December 03, 2018 at 07:24AM Once December hits, out come the advent calendars. And while, traditionally, the purpose of this holiday decoration is to open a daily gift as an exciting way to count down to Christmas, it turns out having one that doesn’t focus on material things might just be the most enjoyable option of all. Theresa Götz, the Barcelona-based zero-waste blogger behind Mind&Seed, thought up a new type of advent calendar this season—one that gives thoughtful reminders on bettering your well-being and focusing on self-care. Of the inspo for her advent calendar, Götz wrote on Instagram: “This year I wanted to inspire a more fun and less consumeristic way of counting down to 24. So instead of buying 24 little gifts, we focused on appreciating what we already have.” To make her mindful advent calendar, Götz tied 24 ribbons (and some festive fake plants!) onto a medium-sized ring, each complete with a special challenge hooked onto the bottom. “Behind each card, you can find a note that prompts an act of kindness or gratefulness we can do every day,” she writes. Aside from being a cute homemade decoration for the holidays, it also helps you focus on what’s really important in life: your health and happiness. View this post on Instagram 1st of December Yesterday I realized that December is right around the corner and I got all nostalgic of wanting to have an #adventcalendar like I had when I was a child. However, this year I wanted to inspire a more
Tag: Well+Good
Okay, so everyone picks their nose—here’s what a doc has to say about it
December 03, 2018 at 07:21AM My colleague asked the Well+Good editorial team the other day if we pick our noses—and she was met with a resounding yes. I was shook that people were owning up to it, TBH—isn’t picking your nose something you’re told to stop doing at like, age 2? Alas, it seems as though people are still digging for nose gold on the reg long after their preschool graduation. (I will neither confirm nor deny my own possible nose-picking activities.) So…since you’re probably just going to wind up doing it anyway, I decided to ask a professional about the dos and don’ts of picking your nose. Like pimple popping, nose picking is certainly not doctor-recommended. However, there’s a silver lining for nostril gold miners: “Nose picking is rarely the cause of any serious problems in healthy individuals,” says Niket Sonpal, MD, a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist based in New York City. Picking your nose actually does serve a purpose…kind of. Your snot is basically “a product of all the crap that you breathe in,” Dr. Sonpal says—including dust and germs. “If you don’t clean out boogers by blowing or picking, the dried out mucus that moved to the front of the nose can make its way back toward the back of the nasal passage and down the throat.” (Gulp.) So, yes, it’s okay to enjoy a dig every now and then. “Nose picking could be leaving the door open for dangerous bacteria that want to call your nose home.” —Niket
The great bodysuit debate: underwear, or no?
December 03, 2018 at 06:50AM I went on a date the other night and wore a long-sleeved bodysuit, high-waisted jeans, and, of course, my trusty first-date sneakers. I’ve worn bodysuits many times before, but last night the foundation of everything I thought I knew about them was shook. That sounds dramatic, but I stand by it. See, the bodysuit I chose to wear (of course for the first time) was not a thong. As I gave myself the once-over before dashing out the door for my date, I discovered that it was giving me visible panty lines. (I could have a whole TED Talk about how being concerned about VPL is a sign of the patriarchy holding me back, but I’ll save it for a later date.) Running late with no time to pick out a whole new outfit, I was forced to turn it into a thong myself. That’s me trying to gracefully tell the entire internet that I gave myself a wedgie. Because that was the essence of what I did. I normally go sans underwear when wearing a bodysuit, but a quick Google search of “do you wear underwear with a bodysuit?” while Ubering to my date yielded conflicting results. I began to question why I would purchase a non-thong bodysuit, but then my internal monologue jumped to wondering about whether or not you’re supposed to wear underwear underneath a bodysuit. I know, profound thoughts from a grown woman who, again, intentionally gave herself a wedgie. (Does
5 Essential Oils That Will Help You Survive the Holidays
December 03, 2018 at 06:07AM Whether you’re exhausted from the party circuit or overwhelmed by your never ending to-do list, the holidays are tough to get through without any scratches. “The holidays are a time for us to embrace traditions and remember our most precious memories with loved ones,” says Retha Nesmith, VP of customer experience at Plant Therapy, a family-run biz with a deep history in plant-based remedies. “Essential oils have the ability to bring back those memories through scent.” It’s true, scent is the sense that can instantly take you back to a moment that feels like yesterday—and when it comes to essential oils, it can pack aromatherapeutic properties, too. To help steer you through the season, we asked Nesmith to share five signature essential oils that’ll help you conquer whatever the holidays throw at you. Keep reading for 5 essential oils that are must-haves for the holiday season. Photo: Stocksy/Daxiao Productions Holiday Blend Set: for making your home smell like pure cheer First step: Transform your space into the scent-equivalent of comfort food with Plant Therapy’s Holiday Blend Set. (Essential oil diffusers are the new candles, after all.) “Whether that is the scent of the magical Christmas tree, home baked holiday treats, or the crisp cold air, the holiday blends remind us of all the things we love about the holidays,” Nesmith says. Pro tip: Stash some away for when the holidays are over and you need cheery pick-me-up. Photo: Adam Kuylenstierna/EyeEm/Getty Chamomile: for a super relaxing night’s sleep If
The perfect cannabis gifts for every archetype on your list
December 03, 2018 at 06:00AM Thinking of giving the gift of cannabis this year? Anna Duckworth, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Miss Grass, an elevated lifestyle shop and publication for women and cannabis, has the insider intel you need in order to make you a CBD-gifting MVP. But remember: When you’re playing Santa with cannabis, do so responsibly. “By gifting cannabis, you are in a position to change people’s minds, to introduce them to a plant that could alter their lives, and to begin a conversation around the history and the communities directly impacted by the War on Drugs,” she says. So along with your presents, “Write cards with information that educates and send follow-up emails to check in and share links to relevant reading.” The holiday season is officially in full-swing: Shoppers are shopping, flockers are flocking, dispensaries (in legal states) are packed to the gills with cannabis enthusiasts stocking up on special holiday editions of their fave products. And since the 2018 holiday season is, arguably, the first that cannabis has officially hit its mainstream stride—the ingredient is so prevalent that even the skeptics are changing their tunes—you may be buzzing at the prospect of adding some extra green to your shopping list. But buying cannabis for yourself and your friends is one thing; buying it for the rest of your list—colleagues, relatives, all those people whom you should give gifts to but for whom you don’t have that kind of relationship—is something else. It’s always better to air on the side of caution:
Clean hair care is coming for your shower in a *big* way
December 03, 2018 at 05:52AM Despite all of the ingredient confusion and natural-this, synthetic-that chatter, if clean beauty has a single rallying cry, it’s to make personal care products safe from head-to-toe…but about that head part. While clean skin-care options abound, body care is trending upward, and seven-free polishes to perfect your pedi are popping up left and right, clean hair care has notoriously lagged behind. Why? It’s pretty dang hard to craft—especially when compared to better-for-you body products. “We can treat hair and skin similarly, but need to remember that hair is dead keratin, while the outer skin layer is very much alive and functional,” explains New York City dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, who notes that many of the trends in skin care have now moved over to hair care, ranging from masks to antioxidants. This distinction, though, is why you can’t just slather your favorite dry skin moisturizer on your scalp and call it a day. You see, strands need very different things from ingredients than skin does, while still remaining free of clean beauty no-nos such as sulfates, parabens, and added phthalates, making shampoos, heat protectants, and other hair care a tall order to create—and costly to own. “Because nature is biodiverse, people are naturally very diverse in needs, desires, and habits,” says Rachel Zipperian, Herbal Essences beauty scientist. A small number of clean shampoos have existed, but they were either so expensive that a rebuy was a luxury or something just felt ever-so off with the textures. Not
The handful of personality traits emotionally intelligent friends tend to share
December 03, 2018 at 05:30AM Gold-medal-worthy friends remember to ask about your big work presentation. They slide into your DMs and pick up the phone to chat with you and make plans for real face time (rather than mere FaceTime). Put simply, they gas you up. Then there are friends who are meh at best. According to one friendship expert, this disparity between real-deal BFFs and pals who skew more toxic comes down to emotional intelligence. The term may sound more like psycho babble more than any kind of useful, nay, helpful personality measure you may actually turn to, but emotional intelligence—or EQ—is a key trait for forming successful, mutually enjoyable friendships. What exactly is it though? “Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and respond to others’ emotions and emotional world, as well as your own feelings, perspectives, and reactions,” says Jacqueline Mroz, journalist and author of Girl Talk: What Science Can Tell Us About Female Friendship. And certain personality traits are key to having it. “It’s the combo of empathy, self-awareness, adaptability, selflessness, ability to manage conflict, and openness to others perspectives.” “Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and respond to others’ emotions and emotional world, as well as your own feelings, perspectives, and reactions.” —friendship expert Jacqueline Mroz While a high EQ looks different for each person, there are common themes to look for. Below, Mroz shares how to tell whether you’re an emotionally intelligent friend. 3 characteristics of emotionally intelligent friends. Photo: Stocksy/Guille Faingold 1. You follow through
6 stretches to do before bed for a better night’s sleep
December 02, 2018 at 01:00PM As any wellness junkie—or, you know, human with internet access—knows, a solid bedtime routine is a #majorkey to success. And while you may have your pre-lights-out regimen down to an art (ILYSM, journaling and meditation), there’s one thing worth adding to your nighttime to-do list for the sake of better sleep: A series of evening stretches. “Stretching should be an important part of your evening routine,” explains international yogi Claire Grieve. “Regular stretching helps to melt away daily tension, stress and worry. Stretching your hips is particularly useful for clearing the emotional junk from the day. Stretching in a passive, restorative way will prime your body for sleep by helping you to enter a state of relaxation.” Cycling through a few cat-cows to start your morning may be second nature, but adding a bendy element in the evening can help you chill out while also releasing some of the daytime tension from your body. “Stretching at the end of the day should be more restorative than at other times of day when maybe you would engage in a more active stretch,” says Grieve. “The important thing is to listen to your body. What your body needs will be different from day to day, so take this time to really tune into what your body is telling you.” Meanwhile, stretching also boosts major gains for your brain as well. “While stretching, endorphins are released in the brain which can help improve your mood along with feelings
The 30-second shower hack for adding instant shine to your hair
December 02, 2018 at 10:31AM When I got my hair done last night (gotta dye those gray hairs!), the woman shampooing my strands went through the whole lovely shebang of a scalp massage and full, salon-level cleanse. And then she asked: “Would you like me to now rinse with cold water?” Cold water is something I avoid at all costs when showering, but I went with it because, well, she’s the professional. It turns out, there’s a serious perk to changing up the temperature in your tap. “Rinsing your hair with cold water seals the hair cuticle, and acts as an ‘anti-inflammatory’ in a sense,” says Edward Tricomi, co-founder and master stylist at Warren Tricomi salon. And okay, okay, a strand of hair can’t be inflamed the same way that skin can, but sealing the cuticle can add max shine by helping the shingle-like layer lay flat. It can just be kinda hard to execute in the shower if you’re not into cold showers (despite their benefits)—you have to be a contortionist, arching your back like crazy to just get your hair without freezing your body, or I guess you can kneel upside down and use the bath faucet. The good news is that you can reap the benefit from your blow dryer too. “When using cold air from a blow dryer, the cold air not only freezes down the hair, but helps it stay in place,” says Tricomi. “Both methods result in a healthy, beautiful shine.” When my freshly
Looking for cupping therapy in Chicago? Here are 5 places to try
December 02, 2018 at 07:00AM Like acupuncture before it, cupping therapy is becoming a buzzy healing practice that’s gone from being an under-the-radar treatment to mainstream obsession as of late. (You can thank celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow and pro athletes like Michael Phelps for introducing popular culture to the ancient practice.) But before you lie down on a table and let someone dot your back with perfectly round suction marks, there are a few things you should know. First off, cupping therapy is a modality of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that’s been used for thousands of years in not only ancient Chinese civilizations but also ancient Egypt. At this point, due to the lack of scientific research, cupping therapy benefits are largely based on anecdotal evidence. But those that swear by the ancient practice credit it with improving blood flow, helping with athletic performance and recovery, stretching muscles and tissues, reducing inflammation, and even calming the nervous system. Cupping therapy typically involves vacuum sealing cups made out of glass, plastic, bamboo, or silicone on pressure and trigger points by using heat. It’s technically called dry cupping (the most-popular type at most places), but you can also find flash and wet cupping sessions, too. Although the healing method leaves behind marks that look like bruises, the treatment is usually considered to be painless and revitalizing. It’s targeted at deep tissue relaxation similar to the way you’d use a foam roller or Theragun. As interest in cupping therapy increases, it’s becoming easier and easier to find