Wellness

I’ve had a Hatch alarm clock for a few years. I am a big fan of the clock — I love that at 9:30 every night, it starts emitting calming sounds and lights to let me know it’s almost time for bed. I love that it keeps me off my phone first thing in the morning. I love the white noise options that I can change up every night, if I want to. It’s helped me sleep a bit better, and I appreciate it for that.

On the weekends or days when we’re both working from home, my husband and I often sit down in the afternoon and have a coffee. It’s a little daily ritual that I look forward to, but up until recently I didn’t have a name for it. Then one day, while waiting with my kids at a doctor’s appointment, I picked up a magazine to read and pass the time and discovered a small mention of something called “fika” in a local coffee shop ad.

I live in New York City, where there are quite a few Eastern European saunas and bath houses. I’ve only been to a few of them, but every experience has been memorable — partially because of how intense-slash-relaxing a sauna or spa day can be, but also because of the ambiance. Some spas serve full meals, and some have rooms where the walls are made entirely of ice. And sometimes I’ll see someone getting brushed with leafy sticks while steaming up in the sauna.

I seriously suffer from jet lag — especially after a long-haul flight, even if I’ve managed to get a few hours of shut-eye. It seems like my jet lag symptoms seem to hang around for days. Even when I’m in an exciting new country, I find myself walking around like a zombie during the day, and being fully awake ready to run a marathon in the middle of the night.

As hard as it is to believe, autumn is nearly here. It can be sad to see the summer go, but fall is a wonderful time of year and deserves to be celebrated. You can go apple picking, put a simmer pot on the stove, bake a pumpkin pie, or add an autumnal wreath to your front door. There’s another even simpler way to bring some festive, calming fall vibes to your daily routine, and it doesn’t require going on a trip or carving up a pumpkin.

Before the ’90s, there was no such thing as a smartphone, and cell phones had yet to reach commercial popularity. The most common way to get in touch with someone was to walk into the room where your landline phone was placed. (In my house when I was growing up, this was the kitchen.) While they still exist, landlines are rarer than they used to be. They were corded or wireless, and often mounted to the wall.

No spa membership (or massive backyard) needed.

When my boyfriend (now fiancé) and I moved in together, we sold my mattress and decided to keep his. While it was very comfortable, I still wanted to get a mattress topper to add some extra oomph. And because we’re both hot sleepers, I prioritized finding one that was cooling. Then there was the added challenge of finding a topper that was comfortable for all sleep positions, as he sleeps on his back and side and I sleep on my stomach.

I spent $170 on mine, but you don’t have to spend more than $10.

Ask anyone who knows me, and they’ll tell you that I’ve never, ever had any trouble falling asleep. It’s waking up that’s the problem. I’m a notorious snoozer, and I have the horrible habit of oversleeping, then jolting awake in a panic about being late for work (not exactly a graceful start to the morning).

Here’s what to do when you don’t know what to do.

It's a really nice treat at the end of a long day or as a part of a spa night.

It feels like magic.

It truly changed my life in a tangible way over the long term.

These essentials have made every trip easier.

The tong possibilities are endless.

It's so cute, too!

It’s an instant, cheap way to cool down.

Including cooling, sustainable, and couple-friendly picks to please anyone.

I don’t know how I ever slept without it.

The heat is healing.

My grandma and my mom passed down this routine to me.

I felt less reactive throughout the day — and slept better, too.

Survival became an aesthetic directive: If my body is fragile, my environment must be intentional.

It works — it just depends on what you want out of an app blocker.

Better sleep, incoming!

It blends right in with my decor.

Unlike the internet, my Sunday paper has a last page. There’s nothing else to click.

Going green is easier than you think!

I’ve never wanted to work out more.

It’s so comfortable, and can be used in so many places.

It helps combat loneliness.

Let me tell you: These buckets can do it all.

The florals are intoxicating.

It turns out, I love my phone.

As I shed items from my marriage, I was able to move forward without the weight of painful memories that might otherwise hold me back.

It helps me say hello to spring — and shed the old me every year.

And lingered for hours.

Plus, they're on sale!

It’s the “factory reset” I needed.

As I began to embrace midlife as a single woman, these six practices helped me feel more connected to the new “me” — and my new home.

I’ll never go back.

It’s collapsible!

“Now my mattress feels like the ones in really nice hotels.”

From IKEA, Pottery Barn, and more!

Sleep tech and more.

It’s so relaxing, and only takes 10 minutes of downtime a night.

It helped me break up with my phone.

There’s a way to do it.

I won’t sleep or travel without it.

Plus, other ways I use the flowers to give my home a spring refresh.

And it's great for small spaces!