January 09, 2019 at 11:35AM by CWC As an introvert whose anxiety switch is always flipped on, I’m forever on the lookout for easy ways to unwind. In the morning, I rely on 10-minute meditations followed by quiet time with coffee (sans phone) before my day starts. At night, I take a soothing bath to bring on head-to-toe calm before bed. It’s an ideal setup—sure—that is, until my week fills up with early gym dates and after-work obligations. Now that I’m sitting at a desk 40-hours a week and taking coding classes in the evening (read: busier than ever), my chilled-out rituals have left the building. Thank u, next. As a result I’m dreaming about deadlines, waking up with clenched teeth, and furrowing my eyebrows at the computer for no reason at all. So, what’s a girl who’s pressed for time but in major need of some chilled-out moments to do? Flip everyday must-dos into moments of calm. That starts with my beauty routine, which has become a key element of how I approach de-stressing before I tackle my day and wind down for bed. “Reserving space for a beauty ritual in your day creates built-in time to turn your focus away from outside stressors and towards caring for yourself,” says Katie Sobelman, an aesthetician who writes about organic and chemical-free skin care at the Organic Esthetician. “Do what you can, when you can. As long as you’re cleansing every night and protecting your skin with SPF every morning, you’re already on
Category: Relaxation
Unsure if you’ve made the right decision? Pull a Lady Macbeth and wash your hands
January 09, 2019 at 11:04AM by CWC It’s easy to confuse a simple decision with a life-or-death scenario. From choosing a career to choosing an avocado, no one wants to make a mistake! But you don’t have to let these forks in the road haunt you forever—or even for minutes after you’ve made your choice. More than 400 years ago, Shakespeare unknowingly proposed a solution now called the “Lady Macbeth effect.” You may remember from a high school reading of the play that the heroine makes a big decision of her own in Act V, Scene 1. Having pressured her husband to commit regicide, Lady MacBeth washes her hands with water—figuratively washing away King Duncan’s blood—in a bid for absolution. We’re not saying whether or not Lady Macbeth made the right decision, but she may have been onto something. Even though—spoiler alert!—Lady Macbeth’s ending isn’t a happy one, some research does suggest that a good scrub might help you move on with the rest of your life. As part of a study published in the journal Science, researchers at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, set out to determine whether or not hand washing helps to calm oneself after a weighty decision, reports NPR. For the sake of the experiment, participants ranked 10 music CDs (I know, throwback). Then, researchers asked them to choose their fifth or sixth favorite album as a gift. They made their choices and some of the music-lovers were told to wash their hands while others were not. Later,
The hardest reality of life for you to accept, based on your Myers-Briggs personality type
January 09, 2019 at 08:05AM by CWC Every Myers-Briggs personality type has strengths and weaknesses—but you probably already know your strengths. They’re the skills and areas that you lean into most often and with ease. But what about your Achilles’ heel—do you know yours? If not, no worries—it’s tougher to be aware of your weaknesses than strengths. In fact, many aren’t made aware of their flaws until they’re literally succumbing to them. And sometimes, you might struggle to accept certain areas of your life or certain traits you have. But seeing our vulnerabilities is the best path toward growth, so you can’t be afraid to acknowledge and work through—even if it’s scary. (Don’t know what your type is? Read this first!) Below, gain insight into what the hardest thing is for you to accept, based on your Myers-Briggs type, and then learn to grow from it. Everyone has weaknesses—here’s the hardest thing for you to accept, based on your Myers-Briggs personality type. Graphics by W+G Creative ISFJ: Perfect behavior doesn’t mean a perfect relationship You work hard to follow the rules and keep others happy. If only that were all it took to have great relationships with friends, family and partners, right? Sometimes though, you value peace too much and honesty too little. Speaking up and sharing your innermost beliefs can feel uncomfortable, but it’s the only way people can learn who you really are, after all. ESFJ: You can’t hurry love Though you just want to love, you skew
How to have glowing, healthy skin ASAP—without a ton of work
January 09, 2019 at 03:30AM by CWC Everyone wants healthy-looking skin, and here’s the good news: Getting the glowing complexion you want doesn’t have to be a heavy lift. Here, Jillian Wright—a trained esthetician, indie beauty expert, and a member of the Well+Good Council—shares four simple ways to improve your skin ASAP. This is the time of year when people often look to shake up their lifestyles in order to discover the best version of themselves in the new year. Here are four ways to instantly rehab your routine and make sure your year starts with glowing, healthy skin. Step up your spot treatment For years, dermatologists and aestheticians alike have been battling the myth that toothpaste works well for acne spot treatment. Not so. But calamine lotion—yep, the pink stuff—does wonders, all due to its anti-inflammatory zinc. Zinc also increases your body’s absorption of the vitamins A and E, which are important for healthy skin. Get to know glutathione Glutathione is an antioxidant that can prevent damage to important cellular components (like your skin) caused by free radicals, peroxides, and heavy metals. Consider getting an IV vitamin drip. I like Nutridrip at Clean Market in NYC, or simply make cabbage soup—the leafy stuff naturally offers glutathione and is a diuretic, too. Relax Stress can cause your skin to behave badly. CBD is being touted by consumers and doctors for its ability to de-stress and relax. Try using a tincture. Place a drop or two of Yuyo Botanics or Holistic
Here’s where to practice Kundalini yoga in NYC and LA
January 09, 2019 at 02:37AM by CWC Most people are quite familiar with yoga. Yes, it’s a mind-body practice that boosts your physical strength and ability to be present your breath through different bendy poses—but there are so many ways to go about doing it. Essentially, there are different kinds of yoga, which range from the traditional vinyasa flow to ashtanga (a more rigid, repetitive style) to yin (a very slow method of holding positions)—and then there’s Kundalini yoga. The thing about Kundalini yoga is that it seems to be a bit more mysterious. “Kundalini is the yoga of awareness,” says Abigail Devine, instructor, healer, and guide who leads the Devine Sound Journey once a month at bodē nyc. “It uses movement, breath, sound, and mantra to work with balancing the energies in your body.” While other yoga modalities are more about embracing the physicality of flowing between poses, Kundalini is more, well, abstract. “Kundalini yoga emphasizes the flexibility of the spine, which is where the Kundalini energy runs,” Devine explains. “Each class is unique, but will all start with an opening mantra and breathing exercise, followed by a series of physical exercises. It’ll end with a meditation.” Since its practice is different than your go-to vinyasa flow, for instance, Kundalini’s main benefits are “deep energy work and connecting with your highest self,” as opposed to just getting in a sweat sesh. But it also has the “physical, emotional, and mental purification” benefits of other yoga practices. In other words: You’re still getting a
If your posture is despicable, try these stretches you can do at your desk
January 08, 2019 at 04:55AM Spending eight hours hunched over a computer screen each day would render even a prima ballerina’s posture imperfect, so it’s no wonder we office workers deal with back pain like its our job. For many, desk life is an unfortunate and unavoidable part of one’s career. Fortunately, there are a number of yoga teacher-approved stretches so easy you can do them sitting down. So long, aching shoulders and spine! If you’re looking for something quick and easy, 300-hour certified yoga teacher (and Well+Good’s director of marketing) Jessica Pickens recommends clasping opposite elbows behind your back to alleviate some discomfort while training your body to recognize an optimal seated position. “The simple movement open up your chest, broadens your collar bone, and gives you more space on your front body,” she says. Should you have a little more time on your hands, add a few extra poses to the lineup. When you do head back to your desk to plow through your inbox, you’ll do so with a spine that feels fresh out of savasana. Make your back feel like new again with these desk-friendly yoga poses 1. Figure four: “This will help to relieve outer hip and low back tightness from sitting all day,” says Lindsay Pirozzi, a New York City-based yoga instructor at Y7 Studio. “To accomplish this seated on a chair be sure to sit close to the edge of the chair so you can sit with a tall spine. Place your right ankle mindfully in top
Why your period is actually the best time for running
January 07, 2019 at 10:46AM Crazy back pain and dramatic breakouts are just a couple of the woes that can plague women during their monthly cycle. But that oh-so-special time of month does have a silver lining: According to Meg Takacs, a New York City-based CrossFit and Aaptiv trainer, it’s the (ahem!) period when some women might achieve their most goal-crushing workouts. “Yeah, periods suck. But your workouts don’t have to,” the trainer captioned a recent Instagram post. Can I get a hallelujah? While your luteal phase (the week before your flow starts) might spell more sluggish sweat sessions, the week when you’re menstruating comes with the ideal hormonal conditions to kick your usual mileage up a notch. “Schedule races, HIIT workouts, and sprint workouts” during this time, recommends the trainer. The biological reason behind this supercharged time of month is pretty cool, too. “It’s because at this time in the cycle, the female hormonal cycle is resetting and getting ready for the upcoming month,” explains Adeeti Gupta, MD, founder of Walk In GYN Care in New York City. “The estrogen has started to rise at this point and the other hormones are at a stable baseline. The hormonal symphony is a complicated topic, but essentially a woman’s energy and libido is primed during or just after the period.” View this post on Instagram The Power of Your Period Remember the last time you were mad at a wall? Yeah, periods suck. But your workouts don’t have to. Here’s the truth: *Cues Cardi B
I tried facial acupuncture—and every bit of jaw and forehead tension melted away
January 06, 2019 at 04:00AM I’ve been noticing myself getting increasingly braver when it comes to trying out skin-care treatments. Last year alone, I zapped, lasered, and micro-needled my face to better absorb my own plasma. Then, at the tail end of the year, I heard about facial acupuncture—yet another way to achieve luminosity—and despite my fear of needles (that aren’t attached to a micro-needling device), I decided to give it a go. Facial cosmetic acupuncture (FCA) is just what it sounds like: The traditional treatment of placing needles into skin, which correspond with various meridians and release chi energy…only done on your face for beautifying reasons. There’s science to back it up, too. According to one study on the efficacy, facial cosmetic acupuncture resulted in boosted elasticity among the 27 participants who received 5 treatments; other studies have found that multiple FCA treatment improve skin texture, fend off fine lines, and provide an all-over refreshed glow. “It’s the ultimate multitasker,” says Shari Auth, DACM, LAc, LMT co-founder of WTHN, a New York City acupuncture studio. “Facial acupuncture is anti-aging, relaxes the muscles of the face, and boosts collagen to reduce wrinkles. It also increases circulation and boosts elastin to firm and tone the face, and promotes detoxification to leave you with a clearer, more even complexion.” Okay, okay, you’ve got my attention. But what is it like to experience? I was about to find out. Keep on scrolling for my firsthand account. What it’s like to get facial acupuncture When I
Take nude photos of yourself, for yourself to feel great and powerful—bloated or not
January 04, 2019 at 06:00AM While recently scrolling through my Twitter feed, absorbing the usual mix of anxiety memes and Chrissy Teigen having opinions about foods, I came across an incredible set of photos. They were of the singer Lizzo, totally naked, and looking totally fantastic. Her caption: “I was feeling bloated so I took some nudes…. I feel great now bitch.” Suddenly a light clicked on in my brain. As counterintuitive as it may seem, could the cure for feeling self-conscious about your body actually be as simple as snapping a few naked selfies? Lizzo, first of all, is an incredible person to follow on social media for many reasons. Her songs are all bops (you’ve probably heard “Good As Hell” on movie soundtracks or blasting from some cool person’s car windows) and her tweets and Instagrams provide a constant stream of body-positive affirmations and inspirational memoranda. (Sample: “All this time I been waiting on the game to change….when I’m the game changer.”) Also, you’ll never see anyone play the flute quite like her. Basically, I cannot help but smile whenever I see her do anything, whether it’s singing Ursula songs from The Little Mermaid or twerking in a Sailor Moon costume. So after seeing her tweet about taking nude pictures when feeling bloated, I knew I had to try it for myself. When my body looks and feels puffy, my response is usually to hide, shrink, and do whatever I can to shut it down. (My to-do list
What You Need to Know to Achieve Financial Control in Your 20s, 30s, 40s, and Beyond
January 01, 2019 at 06:30PM https://content.jwplatform.com/players/5XUi8qut-AjgxWzQ7.js Taking control of your financial security doesn’t have to be intimidating (like, make-your-own-kombucha-from-scratch intimidating). In fact, you can even start right now. Just take it from Yolanda Piazza, CEO of Citi FinTech, who’s here to give you some (uplifting!) advice. Specifically, the exact tips to keep in mind for every decade, from your 20s to your 50s and beyond. The one key piece of information that holds constant? Be honest. What do your finances look like? What do you spend your money on? What can you simplify to make things easier on you later on? To help you narrow it down, watch the video above for the questions you should be asking yourself at every stage that can help you understand your financial landscape and ensure you’re saving for your specific dreams. “Make long term goals that fit your short term needs,” Piazza says. So grab a pen, and relax. Watch the video above to hear Citi FinTech’s Yolanda Piazza’s tips for taking control over your finances—no matter your stage in life. More Like This Read More 4 Small Steps to Make You Feel Better About Your Finances Right Now Read More How to Avoid Falling Into the Trap of Holiday-Season Financial Stress Read More Here’s the Breakdown on How to Take a Step Toward Financial Wellness Sponsored by Citi Continue Reading… Author Well+Good Editors | Well and Good Selected by iversue