December 24, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC For a few years now, I’ve traveled with a DIY sleep kit. This consists of a silky pouch stuffed to the drawstring with rest-inducing aids: sleep mask, earplugs, lavender essential oil, CBD oil, selenite crystal, Guatemalan worry dolls, and Tylenol PM. Because I struggle terribly with falling asleep, I’d be more upset if I forgot this pouch at home than, say, my toothbrush or clean socks. The variety and abundance of items included in my kit sums up my general sleep-therapy philosophy: Gimme all the treatments. That’s why I was excited to stumble across sleep therapy on the spa menu at Enchantment Resort during a relaxing weekend in Sedona, Arizona. And while the treatment, which consisted of simply chatting for an hour with a specialist about my sleep habits, didn’t yield another goody for my literal bag of tricks, it did inspire an epiphany. While I described myself as “just a bad sleeper by nature,” my specialist explained that “insomniac” isn’t innate to who I am and that my issues had an origin somewhere in my past. If we could pinpoint that starting point, the specialist said, we could cure it. Low and behold, my sleep struggles, which I assumed had always been there—like my spleen or right kidney—actually truly began with the loss of someone close to me about five years ago. Once we figured out the timeline, my specialist then walked me through an anxiety-busting mindfulness technique, which I have been using
Category: Travel
The can’t-miss signs you’re suffering from social exhaustion—and how to deal with it
December 21, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC The holiday season brings plenty of opportunities to reconnect with family, friends, and maybe even past flames. Each invitation that comes your way may seem more tempting than the last, but by overloading your schedule with parties, brunches, and “catch-ups,” you’re also RSVPing to a bout of social exhaustion. “Social exhaustion is when you’ve socialized to the point that you can’t do it anymore, and you need some quiet time alone with no pressure,” says licensed clinical psychologist Aimee Daramus, PsyD. “It can be emotional, physical, or both.” The psychologist thinks that holidays are practically a pressure cooker for feeling spent, particularly if you don’t take time to be alone. “Being alone on the holidays carries a lot of emotional weight because of fantasies about how it should be. There are also assumptions that if you’re not around people you must be unhappy, which isn’t always true,” she says. For you, social exhaustion may be apparent. You may start the small talk with your third cousin, Sal, and Wow, I need to take a break, stat. That’s not always the case, however. “Other times, you might feel angry, stressed, or physically tired, and you’ll need to stop for a few minutes and think about why,” says Dr. Daramus. If you feel about ready to snap at Sal for asking why you’re still single, chances are you’ve got a case of the I-need-to-be-alones. A psychologists 3 strategies for dealing with social exhaustion 1. only
Weird, but true: Listening to others crack their bones helped me find relief
December 20, 2019 at 02:01PM by CWC “You’re still kicking,” I can hear Gregory Johnson, DC, say in his signature twang as he lightly karate chops a person’s knees to test their reflexes. He had just finishing decompressing the person’s spine by securing the person’s hips on a table with padded bars, and using a white, everyday towel around their neck, pulling their head slightly from their body in one swift motion. A huge cr-ra-ck can be heard when he does this (the move he’s termed the “ring dinger”), as the patient’s eyes go wide. I smile at my screen, and arch my back in bed, hoping to get a slight crack. I close my computer, then my eyes, and drift off to sleep. Sure, there’s Dr. Johnson from Texas (“Your Houston Chiropractor”) with his patented ring dinger. There’s also Dr. Rahim from California, whose calm nature and crazy before-and-afters makes me want to book a flight to Los Angeles. There’s Dr. Brenda Mondragon from D.C., who wears crazy leggings and spends a good portion of her time with the patient working out trigger or pressure points in the muscle before she cracks them like a glow stick. There’s Dr. Joseph Cipriano in Greenville, South Carolina, who uses a chin strap apparatus to decompress the patient’s spine—much like Dr. Johnson in Houston, just with a different piece of equipment (no towel here). And there are so many more. They’ve become my late-night watches. Their videos—which rack up thousands, sometimes millions
I went on an unplugged retreat in Napa to find out whether silence really is golden
December 20, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC I typically answer texts, emails, and calls whenever they come in. My mission to be digitally available at all times, though, compromises the attention I’m able to give to the people right in front of me, and to be honest, the pursuit of always being on was taking its toll. (I’ve often felt like I’m a iPhone alerts away from a meltdown.) So when I was invited to try Calistoga Ranch’s silent retreat program, “Sound Off” Quiet Retreat, I was intrigued. “We created the ‘Sound Off’ Quiet Retreat to provide a solution for the luxury traveler who wishes to block out the everyday noise to truly experience extreme quiet, prioritize their wellness and reconnect with themselves and the outdoors,” says Avi Haskar, general manager and regional vice president of the wellness-forward boutique resort located in the middle of Napa Valley. “Our program caters to guests seeking out a quiet, rejuvenating solo trip or an opportunity to fully unplug with a partner in luxuriously relaxing setting.” The experience (from $1,929 per night) is customized to each guest’s needs. That may mean complete silence, sans technology. Or perhaps a couple wants to unplug from everything but communicating with each other. Or, maybe, something else. For my trip, I aimed to avoid speaking and using any technology that could connect me with others. My time on the silent retreat would mark not only my first-ever solo trip, but also the first instance I can remember being
Engagement season is upon us—here’s what you should know about sustainable diamonds
December 19, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC Ahh, cuffing season: While for some it might mean finding the nearest person to act as a human space heater, for others it means getting engaged to their long-term partners and celebrating their commitment (congrats!). Insert the scroll of hand-in-the-foreground-pose photos to show of all that bling here. And by bling, we mean diamonds. But have you ever stopped mid-scroll to think about where all those diamonds are coming from—or the impact their retrieval might be having on the planet? “It is increasingly important every day to understand the impact of every purchase on the planet and humanity,” says Alexander Weindling, co-founder and CEO of Great Heights, a diamond-industry disruptor that’s changing the game with lab-grown diamonds. “Diamonds dug from the earth in underdeveloped nations or sucked from the seabed floor by giant vacuums deliver unwarranted and unnecessary disruptions, disturbance, and pain to our planet. We have found a better way.” Yep, we’re talking sustainable diamonds, which are paving the way with innovative practices to help you make one of your most lasting purchase decisions a more ethical one. So if you’re thinking of tying the knot or showing yourself some love (we’re here for it), it’s time to get real about your rock. Keep reading for why lab-grown diamonds are about to be a *big* deal—for you and the planet. So, what’s the difference? At the simplest level, mined diamonds are found underground and lab-created diamonds are grown, well, above ground in a
The healthy snacks to keep in your a ‘hangry prevention kit’ to avoid a mid-day meltdown
December 18, 2019 at 09:42PM by CWC Today I learned something wise that applies to people of all ages. When toddlers get hangry while you’re out and about, it’s useful to have a hangry kit full of snacks rich in protein, fat, and fiber, according to Jennifer Anderson, MSPH, RDN. Good to know, as I do act more or less like a toddler when I haven’t eaten during a busy day. Sadly I am actually an employed, public-facing adult with dignity, so I have to keep those hunger-related temper tantrums a bit more contained. You, too, probably get a little bit agitated when you’re thrust into a busy day and your blood sugar levels are diving. A hangry kit can really come in handy when you need to stay satiated with long breaks between meals. And so I wonder: what does the adult hangry kit look like, and how can I have that on hand? Below, we have recommendations on what foods to add to your hangry kit with the help of Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition in the New York City area. What to keep in your hangry kit at all times 1. KIND MINIs Almost guaranteed that your office has these in your kitchen snack basket (ours does, en masse) so make like First Month at Work Mary Grace and swipe a few for when you’re hangry. “I love having a KIND Caramel Almond and Sea Salt Mini bar on hand because it tides me over for just
On the Cusp: Why the Sagittarius-Capricorn cusp is the sharpest zodiac combo
December 18, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC Stefanie Iris Weiss Each month with On the Cusp, we point our astrological magnifying glass on all the people born between two zodiac signs. Because when your birthday falls at either the tail end or the very beginning of your sun sign’s season, your personality may be influenced by your cosmic neighbor. Now, fully in holiday mode, it’s time to give those on the Sagittarius-Capricorn cusp the dedicated astrological spotlight they deserve, and Stefanie Iris Weiss, astrologer and co-author of Surviving Saturn’s Return: Overcoming the Most Tumultuous Time of Your Life, is here to illuminate us. Below, Weiss (who is available for 2020 readings), explains what happens when the pleasant, sage traits of a Sagittarius (November 23 to December 21) meet and blend with expertly overachieving Capricorns (December 22 to January 19). If you’re born on the Sagittarius-Capricorn cusp, let me begin with…sorry. We all know that December birthdays, especially those born between December 19 and December 24, get seriously lost in the holiday mix. There is an upside, though: Weiss says the Sagittarius-Capricorn cusp is one of the most distinct and powerful of all cusp-crossings. “It’s marked by the deeply meditative and magical winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere,” Weiss says. “This is when we’re at our darkest moment, but also when the universe reminds us that the light will return in a few months. That’s the perfect blend of Sagittarius and Capricorn
How to navigate the holidays if you have IBS—without feeling like a total Grinch
December 17, 2019 at 09:00PM by CWC Dealing with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be tricky no matter what time of year it is. (Shout out to everyone who knows exactly where all the private bathrooms are at their workplace.) But dealing with a sensitive stomach prone to pain, cramping, diarrhea, or constipation can be especially rough during the holidays. Not only can stress levels run higher than usual (which can exacerbate the condition), there’s also an influx of boozy holiday parties, long, sit-down family meals full of rich foods, and of course all the holiday traveling. When you’re preoccupied with thoughts about your finicky digestive system, it can take away from the joy of the holiday season. Fortunately, IBS Nutrition founder, The 28-Day Plan for IBS Relief author, and registered dietitian Audrey Inouye, RD is here to help. Inouye specializes in helping people manage their IBS symptoms, both through what they eat and other lifestyle tips that extend beyond diet. Here, she gives solutions to the biggest stressors people with IBS worry about this time of year. Keep reading for her expert intel. Managing IBS amidst holiday stress For many people, there’s a direct correlation between stress and their IBS symptoms. And despite what your fave Hallmark movie may depict, the holidays can be a very stressful time. Family get-togethers, present-related money woes, meeting end-of-year work goals, the general business of the season…it’s a lot to handle at once. “Whether your IBS presents as bloating, diarrhea, or constipation,
Yep, even the happiest couples are likely to fight while traveling
December 17, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC The time has finally come for you and your significant other to take that trip you’ve been planning for ages. Your bags are packed, your snacks are accounted for, and you’re basically dreaming about the fresh environment where you’ll surely clock in some A+ quality time and off-the-walls vacation sex. But then all of a sudden, you’re rustled from your trance because “this route has too many tolls and now we’re going to have to drive through the city, and are you even listening to the GPS? It says turn right. RIGHT, you idiot.” To be clear, it’s not just you; fighting on vacation, even in the scope of happy, healthy partnerships, is totally a thing. In fact, bickering with your partner on the road is basically just par for the travel course. And if your final destination is to somewhere decidedly not-sexy, like the twin bed in your parents’ home, expect tensions to be extra high. But still, no matter whether the trip was born from an obligation or was supposed to be leisurely in nature, what fuels this argumentative fire in the first place? Why are we so inclined to fight more with our partner when we’re traveling? “When people are overtired and exhausted, they have no patience for dealing with even one more drop of stress from their partner.” —relationship therapist Laurel Steinberg, PhD According to relationship therapist Laurel Steinberg, PhD, more than a few factors fan these flames, but there
Put this unspoiled Hawaiian Island on your travel bucket list for 2020
December 17, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC The state of Hawaii is hardly an undiscovered travel destination. In fact, the islands are flooded with more than nine million tourists every year trying to etch out a small parcel of sand for sipping mai tais. But there is still one quiet island that has not (yet) been inundated with fellow travelers trying to soak up magic: For those who are always on the lookout for up-and-coming hot spots, Lanai island will not disappoint. Lanai island is located jus a handful of miles off the shores of Maui and was known for years as “Pineapple Island,” thanks to its long reign as Dole’s primary pineapple farming operation. These days, though, tourism is the top industry for Lanai island. Still, though travel and tourism is now a top priority for the island, crowds are still way less abundant here than they are on Hawaii’s other islands. But, with just as much (if not more) fun and relaxation to be had, and the recent opening of highly anticipated all-inclusive wellness resort concept, The Four Seasons Koele, the secret may soon get out. In case you need more convincing as to why Lanai island deserves a spot on your travel bucket list, check out the guide below. Dining, Lanai-style VIEWS Even if you don’t hit the links, a long lunch at this vista-heavy restaurant at the Manele Golf Course is still a great idea. Photo-ready backdrops greet you from every direction, while the Pacific Rim