Workplace well-being programs, it seems, havenever been more popular. From technology advances (especially thosein the wearable-tech space) to increased corporateinterest and more media coverage, workplace well-being programs areon everyone's minds these days.

There are plenty of posts and articles predicting what to expectin the well-being industry this year. Since I work in this space,here are five key trends I'm noticing.

1 Personalization plus!

Fact: Employees are looking for personalization in their corporate well-beingprograms. And companies are getting smarter about using digital platforms, apps and wearable devices tomeet employees' preferences to have personalized experiences,whether they're in the office, working remotely or on-the-go.

We're starting to see companies use all the well-being datathey're capturing via this technology to more readily designexperiences for employees that match their preferences and needs.What does this look like? Typically, recommended well-beingcontent, specific program offerings, and fine-tuned offerings basedon employee interest top the list.

All this focus on personalization will help increase well-beingprogram effectiveness and adoption rates and support awareness andcommunications issues currently at hand. One of the main barriersto adoption for employer well-being programs today is simply a lackof knowledge that such a program exists.

Looking ahead, I don't see technology replacing the live, humanelement of workplace well-being (think classes and healthcoaching). Rather, it will enable connections that weren'totherwise possible (like linking colleagues with similar healthgoals and interests around the globe to build camaraderie andsupport one another's progress).

2 Tackling workplace stress

Over the past few years, we've heard quite a bit about thecompounding effects of stress on today's employees—and theiremployers. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has calledstress the health epidemic of the 21st century. One recent studyfound that work-related stress costs U.S. businesses $30 billion ayear in lost workdays (some estimate it at closer to $300billion).

In response, many companies are turning to meditation andmindfulness for help. And they're finding mindfulness can boostcreativity and sharpen focus—two things that employers are eager toretain in the “always-on” age.

Others are looking more closely at on-site fitness centers,which can facilitate everything from creative fitness classes (likehula hooping, ballet barre and Kangoo jumps) to five-minute energybreaks that can keep employees refreshed and less stressedthroughout the day.

3 Napping in the workplace?

Once considered laughable, workplace napping is now a conceptmany employers are embracing as a way to give employees a break andboost productivity during the workday.

Sleep deprivation is a serious issue. One RAND study estimatessleep deprivation costs U.S. employers roughly $411 billionannually. As a result, employers are taking notice and looking formore and bettercreative ways to support their employees.

In the year ahead, I think we'll see more employers tacklingsleep deprivation head-on through sleep awareness and educationprograms, as well as incentive programs that track employees' sleepand provide points towards rewards for achieving set sleep goals.And yes, we'll see those nap rooms pop up more often, too!

4 Vending machines make a comeback

Another on-site well-being offering that I see resurging thisyear? Vending machines. But we're not talking about your father'svending machines. The vending machines of 2018 will include healthyoptions.

We're also seeing this in the consumer space, with CVSexperimenting with machines that are filled with vitamins andhealthy snacks. Expect to see vending machines pop up in an officenear you soon (if they haven't already).

5 The standing desk boom

2018 will be the year standing desks really make inroads incorporate well-being programs. Given the lifestyle of today'saverage office worker—sitting all day with minimal breaks—sittinghas been labeled a worse health hazard than smoking. As a result,employers are looking to help employees get a little more movementinto their day.

Research from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)has called the standing desk the fastest-growing employee benefitin the U.S. An added bonus for employers? These offerings are easyto implement and are exactly the types of perks that younger,health-minded workers are looking for when they walk through anoffice during the interview process.