March 18, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC Therapist Quest 2019 is well underway for me, and so far, I’ve been far more successful at finding people who definitely aren’t a fit. It feels like a sick-joke, real-world version of Are You My Mother? That’s because I want to find someone who comes highly recommended, yet being recommended often comes with a hearty helping of conflict of interest. This whole thing feels harder finding a promising date. Furthermore, being proactive by taking your query to Google as a first stop can lead to results so abundant and varied that the overwhelming effect may be paralyzing. This may lead you to stop the hunt completely, meaning your emotional baggage becomes that piece of luggage you inexplicably can’t bring yourself to unpack four months after the vacation ended. Obviously, this cannot happen. To save you some time and sweet, sweet mental energy, below is a list of four people who really shouldn’t treat you for one reason or another. Because knowing who’s not a great fit (and why) is super helpful for identifying that perfect healthy match once you encounter it. 1. Someone who is treating another family member Unless it’s in the context of family therapy, seeing a professional who’s already treating a close relative is an enormous conflict of interest. So though my parents mean well by offering to send me to my sibling’s psychologist, in practice, allowing that guy to be my guy would be an awful idea, because while he may well be
Category: Relaxation
Destination REM: Save up for these 6 dreamy (and luxe) sleep vacations
March 18, 2019 at 12:09PM by CWC Being a human in the era of exhaustion means finding the time to relax and take a freaking vacation is super necessary for recharging our ever-so-fatigued batteries. We wake wake up to a grating morning alarm, spend hours upon hours servicing an endless parade of “urgent” emails and work requests all day long, and often have trouble turning off the mental stimulus to clock enough zzz’s to do it successfully the next day. Since getaways characterized by sweet, sweet slumber are clearly what we—the REM-deprived public—need so desperately, why not just dedicate the entirety of a trip to fulfill that worthy restorative goal? Good news: Super-luxe hotels across the world are creating environments and treatments that appeal to that very desire. Meaning, your “pre-bedtime routine” is basically your whole day’s itinerary. Head to New Mexico to have a sleep doctor size up your personal Rx, or Bali to nap in a silk hammock, or Switzerland to become the subject of your own video polysomnography (sleep study). Basically, travel dreams can come true (for a price, that is). Don’t sleep on these 6 restorative, totally dreamy vacations at luxe hotels. Photo: Carillon Miami Wellness Resort 1. Miami, Florida: Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, starting at $479 per night This oceanfront resort offers a treatment literally called the “Tranquility Pro Sleep Ritual,” where aromas, music, Ayurvedic practices, and more are blended together for the ultimate bedtime prehab. Also on the spot’s chill menu is salt float bath therapy, I.V. drips,
I want to be Jennifer Garner’s BFF so she’ll give me her favorite detangling brush
March 18, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC “Enviable” is one word to describe Jennifer Garner‘s hair, am I right? While the actress has a countless number of products at her fingertips to keep her strands shiny, the product she credits the most for her damage-free hair is a detangling brush. In an interview with InStyle, Garner shared she’s a a big fan of the Sheila Stotts Removal Brush ($31). She’s happy to spread her hard-earned wisdom to the masses (and her BFFs). “I give these hairbrushes to all my girlfriends,” Garner says. “I have a store of them in my drawer. If I have a friend come over with a daughter and she’s brushing her hair with one of our brushes, I know she’s going to go home with it.” So, what’s so great about this brush, anyway? While some brushes cause breakage—especially when used with wet hair—this option has metal, needle-like bristles made for detangling that won’t catch. In fact, it’s gentle enough that you can use it in the shower to get rid of knots, distribute your conditioner evenly, and even give yourself a relaxing scalp massage. If it sounds a tad too pricey for a hairbrush, don’t worry—there’s another option. The Wet Brush, which is also designed to care for fragile wet strands, is just $10. Either way, you’re bound to have Garner-level shine in no time. To upgrade your shower routine beyond your brush of choice, add some CBD shampoo and conditioner into the mix, too. Just make sure you don’t
7 super-attainable habits Halle Berry swears by to stay healthy
March 16, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC If you follow Berry on Instagram, you know the 50-something actress (how is that possible?) is super into fitness. The Oscar winner-turned-action hero—who’s still the only black woman to win an Academy Award for best actress, BTW—frequently posts tips and hardcore workouts with her trainer Peter Lee Thomas. And yes, Berry is just as much of a buff badass in real life as she is on screen. And on top of that, she’s a regular pro when it comes to healthy eating and making self-care a priority. And best of all: She’s generous with advice! (Which is great, because who doesn’t want to get Halle-healthy?) With a fierce wellness résumé like that, she’s got a lot to share—and these are the seven health habits the ageless superstar relies on year in, year out. 1. She trains with Bulgarian bags You know, the super-heavy sand-filled bags that are commonly used by Olympic athletes and wrestlers. No big deal. After her trainer introduced them to her, she was instantly hooked and uses them for strength training, cardio, and plyometrics. Even five minutes swinging or carrying around one of them—which can weigh up to 50 pounds—will leave you sore for days. 2. She improvises her workouts As a huge lover of all things fitness, Berry isn’t going to let a day go by without moving her body in some way. Case in point? Transforming a gallon jug of water in her fridge into a kettlebell for a sweat-inducing series of
Spring break travel horoscope: Where to go, according to your sign
March 15, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC It might not feel like the case, but spring is coming…eventually. And though the days of partying it up in during a designated spring break timeframe might be behind you, there’s something to be said for escaping during that calendar window. But with so many destinations available for your wanderlusting desires, how do you pick the best spot for you? Why not look to the stars for the answers? After all, your zodiac sign can be a helpful resource for determining the best vacation for your specific personality and also for figuring out exactly what to do when you get there. That’s precisely where Katie Huang and Paula Pavlova, the astrology experts behind Moonbox, a subscription service integrating your beauty routine with the lunar cycle, come in. Below, they outline the best travel destinations for each zodiac sign, so the only thing left for you to do is book your tickets. Check out where to travel this spring, according to your zodiac sign. Graphics: Well+Good Creative Aries: Vipassana Meditation Retreat Symbolized by the ram, Aries love to be number one—which is why they’re the first sign of the zodiac. Ruled by fire, they like to dive headfirst into everything and think later, which can lead to some sticky situations. Basically, they’d do best to slow down…way down. That’s why Vipassana, a 10-day silent retreat that takes place in worldwide locations, is just the ticket. Calming the physical body extends to calming the inner fire in the
8 mental health tips that are so effective, therapists themselves swear by them
March 15, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC There are so many strategies for cultivating a solid sense of mental health (Rethinking your social-media relationship! Scheduling a girls’ night! Journaling!). Still, figuring out what tips really work and what’s just noise is a highly personalized and hardly simple process. Since nobody knows what’s what when it comes to mental health quite like the people who preach it each day, we asked therapists to weigh in. Here, the experts share which tools they personally reach for on a regular basis in order to help keep their own mental-health game strong. 1. Rethink the way you approach worrying “We all have anxiety and things we worry about, but worry is thought garbage,” says Thea Gallagher, PsyD, clinic director at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perlman School of Medicine. “There is no correlation between worry and outcome,” she adds, and it’s important to remind yourself of that fact when you start to stress. When Dr. Gallagher finds herself worrying about something, she tries to put herself on the following thought path: Can I solve this problem? And what can I do about it, if anything? “If I can’t do anything about it, I can’t worry about it,” she says. “There’s no point.” 2. Find a good mindfulness app, and stick with it The app Stop, Breathe & Think is a go-to for Tamar Gur, MD, PhD, a women’s health expert and reproductive psychiatrist at the
Learn to unwind like Simone Biles (because you totally deserve a gold medal for crushing that workout)
March 13, 2019 at 08:14AM by CWC Clear your calendar. The summer Olympics will be here before you know it. In the meantime, between press junkets and rigorous workouts, athletes ramping up for an opportunity to win Olympic gold are also considering the importance of cooling down. A prime example of elite athleticism, gymnast Simone Biles, who turns 21 on March 14, is focused on thoughtful recovery as she prepares for Tokyo 2020. I caught up with Biles in Paris at the unveiling of the Women’s World Cup national team soccer kits. The new uniforms will dot the field when the tournament returns this summer. As a gymnast, Biles is united with the athletes of all types on the heels of a landmark women-driven Nike Just Do It campaign. (Seriously, you need to watch it because it will give you all the feels). “It was very empowering to see all the ladies out there taking such strong strides and having confidence—even when we’re speaking out—knowing that we can do anything that the male athletes can do and more,” Biles tells me. Biles’ efforts to change the sport of gymnastics are equally remarkable. She earned four gold medals and a single bronze at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janiero. She’s since proved unstoppable, performing never-been-done-before vaults and can’t-believe-your-eyes tumbling routines. Her workouts are no joke and neither is her recovery routine. “I love doing massages because it’s also relaxing and usually I fall asleep,” says Biles. And while a massage might
I washed my hair with CBD shampoo and conditioner and it’s never been softer
March 13, 2019 at 05:00AM by CWC I have curly, color-treated hair, which means that finding products that properly nourish my strands is usually a struggle. I’ve tried countless combinations of oils, serums, and sprays to mixed results, and can never quite get my hair to look as healthy and hydrated as I’d like. After replacing pretty much every other aspect of my beauty and wellness routines with CBD products over the last few months (seriously—is there anything this stuff can’t do?), it was only a matter of time before CBD made its way into my hair-care rotation. While I’m intimately familiar with the way CBD works with skin (its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can help with everything from acne and rosacea to muscle soreness, which is why it’s become so overwhelmingly popular as of late), I wasn’t totally sure how these properties would translate to hair care. “CBD integrates naturally with the body’s endocannabinoid system which helps to regulate dry hair and scalp conditions, among other functions,” explains Jennifer Negron, a Florida-based stylist and international educator who works with EMERA, a new brand that offers CBD hair-care products. According to her, CBD contains all 21 known amino acids, and is rich in vitamins including A, B, C, D, E, magnesium, potassium, and essential fatty acids like omegas 3, 6, and 9. “These powerful nutrients improve moisture retention, help form collagen, which nourishes and strengthens scalp tissue, and improves hair elasticity and strength, and allows hair follicles to expand faster, encouraging healthy
Checks+Balanced: A 30-year-old digital marketer in Toronto making $60K swears by salt floats
March 13, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Even in a world where questions about menstrual cups and the ins and outs of sex are completely (and blessedly) normal, somehow the ever-ubiquitous use of money remains a touchy subject for many. People want to live their healthiest life ever, but—#realtalk—it can add up. Have you ever wondered how your colleague who makes less than you do (or so you think) can afford to buy a $5 matcha and a $12 chopped salad every day? Or how your friend’s budget allows her to hit up $34 fitness classes three times a week? It’s enough to make anyone want to ask, “Ummm, excuse me. How do you afford that?!?” Last year, we asked five women with salaries ranging between $30,000 and $250,000 exactly what they spend on wellness ,and their responses showed that no matter your income, it’s possible to cultivate healthy habits that work within your budget. To keep spreading the transparency, and hopefully providing some inspo that’s possible to copy, we’re launching Checks + Balanced, a series featuring women who open their wellness-wallet habits to us. So keep checking back. (Want to be featured? Email emily@wellandgood.com.) Here, a 30-year-old digital marketer shares her wellness spending habits. Graphic: Well+Good Creative Kaeli Sweigard, 30, digital marketer, Toronto Salary: $60,000 Rent: $800/month. I live with my boyfriend. Our total rent is $2,000—he pays $1200. Other big expenditures: In Toronto, parking is really expensive, so I don’t have a car but spend $50 a month on public transportation. I spend $400 a month on
The hottest power couple in wellness is CBD and adaptogens
March 12, 2019 at 10:21AM by CWC If someone were to rank the decade’s most hyped-up wellness phenomena, I’d bet you an oat milk latte that CBD and adaptogens would be fighting for the number one spot. It’s obvious why so many people are obsessed: Both buzzy substances are credited with soothing stress, which is pretty much the plague of our times. Not-so-surprisingly, brands are now creating products formulated with both CBD—a compound found in hemp and marijuana plants that’s said to provide numerous health benefits without the high—and adaptogenic plants, which are traditionally used in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. One of the first to do so was CAP Beauty, whose Daily Hit oil caused a legit sensation when it debuted back in 2017. The product combined CBD with add-ins like immune-enhancing reishi mushroom. More recently, Plant People launched Stay Sharp, a CBD supplement that’s said to improve focus and mental clarity with an assist from gingko and bacopa monnieri; Calivolve‘s CBD truffles are crafted with a blend of stamina-boosting maca and calming ashwagandha; Yuyo Botanics’ AM Formula stress-support tincture also combines CBD with ashwagandha. According to Plant People co-founder Gabe Kennedy, CBD and adaptogens make sense together because they both have similar functions: They’re believed to help the body maintain balance when we’re on the brink of burnout. “When stress occurs… our systems become interrupted and our vitality diminishes,” he explains. “Both CBD and adaptogens help mitigate our response to these stressors, making it easier to reach homeostasis and therefore better wellbeing.” CBD