December 02, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC Nothing made it more apparent that I would be single during the holidays (again) than when I went to a recent festive celebration and everyone else was, as they say, booed up. Post-party, we ended up back at one couple’s place—get your mind out of the gutter, that’s not where this is going—and it looked like an Instagram-perfect holiday house. It was hard not to look around and miss being in a relationship. Like, this couple decorated together and created this cozy home that looks straight out of a Netflix holiday special. Meanwhile, I’m getting texts from a guy I used to date wanting me to come over and “cuddle” because it’s cozy weather and he just wants to hold me. LOL, okay. Sure. Naturally, I started to wallow in my feelings about spending another holiday season as an incredibly single person. For me, that looks like drinking one too many glasses of wine and then texting my mom asking her if I’m going to die alone. (Raise a glass to my mother, everyone.) The holidays used to be my absolute favorite time of year, but the stress of being a single woman in Los Angeles has slowly chiseled away at my optimism and sense of childlike wonder. I’ve become a bit of a Scrooge. There’s a lot of pressure around the holidays to be festive and cheerful, regardless of your relationship status. But being single during the holidays can, for lack of
Tag: Media
Checks+Balanced: How pregnancy changed budgeting for a 25-year-old in Seattle
November 29, 2019 at 01:00PM 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?!?” That’s where Well+Good’s monthly series Checks+Balanced comes in. By lifting the thick, tightly drawn curtain to expose how much women of varying income brackets spend on wellness, we’re spreading transparency and hopefully providing some inspo that’s possible to copy. Because no matter how much you make, it’s possible to cultivate healthy habits that work within your budget. This month, Chelsea Foster, a 25-year-old geologist living outside Seattle, Washington, reveals exactly how much she spends on nonnegotiables (like rent and food) and healthy habits (like supplements and acupuncture) alike. Foster has PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), and says sticking to her nutrition plan is key for managing her symptoms—but costs for the foods she relies on add up. She’s also newly pregnant and says her budget has definitely changed as a result. Keep reading for an up-close-and-definitely-personal look at her finances. Here, a 25-year-old
The 1 crystal you need for each and every phase of dating and relationships
November 23, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC There are many things in life that may change depending on your relationship status. To name just a few, consider your underwear choices, your most-used emojis, and your default Friday-night plans. But as it turns out, there’s also an argument for switching up your go-to crystals for relationships and love manifestation depending on what stage of a romantic relationship you’re currently in (or seeking). That’s right, your trusty rose-quartz point isn’t necessarily the best crystal companion for every relationship milestone. But there’s sure to be a stone out there to help you get what you need, from the first date to the 500th. “Love can be complicated,” says Heather Askinosie, co-founder of Energy Muse and author of the new book Crystal365: Crystals for Everyday Life and Your Guide to Health, Wealth, and Balance. “Whatever stage you’re in during a relationship—beginning, end, or somewhere in-between—crystals can help you go deeper within the layers of yourself. They help you take time to reflect upon your past so you can let go of anything holding you back from the love you want and deserve.” Crystals for relationships and love can also serve as a reminder of what you want from your future, Askinosie adds. “Once you set your mind to what you want, you can program your crystal for your specific intention. Your crystal then acts as a tool to remember your goal. [You can then] set yourself up for success in love and relationships by
4 ways to set boundaries with pushy family members over the holidays
November 21, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC How often is “yes” your first instinct when someone asks you out for post-work cocktails even though a recovery night in (with at least three episodes of your Netflix show of choice) was your preferred itinerary? Yes: Figuring out how to set boundaries is hard. Take that scenario and multiply it by ten when you apply it to spending time with family over the holidays (see: answering the same questions over and over about your personal life, financial decisions, and career choices). Suddenly, you’re dealing with a scenario where boundaries feel not just important, but necessary for your sanity. The good news is that this is that setting limits is actually a positive thing. “A boundary is a bid for closeness,” says Lia Avellino, director of head and heart THE WELL, who spoke recently on this very topic at our Wellness Collective event with Athleta. “It’s not a distancing effect—it’s a meeting place.” So, contrary to popular belief, nailing how to set boundaries isn’t about keeping people out—but letting them in by finding a way for more meaningful connection. To start setting these limits, Avellino suggests practicing saying “yes” slowly and “no” quickly. But giving a firm negative can be tough, especially because women have been conditioned to be agreeable, says Avellino. To try it, she had event attendees partner up and ask an intimate question (one that people wouldn’t ask a complete stranger) and presented four solutions: 1. First, just a straight no—without
The science-backed reasons why we crave heartier foods during the winter months
November 13, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC Like many people, I’m more active when the outdoor temperatures don’t require me to leave the house looking like a human down comforter. In T-shirt weather—and even sweater weather—I’ll take every opportunity to go for an outdoor run or get my errands done by walking instead of hopping in the car. Winter is a different story. When it’s dark and cold, I’m way less likely to pull myself out of bed for a morning workout and once I come home in the evening, I’m in for the night. There’s absolutely no doubt that I’m way less physically active—which is why I’m confused that my appetite essentially doubles during the colder months. Salads and fresh fruit are perfectly satisfying in the summer. But this time of year, not only am I more hungry, I start to crave big bowls of pasta, chili and cornbread, and just-baked brownies. Can you relate? To get to the bottom of why it’s human nature to look for cozy, comfort foods during the winter, I consulted neuroscientist and Why You Eat What You Eat author Rachel Herz, PhD and registered dietitian Olivia Wagner, RD. Hearty foods make us happy This probably won’t come as a shocker, but foods we think of as comfort foods lead to a short-term mood boost. “Foods high in carbs and fats trigger a release of dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin, so they’re definitely triggering chemicals in the brain that make us feel good,” Dr. Herz
“Coat-veralls” are the most useful winter-wear feature since the down insert itself
November 10, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC It’s that time of year: We’re all making 3,987 references to the fact that winter is coming like we haven’t been saying it since 2015, Netflix queues are brimming with holiday movies, and we finally (finally!) get to break out our cozy coats and jackets. The latter is all fun and games until you get on the subway or some other enclosed area where taking your jacket off and holding it could not be anymore inconvenient. All of the sudden, that coat that was keeping you cozy in the chilly weather is now an inferno burrito. So thank heavens that “coat-veralls” or overall straps in winterwear are saving us in this predicament. While this isn’t exactly a new concept, backpack straps in coats and jackets are becoming more commonplace—and they’re so smart. The straps let you take off the coat so you don’t overheat, without having to totally strip down. And with that, you don’t have to try and free up the hands that are busy schlepping around your work bag, a change of clothes for your date later, and that assortment of receipts you keep swearing you’ll expense some day soon. “Thanks, it has backpack straps” is winter’s version of your “thanks, it has pockets” summer dress. Shop five jackets and coats with interior straps below. Photo: Mango Mango Water Repellent Quilted Coat, $130 Puffer coats are in—and this one has the added bonus of suspender-like straps that make it easy to carry
Book that girls’ trip now, because traveling with friends promotes health and happiness
November 09, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC Any excuse to travel is great, but there are so many mind and body benefits to glean from travel with friends, specifically. That’s why my three best friends and I have ritualized our annual girls’ trips. The first getaway we took was to Panama City Beach, Florida, for spring break in 2007. A lot has changed since we were sophomores in college, living together, taking many of the same classes, going to the same school events, and attending the same parties. We’ve since moved to cities nationwide, gotten married, become moms, bought homes, and gotten big promotions. Still, a lot has remained the same and even grown stronger—namely how much we care about each other and how much time we wish we could spend together. That’s partially why our annual girls’ trip has remained a constant. Over the years, it’s gotten harder to get my crew together for even a long weekend. The planning process often feels like the opening scene in Netflix’s Wine Country, when Amy Poehler’s character essentially begs her friends to get together for a long weekend in Napa. After all, there are mortgages to pay, babies and dogs to find sitters for, and bosses to consult before booking a flight. And as these obligations have steadily crept into our lives, it makes sense that we have trouble carving quality time for each other—but that doesn’t make prioritizing it any less important. Social-personality psychologist William Chopik, PhD, studies friendship and
It seems like every third person is microneedling their body, so I found out why
November 09, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC You get it: Microneedling is legit. The skin-care technique inflicts teeny teeny-tiny wounds in the epidermis to boost collagen production and enable products to be more efficacious, which in turn reaps a whole host of benefits including reduced hyperpigmentation and scarring, smoother, more even skin, and fewer wrinkles. Microneedling is so effective at achieving an overall glow, in fact, that beauty editors and MDs alike swear by at-home devices as their deserted island dermatology tool of choice. Proof: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL4fkeHmC6c] It’s reasonable to question, then, whether or not you should be puncturing more than just your face. If microneedling is so effective, it seems logical to assume it could provide some benefit to your bum, chest, neck, thighs, and arms, too; however, in a world where we’re busy AF, beauty maintenance can feel never-ending. I thought it made sense to question the pros before adding yet another step to overwhelmed beauty regimens. Kerry Benjamin, CEO and founder of Stacked Skin care says that while, of course, you don’t “need” to microneedle your entire body (you also don’t “need” Apple ear buds, 20 different pairs of leggings, or Twitter, but *shrug*), it can be “very” beneficial to do so. The most obvious place to extend care is to your chest, which can feature some of the same concerns as your face. “If you have hyper-pigmentation from sun damage, microneedling your chest with the correct serums can significantly help to even out the skin tone
Opening a ‘Fun and BS’ bank account is the best thing you can do for your weekend plans
October 31, 2019 at 08:36PM by CWC Budgeting sounds a like a sexy, stressful way to cut yourself off from having fun, right? No matter how many apps you’ve downloaded in order to make it simple, it’s so easy to throw caution to the wind with your credit card. But we want to be financially confident and intelligent— honest! That’s why everyone was fully elephant eared at the latest Well+Good TALK on how to have a healthy relationship with money, especially when Paco de Leon, founder of The Hell Yeah Group, shared her easy budgeting tip to open a separate checking account for the frivolous but joyous spending in your life. To get a handle on your finances, de Leon suggesting breaking everything down into three categories: Bills and Life, Future and Goals, and Fun and Bullsh*t. “I literally have a debit card on me right now that’s linked to a ‘Fun and BS’ account. When somebody’s like, ‘Hey, do you want to go out and have pizza and tequila shots?’ I’m like, ‘Okay, let me check my allowance. No, no. You can come over though, because there’s no money,’” says de Leon. “This is what I do to protect myself from myself. And I recommend bifurcating your spending to all my friends.’” “This is what I do to protect myself from myself.” —Paco de Leon, founder of The Hell Yeah Group Even if spreadsheets make you want to climb up the wall, you can definitely figure out the sum of your bills with
The celebrity-approved method for backflipping over obstacles in the way of your dreams
October 25, 2019 at 10:35PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_q01clPOYk] Watch the video to learn how Alisha Boe powers through when obstacles stand in her way. If you’re a faithful viewer of 13 Reasons Why, you know that Alicia Boe’s character, Jessica, epitomizes assertiveness. Her strength on the Netflix original series is something to emulate, and the same thing proves true in real life. The actor’s ambition and resiliency landed her a television role, but she’s heard “no” more often than she’s heard “yes” in pursuit of a successful career, she says on the most recent episode of Well+Good’s The Avocado Show. After each rejection, she’s brushed herself off and gone to another audition. “Don’t give up. You’re going to get a lot of no’s, but if you love it and this is your passion, if you keep doing it and pursuing it, it will pay off,” says Boe when asked about her advice for those aspiring to work in show business. Whether or not you call Hollywood home, you can pocket this advice for your greatest moments of doubt. After all, a single yes can overshadow a million no’s. Want even more inspiration from Boe? Check out the video. Ready for more of the Avocado Show? Here’s our episode with Sophia Bush and Shailene Woodley. Continue Reading… Author Kells McPhillips | Well and Good Selected by CWC