Cultivating Gratitude, Preventing Burnout: A Thanksgiving Reflection from NovaOne

As we enter Thanksgiving week, many of us are reflecting on what it means to pause, reconnect and restore. The holidays can bring joy and connection, but they also arrive during one of the highest-stress periods of the year. At a time when burnout rates remain elevated and behavioral health needs continue to rise, intentional self-care becomes more than a nice-to-have. It becomes essential.

At NovaOne, we believe gratitude, connection and skills-based self-care are powerful protective factors for our mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. They are the foundations of wellbeing, buffers against stress and key components of the behavioral health approaches we deliver every day.

In that spirit, we’re sharing a few reflections this Thanksgiving week on the role of gratitude and self-care in preventing burnout and supporting lasting mental health.

Gratitude as a Protective Factor
Research shows that gratitude is more than a feeling. It is a measurable and evidence-based practice that supports emotional regulation, resilience and psychological wellbeing. Studies link gratitude to lower rates of depression, improved sleep and increased optimism.

Why? Gratitude shifts our focus from what is overwhelming to what is grounding. It acts as a counterweight to stress by expanding our awareness of what’s going well in our lives - support, connection and what truly matters.

For health plans, employers and providers, creating space for gratitude amongst your team is a simple but meaningful way to strengthen wellbeing across populations. For individuals, it often provides a powerful daily reset during high-demand seasons.

The Burnout Reality and the Path Forward
Burnout remains a widespread and urgent workforce issue. In 2024, more than 59% of U.S. employees reported symptoms of burnout, with a surprising consistency across industries. High workloads, emotional demands and limited / fragmented access to care continue to challenge both individuals and organizations.

Studies show that 75% of full-time employees report experiencing low mood and 74% say they want more mental-health resources in the workplace. These numbers reinforce what many health plans and employers are already experiencing firsthand. Burnout is on the rise - and it affects performance, engagement, absenteeism and overall health costs.

Preventing burnout requires two things:

1. Individual science-based practices that support emotional and physical wellbeing
2. System-level solutions that provide accessible and evidence-based care, especially for high-acuity needs

This is where NovaOne’s integrated ecosystem plays an essential role, brining preventive and curative care together in one platform.

Self-Care That’s Practical, Not Performative
Self-care isn’t about finding extra hours in the day. It’s about building skills, creating boundaries and accessing timely support. Small habits help to meaningfully reduce stress and improve wellbeing:

• Take a moment each day to notice what’s going well
• Pause before saying “yes” to new commitments
• Use grounding exercises when stress rises
• Prioritize sleep hygiene
• Reach out for support or connection when needed

In NovaOne’s preventive digital modules, rooted in CBT, DBT, emotion regulation skills and mindfulness-based practices, we guide members through practical and evidence-based tools that help build resilience and reduce burnout risk.

The NovaOne Connection
At NovaOne, we’re focused on addressing burnout and behavioral health needs through one unified platform. We integrate:

• 25+ preventive digital modules that strengthen resilience and teach skills for everyday mental health
• 25+ evidence-based provider partners who support conditions such as SMI, SUD, OCD, PTSD, maternal mental health, eating disorders and more
• A single seamless member experience that eliminates fragmented care, reduces administrative burden and improves access to timely support

By bringing prevention and treatment together in one platform, NovaOne helps members access self-care tools early when they can be most effective (before they hit a wall), while also ensuring high-acuity care is readily accessible when needed.

This integrated approach supports individuals as well as the HR teams, benefits leaders and health plans working to improve workforce wellbeing, reduce claims costs and prevent burnout at scale.

 A Moment of Gratitude
This Thanksgiving, we are grateful for:

• The health plans and employers who trust us to support their members
• Our provider partners who deliver evidence-based care for SMIs and SUDs with compassion
• The 14+ million individuals who use NovaOne’s tools to strengthen their wellbeing
• Our own team of experts in clinical care, behavioral health and digital health platforms whose commitment and expertise drive our mission forward

Most of all, we’re grateful to help shape a future in behavioral health where people receive the right care at the right time in one connected experience.

Wishing You a Restorative Holiday
We hope this week brings moments of rest, connection with family and friends and reflection. Whether you’re taking time for yourself, spending it with loved ones or supporting others through the season, we wish you a safe and restorative Thanksgiving.

If your organization is exploring more effective ways to support member wellbeing, from preventive tools to evidence-based support for high-acuity conditions, we’re here to help.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at NovaOne.
We invite you to take a moment for yourself and your family. Download our free Holiday Wellbeing Reset Activity, created by NovaOne’s clinical and wellbeing experts, to help you pause, reconnect and strengthen mental wellbeing together. Download the Free  Holiday Wellbeing Reset Activity.

Sources: BusinessWire, HIGH5, The Interview Guys, Wellhub