May 25, 2019 at 12:16AM A few tools for couples who feel like they’re fighting ALL the time. Continue Reading… Author Monica Berg | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
Month: May 2019
4 Ways To Clear Bad Energy Out Of Your Relationship
May 25, 2019 at 12:16AM A few tools for couples who feel like they’re fighting ALL the time. Continue Reading… Author Monica Berg | Life by Daily Burn Selected by CWC
Everything you need to know about sleep cycles (so you don’t lose anymore sleep over it)
May 24, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC Despite being aware of the best sleep hacks available, I still get tripped up about certain terminology and best practices for optimum sleep health. For instance, talk of a circadian rhythm always brings to mind those noisy cicadas, which are very much a different thing. So when I hear something like “sleep cycle” in casual context, it’s easy to wonder things like, “how long is a sleep cycle” and “wait, WTF actually is a sleep cycle?” And, I’ve got a hunch I’m not alone in my confusion. “The average sleep cycle length is approximately 90 to 120 minutes, depending on the person,” says sleep expert and psychologist Shelby Harris, PsyD. “Healthy adults cycle through approximately five to seven times per night, and during each cycle, there’s various stages of sleep that occur.” Essentially “various” means four stages of sleep, filed into two categories: non-REM (NREM) sleep REM sleep. REM, as a refresher, stands for rapid-eye movement, and is not to be confused by R.E.M., the Michael Stipe-fronted band. Anyway, the first three stages fall into the first category, whereas the last stage is reserved for REM sleep. “The average sleep cycle length is approximately 90 to 120 minutes, depending on the person. Healthy adults cycle through approximately five to seven times.” —sleep expert and psychologist Shelby Harris, PsyD. “During each sleep cycle, we cycle through each stage. The first third of the night’s cycles, though, we spend a greater percentage in deep stage three
Everything you need to know about sleep cycles (so you don’t lose anymore sleep over it)
May 24, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC Despite being aware of the best sleep hacks available, I still get tripped up about certain terminology and best practices for optimum sleep health. For instance, talk of a circadian rhythm always brings to mind those noisy cicadas, which are very much a different thing. So when I hear something like “sleep cycle” in casual context, it’s easy to wonder things like, “how long is a sleep cycle” and “wait, WTF actually is a sleep cycle?” And, I’ve got a hunch I’m not alone in my confusion. “The average sleep cycle length is approximately 90 to 120 minutes, depending on the person,” says sleep expert and psychologist Shelby Harris, PsyD. “Healthy adults cycle through approximately five to seven times per night, and during each cycle, there’s various stages of sleep that occur.” Essentially “various” means four stages of sleep, filed into two categories: non-REM (NREM) sleep REM sleep. REM, as a refresher, stands for rapid-eye movement, and is not to be confused by R.E.M., the Michael Stipe-fronted band. Anyway, the first three stages fall into the first category, whereas the last stage is reserved for REM sleep. “The average sleep cycle length is approximately 90 to 120 minutes, depending on the person. Healthy adults cycle through approximately five to seven times.” —sleep expert and psychologist Shelby Harris, PsyD. “During each sleep cycle, we cycle through each stage. The first third of the night’s cycles, though, we spend a greater percentage in deep stage three
Cancel your massage: This $1 buy will get *all* the knots out
May 24, 2019 at 11:07AM by CWC The shoulder knots I deal with on a daily basis (thanks, hardcore workout classes and terrible posture) are so bad that they keep me up at night. But as a single gal living in New York City (boys, get @ me), I don’t have a partner-slash-in-bed-massage-therapist to help me get them out at night. And since spending money on regular rub downs at the hands of a professional isn’t exactly in the 2019 budget, I’ve gotta find another solution. While you can invest in a professional grade tool or one of those pricey back massagers that vaguely look like they could be used to massage another more… personal area on your body (vibrators. they look like vibrators.), experts agree that one of the most effective ways to unwind those shoulder knots also happens to be one of the most effective. Enter: the lacrosse ball, which is a whole lot more fun to hang out in your bedroom with than most of the lacrosse players I dated in college. “A lacrosse ball is the perfect size ball to release muscles in and around your shoulder,” says Dr. Gary Olson of the LI Spine and Sports Injury Center. “It’s best to lean against the wall, with the ball in between your spine and the wall, then move up and down slowly, massaging any knots or tender areas.” You can also try the same trick with a tennis ball, depending on where your fandom lies. You
Cancel your massage: This $1 buy will get *all* the knots out
May 24, 2019 at 11:07AM by CWC The shoulder knots I deal with on a daily basis (thanks, hardcore workout classes and terrible posture) are so bad that they keep me up at night. But as a single gal living in New York City (boys, get @ me), I don’t have a partner-slash-in-bed-massage-therapist to help me get them out at night. And since spending money on regular rub downs at the hands of a professional isn’t exactly in the 2019 budget, I’ve gotta find another solution. While you can invest in a professional grade tool or one of those pricey back massagers that vaguely look like they could be used to massage another more… personal area on your body (vibrators. they look like vibrators.), experts agree that one of the most effective ways to unwind those shoulder knots also happens to be one of the most effective. Enter: the lacrosse ball, which is a whole lot more fun to hang out in your bedroom with than most of the lacrosse players I dated in college. “A lacrosse ball is the perfect size ball to release muscles in and around your shoulder,” says Dr. Gary Olson of the LI Spine and Sports Injury Center. “It’s best to lean against the wall, with the ball in between your spine and the wall, then move up and down slowly, massaging any knots or tender areas.” You can also try the same trick with a tennis ball, depending on where your fandom lies. You
This genius dish soap hack will make your white sneakers look brand spanking new again
May 24, 2019 at 10:39AM by CWC Pretty much every person I know owns at least one pair of white sneakers. And when I’m walking down the streets of New York City, dozens if not hundreds of white sneaks pass by me as I strut about in my own white Vans. But here’s the thing: Almost none of these white sneakers that I see all day everyday are actually white anymore. Which means that the majority of white sneakers out there are actually a variety of off-white/cream/pale beige hues. That’s not to say you can’t rehabilitate them back to brand-spankin’ new white, though—there are plenty of cleaning hacks out there. You can use baking soda, a washing machine, or some elbow grease—but the easiest way to clean white sneakers is one I just learned about, and it involves something you definitely already have handy: dish soap. It sounds weird, since your dish soap is typically used on, well, your dishes and not stuff in your wardrobe—but Maeve Richmond, founder of home organizational company Maeve’s Method, says it’s great for your white sneaks. “Sure, dish soap seems like it should only be used for pots and pans, but it’s actually a great all-purpose cleaning tool for the home…including shoes,” she tells me. That’s because of the magical cleansing agents within it. “The primary active ingredient in dish soap is detergent, so when mixed with water, it creates light, foamy bubbles which are great for penetrating stains and breaking down oils.” AKA all
This genius dish soap hack will make your white sneakers look brand spanking new again
May 24, 2019 at 10:39AM by CWC Pretty much every person I know owns at least one pair of white sneakers. And when I’m walking down the streets of New York City, dozens if not hundreds of white sneaks pass by me as I strut about in my own white Vans. But here’s the thing: Almost none of these white sneakers that I see all day everyday are actually white anymore. Which means that the majority of white sneakers out there are actually a variety of off-white/cream/pale beige hues. That’s not to say you can’t rehabilitate them back to brand-spankin’ new white, though—there are plenty of cleaning hacks out there. You can use baking soda, a washing machine, or some elbow grease—but the easiest way to clean white sneakers is one I just learned about, and it involves something you definitely already have handy: dish soap. It sounds weird, since your dish soap is typically used on, well, your dishes and not stuff in your wardrobe—but Maeve Richmond, founder of home organizational company Maeve’s Method, says it’s great for your white sneaks. “Sure, dish soap seems like it should only be used for pots and pans, but it’s actually a great all-purpose cleaning tool for the home…including shoes,” she tells me. That’s because of the magical cleansing agents within it. “The primary active ingredient in dish soap is detergent, so when mixed with water, it creates light, foamy bubbles which are great for penetrating stains and breaking down oils.” AKA all
The “Murph Challenge” is a workout created to honor veterans—here’s how to do it
May 24, 2019 at 10:26AM by CWC Most people will spend the weekend throwing back a few beers and grilling burgers. But for the CrossFit community, the highlight of Memorial Day weekend isn’t setting up an out-of-office automated reply on your work email; it’s completing in the Murph Challenge. The Murph Challenge was created in 2014 to honor of Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL and recipient of the Medal of Honor for distinguished acts of valor during the war in Afghanistan. Lt. Murphy was killed in action in 2005, but his legacy lives on through the Murph Challenge, which has raised more than $1 million for the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation. The challenge is a way to remember what Memorial Day is truly about while coming together as a fit squad. “The ‘Murph‘ is more than just a workout, it is a tradition that helps push us, humble us, and dedicate a bit of pain and sweat to honor a man who gave everything he had,” the foundation explains. So, what exactly does the challenge involve? Here’s a breakdown: How to complete the Murph Challenge 1 mile run 100 pullups 200 pushups 300 squats 1 mile run (yep, again) Intense, right? Only with CrossFit, it seems, do reps rise into the hundreds. But there’s a little twist to make this workout even harder. It’s all done while wearing a 20-pound weight vest. Nope, not a joke. The Murph Challenge is exactly what it sounds like: a
The “Murph Challenge” is a workout created to honor veterans—here’s how to do it
May 24, 2019 at 10:26AM by CWC Most people will spend the weekend throwing back a few beers and grilling burgers. But for the CrossFit community, the highlight of Memorial Day weekend isn’t setting up an out-of-office automated reply on your work email; it’s completing in the Murph Challenge. The Murph Challenge was created in 2014 to honor of Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL and recipient of the Medal of Honor for distinguished acts of valor during the war in Afghanistan. Lt. Murphy was killed in action in 2005, but his legacy lives on through the Murph Challenge, which has raised more than $1 million for the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation. The challenge is a way to remember what Memorial Day is truly about while coming together as a fit squad. “The ‘Murph‘ is more than just a workout, it is a tradition that helps push us, humble us, and dedicate a bit of pain and sweat to honor a man who gave everything he had,” the foundation explains. So, what exactly does the challenge involve? Here’s a breakdown: How to complete the Murph Challenge 1 mile run 100 pullups 200 pushups 300 squats 1 mile run (yep, again) Intense, right? Only with CrossFit, it seems, do reps rise into the hundreds. But there’s a little twist to make this workout even harder. It’s all done while wearing a 20-pound weight vest. Nope, not a joke. The Murph Challenge is exactly what it sounds like: a