7 editors share the mental health tips that got them through 2018

December 24, 2018 at 03:00AM Let’s be real: 2018 was a long, hard, roller coaster of a year. (Like, can you even believe that the Winter Olympics happened in the same year as the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, a Thai soccer team getting rescued from a cave, and Harry and Meghan’s wedding? I cannot.) So yeah, 2018 has been a lot. But it’s also been a banner year for mental health awareness. More celebrities than ever have been opening up about their struggles with depression and anxiety (take that, stigma!). And new scientific research has continued to shed more light on the complexities of mental illness, from understanding the surprising link between climate change and mental health to how stress can even affect your memory. There’s been a lot to learn this year, and we want to share the goods with you. Below, seven W+G staffers share the mental health advice they learned in 2018 that have helped them better handle their stress and anxiety. Change your schedule to work for you “The best thing I did for my mental health this year was start going to workout classes at 6 a.m. When my alarm goes off at 5:20 every morning, it feels utterly masochistic, but it’s worth getting out of bed for the feeling of accomplishment I have by 7 a.m. Moving my body right when I wake up helps me curb my anxiety first thing in the morning, and going so early gives me two full hours of awake time

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The hygge lounge staple that doubles as the ideal party outfit

December 23, 2018 at 09:02AM Any social outing that requires changing out of my cozy loungewear is a chore during the winter. It’s so cold and I find it hard to look cute or even just presentable when all I want to do is swathe myself in layers of chenille. But this year I’ve found a solution that makes anyone look chic and put together—while essentially allowing you to leave the house in pajamas: the slip dress. A slip dress is, in my opinion, the most important wardrobe staple of hygge season. They are either literally pajamas or as comfortable as sleepwear (which, is equally as good, to be honest). Plus, these types of slinky sheaths are so easy to style. Really, it just comes down to individual preference. Personally, I like to layer it over mesh and lace tops or a black turtleneck. If I’m already lounging in a slip dress, however, and need an easier way to convert the outfit, I’ll throw on a sweater or cardigan. Depending on the temps, bare legs might be fine, but you can also add an extra layer of warmth with patterned tights, crew socks, and (to be entirely on trend) hiking boots. To create your I-very-elegantly-rolled-out-of-my-boudoir look, you can transition any nightgown slip you have lying around, or you can get your hands on one specifically meant for wearing out of the house (i.e. a version that isn’t too sheer or too short). With the right planning, you too can spend the entire season

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Get ready for things to get awkward, because there’s some intense sexual energy coming your way

December 23, 2018 at 04:00AM After all the presents are unwrapped (if you’re into that kind of thing), there’s another cosmic gift coming your way this holiday week, says astrologer Jennifer Racioppi—in the form of sultry and sexually charged energy. Here’s her day-by-day advice for making the most of it, no matter what your sun sign is. Monday, December 24 With the holiday week in full effect, and consequently year-end stress too, take time to focus on what’s going right in your life. Stop, savor, and consciously connect with the feeling of joy. Doing so helps you to open up to heartfelt positivity, which amplifies the potential for transformation—a change in the way you experience life (or at least the day!). Stop, savor, and consciously connect with the feeling of joy. Doing so helps you to open up to heartfelt positivity, which amplifies the potential for transformation. With Mercury making a harsh and hard angle to Neptune today, mindfully moving through the day proves fruitful. On a very practical level, this aspect could lead to intoxication, too, so be sure to imbibe with consciousness. Most importantly, don’t drink and drive. Tuesday, December 25 Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate. The moon travels in Leo all day today, which bodes well for celebrations. To quote Oprah’s holiday message, “My prayer, my wish for you, is that you actually lay it down and that in these coming holidays you allow yourself to be fully present with whoever is in front of

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Don’t know what to do with your life? This exercise can make things clear

December 23, 2018 at 03:30AM Stepping up your game each year means ushering in a better, bolder, and more graceful you. The exercise of documenting your plans and purpose—what matters most—can bring clarity and intentionality to your day-to-day. What better way to start a new year than with a personal manifesto? Here, Well+Good Council member Candice Kumai shares how she created her own… and how you can do the same. When I was in my twenties and toughing it out as a writer in Brooklyn—even when I was judging on Iron Chef—I was struggling. One Christmas, my sister gave me an artist-designed poster, a “manifesto.” After framing it, I put it on the wall of my broke-ass-artist room. As my career grew and my apartments gradually became nicer, I took the poster with me. It went from an East Williamsburg apartment share to a Wall Street studio (where I could barely afford rent) to a waterfront two-bedroom overlooking the NYC skyline. No matter where I went, the manifesto poster always went on the wall to steer, motivate, and inspire me. I’ve learned that a manifesto is infinitely valuable. It can help to solidify and clarify your life’s big calling. It puts all your pondering thoughts and anxious days into one safe place, bringing you back to earth and reminding your heart what really matters. Manifestos can serve as a sense of purpose or your true north. We are all in need of some good inspiration and focus, and a personal

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