January 08, 2019 at 10:27AM 3 Better-For-You Versions Of Your Favorite Childhood Snacks Continue Reading… Author | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
Month: January 2019
Meet ‘Slow Lit’: The sleep trend that’ll knock you out faster than melatonin
January 08, 2019 at 09:39AM Getting a good night’s sleep sometimes feel like a distant dream (get it?). The U.S. Army’s two-minute technique? Been there, tried that. Stretching as an all-natural sleep aid? No luck. No single method works for everyone, but the emerging trend of podcasts for sleep might be an effective solution. If you’re looking for a routine to reunite you with Mr. Sandman, “slow lit”—ultra-boring audio bedtime stories—is worth a shot. You may be thinking, “Well, in that case, I’ll just pull out a hardcover copy of War and Peace and read the first sentence.” Sure, that’ll do it. But it’s still not quite as dull as a a series of podcasts designed specifically to knock you out with a combination of content and intonation—or rather lack thereof. One such podcast called Sleep With Me dedicates several episodes to recaps and analyses of Game of Thrones. Sounds interesting, right? WRONG! For over 90 minutes, the host speaks in the dulcet (mono)tones of a lullaby devoid of song. Any listener would have to possess some serious willpower to overcome the severe somnolence slow lit induces. (I’ve listened and descriptions of Westeros’ geography explained in painstaking detail put me to down in five-minutes flat.) Any listener would have to possess some serious willpower to overcome the severe somnolence slow lit induces. Meditation app Headspace now offers its own version of slow lit with “Sleepcasts,” which the company describes as “unique audio experiences” mean to transport the listener into an ideal setting for slumber. For example,
Your 2019 wellness hero is…Cookie Monster?
January 08, 2019 at 08:54AM From nailing the ABCs to tying shoelaces like a boss, Sesame Street has for generations taught children each and every one of life’s most important lessons. To this day, there’s plenty to be gleaned from the show’s cast of charters, including Cookie Monster. The blue Muppet with an insatiable appetite for sugary confections proves to be the most unexpected wellness hero of 2019. And he’s dispensing his expertise in the only way he knows how: cookie metaphors. Of all the places to derive wellness inspiration, a furry fictional character from a beloved childhood TV is most unexpected. But Cookie Monster really knows his stuff. Judging by all the retweets, he’s already energized thousands to focus in on themselves this year. In one tweet, he addresses self-care with a much-needed reminder that it’s okay to treat yo’ self. Dis year me focusing on me self-care. When me need little love, me going to give meself cookie. — Cookie Monster (@MeCookieMonster) January 2, 2019 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js In a clip from a recent episode of Sesame Street, Cookie Monster takes on workplace wellness, negotiating salary requirements, benefits (ahem, health insurance!), and paid time off—elements essential to achieving career satisfaction while staying both mentally and physically fit. (Not one to play hardball, Cookie Monster settles for single cookie as payment, but, hey, everybody has to start somewhere.) Negotiating that new year salary increase like: pic.twitter.com/1fv2UMbqgY — Sesame Street (@sesamestreet) January 7, 2019 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js If even Cookie Monster can prioritize self-care, there’s really no excuse for you
6 books to help you overcome your social anxiety once and for all
January 08, 2019 at 07:57AM If your stomach does backflips just thinking about walking into a room full of strangers (it me!), you may be one of the millions of Americans dealing with social anxiety disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, social anxiety is “an intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others”—to the point where it starts to affect your everyday life. It can be easy to write off those nerves as typical shyness, but if you’re experiencing physical symptoms, or making life decisions based on whether you’ll have to interact with people, there’s probably something bigger at work. Fifteen million American adults suffer from social anxiety disorder (that’s nearly seven percent of the U.S. population), according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). And per the ADAA, over a third of people who have it say they dealt with the symptoms for 10 years or more before seeking help. The good news: With treatment, social anxiety can be completely manageable. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be especially effective at breaking the negative thought patterns that cause you to doubt yourself around others, and if needed, medication can help alleviate some of your worst symptoms. In the meantime, if you’re hoping to learn more about your (or a loved one’s) social anxiety—and pick up some additional techniques for addressing it—these top-rated social anxiety books are a great place to start. They’re not a replacement for therapy, but they can be
I tried Trader Joes’s entire beauty aisle, and these are the 9 best skin-care products
January 08, 2019 at 07:38AM I’m going to give it to you straight: I love Trader Joe’s. There are few places in the world that can get me to stand in line for a solid hour on a Sunday afternoon, but it is truly worth braving the crowds for the sake of cauliflower pizza crust and a tub of chocolate Jingle Jangle (and frozen dumplings, and a $2.49 bag of kale, and Cookie Butter…I could go on and on). But while Trader Joe’s treats tend to get all the credit, it’s high time we talk about the other heroes gracing those hallowed aisles: Trader Joe’s skin-care products. To be totally honest, I actually didn’t know Trader Joe’s had dipped their toes into the beauty game until recently. But as soon as I found out, I rounded up a massive bag of skin-care offerings—all of which are, not surprisingly, wildly affordable—to give them a try for myself. The verdict? They were good. Which means my weekly TJ’s haul is about to get even more stacked. But at less than $25 pop, who can really blame me? Scroll through to see the best Trader Joe’s skin-care products that are just as good as Cookie Butter (okay, almost as good). Micellar Cleanser & Makeup Remover Towelettes, $13 A dermatologist recently told me I should throw away all of my makeup removing wipes because of how drying they tend to be, but I’d like to submit these as a challenge to that assessment. Because they’re formulated with micellar water instead of alcohol,
The low-impact self-care habit that supercharges Nick Jonas’ mornings
January 08, 2019 at 07:20AM Ever since the Jonas Brothers made a guest appearance on Hannah Montana in 2007 (yes, it was that long ago), haven’t we all been wondering what makes Nick Jonas—deemed “the sensitive one” by one Miley Cyrus—so gosh darn charming? My guess is that you can chalk it up to those tussled ringlets, the smile, and all that, well, sensitivity. Or perhaps, like so many other charismatic celebrities today, his secret sauce is a killer self-care morning routine. “Waking up and stretching is something that I love and can be a really great way to start the day.” —Nick Jonas During a phone call in partnership with health-insurance provider Cigna (which he recently teamed up with to encourage everybody to book their annual checkups), the celeb told me that he’s a big proponent of kicking off his mornings on a flexible note. “Waking up and stretching is something that I love and can be a really great way to start the day,” he says about his a.m. ritual. And according to celeb personal trainer Ashley Borden, his quotidian choice is spot-on. Giving your muscles some morning TLC comes with levels upon levels of benefits (ha!), she says. The most basic win is that it draws “attention to your posture and [serves as] a gentle reminder about how you carry yourself throughout the day,” says Borden. And beyond that foundation, stretching has also been found to increase blood flow to all your muscles and help your bod re-elongate after a night spent in a balled
Sports bras so comfy you’ll want to wear them even when you’re not working out
January 08, 2019 at 06:58AM Is there anything better than taking off your bra after a long, exhausting day? (Rhetorical question; we all know there isn’t.) But what if there was a bra that was *so* comfortable, you actually didn’t want to take it off at all? Even more shocking, what if that bra was of the sports variety? When made without seams, wires, or cups, a sports bra can fit and feel like loungewear. Sure, you might not want to take on a half-marathon or challenge someone to a burpee contest wearing such a style, but these low-impact options are exactly what errands, long days at the office, and even—dare we say—binging the latest season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel need. And, hey, if they double as good support during yoga and barre, that’s even better. Ready to fall in love with your sports bra? Here, 9 of the most comfortable sports bra options you’ll never want to take off. Photo: Alala Alala Seamless Bra, $45 It doesn’t get much better than all-over seamless mesh. It feels so lightweight, you’ll be forgiven for not wanting to take it off. Photo: Alo Yoga Alo Longline Sports Bra, $54 With thin straps and a criss-cross back, this bralette is built for smaller chests. But, those who wear it swear by it. Photo: Athleta Athleta Powervita Everyday Bra, $54 A skinny T-strap back and low-cut V-neck mean you can throw this on under a silky work blouse for the office. Photo: Beyond Yoga Beyond
The major mistake you make when cooking quinoa
January 08, 2019 at 06:30AM Quinoa is nothing short of a superfood—brimming with plant-based protein, containing nine essential amino acids, and packing plenty of vitamins and nutrients. It’s deliciously nutty flavor and nutritional stats should be reason enough make it a staple in every household. But if you haven’t quite fallen in love with it yet, or you find it hard to look past a bitter aftertaste, there might be a simple explanation—and it has to do with the cooking process. The hearty seed needs to be rinsed as part of the preparation. Unwashed quinoa is coated in naturally-occurring saponins, which give it a bitter taste that puts off hungry birds and insects. That sort of protection is good for quinoa farming, but not so much for hungry humans. Not only does the phytochemical affect flavor, it also has the potential to cause stomach aches, diarrhea, and digestive irritation. Removing the saponins requires only a quick wash with tap water. Rinse the quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer (like this one from Amazon) under running water, moving it around with your hand to make sure it gets thoroughly cleaned. Your quinoa is now ready to cook! How to cook quinoa Rinse 3/4 cup dry quinoa through a fine sieve. Place it into a pot with 1½ cups water, and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover pot, and simmer quinoa for 13-15 minutes, or until water has been absorbed. Remove quinoa from heat and allow it to stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff
These Are The Top Cookbooks For Every New Year’s Resolution
January 08, 2019 And the recipes inside are amazing! Continue Reading… Author | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue
7 tips to maintain your travel mind-set at home, so real life feels like a vacation
January 08, 2019 at 05:30AM Travel can allow for growing, learning, and understanding ourselves and the world we inhabit. During my months-long stay in Mexico—where I’ve met so many people from different cultures, who think differently than I do—I’ve felt the reality of this introspective, mind-opening treat firsthand. But trips don’t last forever; eventually jet-setters head home to the environment they left behind: They return to jobs, adhere to the same cultural conventions, and are usually surrounded by the same people they knew before. While I have yet to book a return ticket home from my trip, I’m already concerned about being able to maintain my open-to-newness vibe in a world that’s hardly fresh to me. But I’ve heard from my well-traveled new friends that it’s totally possible to maintain a vacation mind-set IRL. Several have told me that they feel more themselves when they travel, more at peace, braver, and more capable of handling tough situations. They want to keep this energy alive, because they live better this way. But how? Well, travel mind-set is just that—a state of mind. Here are seven tips from globe-trotters who have figured out how to make real life feel like a vacation. 7 tips from seasoned travelers for maintaining your vacay mind-set at home. Photo: Getty Images/Westend61 1. Cook dishes you ate while traveling Since food is such an integral part of every culture, making a dish from your travels can catapult you back to the feelings you had there via the