December 26, 2018 at 08:00PM Enjoying independence doesn’t mean you can’t also enjoy companionship. Continue Reading… Author Margaret Paul, Ph.D. | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Year: 2018
It’s the last year of the decade and we want to send you out strong
December 26, 2018 at 12:00PM Setting New Year’s resolutions can feel daunting—so this year, just don’t do it. Seriously. With our 2019 ReNew Year program, we’re asking you to focus on shifting, tweaking, or refining just one area of your life. Nothing too drastic, nothing too overwhelming. To get you started on your best year yet (the stars told us so), let us help you choose your very own wellness adventure, now! Follow along below to figure out which plan to follow in the year, and check back on January 1 to get your personalized plan from our rockstar team of wellness pros. @import url(“https://www.wellandgood.com/wp-content/plugins/imagelinks/lib/imagelinks.theme.dark.css?ver=imagelinks”); Your ReNew Year challenge is: Skin Care Dermatologist Kim Nichols, MD, is here to guide you to your glowiest days yet—no matter where you are on your skin-care journey. Kim Nichols, MD Your ReNew Year challenge is: Fitness Fitness pro Jillian Michaels will help you get in touch with what you want out of your 2019 fitness goals, and then figure out how to crush them. Jillian Michaels Your ReNew Year challenge is: Career Claire Wasserman, founder of Ladies Get Paid, has words of wisdom to help propel you forward in your career in 2019, and—YUP—get paid. Claire Wasserman Your ReNew Year challenge is: Finance Farnoosh Torabi, Chase Financial Education Ambassador, is here to lay out how to get your dollars and cents in order so your financial wins can pay off (literally) in 2019. Farnoosh Torabi Your ReNew Year challenge is: Healthy Eating Sophia
A dermatologist weighs in on how long to use that dandruff shampoo
December 26, 2018 at 11:25AM Dandruff is the boogeyman of all hair problems. When you least expect it, it can sneak up on you and cause a flaky mess between your hair follicles (and we’ve all been there). Truth be told, thanks to all of the efficacious anti-dandruff shampoos out there, it’s actually a pretty easy problem to solve, but considering these shampoos’ main goal is to squelch the dandruff-forming yeast known as malassezia, I wondered whether or not these options were okay to use year-round (or if they’d dry out hair and make it brittle). “Dandruff shampoos typically contain one of two ingredients: either selenium sulfide or zinc pyrithione,” explains Joshua Zeichner, MD, a New York-based dermatologist. Both ingredients combat dandruff by fighting the inflammation caused by yeast build up on the scalp, which, in turn, becomes flakes. “Generally speaking, I recommend religious use when dandruff flares up,” Dr. Zeichner says. After that, he recommends using it as needed, which can be anywhere from every day to every few days to every couple of months. Essentially, you might do you well to rotate between an anti-dandruff formula when you notice a flare-up and your regular old shampoo the rest of the time. That said, it’s not totally necessary if you’re using a gentler dandruff shampoo that focuses on scalp health as a primary benefit. While first-gen dandruff shampoos would often cause dryness, Dr. Zeichner says that the newer products such as Dove Dermacare Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo ($5) are gentle enough that you
Living by these motivational words of wisdom from J. Lo every. single. day.
December 26, 2018 at 10:58AM Hello, I’d like Jennifer Lopez to be my life coach, please. In addition to having enviable gym dedication and seemingly ageless skin, J. Lo is also out there dropping serious knowledge bombs. I always knew she was full of wisdom (see: the lyrics to “Limitless”), but she really drove her sageness home in an interview alongside Second Act writer and producer Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, on the Second Life podcast. “I don’t think anything is impossible at the end of the day,” she says. (*Prints out and tapes to bathroom mirror.*) Goldsmith-Thomas adds that neither one of them accepts hearing no when it comes to their careers—instead they work hard to make things happen for themselves. Suffice it to say that when she started as a dancer, she knew that she’d need to tap that motto to become the multi-hyphenate that we know her as today. And she doesn’t stop there. When asked what advice she’d give to her younger self, she says simply to go with your gut. “It’s a voice inside your head that’s not confused with other voices,” she says. “Those other voices are on a different kind of frequency, there’s one that cuts through, there’s one that’s way deep down that tells you where you should go…It’s the only thing that we should follow because nobody really knows what’s right for you but you.” (See? Chills.) This reminds me of a meme going around on Instagram that says if you could believe your terrible ex
What was your favorite workout of 2018? Well+Good staffers share their picks
December 26, 2018 at 10:00AM With the New Year right around the corner, here at Well+Good, we’re looking ahead toward our 2019 fitness goals. But as we map out the resolutions and PRs that we want to set in the months after the ball drops, we’re also looking back on some of our favorite workouts of 2018. Though we may have vastly different sweat preferences (one woman’s spin class therapy session is another’s treadmill sesh), one thing that nearly all of our editors agreed on this year was that the digital fitness revolution is here to stay. Many of us swapped their fancy gym memberships and boutique class habits with workouts we could do in their living room, or as one editor put it, with “no pants required.” Keep on scrolling to see our editors favorite workouts of year—nearly all of which you can download and do no matter where you’re sweating it out. Photo: Getty/Hinterhaus Productions Aaptiv, $15/month, digital “After years of dropping a lot of cash on boutique fitness classes and brand-name big boxes, I finally joined a no-frills neighborhood gym, complete with a lap pool, sauna, reformer classes, and brand-spanking new equipment. Okay, okay, Chelsea Piers Fitness in Brooklyn isn’t totally no frills, but it’s a lot less moola than I was paying, so I’ll stand by that statement. As of late, I haven’t been going to the studio-led classes, however, I’ve been following along on cardio and strength workouts on Aaptiv. My fave thing to do, as of
We asked a French woman: What are the casual-cool staples every woman should have in her closet?
December 26, 2018 at 09:55AM Generally speaking, I’m the type of person who overshoots the basics and becomes prematurely enthralled in the minutia of details. Recently, I realized this is the case for me when it comes to French fashion. I’m so engrossed in figuring out how they style their activewear, where they shop, and what type of accessories are seasonally trendy that it’s occurred to me that I don’t know much about their everyday outfit staples. The reason we’re all obsessed with French fashion (I think) is because of its laid-back, didn’t-try-at-all, sophistication that seems to be part of the Parisienne DNA. In the interest of getting down to brass tacks and figuring out how and why French women are able to exude such an era of je ne sais quoi, I spoke to stylist Adrienne Coléon Gaskell, author of the blog “Oh So French” for Paris’ famed lingerie brand Simone Perele. Below she shares the foundational pieces she says make up the core of a casual-cool—yet incredibly chic—wardrobe. 1. silk camisole Photo: Everlane Everlane The Clean Silk Cami, $75 Gaskell says, “A simple, sleek, elegant silk camisole (in black or white) is a French wardrobe staple,” since it pairs seamlessly with everything from jeans, to tailored trousers, or a pencil skirt. Think of it as French women’s answer to the classic white T-shirt. 2. black bra Photo: Simone Perele Simone Perele After Work Demi Bra, $110 “To a Parisienne, the black bra isn’t just a seduction piece, it’s
Exercising for *this* amount of time can help boost your immunity
December 26, 2018 at 09:05AM Around this time of year, pretty much everyone I know turns into a biohacker, trying all the immunity-boosting tips and tricks to make it through the winter unscathed by the flu or some mysterious “bug.” And while you might remember to amp up your intake of Earl Grey tea, keep ginger shots stocked in your fridge for when your throat tickles, or practice straight-up JOMO (take that cough away from the general vicinity, K?), one of the best things that you can do for yourself on the reg to boost immunity is, quite simply, to exercise. According to an article in Time, David Nieman, PhD, a professor of public health and director of the Human Performance Lab at Appalachian State University, conducted a number of studies to find the things that best boosted the body’s ability to fend off illness, and regular exercise was shown to be one of the most impactful. “If you look at all the lifestyle factors that decrease the number of days you suffer from common cold, being a physically active and fit person is the most important,” explains Dr. Nieman in the article. That doesn’t mean, however, that you should start training for a marathon if you’re looking to stave off illness, because there’s a sweet spot when it comes to working out for the sake of your immune system. To reap the benefits of exercise for your health, he says light aerobic activity (think: walking, cycling, or jogging) for 30 to 60 minutes a day increases
Here’s the best music to enhance your meditation—and not totally distract you
December 26, 2018 at 07:00AM ICYMI, pretty much everyone is anxious and stressed the F out. In a reader survey conducted by Well+Good, 95 percent of participants say they struggle with stress, and 92 percent say they struggle with anxiety. So it’s not a big surprise that more people are seeking out meditation and mindfulness—both of which are well-documented at helping relieve stress and anxiety. According to data released from Google, search interest in mindfulness increased by over 430 percent since 2004, and searches for meditation music is up over 500 percent since 2004. However, while your ’90s playlist may help you crush your long run, but chances are that pump-up music isn’t exactly going to help you focus on your breathing. So if Backstreet Boys are out, what will work? Before you pick out your meditation soundtrack, it’s good to know when it’s actually helpful to incorporate music, versus when it’s better to sit in silence. According to Angelika Alana, an expert for meditation app Happy Not Perfect and a mindfulness and strategy coach to millennials, it totally depends on your personal preference. “When it comes to meditating, the challenge most people tell me they’re facing is simply starting or sustaining a practice,” she says. “So, the most important thing is that you find the practice relaxing. If that means music, go with it. If that means silence, go with that. There’s no right or wrong here.” That said, Alana does say there are certain times when music really can enhance your
The rare situation when it *is* okay to break up via text message
December 26, 2018 at 05:30AM When it comes to dating, I am not someone who typically adheres to “rules.” I think the three-day rule, wherein you wait three days post-date before contacting the person, is totally passé and wack. I am always happy to send the first text message. And if you think a guideline from someone who’s an expert in…um…not my personal choices is going to stop be from having sex on the first date if I want to, you’re sadly mistaken. That said, there is one hard-and-fast rule that I absolutely adhere to (and also actively campaign for others to abide by). And that, my friends, is to never, under any circumstances, ever break up over text. A breakup, IMHO, should always be a face-to-face affair. It’s uncomfortable, yes. But it shows that you respect the other person and the relationship itself enough to resign yourself to a few cringeworthy minutes. It’s totally appropriate to text your friends when you’re canceling plans. It’s not cool to text your S.O. when you’re canceling a relationship. And I’m not alone in my stance on this. “Breaking up via text can often leave the receiving partner feeling confused, abandoned, and with an overall lack of closure,” says therapist Daniel Olavarria, LCSW. That said, it turns out my no-texting-while-heart-breaking rule does have two caveats. Yep, there are times when a text message break-up notice is not only of sound etiquette, but also expert recommended. “Your method of communication during a breakup should always come
Found: the best time-saving hacks of 2018 (and they’ll only take, like, 5 minutes to read)
December 26, 2018 at 05:00AM Like opening a fresh pack of pens (ah) or finally crawling into bed after a grueling day, discovering a new, time-saving hack is one of life’s small—but significant—satisfactions. This year, we’ve accumulated a whole bunch of solid tips for making everything from making your bed to making your email game almost as seamless as your leggings. *Fingers crossed* that 2019 will outshine 2018. But consider the below time-savers your head-start for making all your boss-babe dreams come true next year. Because, yes, you can totally crush your day without a genius shortcut for packing your gym bag. But you totally shouldn’t have to. Keep reading for the 2018 productivity hacks that deserve to carry over to January 1, 2019. Photo: Stocksy/Jessica Sharmin 1. When in doubt, dry shampoo before bed (or anytime, really) “Honestly, I feel like excessive use of dry shampoo is my biggest daily time-saver (does that count?!). Lol, not lol,” one Well+Good staff member Slacked me while I was compiling this list. It’s true. While I can’t beta test the known universe to see how long the average shampoo-conditioning sesh actually takes, I’m willing to bet it’s long enough that you could journal, read half a chapter, or squeeze in a micro-workout instead. 2. Rather than haphazardly flinging your activewear into your gym bag, try the burrito method. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LylY7O0VmZk?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281] 3. There’s a burrito method for making your bed, too The lesson here is that everything (okay, many things) become easier if you shape them like a burrito. In