Wellness

Everything you need to know about wellness trends, self care, home fitness, and more.
10 Ways to Enjoy Your Home to Its Fullest
It can sometimes be easy to mindlessly move through your home, just going through the motions of your daily routine. Are you just existing in your home? Or are you enjoying your home to its fullest every day? There are a few ideas I’m re-reading these days to help me remember to really live in my home. 1. Laugh in it What really makes you laugh? Is it the latest viral pet video? Watch a bit before you jet off to work. Love stand-up comedy?
Adrienne Breaux
Jul 16, 2020
How To Avoid “Painter’s Shoulder”
It came as a major blow to my ego that despite twice-weekly yoga sessions and thrice-weekly weightlifting, my left shoulder was defeated by my recent dabbling in wall painting. All this pain, just from painting! Granted, it was 8 solid hours of painting, a few days each week… Still, one doesn’t like to think that a low-impact activity can do such damage to one’s relatively young and decently strong body.
Tess Wilson
Jul 16, 2020
What if the “Nesting Instinct” Never Kicks In?
When you’re pregnant you hear a lot of old wives’ tales, maternity myths and “what to expect while expectings”. My first pregnancy was relatively easy and uneventful and the first trimester I spent, like most women, sleepy and tired. So I was really looking forward to the “nesting stage” which is supposed to kick in during the second trimester and peak in the third.
Carrie McBride
Jul 16, 2020
Here’s What a List of “Home Goals” Should Look Like
Do you have goals for your home? I think it’s really effective–in all areas of life–to write down your goals and share them with others. And your home should be no exception. Whether you rent or own, whether you plan to be there for seven more months or seven more years (or forever!), you should keep a list of things you’d like to get done for a happy life at home. To get the most out of your list, make it a good mix of goals.
Taryn Williford
Jul 16, 2020
It’s Sagittarius Season: Here’s Your December Home Horoscope
Bigger, bolder, faster, brighter. December’s cosmic climate sends us speeding into Sagittarius energies, and the zodiac’s megawatt My-Little-Pony invites us to embrace the wild, wide open roads before us. Think voyages of all flavors, dancing ’til the break of dawn, and reinvesting in the radical, luck-be-a-lady faith that life is absolutely on your side. So roll the dice and pack up your rollerboards for flights far beyond the known.
Bess Matassa
Jul 16, 2020
Does Turning Down the Heat Really Burn More Calories?
In response to my recent post, Trying To Cut Down On Heating Costs? Go Gradually, a commenter wrote, “If I feel a little cold, I just tell myself that I am burning more calories when I am chilly… because that’s true.
Tess Wilson
Jul 16, 2020
7 Things You Can Do With Far-Away Friends That Don’t Involve Screens
Some of these ideas might require you to get outside of your comfort zone a little bit, but it will be so worth it.
Olivia Muenter
Jul 16, 2020
10 Tips for Making Winter Wake-Ups Easier
Now that winter’s here, my reluctance to get out of bed in the morning has mounted exponentially. It’s much easier to snuggle deep into the covers when my alarm goes off, and I’m constantly oversleeping when I know that I should get up. In an attempt to curb this bad habit, I’ve compiled some tips for making waking up a bit more manageable. Drinking water as soon as you wake up will help stimulate the body and help you stay awake.
Carolyn Purnell
Jul 16, 2020
The 7 Pillars of Adulting: Have You Mastered Them?
Being an adult isn’t easy. The demands of balancing bills, budgets, and a busy schedule can often be downright exhausting and trying at times, to say the least. That’s why like all things related to personal growth, acting like a grownup requires a lot of patience and practice. Needless to say, the art of maturity is a difficult one to master. To help, we’re taking a closer look at the seven basic skillsets of adulting and providing some useful resources along the way.
Caroline Biggs
Jul 16, 2020
3 Tips For Getting Warm on Cold Mornings
These days I live in mild San Francisco, but I spent the first 23 years of my life in Chicago, a city where a windchill of -20ºF (that’s -29ºC) turns waiting for the bus into an extreme sport. I’ve learned a few things over the years… I like to keep my apartment as cold as possible while I’m sleeping, but even if you don’t, the transition from under-the-covers to real world can be a brutal one.
Tess Wilson
Jul 15, 2020
Pallet Furniture: How to Choose and Prepare Reclaimed Wood for DIY Projects
Pallet projects, in every possible form, were early guests to the DIY party and have stayed around ever since. Using them for the reclaimed wood certainly has its risks (more on that later), but you can’t beat the price (which is usually free). Here’s a guide to everything you need to know: finding, choosing, cleaning, and breaking down one for use. Once you know the what’s what, you can decide for yourself if they are worth the effort.
Dabney Frake
Jul 15, 2020
14 Ways to Decorate with Vintage Pieces in Your Bathroom
Despite being small, bathrooms can be the trickiest to decorate. We find ourselves thinking wisely about every decision, since this room holds a captive audience. If you’re looking for a little country or vintage charm in your bathroom, try recycling or repurposing something you may already have.
Melissa DiRenzo
Jul 15, 2020
The 6 Best Water Filter Solutions I’ve Tested
Since starting Apartment Therapy, I’ve always felt it’s good to do everything you can to make your home comfortable and clean (in as little time as possible), and that air and water quality were fundamental. Living in New York City, I’ve never had a problem with the water, but when I started to drink cold filtered water I loved the difference. Particularly when making coffee or tea, filtered water really seemed to improve the taste. Years later, this is what I’ve learned.
Maxwell Ryan
Jul 15, 2020
Before & After: Under Stair Storage Redo
Like many other small space dwellers, we have almost no closet or storage space in my home. The tenants before us took the first step to maximize the dead space under the stairs by removing a partition wall to open up the area, and installed a drop down hatch under the stair. Unfortunately they didn’t install a railing and instead only those awkward, sharp rectangular boxes — after several falls down the stairs it was painfully obvious something needed to change!
Rachel Wray Thompson
Jul 15, 2020
One Minute Tip: Build Your Own Snowblower Cab
At Apartment Therapy, we believe the more personal you make your space, the happier you will be in it (and that goes for the time you spend caring for the roads leading up to your space, too!). In today’s video, Grandpa Carl shows us his hand-built custom snowblower cab, which he invented and built for less than it would cost to buy one commercially.
Rebecca Blumhagen
Jul 15, 2020
Life at Home: Ways To Enjoy a Grown-Up “Snow Day” Anytime
During the first half of my life growing up in New York, snow days meant waking up early, gripping the radio in hope that my school’s name would be called out so I would get to spend the day playing in the snow with my friends.The second half of my life has been on the West Coast where snow and winter became foreign words. Until last year that is when I moved to the Pacific Northwest and entered the world of seasons once more.
Alysha Findley
Jul 15, 2020
How To Really Enjoy a Day Off
A day off is a gift and in today’s hard-working world, a thing to be savored. For some of us, that means a recuperating and revitalizing opportunity — a day without any goals beyond recharging batteries. For others, the idea of an “extra” day to accomplish a home-based goal, whether crafting, cleaning, decorating or renovating is simply too good to let pass by.
Janel Laban
Jul 15, 2020
8 Ways To Use a Bowl In Your Home
Cambria has recently mentioned her affinity for bowls in the home and I have to wholeheartedly agree. They’re perfect for use all around your space, not just for a bowl of cereal! Here are a few suggestions on how to get more from your bowls:Now admittedly the bowls in the photo above aren’t the greenest of nature but they still convey the point we’re looking to illustrate below. See where else you can put them to use (besides your tool chest) from the tips below!1.
Sarah Rae Smith
Jul 15, 2020
Review: The Hastens Excelsior II
Bed: Excelsior II with BJX Mattress Top Manufacturer: Hastens Retail Price: $13,350 I just received a new bed to test for October, so it’s time to weigh in on the bed I tested for the whole month of September — the Hastens. My nutshell review: awesome bed, awesomely expensive. I LOVE this bed for two reasons: 1. I sink into it wonderfully and sleep really well and 2. it has zero smells or textures that are toxic or off-putting. Ten beds to go.
Maxwell Ryan
Jul 15, 2020
5 Things To Do With Extra Sofa Pillows
The small pillows that came with my sofa upon purchase didn’t really accent anything as their name might suggest. I wanted something a little brighter and jazzier. Instead of keeping those pillows shoved in the back corner of the linen closet, try putting them to use with one of these 5 ideas:1. Remove The Covers: By removing the pillow covers, you can switch them out to be any color, pattern or style you want. It seems obvious, but is an easy one to forget.2.
Sarah Rae Smith
Jul 15, 2020
Take This Quiz To Find Out What You Need to Change About Your Work-From-Home Setup
Your productivity and health will thank you later.
Nicoletta Richardson
Jul 8, 2020
Sewing Masks for My Community Was a Gift for Everyone Involved
I joined a local mask-making group on Facebook, where a small army of amateur sewers gathered online, dusted off their sewing machines and did what we could with all our hearts.
Shifrah Combiths
Jul 7, 2020
There Are 5 Quarantine Cleaning Personalities—Which One Are You?
Plus some tips that can help you harness your energy, or triggers to look out for to avoid burnout.
Ashley Abramson
Jul 1, 2020
These 3 Relationship Rules Will Solve Your Fights About Falling Asleep During Netflix
The point of watching a show together is to watch the show *together*.
Olivia Muenter
Jun 24, 2020
This New CDC Study Finds that One-Third of U.S. Households Are Cleaning Wrong
New evidence from the CDC found many people are cleaning incorrectly—and engaging in unsafe cleaning behaviors.
Ashley Abramson
Jun 17, 2020
I Tried 5 Different Tricks to Cure My Insomnia—Here’s What Worked, and What Didn’t
It may take a little time and strategy, but those glorious hours of shut-eye are worth your while.
Ashley Abramson
Jun 9, 2020
6 Cat Breeds for People With Allergies (And Why There’s No Such Thing As Hypoallergenic Cats)
If you’ve ever Googled around for hypoallergenic cat breeds and come up with exactly zero results, that’s because hypoallergenic cats don’t really exist.
Olivia Muenter
Jun 8, 2020
We Asked 29 Celebrities to Share Their Ideal Bedtime, and This Was the Most Popular Answer
Even if it never actually happens...
Nicoletta Richardson
May 26, 2020
I Worked From Home For A Year Before Coronavirus—But Here Are 6 Things I Needed to Switch Up
I saw people panic about how difficult working from home may be, and part of me thought, “OK, I’ve got this handled.” But then... I didn’t.
Olivia Muenter
May 15, 2020
The Best Thing You Can Do With 20 Minutes and a Piece of Paper, Especially if You’re Feeling Anxious
Weekend Projects
"Getting out of your head" is sometimes the best remedy for a looming anxiety spiral. But I, for one, don't want to miss what my thoughts might be trying to teach me.
Shifrah Combiths
May 15, 2020
5 Things You Might be Forgetting to Disinfect, According to an Epidemiologist
If you find relief in spraying and wiping down every possible surface right now, don't forget to focus on disinfecting these five things, as recommended by an epidemiologist.
Ashley Abramson
May 11, 2020
5 Things You Need to Know About Cleaning Your Face Mask, According to a PPE Expert
“I always recommend that you change your mask like you change your underwear: daily."
Ashley Abramson
May 5, 2020
3 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About Disinfecting with Bleach
Household bleach can be an effective way to stave off germs, including the novel coronavirus, but you need to make sure you follow expert instructions.
Ashley Abramson
May 4, 2020
One Simple Change You Can Make to Your Entryway to Help Prevent the Spread of Coronavirus
Good hygiene isn’t just about washing your hands and wearing a mask.
Ashley Abramson
May 1, 2020
I Started Living Alone for the First Time During New York City's Lockdown
Here's how it's going.
Madeline Bilis
Apr 29, 2020
Your “Work Self” is Gone Now That Your Coworkers Have Seen Your Apartment
Zoom calls can feel like a low-key treasure hunt of subtle clues about who our professional peers and colleagues really are. Here’s why you should embrace it.
Gray Chapman
Apr 28, 2020
Here’s What You Need to Know Before You Disinfect Your Floors
As with all disinfecting, it makes sense to take a targeted approach.
Ashley Abramson
Apr 23, 2020
9 Alternatives to Cloth Bath Mats
I love the feel of plush bath mats, but mine usually end up staying tamped down, accumulating dog hair, and generally not being nice and fluffy. Given that I recently learned I have a few household allergies, I’ve decided it’s time to forgo the cotton rug.I’m considering these options, most of which are naturally antifungal; others are aromatic. All I know is I won’t miss having to shake out and wash my cloth bath mat.1.
Kim R. McCormick
Apr 21, 2020
5 Things You Should Never Do with Hydrogen Peroxide
It's probably one of the most underrated cleaners of all time. But, as always, there are a few things to watch out for.
Shifrah Combiths
Apr 18, 2020
Do You Have a “City Persona” and a “Country Persona?”
We recently started talking about meeting your neighbors and it got me thinking about the variety of ways that people in different parts of the country (or the world for that matter) interact with each other in small ways, day-to-day. I’ve always realized that I act differently towards other people depending on the city I’m in, but that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it’s something of a cultural necessity.
Jennifer Hunter
Apr 14, 2020
What to Do Before, During, and After Someone (Like a Plumber or Landlord) Enters Your Home
Know it before you need it: Here's what an epidemiologist recommends for maintaining health and safety during essential in-home visits.
Ashley Abramson
Apr 14, 2020
My New Favorite Eye Mask Is Like a Weighted Blanket For the Face
It's like wrapping a tiny weighted blanket around your head.
Tara Bellucci
Apr 13, 2020
These Gyms and Fitness Brands Are Offering Free Virtual Workout Classes to Do At Home
From full-body workouts to yoga and meditation sessions, there's something for everyone.
Nicoletta Richardson
Apr 10, 2020
9 Things Smart Shoppers Ask Themselves Before They Buy Furniture
Don't pull out your wallet just yet.
Caroline Biggs
Apr 2, 2020
The Best Home Items To Use When You Don’t Have Workout Equipment, According to Fitness Experts
No fitness equipment? No problem.
Nicoletta Richardson
Apr 1, 2020
This $15 Journal Helps Me Feel Less Anxious Before I Go to Bed
It helps me be more intentional for tomorrow, too.
Amanda McKelvey
Apr 1, 2020
6 Laundry Tips an Expert Thinks You Should Know During the Coronavirus Outbreak
To learn more about the best (and most hygienic) laundry practices during a pandemic, we spoke with a laundry expert.
Ashley Abramson
Apr 1, 2020
7 Habits You Need to Start (Right Now) If You Suspect Someone in Your Home Is Sick
Here are seven steps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends if you’re living in the same home as a sick person.
Ashley Abramson
Mar 31, 2020
Sleep Better with Black-Out Curtains: Sources for Buying & Making Them
Being awoken by the sun is actually good for you, but there are times when darkening a room aids in sleep especially for napping children, shift workers or others with non traditional sleep schedules and for blocking artificial night time light such as from a streetlamp. Blackout curtains also are energy saving (keeping heat from escaping in the winter and the hot sun from heating up your room in the summer) and help block or muffle outdoor noise.
Carrie McBride
Mar 29, 2020
Is it Social-Distance Sadness… or Depression? Here’s How to Tell, According to Psychologists
And how to find help from home.
Ashley Abramson
Mar 27, 2020
So... Someone Sneezed Into the Air. Here's What to Do Next.
You can’t always predict when a cough or sneeze is coming on. And you definitely can't control roommates who won't take their health seriously.
Ashley Abramson
Mar 28, 2020
From Dance Parties to Book Clubs, Here Are the Best Video Apps for Each Home Activity
Not all video apps are created equal!
Ashley Ross
Mar 27, 2020
Here’s How To Exercise Your Dog Indoors, According To a Professional Trainer
Keep your dog happy and healthy, without leaving the house.
Inigo Del Castillo
Mar 27, 2020
You Can Virtually Hike Grand Canyon National Park and See the Colorful Rock Layers Up Close
Walk along the hanging cliffs and canyon walls, and get ready for the breathtaking views.
Nicoletta Richardson
Mar 26, 2020
The First 5 Things to Do When You Walk in the Door, According to a Microbiologist
Yes, grocery store hauls require a whole other level of vigilance right now.
Ashley Abramson
Mar 26, 2020
Here’s How to Work From Home with Your Partner, Kids, Roommate, or Parents
Regardless of the household dynamic, one thing is for certain: working from home together isn't always easy.
Nicoletta Richardson
Mar 25, 2020
4 Reasons Why You Should Keep Your Daily Routines When Working From Home
It could help your productivity, among other things.
Inigo Del Castillo
Mar 24, 2020
From Tokyo to Washington D.C., This Virtual Tour Lets You Visit Famous Cherry Blossom Sites Around the World
The destinations were picked by local guides, so you're in good hands.
Nicoletta Richardson
Mar 24, 2020
4 Simple Habits of People Who Always Go to Bed on Time
Sleep procrastination is a real thing. Here's how to stop.
Ashley Abramson
Mar 24, 2020
10 At-Home Spa & Beauty Products for When You Can’t Leave the House
In case you're missing those regular salon trips.
Kelsie Schrader
Mar 23, 2020
The Easiest Way to Sanitize Your Bed Sheets, According to a Laundry Expert
Even if you have access to a washer, you might want to take this extra maintenance step just to be sure you’re not sleeping in a literal bed of germs.
Ashley Abramson
Mar 23, 2020
Feeling Stressed? These Meditation Apps Are Free Right Now
Om-mazing.
Arielle Tschinkel
Mar 22, 2020
How to Sleep in the Midst of a Global Pandemic
If you feel like you're sleeping worse than ever, you're not alone.
Laura Schocker
Mar 22, 2020
How Long Can Germs (Like the Coronavirus) Live on Surfaces at Home?
Researchers are only beginning to understand how long the novel coronavirus can survive on surfaces, but here's what we know.
Ashley Abramson
Mar 22, 2020
Here Are the Aquariums and Zoos Sharing Live Videos of Animals, Because We All Need This Right Now
Sometimes there’s no better relief than watching a cute animal at play.
Nicoletta Richardson
Mar 20, 2020
You Can Virtually Tour These Lush Gardens Around the World to Celebrate the First Day of Spring
What better way to welcome spring?
Nicoletta Richardson
Mar 19, 2020
Do I Really Need 8 Hours Of Sleep Every Night? And 10 Other Things We’re Told Are Mandatory
Here’s what you need to know to rest easy.
Jennifer Nied
Mar 18, 2020
The Free “Video Voicemail” App That Helps Me Stay in Touch With My Long-Distance Best Friend
Marco Polo has given me a way to hold special people close in my life regardless of our physical distance.
Shifrah Combiths
Mar 18, 2020
Saturday Assignment: Remove Household Rust With These 5 Natural Remedies
Rust is a quiet, subtle things that sneaks up on your pans, pots, servingware and even some furniture. The weekend’s a perfect time to rid your metal of this pesky unsightly element. And guess what? There are five eco-friendly ways to remove rust, most of which came from you, our readers! Rust comes in many different forms, but the most common in households is rust from iron oxides, where metal is exposed to water or air moisture and becomes oxygenated.
Tiffany Finley
Mar 18, 2020
I Tried 5 Home Office Tips To Make Me More Productive—and Here’s What Worked
Most of them are tiny changes that cost no money at all, and all of them helped me feel more productive, settled, and happy with my at-home work environment.
Olivia Muenter
Mar 17, 2020
You Can Watch Free Performances Streamed By the Metropolitan Opera Every Night of the Week
No dress code required!
Nicoletta Richardson
Mar 16, 2020
My Latest Obsession: The Hot Water Bottle
We’ve had freezing temperatures in San Francisco this week, which is way worse than getting them in, say, New York. Our windows are old and drafty and not insulated for this kind of weather. In fact, I’ve lived in two apartments with no heat at all. It’s not uncommon here, where temps don’t tend to dip below 50. But this season, my Chilean boyfriend turned me on to the hot water bottle. I hadn’t used one since I was a kid with the flu.
Theresa Gonzalez
Mar 13, 2020