Wellness

U.S. Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon is one of the 2018 games’ breakout stars, loved for his unwavering integrity, unmatched wit and, of course, his athleticism and artistry on the ice. Needless to say, we could all learn a thing or two from Adam on how to live well.

It’s a brutal winter. The world outside can be a horrible place. Can you blame anyone for wanting to cancel their plans, stay in, sleep late and watch TV all weekend? It’s self care, after all, and we can all get behind that. I mean, it feels good to get cozy and binge on, well, pretty much any shows out right now. And who among us doesn’t need some more shut-eye?

Let’s preface this by stating clearly that there is absolutely nothing wrong with sex or TV. They’re both fantastic when enjoyed with a loving partner (or by yourself). But whether your relationship is brand new or you’ve been together so long you’re inadvertently starting to dress the same, building intimacy as a couple is important. And real intimacy, well, that can sometimes take more than just a little Netflix and chill.

Are you a card-carrying member of Exfoliation Nation? Then you need to know about the Italy Towel, a sandpaper-esque mitt worshipped by skincare fanatics. If you’re one for falling down the rabbit hole that is internet skincare sites — Reddit’s Skincare Addiction is a personal fave — then you may have seen the abrasive and (often) electric green-colored towel before.

If Lainey Morse, the woman who started the Goat Yoga craze, were to write an autobiography, it should be called “Bleat, Pray, Love.

A little exploration of the science behind self care, and why sending that "Hey, I can't make it anymore" text feels so damn good.

Did you have a bad day recently (have you heard Bad Day recently)? How many would you say are bad out of 365? A new study says that this is how many the average American has each year. A survey commissioned by Freeletics, a fitness app, says that the average American has 60 bad days a year. That’s 60 spilled coffee down your shirt, missed your train, got a flat tire, heard some bad news, remembered all of your student loans, saw your ex get married days to reckon with.

If you’ve ever sipped on a velvety, chewy glass of red wine so delicious that you thought to yourself, “Wow, I could take a bath in this,” then you just might be ready to try the Medieval self-care regimen we didn’t know we were missing — but are totally here for now.

Pets belong on the bed. At our house anyway, and at many of yours, I bet. In fact, surveys on the topic show that around half of pet owners let them sleep on the bed. As for us, our little guy Truffle starts out wedged between my pillows and my husband’s, but at some point in the night moves to curl up to my back, a solid, warm little brick that’s surprisingly immovable for 16 pounds.

There goes This Is Us, getting us all teary eyed yet again. The season two finale is Tuesday night, and from the previews, we’re sure it’s about to bring on the waterworks. But Chrissy Metz is having us reach for the tissues early, because she just shared a a touching detail from the episode on Instagram.

Stretching is critical component of physical fitness and overall health. “It keeps the muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, and we need that flexibility to maintain a range of motion in the joints,” according to experts at Harvard Health. “Without it, the muscles shorten and become tight. Then, when you call on the muscles for activity, they are weak and unable to extend all the way. That puts you at risk for joint pain, strains, and muscle damage.

Did you know that March is National Sleep Awareness Month? That’s right—there’s a month dedicated to crawling in bed and catching up on Zzz’s. Eager to celebrate? Us, too. But before you pull out your matching PJs, cue up Netflix, and set an alarm on your iPhone, make sure you’re not making these common sleep mistakes. You’ve likely heard this sleep “no no” over and over again. But do you know the science behind it?

Joanna Gaines is straight up health #goals. The Fixer Upper star, who recently announced her fifth pregnancy, started off the New Year with the announcement that she was going to work out every day for 21 days. She kept herself accountable by posting about it on Instagram every day, tallying up her workouts, which ranged from running on the treadmill to strength training. In each one, she sported the same pair of black Nike sneakers. Well better late than never.

Is it just me or does it seem like astrology is everywhere? Not that I’m mad about it—I check about four different sites every Monday and look forward to our Home Horoscopes every month. I was talking to my friend Emily the other day, a true astrology believer, about getting back into the online dating game when she whipped out an astrology card to check on my compatibility with a guy I’d matched with.

You know the drill. You order Chinese takeout, it arrives, and you pull everything out of the brown paper grocery sack in preparation to chow down on some chow mein. But when you reach the bottom of the bag, you’re distracted by a question nagging your brain: How could one person possibly use all of these sauce packets? How many people do they think you were ordering for? And why is the number of sauce packets so disproportionate to the number of fortune cookies?

Confidently flashing a smile can indicate confidence and friendliness, and make a strong first impression. So it’s totally normal to chase whiter, brighter teeth by turning to a professional for treatments or reaching for a package of whitener at the drugstore.

Oh happy day! Yale University has a class centered around inner peace and happiness, and surprise, it’s one of their most popular. Psychology and the Good Life is taught by professor Laurie Santos and, over a short time, has become one of the most popular classes in the university’s history. “Students report being more depressed than they have ever been in history at college,” Professor Santos explained.

Waking up with linen lines imprinted on your face is no fun, but it’s hard to resist the urge to snuggle into a soft, cozy pillow at night. Especially since you’re, you know, asleep. But sleep-you doesn’t necessarily know what’s best, which is why she needs awake-you to be the voice of reason. And for both your sakes, it’s time to pull out those satin pillowcases you stuffed inside the closet long ago.

There aren’t a ton of excellent restaurants where I live. But there’s little traffic, I run into people I’ve known all my life at the grocery store, and my friends have been my friends nearly all my life, so for what it lacks in dining, it makes up for by simply being the place I want to be. But good lord, trying to find a decent salad a shade more interesting than a Caesar is a struggle, which is why I’ve had to really brush up on my at-home salad skills.

More nights than I care to admit, I work into the wee hours of the morning, slinging words so I can pay for important things like Netflix and magnetic eyelashes. When I finally drag my tired body toward the bedroom, I have just enough energy left to brush my teeth before crashing. But as I fall asleep to the symphonic range of my husband’s snoring, I often wonder just how bad it is for me to skip washing my face. Is the good skincare fairy going to come down and bop me on the head?

I always tell my kids that we don’t always get to choose our feelings, but we get to choose what we do with them. Sometimes those emotions, though, can be so strong that they feel impossible to overcome. This is where it helps to fake it ’til we make it: Acting as if we feel a certain way can cause us to actually feel that way. It’s science.

You’ve probably heard it many times before: Meal planning is a great way to eat healthier and save money. But where do you even begin? You can buy all the nice containers you want, and understand the golden rule of meal planning, but how do you actually decide what to make for the week? Meal templates are a great place to start for planning, but if you’re more of a visual person, Instagram might have what you’re looking for.

Move over, hygge. There’s a new unpronounceable #lifegoal in town for 2018, and though it does have some roots in Scandinavian tradition it’s now the Austrians who are claiming they have the real secret to happy living—with gemütlichkeit. According to the Oxford Institute, gemütlichkeit is a German-language word that sums up as “quality time” and is used to convey the idea of a state or feeling of warmth, friendliness, cordiality, and good cheer.

When you’re on the go all the time, it’s easy to be overly (almost accidentally) wasteful. Not-so-eco-friendly disposables—think plastic bottles of water, tissue, and shopping bags—often become the go-to when we’re running around in a rush. That’s why it pays to stock up on compact, eco-conscious items ahead of time, so they’re already in your bag in a pinch.

A good documentary has the power to make you look at the world differently, and if it’s really impactful, might change the way you live your life. Case in point: Sustainability documentaries—like ones that educate viewers about the global effects of excessive trash and waste. Watch one stellar documentary about the importance of sustainability, and we can pretty much guarantee you’ll start thinking twice about all the stuff you throw away in a day.

There are many ways living in Germany has changed my life, but the greatest change came from a most unexpected source: a cheese box. How has a five-Euro plastic container made such a huge impact on my dinner habits and well-being? And what makes a cheese box so superior to a dedicated cheese drawer in your refrigerator? A cheese box is ingenious because you can fill it with cheese from the market and put it straight on your dinner table — that’s why.

As if we needed another reason to buy everything on Amazon, we go and uncover a whole new section of affordable offerings, most of which are $2. Yes, two bucks. Believe it or not, Amazon has a special sample store, filled with everything from beauty to baby care products, exclusively for Prime members. Translation: You can get your hands on samples of some of Amazon’s bestsellers for about $2 a pop.

If you are a frequent traveler, like I have been at points in my life, packing your bag becomes almost second nature. You don’t have to think about it; you just know what you need (and, just as importantly, what you don’t). Over the years I have made the somewhat controversial decision to leave one item behind: my water bottle. This is not to say I don’t love a cute water bottle or that I don’t hydrate. I do!

Life can get crazy. That’s why it’s important to take mental breaks from daily stress throughout the day. And while for some of us that might mean watching a mindless reality TV show or playing a silly iPhone game, there are also some more enriching ways to spend your downtime, when you feel so inclined. The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by work or family, try calming yourself down with a more cerebral distraction.

If you haven’t already heard of the latest fitness trend sweeping the nation, now’s the time to listen up. Known as “plogging,” Sweden’s current workout craze has officially made its way to the U.S. shores, and it’s all about environmentally-friendly exercise. A mash-up of jogging and the Swedish term “”plocka upp”—which means “pick up”—ploggers make it a point to stop and collect litter during their runs.

Period sex is a highlight of what I, personally, consider the most miserable 3-5 days of the month. Because of my birth control, it’s been about a year since I’ve had an actual period, but the previous fifteen years of intermittent anguish are burned into my memory: cramps, mood swings, anxiety attacks, ruined underwear, bloating, acne, and spotted sheets, to name just a few symptoms. But sex on my period?

You’re just getting home after a long night, or you’re rushing to work in the morning, and you think: A quick rinse with mouthwash will be the same as brushing my teeth. Sound familiar? Unfortunately for you, that logic isn’t quite right. While mouthwash can be a helpful addition to your oral hygiene routine, it should never be a replacement for proper dental care, says Dr.

As an avid traveler, I often get asked for my best tips. Well, here’s one: Coca-Cola. Yes, my friends, the same carbonated beverage that can actually clean your toilet has become my preferred partner in crime when I travel. I swear by this brown, bubbly liquid to protect against food-related tummy troubles. Truth: I’m not entirely sure how it works.

Being healthy can feel like a chore—you think that you have to cook special food or try trendy fitness classes to achieve any healthy goals. However, when I talked to some really healthy individuals—from the founder of Whole30 to a sleep doctor—none of them brought up any scary superfoods or crazy workout routines. Turns out, being healthy is just about making a few very simple, but very good, choices.

As of 2016, almond milk was the most popular milk of all milks in the United States. And even with all the newcomers — cashew milk, coconut milk, hemp milk, oat milk — we’d guess it’s still the darling of the “mylks.” But does it deserve its spotlight in the non-dairy section of your supermarket? Here are a few things you should know about almond milk. Like all the other non-dairy milks, it’s lactose-free.

If you’re seeking stronger abs, you’ll be hard pressed to find a core routine that doesn’t include planks. Gone are the days when people crunched to oblivion (while wearing headbands and leg warmers) in order to build core strength. The plank is in, and it’s here to stay. Planks are one of the best bodyweight exercises you can do to strengthen your abs.

Grab your roommate, romantic partner, or friend and try this living room partner workout. These workouts are fun, fresh and can be done in any size apartment. Some require equipment—like a dumbbell or kettlebell—but could be substituted with something else your already have lying around your apartment. Send this to your workout buddy and plan a workout sesh—stat. You’ll probably burn just as many calories laughing as you do moving through these exercises.

Whether you live in an area that’s prone to thunderstorms, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, or any other number of natural disasters, if the power goes out, we all have the same questions: How long can we still eat the food in the refrigerator or freezer, and what should we keep or pitch after the power comes back on? Here’s a guide to help you both monitor and know what to do with food when there’s no electricity.

No space to work out? Been there, tried that excuse.

Finding it hard to concentrate on things while you’re at home? There might be some things in your space that could be working against you. To figure out what items at home could be inadvertently killing our concentration and fussing with our focus, we called on Anjie Cho, architect and feng shui educator, for help. Read ahead to see what she had to say. According to Cho, lighting can make or break your ability to focus when you’re at home.

Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home. Since The Hills premiered 12 years ago, TV personality (and new mom to 1-year-old Sonny) has kept busy with a range of projects—from taking on a fixer upper and transforming it into her dream home, to teaching kids empathy through gardening with Mrs. Meyer’s Compassion Flower Project.

Prepare your finest glass cleaner and step through the looking glass, astral voyagers. October’s cosmic clarity is brought to you by the sign of Libra, and the zodiac’s aspirational aesthete has us both reckoning with our spatial reality, and vision-boarding our dream houses. Libra energy’s notorious sense of “balance” actually reminds us that coming into equilibrium is a highly dynamic, individualized process.

You might live every day like it’s National Coffee Day, but turns out it actually only falls once a year (on September 29). From tired mornings to chaotic workdays and even the occasional late-night cup, your coffee powers you through a lot—and probably deserves to be celebrated. Since today’s the big day (and there’s free coffee all over the place), there’s no better time to reflect on the current state of your relationship with the buzzy beverage.

We’ve all been there. It’s Monday, 8:45 a.m., raining, and you rush out the door just in time to make it to work—15 minutes late. By starting your morning off on a bad foot you’ve inadvertently set a negative tone for the rest of your day, and by the time you get off work you’re ready to go to straight to bed and hopefully, start tomorrow with a better outlook.

Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home. Designers Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent are the epitome of a power couple. They rescue homeowners in desperate need of renovations through their TV show “Nate & Jeremiah By Design,” they started an exclusive furniture line with Living Spaces, and they are fathers to two kids, Poppy and Oskar.

I will be the first to admit that I do not drink enough water during the work day. It’s not for lack of good intention: I start the day strong, but by mid-morning I slowly start falling off track. I’m certain that the culprits (okay, excuses) are the same ones that plague you (i.e., not getting up from my desk enough to refill my glass, forgetting to keep a glass on my desk, or when I do, simply forgetting about it). No more excuses!

We all know that it takes work (a LOT of work) to create a space that we can truly call “home.” It’s not only about the physical appearance, but the emotional response that occurs within the four walls. It’s the place that we retreat to after a long day, where we can truly be ourselves without an ounce of effort. And in order to gain such a great sense of home, we must first discover what that feeling of home is—a task that is not easy to achieve.

It turns out that “Home Sweet Home” goes far beyond just where you live. IKEA just released their Life at Home Report 2018 and the findings show that the traditional concept of “home” has evolved significantly in recent years. The annual report nailed down five core emotional needs that embrace the feeling of home: privacy, comfort, ownership, security, and belonging.

Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home. Catherine Zeta-Jones has left little to no stone unturned in the acting world—from portraying Velma Kelly in the screen production of “Chicago” to starring in the critically acclaimed Broadway show “A Little Night Music.

Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home. If you’re a longtime fan of Grace Bonney’s lifestyle blog, Design*Sponge, you’re in good company. In fact, the author recently launched a print magazine and a podcast called just that: Good Company.

In my opinion, there’s nothing more luxurious than a long, leisurely soak in a truly divine bathtub. While in reality, this is an activity often relegated to a glamorous hotel stay, perhaps a little self care upgrade at home could make it a more regular treat. Enter this bath tray, which has a place for nearly everything you could ever want to bring with you into the tub (and even some things you don’t).

The truth: Eating healthy all of the time isn’t easy. And eating well around Halloween—when candy is openly passed around and sold in bulk at discounts at the store—is even harder. That’s why we reached out to some of our favorite health, fitness, and wellness experts for advice on how to stay mindful of what you’re eating during this sugary time of year.

On the remote Shetland Islands—a British archipelago in the North Sea about halfway between the UK and Norway—residents can now take a dog for a walk on the beach or bird watch in a wildlife preserve and literally say, “It’s just what the doctor ordered.

Perfect Night In is a series where we ask actors, artists, entrepreneurs, and beyond how they’d spend the ultimate luxury—a blissful evening at home. There is no doubt that Garance Doré is a woman of many trades. She is a skilled photographer and illustrator, which can be seen through her highly visual Instagram and blog Atelier Doré. Doré uses her platform to discuss everything from photographer street style to updates on her ongoing L.A. home renovation.

Power up your flashlights for a deep dive into basements, and far beneath the bed, spatial voyagers. November’s cosmic mix finds us prepping for a full-throttle karmic clean out. Find pleasure in the purge, as you swap out past lives for future furniture. The astral plane is dominated by the Sun in Scorpio, which gifts us the glow-in-the-dark chance to make peace with every part of ourselves.

Resetting your clocks for Daylight Saving Time can be a serious setback for your sleep schedule. When DST ends (this weekend! the clocks fall back at 2 a.m. on Sunday) and the hours of daylight are reduced, your daily routine can be significantly disrupted. (And, PSA, until Sunday it’s technically wrong to write “EST” in your emails. See: What Everyone Gets Wrong About Daylight Saving Time) So what exactly happens to your body when Daylight Saving Time ends?

If there’s anyone who could be the poster child for following your passion, it’s Alyssa Edwards. Born Justin Johnson, the little boy from Mesquite, Texas fell in love with dance and has gone on to become a world-famous drag queen, a fan favorite on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ owner of Beyond Belief Dance studio, and the star of his own Netflix series, ‘Dancing Queen.’ Now Edwards is partnering with TAZO for a (free!