work every day. The demand for business casual dress codes is high enough that more than 60 percent of businesses now accept this…

4 minutes

December 24, 2018

7 office holiday party games that aren’t a drag

in Workplace Culture

On the surface, “office” and “party” may seem like polar opposite terms. Office parties of any type—but perhaps especially holiday parties—have earned a nasty reputation as obligations to be suffered through rather than pleasurable activities to be enjoyed. That can…

5 minutes

December 14, 2018

What is ergonomics in the workplace and how can we improve it?

in Office Tips

Workplace ergonomics refers to the practice of designing a workspace to reduce team members’ fatigue and limit the potential for workplace injury. In many modern workplaces, workers spend hours completing forceful and/or repetitive tasks that can lead to musculoskeletal strain…

4 minutes

November 2, 2018

Whip up gorgeous DIY wood signs without hand lettering

in Lifestyle

Blame Pinterest or Fixer Upper: For whatever reason, wood signs have become wildly popular.What makes them so appealing is their homey, non-mass-produced aesthetic, which is why many people choose the DIY route when it comes to crafting wood signs.If you’re…

5 minutes

October 23, 2018

13 creative home office desk ideas

in Office Tips

Whether you just made the decision to work from a home office or you’ve been working from home for decades, one of the most important fixtures in your home workspace is your desk. The right desk creates an aesthetic that…

6 minutes

October 16, 2018

How to create custom napkins for your next party

in Office Tips

From birthdays and baby showers to office potlucks, big promotions, and retirements custom napkin designs are all the rage. They add a unique, personal feel and a touch of whimsy—whether they’re specific to a holiday or if you use them…

3 minutes

September 26, 2018

6 office organization ideas to boost productivity

in Office Tips

If you’re looking to increase your productivity, you might think about investing in a time management course or to delegate more tasks. But while these are sound strategies, you may be better off starting right under your nose by reorganizing…

6 minutes

September 5, 2018

6 ground rules for productive meetings

in Office Tips

Team members are fed up with meetings.That’s the conclusion of countless studies, including a report by Harvard Business Review, which found 70 percent of survey participants believed meetings are both inefficient and unproductive. Those surveyed felt meetings can be a…

5 minutes

August 16, 2018

Minimalist living tips for a more productive life

in Lifestyle

Minimalist living has gained a lot of press in recent years, and for good reason. People who embrace a minimalist ethos—which involves reducing material possessions and making more conscious decisions about purchasing habits and other lifestyle choices—tend to enjoy several…

6 minutes

July 20, 2018

Tips on how to read body language in the workplace

in Office Tips

At times, navigating workplace dynamics can feel a bit like playing that old “Frogger” video game: You dodge one of many dicey workplace topics only to see a grumpy coworker incoming, or you make it through a tough board meeting…

6 minutes

March 22, 2018

Gmail: Tips, hacks and extensions for this top email client

in Office Tips

Gmail boasts more than 1 billion monthly active users. Despite its popularity, we’re willing to bet the vast majority of Gmail users aren’t aware of the many tips and tools that can make their inboxes more efficient and productive. While…

10 minutes

January 30, 2018

How your favorite color can help you find the perfect job

in Career Advice

Asking “What’s your favorite color?” may be a way for children to bond with each other, but the answer might matter even more when we’re grown up.The field of color psychology posits that the colors we like may shed some…

7 minutes1 comment

Office Philanthropy Ideas to Lend a Helping Hand as a Team

May 5, 2017

How to start a corporate philanthropy program

in Workplace Culture

Corporate giving is on the rise—and that's good news both for nonprofits and the businesses that help sustain them. From 2014 to 2015, businesses' philanthropic efforts grew 3.9 percent, totaling a whopping $18.46 billion. One 2015 study found more than…

4 minutes

April 7, 2017

5 Common challenges administrative assistants face (and what to do about them)

in Office Tips

Administrative assistants make the corporate world go ’round. They keep the entire office running smoothly, assist with vital preparations for important meetings, free up executives’ time to focus on strategic planning, facilitate onboarding of new employees, serve as a source…

9 minutes

March 10, 2017

Move aside, sweetheart: Phrases and words we should nix from the workplace

in Workplace Culture

Words are powerful. They communicate a lot about our character, priorities, and work ethic—sometimes without us even realizing it. They can persuade someone to be on our team and embrace our ideas, or they can alienate other people and contribute…

10 minutes1 comment

Public speaking is scary: Here’s how to get over your fear

February 10, 2017

Here’s how to get over your fear of public speaking

in Career Advice

If the thought of delivering a speech in front of a crowd leaves your hands clammy and your body shaking in your boots, you’re not alone. According to a 2011 Gallup poll, more than 40 percent of Americans admit to…

9 minutes1 comment

Consider these dieting myths and misconceptions this January

January 13, 2017

6 Dieting myths to avoid in 2017

in Lifestyle

There’s plenty of well-intentioned health advice out there, but unfortunately a lot of it is misguided. Once a dieting myth works its way into the mainstream, it can be very difficult to uproot. Regardless of whether you consider yourself an…

5 minutes

December 30, 2016

How to navigate controversial topics in the workplace

in Workplace Culture

If you grew up in the United States, odds are good that someone taught you the following topics were off limits outside the home: politics, religion, and sex. American workplaces have long upheld these and other conversational taboos. For example,…

9 minutes

December 9, 2016

How to ask for help when you’re stretched too thin

in Workplace Culture

If the phrase “Why don’t you ask for help?” makes every fiber of your being uncomfortable, then you’re not alone. American culture, with a strong emphasis on self-reliance, breeds insecurity about asking for help. This is especially true in U.S.…

6 minutes