November 28, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC If you’ve taken any sort of personality quiz, you likely know if you’re either an introvert who loves a quiet night at home or an extrovert who thrives when they are surrounded by a lot of people. The introvert/extrovert divide, however, isn’t so black and white. Some people will fall somewhere in the middle (we’re looking at you, ambiverts), but there are also some subtypes of each including the often misunderstood shy extroverts. Many people assume that all shy people are introverts and all extroverts are social butterflies. While that might be the case for some people, it’s not a universal. Why? Because being shy and being introverted are two different traits. “When psychologists talk about introversion and extroversion, we’re focused on how people are energized,” says Heather Z. Lyons, PhD, licensed psychologist and owner of the Baltimore Therapy Group. “Extroverts are energized by social environments. On the other hand, introverts are drained by social experiences and are energized, instead, by alone time.” Therefore, “shy extroverts are those who crave social time but might lack the skills to socialize more effectively or even become avoidant in social situations despite the fact that they need their quality social time,” she says. Still not sure where you land on the extrovert spectrum? Keep reading to learn some of the signs of being a shy extrovert and pro tips on how to cope with it. Signs you’re a shy extrovert: 1. You dread social gatherings, but
Day: November 28, 2019
The hand and finger stretches you can do anywhere, anytime
November 28, 2019 at 09:00PM by CWC In the age of technology, you’re texting, scrolling, tapping at your mouse or touch pad, and typing on your keyboard all day—contorting your hands into weird positions. Whether or not you’re feeling the pain now, it could lead to worse problems down the road without a few hand and finger stretches. “Cell phones, tablets, laptops, desktops… all of the many devices at our literal fingertips are definitely predisposing young people to an increased risk for overuse or ‘repetitive strain’ injuries and future arthritis,” says Danielle Weis, PT, physical therapist and orthopedic clinical specialist at Spring Forward Physical Therapy. “To name a few: carpal tunnel syndrome, De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, trigger finger or trigger thumb, arthritic joints, and various other muscle strains and ligament sprains in the fingers, hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder.” It sounds scary, but it makes sense. “Just think about how many jobs require the use of a computer throughout the day. Add to that the many hours accumulated on cell phones and devices for personal use,” she says. “The amount of time spent with the hands and wrists in angled, arched, or curled positions create a perfect storm for pain and overuse injuries.” The good news is, despite putting your hands and fingers through so much every day, Dr. Weis says adding certain hand, finger, and forearm stretches into your daily routine can help prevent and fight off carpal tunnel and other overuse issues. “When you adopt certain postures and use
Your breakdown of the 7 unique chakra colors and meanings
November 28, 2019 at 07:00PM by CWC Regardless of whether you fancy yourself a total spiritual phenom or you don’t feel like you have a single woo-woo-leaning cell in your body, you’ve likely at least heard about chakras. But, are you clear on the ins and outs of chakra colors and meanings? Just in case, here’s a little recap: Chakras are energy centers in the body that, as chef, nutritionist, and reiki master Serena Poon puts it, link our energetic and physical bodies with universal life-force energy. “Each chakra vibrates or spins at a particular frequency that impacts specific biological processes and organ systems in our body,” she says. “The circulation of energy in each of our chakras then influences our physical as well as our mental well-being by way of stimulation or inhibition.” In other words, if one of your seven chakras is out of whack or blocked, you may feel effects of that in other areas of your life, as well. “The circulation of energy in each of our chakras then influences our physical as well as our mental well-being by way of stimulation or inhibition.” —reiki master Serena Poon There are seven total chakras that run from the base of the spine to the crown of the head, and each has a specific meaning and is associated with a specific color. The colors, you’ll notice, follow the same pattern as a rainbow. Below, several pros break down the different chakra colors and meanings, so you can understand
Why you should be eating oatmeal first thing in the morning, according to two dietitians
November 28, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC Like the holiday movie Home Alone, oatmeal is a classic. Dietitians don’t go a day without recommending the warm breakfast to their clients, and it’s what they prefer to eat first thing, too. When it comes to a breakfast for energy, the one-ingredient dish is basically in a league of its own. Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, registered dietitian and author of The Better Period Food Solution, says she likes her oatmeal with pumpkin seeds, sliced banana, and a drizzle of almond butter. “This breakfast bowl is the definition of lasting power because it’s overflowing with superstar ingredients,” she says. “Oats contain a unique form of soluble fiber known as beta-glucan which helps you stay satiated for hours. Bananas sprinkle the body with energizing vitamin B6, and if you couple that with healthy fats coming from pumpkin seeds and nut butter, you’ll be good to go for hours.” Malina Malkani, RDN, a dietitian with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, opts for a nearly identical bowl of oatmeal. Only, she just skips the pumpkin seeds and chooses peanut butter over almond. “Combining protein, fiber, and fat helps provide longer-lasting energy and satiety as well as more stable blood sugar and mood levels,” she says, “which are extra-important during family gatherings when tensions can run high.” Retweet. Of course, if you’re not a fan of oatmeal (um, who are you?), you can whip up a breakfast that’s equally balanced with protein, fiber, and fat. Malkani says sprouted
The best deals our beauty editor will be scoring this Black Friday
November 28, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC While we all well know you don’t have to drop a whole lot of coin for beauty products that work (case in point: a dermatologist’s go-to cleanser literally costs $1), we’ve all got those pricey picks we just can’t resist. For me, it’s a $38 face wash that makes me feel like I’m getting a pro-grade facial every time I lather it on, and a $160 bottle of vitamin C serum that I simply can’t imagine living without. Thankfully, for those of us whose list of vices include “expensive beauty products,” there are plenty of Black Friday beauty sales that have us covered. Per usual, beauty meccas like Sephora, Nordstrom, and Ulta will be offering day-after-Thanksgiving discount deals on some of the best products they’ve got to offer—including hair care, skin care, and makeup. There ‘s everything from classics to cult faves to new launches… and then some. Whether you’re lookin to re-stock on your trusty go-to’s, add something totally new to your arsenal, or treat someone on your gifting list to some beauty newness, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find it at one of these shops. Scroll through for some of the best of the best from this year’s offerings, and get ready for your most beautiful(…ly priced) holiday season yet. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser, $10 ($20 Value) Turn washing your face into a luxury experience—for only $10—with this OG cleansing fave. It’s made with apricot and avocado oils, plus squalene, to help nourish
Uranus retrograde is why you’ve been feeling out of your comfort zone for months
November 28, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC Of all the planetary retrogrades, Mercury retrograde gets most of our attention (and ire), but it’s certainly not the only one worthy of it. “When a planet goes retrograde, it appears to be moving backward from our vantage point on Earth,” says Rachel Lang, intuitive astrologer and healer. “It’s similar to the phenomenon when you’re driving forward next to a car going at the same relative speed, and that car appears like it’s moving backward. It’s an optical illusion.” To that point, all retrogrades pack an active punch, and when you know what they affect, you can better anticipate and explain the cosmic shifts. So, let’s turn our focus to Uranus retrograde 2019, which has been happening since August 11, and isn’t scheduled to go direct until January 10, 2020. This retrograde is in Taurus, a practical Earth sign with a romantic streak (Taurus is ruled by Venus, after all). And if you’ve been feeling a little out of your comfort zone lately, the Uranus retrograde might be to thank. “Uranus is the planet of freedom, progress, and change. When you think of Uranus, think of electricity; its nature can be erratic, and the energy of Uranus needs to be focused and grounded. Uranus is somewhat of a rebel planet. It wants you to go against the grain, to march to the beat of your own drum,” Lang says. “If you feel stuck in any area of your life, or if you’ve been
How losing my dad fundamentally changed how I celebrate Thanksgiving
November 28, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC My dad would only eat cranberry sauce if it was in the shape of a can. Every year on Thanksgiving, my mom worked for hours over the meal—which always included homemade cranberry sauce, with actual whole cranberries in it—but the last thing she did before we sat down to eat was plop a can of Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce onto one of her china plates. She hated it, but he insisted. Our Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t involve can-shaped cranberry sauce anymore. My dad died in 2016, taking the tradition with him, along with our annual ritual of watching the entire Macy’s Day Parade as a family and starting the meal with the words, “rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the grub.” In the years since his death, I’ve become a Thanksgiving Grinch. What used to hold the award for my favorite holiday has become one that I dread. I spend weeks thinking about the empty seat at the table (a new table, since the one we sat at every Thanksgiving for 20 years got sold along with the house I grew up in after my dad died), and the gaping hole in our family that it represents. I wish I could just sleep through the fourth Thursday of every November every year for the rest of my life, because it seems impossible to feel joyful and thankful on a day when his loss feels especially profound. According to Alison Stone, LCSW, grief on Thanksgiving is a
Work every muscle in your body by perfecting the kettlebell swing
November 28, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSESeQAir2M] Kettlebell swings are one of those fitness moves that may look easy, but doing them properly is actually anything but a piece of cake. Because of how simple they seem, the form is easy to mess up, and when you’re doing it wrong you’re not getting the most out of the move. So we tapped trainer Roxie Jones to show us how to do a kettlebell swing the right way. According to Jones, there are a few things that pretty much everyone messes up when it comes to kettlebell swings that cause them to miss out on the move’s full-body benefits, but thankfully they’re easy to spot. For example, rounding your back when you pick up the weight is a tell-tale sign that your core isn’t properly engaged. Similarly, resisting the momentum that carries your hips back (and keeps them still) means that you’re not utilizing your full power or range of motion. But the worst offense, says Jones, is bending your knees too far, which turns the move into a jumping squat instead of a swing. Getting your form right starts before you even touch the kettlebell. Begin in a deadlift position with the kettlebell right between your ankle bones, and lift it like you’re “trying to break the handle in half,” says Jones. Start with a small momentum to get the movement going and focus on pushing your hips back, letting the kettlebell carry you. Engage your glutes and
Here’s the secret for making your moisturizer work 3 (very!) different ways, according to a product formulator
November 28, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC The moisturizing step has always seemed like the simplest one in a skin-care routine. You slather on a moisturizer, let it do its job and… that’s it. Et voila, you’re moisturized. But according to a cosmetic chemist, when you put it on actually makes a world of difference in what it does for your skin. We all know that a moisturizer’s purpose is to help hydrate and protect your skin thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides, but its placement alongside your other products can change up exactly what kind of hydrating and protecting that it’s doing. So it’s worth it to figure out just what, exactly, your skin needs from a moisturizer before you go about with your routine. Here, cosmetic chemist Lalita Vedantam explains how to use moisturizer in three totally different ways… each of which your skin will slurp right up. If you’re feeling extra dehydrated: You’ve likely heard dermatologists touting the benefits of slathering on a moisturizer after you shower for extra-hydrated skin, and the same principle applies to your face. Applying a moisturizer to clean, damp skin—without any serums or actives in between your cleansing and moisturizing steps—helps to prevent transepidermal water loss. “Using a moisturizer right after cleansed and damp skin quickly seals in water that otherwise may have evaporated from your skin,” says Vedantam. All skin types will benefit from moisturizing on top of wet skin, especially during the winter months when cold-compromised skin barriers lose water