September 27, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC If anyone knows how important self-care practices are for mental health, it’s a psychologist. In today’s hectic age—between work deadlines, relationship stress, financial difficulties, and a never-ending lack of sleep—it can be hard to make time for yourself and your mental well-being each day. Jamie Long, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist at The Psychology Group Fort Lauderdale, understands that struggle. That’s why she says she prioritizes a few habits each day, week, and month in order to combat the effects of stress and burnout. Without taking time for yourself do things that uplift you and give you a break, it can create an emptiness and sense of longing, she explains, which can contribute to poor self-image, depression, anxiety disorders, and other emotional states if left unchecked. Everyone’s self-care routine looks a bit different, depending their unique needs and what techniques work for them. But if you’re looking for expert-driven inspiration, here are the healthy habits that Dr. Long swears by to help maintain and improve her mental health. 1. Meditate Dr. Long meditates every day for at least five minutes with the help of an app on her phone. “I’ve experimented with what time of day works best and for me I really enjoy starting my day with a meditation or doing it on my lunch break for a mid-day pick me up,” she says. This might not seem exactly groundbreaking (if I had a nickel for every mental health expert who meditates…),
Category: You and your body
This core-conditioning workout will give you better posture in 3 easy moves
September 27, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC “Strengthening your core” is one of those things that any trainer, no matter who they are or which modality they teach, will tell you is critically important. While getting stronger is a major part of that—especially because your core is responsible for pretty much every movement you ask your body to do—we should actually be thinking more about conditioning our cores, too. “I focus on developing a conditioned core versus a strong core, as many times ‘strengthening’ may lock certain functions up,” says Wundabar founder Amy Jordan. There are five major components of your core (yes, it’s more than just your abs)—the transverse abdominis, the rectus abdominis, the pelvic floor, the diaphragm, and the multifidus—and “conditioning” allows them to work properly together. “You can think of these five structures creating a peanut-like shape underneath your ribs down to the base of your pelvis, with a wetsuit zipper running the length of your spine,” says Jordan. “Proper alignment is key in order to find harmonious activation of these five core structures.” This is, in effect, the entire principle behind Pilates, which centers many of its movements on core stabilization. While conditioning your core will admittedly help you build muscle, there are even more important benefits. A 2013 study found a link between a stabilized core and the risk of lower-body injuries, and according to a report from Harvard, earlier research confirmed that “well-coordinated core muscle use stabilizes the spine and helps create a firm
Not sure how to handle oily skin? Here’s what happens when you dedicate 28 days to finding balance
September 27, 2019 at 04:30AM by CWC https://content.jwplatform.com/players/rINep6JH-AjgxWzQ7.js Striking a healthy balance anywhere in your life is tricky. From nailing the right ratio of olive oil to vinegar in your DIY salad dressing to deciding if you really need to shop for more “work” clothes. This balancing act definitely extends into the realm of skin care—especially if you deal with oily skin. How do you moisturize enough without feeling like you’re clogging up your pores? For Well+Good talent manager Beatrice Walker, balancing her oily skin is one of her top skin-care concerns, and finding the right type of moisturizer that would hydrate her skin without leaving it too shiny has always baffled her. (Same, girl, same.) To tackle oily skin head-on for the sake of finding #balance, Walker took the Weleda Skin Care Profiler quiz to find the botanical skin-care products best-suited for her skin, and then set out on the 28-day Weleda Beauty Bloom challenge to see how her skin responded to these plant-rich formulas. Her flower-forward skin-care routine consisted of just four products, which tapped into the two-in-one cleansing and toning powers of witch hazel (to clean her skin without drying it out), the instant-moisturizing effects of antioxidant-rich pomegranate, and the calm, smoothing properties of wild rose extract. Want in on the level of glow (with no trace of oiliness) Walker felt after challenge was over? You’ll have to watch the video to see how she did it. Check out the video above to see how Walker’s new botanical skin-care
How to be the most supportive friend to a new mom experiencing postpartum depression
September 27, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC Everything felt different for Molly Stillman after she gave birth to her second child in 2016. “The first two months after my son was born were just really hard,” says the Durham, North Carolina, mom. “Going from one to two kids rocked our world way more than going from zero to one.” Stillman says she was depressed and uninterested in doing anything, and she was anxious to the point of being irrational — she worried about her kids’ lives constantly. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD), which include postpartum depression, can show up during pregnancy or days or even months following. These disorders are incredibly common; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in nine U.S. women experiences symptoms of postpartum depression. If you have a friend or loved one who you think could be struggling with postpartum depression, here are the most important things you can help do to support her, according to Stillman and other experts: 1. Ask them how they’re feeling Stillman says that it took one of her close friends asking her directly about her mental health to make her realize there was an issue. “It really wasn’t until a friend of mine was like, ‘Are you okay?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m totally fine,’ and my friend was like, ‘No, really, I don’t actually think you’re okay,’” Stillman recalls. “I just broke down on the phone. I was like, ‘No, you’re right.
Use your zodiac sign to optimize the absolute best nighttime routine for you
September 27, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC Earlier this year, Well+Good surveyed readers about how they feel about the sleep and rest they’re getting. Many findings emerged, but the big and enduring takeaway is that we’re tired. In fact, 92 percent of us are fatigued at least once a week, and though many report having tried different strategies and solutions to improve their chronic sleepiness (CBD, meditation, natural sleep aids, you name it) it’s clear that some more guidance would be useful. And according to astrologer Kyle Thomas, taking your zodiac sign into consideration might just help you optimize your night routine in a way other strategies can’t. “When it comes to relaxation and evening mindfulness, each zodiac sign has a special way to harness their strengths and bring more focus and energy to prepare for the upcoming day,” he says. Below, check out Thomas’s recommendations for the best night routine for you, based on your zodiac sign. Below, get astrological insight about the best night routine for your sign. Graphics: Well+Good Creative Aries: Take a social media detox “Aries are prone to craving adrenaline and not knowing how to shut off their minds,” says Thomas of this passionate first fire sign. “The best way to calm down and get great sleep is to unplug from social media at least an hour prior to bed.” Graphics: Well+Good Creative Taurus: Eat early Ruled by Venus and lovers of fine food and luxurious situations, Taureans tend to like decadent dinners. But since
Mattel’s new ‘gender-neutral dolls’ can’t possibly encompass every queer experience—but they’re a start
September 26, 2019 at 10:07PM by CWC Mattel‘s most famous creation, Barbie, made her debut 50 years ago at the 1959 New York Toy Fair. Since then, she and her plastic significant other, Ken, have ruled a heteronormative universe that tells the same story again and again with little more variation than a costume change. In response to changing American beauty ideals (and plummeting sales), Barbie and her pals got diverse body types in 2016. And now, in an effort to more accurately reflect the human experience in 2019 and beyond, the company’s new line of “gender-neutral” dolls, released earlier this week, includes six kits, each containing a doll with a different skin tone, two hairstyle options, and “endless styling possibilities.” Certainly even Mattel’s Creatable World dolls still fall short of comprehensive representation, but the toy offers powerful visibility, says Laura A. Jacobs, LCSW-R, a trans and gender-queer identified therapist specializing in LGBTQ issues. “There infinite ways in which gender could be expressed,” Jacobs tells Well+Good. Creating a real-life world in which we recognize the diversity of gender expression significantly benefits from a world of play fueled by a parallel mission. “There are a lot of youth who are exploring gender and this gives them yet another model, so to speak, to feel validated. To feel like they can be who they feel themselves to be inside. Whereas beforehand, when we just had very heteronormative Barbies and Kens, a lot of people really felt like they were left out of
If a dermatologist’s house was on fire, she’d save her fam and *this* skin-care product
September 26, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj-Uii3ZJD8] Welcome to ‘Dear Derm,’ our brand-new series in which dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD shares serious skin-care realness. In each episode, she’ll answer your most burning beauty questions and give you all the tools you need to take your glow game to the next level. There’s one skin-care ingredient out there (aside from SPF, that is), that’s recommended by dermatologists every single day of the week. Whether you’re 15 and dealing with acne and uneven texture or 50 and combatting wrinkles and dark spots, chances are that this skin savior can help. That’s exactly why board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, jokes that if her house were on fire, it’s the one thing she’d save (after her family, that is). The ingredient in question, of course, is retinol, a potent vitamin A derivative that’s basically like glass skin in a bottle. It can do a whole laundry list of different things for your complexion, including fighting acne, speeding up cell turnover, and stimulating collagen when used properly; however, when slathered on incorrectly, it can result in flakiness and skin irritation. So how do you find the sweet spot that makes retinol so good you’d save it from the burning embers? In the latest episode of Dear Derm, Dr. Gohara breaks down everything you need to know about skin care’s most significant—and admittedly most complex—ingredient. “If you asked 100 dermatologists the one thing that they all agreed on, besides sunscreen of course, is that everyone should be
We found a drugstore buy that’s the 3 most effective skin-care ingredients rolled into one serum
September 26, 2019 at 08:58PM by CWC At age 28, I finally have my “skin-care wardrobe” down pat. Sandwiched in between my cleanser and moisturizer is my trifecta of serums, each of which help to target a different issue: hyaluronic acid twice a day for hydration, vitamin C in the morning in for brightening dark spots, and retinol at night for texture issues. But with the launch of its new Bright Boost Illuminating Serum ($20), Neutrogena just introduced a product that can replace my usual three steps with a single application. The brand just rolled out its Bright Boost line, which was created by millennial women for millennial women (aka me, aged 28) to target their initial signs of aging—like dullness, dark spots, dryness, and texture issues. The star ingredient is a molecule called NeoGlucosamine, an amino sugar that serves as one of the building blocks in oh-so-hydrating hyaluronic acid. And man oh man, does this thing put in work. When used on its own, it does a lot of the same things that I rely on in my three-ingredient combo. It helps to boost cell turnover—aka retinol’s claim to fame—to 10 times faster than usual, according to Neutrogena; reduces the appearance of dark spots by disrupting the skin pigmentation process, which we usually turn to vitamin C to do; and hydrates and plumps skin, à la hyaluronic acid. While there are no studies comparing the relative effectiveness of NeoGlucosamine to its counterparts, it certainly does give them a run
This post-natal core workout is low-impact and super effective
September 26, 2019 at 07:18PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov9UjTdq2WE] Your body changes in a lot of ways during and post-pregnancy, but one of the major changes happens to your abdominal for, you know, obvious reasons like it had to expand to accommodate a baby. Strengthening your core postpartum can help you avoid issues like leaky bladder and lower back pain. That said, it’s important to be gentle with your body. This workout from fitness trainer Rahel Ghebremichael is a low-impact way to build core strength. “Think about doing the work from the inside out,” says Ghebremichael. Meaning: really focus on doing the movements from your core, and don’t speed through the reps. “We’re gonna take it nice and slow, and focus on your form,” she says. “Really just focus on strengthening your core to use it as a unit. Especially after kids, it’s super super important that you just focus on getting your engagement together.” The series involves four movements, done for 12 reps, and repeated twice. Ghebremmichael says that they look deceptively easy—so really focus on moving slowly, engaging your core, and you’ll feel results. As with everything pregnancy-related, check out that you’re all clear to work out with your doctor before starting anything new. And then watch the Ghebremichael’s post-natal core workout above, and check out a breakdown of the movements below. Post-natal core workout 1. Heel slide: Lie down on your back and let your hands rest by your sides, keeping your shoulders away from your ears.
NutriBullet’s first full-size blender has arrived—and it’s *so* much cheaper than a Vitamix
September 26, 2019 at 05:45PM by CWC Being a food writer—and, well, a food lover—I’ve tried out my fair share of blenders over the years. NutriBullet’s original single-serving personal blender was one of the first that made its way into my kitchen. Now I also own a Vitamix, but the NutriBullet is still my preferred blender to make everything from smoothies to pasta sauces because it gets the job done and cleans up fast. Now, there’s officially a full-size version on the market. But how does it stack up to its competition? NutriBullet’s newly-released NutriBullet Blender is pretty impressive—and not just because of the chic countertop-worthy design and $99 price tag. The full-size blender is 64 oz., letting you prepare much bigger batches than you could previously. And the 1200-watt motor blender (which is double the power of the Magic Bullet’s 600-watt motor) has multiple blending options: low, medium, and high speeds, a pulse function, and an extract button that’s specifically designed for blending smoothie ingredients, like ice, greens, and fruit. With one touch, it automatically blends everything up then shuts off once it’s done. The NutriBullet Blender Combo, which retails for $140 on Amazon. While smoothies are what the NutriBullet brand is best known for, this blender makes it easy to make multiple different types of food. Just like the Vitamix—which prices range from $350 to $720—it allows you to make creamy soups and sauces. It also has a vented lid cap that enables you to blend up hot