November 20, 2018 at 08:35AM New York City may have a reputation for being one of the world’s foremost fashion capitals, but from personal experience, this doesn’t always hold true for secondhand shopping. The stylish millions occupying the city have picked through its thrift and vintage stores pretty thoroughly. As a result, I (and a lot of millennials my age) have turned to online vintage shopping. The internet is like one big warehouse capable of producing pretty much any piece of vintage clothing your heart desires; eBay is one such portal, but I more often find answers to all of my problems on Etsy. Yes, the website known mostly for cute home decor and handmade jewelry is also the best place to buy your vintage duds. Most of my prized Earthly possessions are things I’ve found while sifting through the thousands of items that fill its pages. They include but are not limited to a burgundy ’90s leisure suit, a very heavily shoulder-padded blazer emblazoned with stars, and an everyday black slip dress I wear, well, almost every day. In a lot of ways, negotiating secondhand goods online feels like digging through racks IRL to find exactly what you didn’t know you’d been searching for—just on a bigger scale. So as a seasoned and successful veteran of Etsy’s vintage section, I have a few important tips to help you navigate the seemingly endless options—plus some insider intel from Etsy’s resident trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson. Photo: Getty Images/PhotoStock-Israel 1. Have your
Category: 2019 Health
The secret to being great at talking to literally anyone
November 20, 2018 at 08:39AM Striking up a conversation can be pretty intimidating—especially with someone you don’t know well…or don’t know at all. And, TBH, that’s probably why so many people’s anxiety is triggered by social situations. But if anyone knows a thing or two about how to talk to literally anyone, it’s NPR host Terry Gross, who’s interviewed thousands of different people over the years. So, what’s her trick for always having such mesmerizing conversations? In an interview with the New York Times, Gross revealed the key to being a good conversationalist is actually a simple one. Instead of trying to do all the talking yourself, put your listening ears on and unleash your curiosity. “[Excelling at having a conversation means] being genuinely curious, and wanting to hear what the other person is telling you,” she said. “I can respond to what somebody is saying by expressing if I’m feeling sympathy or empathy, and explaining why.” But how do you start that conversation? Don’t worry—Gross has a pro tip for that, too. According to the journalist, the only ice-breaker you’ll need is: “Tell me about yourself.” Easy, huh? Instead of asking simple questions like “What do you do?” she says leaving the question open-ended can yield better results. Another perk? It’s the easiest way to avoid any of that awkwardness that comes at the beginning of a conversation when you quickly run out of things to say after a few back-and-forth exchanges. “Excelling at having a conversation means being genuinely curious, and wanting
We asked over 2,700 Well+Good readers about their anxiety—here’s what they had to say
November 20, 2018 at 07:42AM Take a moment to think about how often you answer the question “How are you?” with a groan, or how frequently you start sentences with “I’m stressed about…” or “I’m anxious about…” I’m pretty sure I’ve already used the former phrase at least three times today. In 2007, the American Psychological Association (APA) called stress a “major health problem” in the U.S., and the org has also named anxiety disorders as the most common mental health issue, affecting nearly 30 percent of American adults at some point in their lives. Stated plainly: Both are a Big Deal (with caps). So why are they still so hard to have a real conversation about? Here at Well+Good, we decided to break the ice by asking readers to share their experiences with stress and anxiety in a recent survey. And it turns out, everyone had something to say: Within 24 hours, more than 1,000 people participated. And in the end, we collected over 2,700 responses total. We learned that readers have trouble telling whether they’re stressed or anxious in any given situation; that peoples’ social lives proved a major trigger for their anxiety; and that, yes, we all have a tendency to put our mental well-being in the NBD category—even though it really, really matters. Scroll down for the results of our anxiety and stress reader survey. (The big takeaway? Whatever you’re feeling, you’re so not alone.) Graphic: W+G Creative Here’s how to course-correct stress in one minute, according to Arianna Huffington. Plus, how
Use the correct order of operations to clean up your messy kitchen in record time
November 20, 2018 at 07:23AM Everyone knows Thanksgiving dinner can quickly transform your kitchen from a squeaky-clean oasis into a total nightmare. Between the splattered mashed potatoes somehow on the wall, sticky spilled gravy on the counter, and crumbles of pie in every nook and cranny, getting your space back to its normal, sparkling state is bound to be the post-holiday workout you never asked for. But changing your technique could make all the difference in how easily—and expeditiously—you get the job done. So, here’s the right order for cleaning your kitchen efficiently and painlessly. If the first thing you typically do when it comes time to clean is grab the mop or broom, put those tools back in the closet—at least for a little while. That simple mistake could seriously lengthen the process, making it even longer before you get to relax and binge-watch your favorite holiday films. According to Apartment Therapy, the number-one rule to know about when it comes to cleaning the kitchen is that it is non-negotiable to work starting from the top—not the bottom. (Sorry, Drake.) When you clean up top, plenty of debris falls right back down onto the floor—AKA the worst thing that can happen directly after a fresh mop or sweep. While those crumbs on the floor may well drive you crazy as you’re wiping down your countertops, saving the task for last offers some perks. When you clean up top, plenty of debris falls right back down onto the floor—AKA the worst thing that
What a Thanksgiving plate looks like for the 6 most popular eating plans
November 20, 2018 at 07:01AM If you’re following a specific eating plan—whether it’s veganism, ketogenic, Paleo, or something else entirely—you’ve probably got this thing down. You have your go-to recipes bookmarked and saved, and you know exactly which grocery store never runs out of cauliflower pizza crust and alt-milks. But there’s nothing like Thanksgiving to throw all of that clockwork routine a little out of whack. The traditional dishes—turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes—aren’t always ideal for meatless or low-carb diets. And that makes menu planning tricky: If you’re a guest, you don’t want to stress out your host by making a ton of specific menu requests, or be ~that person~ who refuses practically everything on the table. And if you’re a host, you don’t want to make food only some people can enjoy, or impose your dietary restrictions on the rest of your guests. But in both scenarios, there’s a way to build your Thanksgiving plate where it’s crowded with amazing food—that still fits your health goals. Here, healthy food experts share healthy Thanksgiving menu ideas for their eating plan of choice. Use their picks as a guide to make your own plate—especially if you’re the one doing the cooking. Keep reading to see how to make a yummy Thanksgiving plate for your eating plan of choice. Graphic: Well+Good Creative The vegan Thanksgiving plate “Veganizing your Thanksgiving plate is much easier than you might think,” says Best of Vegan creator Kim-Julie Hansen. “Most side dishes and stuffings can be made vegan with just
Is acupuncture the latest old-but-new-again wellness trend to go mainstream?
[facebook url=”https://www.facebook.com/iamwellandgood/videos/mobile-meditation-studio-be-time-bus/” /] So, is acupuncture the wellness trend of the moment? Photo: Getty Images/Science Photo Library/Adam Gault Acupuncture is hot on the wellness scene—and it only makes sense While, acupuncture is about as new as…oh, bread (which is not new, PS), freshly adopted habits have ushered in a need for the practice. Take fitness for instance: HIIT workouts are at the forefront, which means a demand for new recovery methods isn’t far behind. Shari Auth, DACM, certified doctor of Chinese Medicine and acupuncture and WTHN co-founder, says acupuncture is a great antidote to injuries sustained from high-intensity exercise. “Because of these workouts, our bodies are starting to break down sooner with all the increased physical activity. Acupuncture offers a recovery solution that will keep people in the game addressing injuries, pain, and sore muscles.” —Shari Auth, DACM “Because of these workouts, our bodies are starting to break down sooner with all the increased physical activity. Acupuncture offers a recovery solution that will keep people in the game addressing injuries, pain and sore muscles,” she says. “Moreover, we’re in the midst of an opioid crisis in the US, and doctors and patients alike are turning to natural options for pain management before prescribing potentially addictive painkillers.” And perhaps this is part of why there’s a renewed interest in alternative, Rx-prescription-free forms of treatment. “Our parents’ era was about seeing the doctor when they got sick,” Dr. Auth says. “Our generation is about eating better and being active. But the next generation is really focusing on
This turmeric pumpkin quinoa oatmeal is the perfect post-Thanksgiving breakfast
November 20, 2018 at 06:11AM Whether your Thanksgiving spread includes the classics like cranberry sauce and green bean casserole or is a bit more experimental with tofurkey and avocado acorn squash, chances are it still ends with a delicious pumpkin pie. The morning after your feast, cravings for that sweet, beloved dish may linger—and Remy Park, AKA, the force behind the stunning blood Veggiekins, came up with a way to not only breakfast-fy it, but make it into an adaptogenic (read: stress reducing) energy booster. “I’m normally a smoothie person but when the weather starts to get cold, there are mornings where I can’t justify eating something frozen,” says Park. So instead, she created this cozy breakfast that’s brimming with superfoods. Start with the base—a blend of quinoa and oats. “I like to add quinoa to my oats because it brings a little more texture, protein, and a really nice nutty flavor,” says Park. Then, the spices: Park choose the pumpkin spice blend not for its seasonal ubiquity, but because of its warming properties: Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice encourage circulation in your body, which can help keep you warm—a bonus on a cool winter morning. To top it all off, Park tossed in two powerful adaptogens —mesquite and maca— which can help banish brain fog and get your morning off to a sharp start. The best part is that you can begin with Park’s base and customize to your liking by switching up the spices, swapping the sweetener, or playing with
How to go out on Thanksgiving Eve without becoming a regressive shell of your high school self
November 20, 2018 at 03:00AM ‘Twas the night before Thanksgiving, and all through the bar, dozens of people were blacking out, having traveled home from afar. If you’ve ever gone back to your hometown for Thanksgiving, you’re likely familiar with the ethos of the grossly named unofficial holiday known as “drinksgiving” or “blackout Wednesday.” This hallowed Thanksgiving Eve night is marked by the gathering of folks home for the holidays who mingle with people they generally see just on this annual occasion, drinking and waxing nostalgic about memories that are seminal for some, triggering for others. Folks who have enjoyed a serious glow-up since their nerdy days in high school revel in the attention from the popular kids who never left town, and many even backslide (like way back) and hook up with that high school ex who still curiously sparks butterflies. But no matter what you do or don’t do, the alcohol is free-flowing and the behavior is seriously regressive. As you can probably imagine, or have experienced yourself, this rarely, if ever, ends well: At best, you’re hungover and disappointed in yourself on Thanksgiving, anxious about how you acted the previous night while inevitably sandwiched at the dinner table between nosy relatives who want answers to your least favorite questions. And at worst, you drunkenly sang Sweet Caroline at the bar with high school friends and (mostly) acquaintances—and the evidence is all over Instagram Stories. Whenever I’ve gone out with people from high school, I always find myself feeling like I
I was consistently airborne for 3 days and this product saved my dry skin
November 20, 2018 at 02:00AM I’m standing on a crag in Newfoundland, Canada, with the summer sun gleaming, decidedly out of my element, and somehow in tune with the elements themselves all at once. Let me describe the vital forces of life at play: the crisp, chilled air; the water, which the salmon leap from; the fire we sit around at night; and yes, this rocky crag beneath me, and they all feel fierce and powerful in a whole new way. I realize that this kind of harmony and balance is the goal—not something you really get to witness in a bubble of an urban city—and in a moment of clarity, the clouds nearly part for me to realize the true meaning of life…until, all at once, I’m rudely interrupted. Like a harmonic chorus in its own right, my skin erupts with an itch and maddeningly ruins everything. Moment of clarity gone. Enlightenment over forever. All at the hands of dried-out skin. With a personal vendetta out for a parched complexion, I hit the books to figure out what’s up. Studies show that those who spend more time outdoors have compromised skin barriers, so it’s no wonder my complexion was having a rough time. “Dry weather or climate change can definitely make skin drier,” says Shirley Chi, MD, a California-based dermatologist. “It takes time for skin to return to a balanced state, so every time the weather changes it can disrupt that balance and get dry and flaky.” Bingo. “It takes time for
Windburn or super-dry skin? How to tell the difference between the winter issues
November 19, 2018 at 11:45AM Once cold temps come barreling in full-force, the skin issues that wreaked havoc on your complexion during the warmer months instantly start to feel like a distant, NBD memory. Of course the sunburns of summer are no joke, but the painful cracked, red skin that comes about in the relentlessly frigid winter is seriously painful, too. When it comes restoring your skin though, you’ve gotta know the problem you’re troubleshooting. And in this case, that much is easier said than done because it’s tough to differentiate between two very common seasonal issues: windburn and super-dry skin. Both situations can look and feel very similar: dry, red, and all sorts of irritated. A great clue as to what you’re dealing with though? Think about what you were doing before your skin started acting up. “Windburns are the result of cold temperatures as well as low humidity in the air. The combination depletes the natural oils in the skin, making it vulnerable to dryness and redness,” New York City-based dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD, tells me. “Dry skin, on the other hand, can also be red, tight, and irritated, but it’s not always due to environmental factors. It could be from lack of a moisturizer, washing with hot water, over-exfoliation, rosacea, eczema, and other issues.” “Windburns are the result of cold temperatures as well as low humidity in the air…. Dry skin can also be red, tight, and irritated, but it’s not always due to environmental factors.” — dermatologist