Tag: Well+Good

November 19, 2018 at 11:31AM Thanks to the devastating wildfires (which are still being contained and have killed dozens of people) sweeping throughout California, the air quality in parts of the state has become even worse than that of China and India, according to the New York Times. While there isn’t a ton of research on the long-term health effects of wildfire smoke, many experts believe that inhaling lots of particles from wood fires can affect the immune system and potentially trigger asthma, allergies, and breathing problems. So…yeah, that smoke is a pretty BFD. Even though there’s no quick way to undo the fire’s aftermath (air-related or otherwise), one simple hack that’s been circulating online can help Californians breathe a little bit easier within the walls of their own homes without having to shell out for a pricey air purifier. The trick involves placing a filter in front of a box fan to catch any pollution and smoke particles circulating throughout the house, according to a video posted by YouTube user ThriftStore Hacker. He says that he first saw the hack circulating on Facebook, and wanted to make a video to show people how to do it. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVolkM5JvdY?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281] To get started, all you need are a 20 inch box fan and a “20x20x1” furnace filter (MERV 13 or higher). Once you have your materials, place the filter in front of the fan with the airflow direction (the little white arrow in the video below) pointing away from the fan, and secure the two objects

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November 19, 2018 at 10:16AM A solid skin-care regimen starts with the most basic but necessary step of them all: washing your face. This involves choosing the right kind of cleanser for your complexion’s needs, running water, and a working knowledge of how hard to scrub your face. The latter is where all of the confusion comes in. There are two camps when it comes to facial cleansing: the hard scrubbers and the gentle washers. Scrubbers are all about applying pressure so that the face is nice and red after its wash (er: workout), while the more gentle washers use a soft touch when massaging in the cleanser. Whichever one you are, chances are you don’t give much thought to the matter—you just do what feels right. Welp, after perusing the Skincare Addiction subReddit, I found one Redditor proclaim that they’ve changed their skin solely by gently cleansing their face rather than harshly exfoliating it. “Once I really started taking my sweet time, applying very, very light pressure, I noticed immense improvements in my skin tone especially, as well as smoothness, reduced redness, reduced bumpiness, etc.,” they write. A soft touch, eh? It can seem a bit weird and like you’re supposed to do the opposite, AKA rub hard to make the product penetrate the skin and really get in there to work. But I checked with a derm to be sure. “Be gentle always unless you’re attempting to exfoliate,” says Robert Anolik, MD, a New York City board-certified dermatologist. “If

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November 19, 2018 at 10:08AM If your coffee and social media habits point to less-than-coveted personality traits, how can you determine whether you fall on the other end of the spectrum? If only there was some sort of scientific study to tell you how well-adjusted and psychologically healthy you are… Aha! New research published in the journal Journal of Personality and Social Psychology could cue you into the personality traits that are key for your mental well-being. In the first of three studies, researchers asked 137 experts in trait psychology to describe their idea of a psychologically healthy person using the 30 personality facets in the NEO Psychological Inventory, Revised (AKA a big list of defined traits that personality experts use to ensure everyone is speaking the same language). The researchers also had experts in positive psychology and undergraduate students create their own definitions of a “healthy personality.” Across all groups, the same key traits were identified: According to the report, “healthy personality functioning can be best characterized by high levels of Openness to Feelings, Positive Emotions, and Straightforwardness, and low levels on all facets of Neuroticism.” On a more granular level, psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman, PhD, names 10 specific personality traits in Scientific American: Openness to feelings Straightforwardness (and being “frank, sincere, and ingenuous”) Competence Warmth (being affectionate and friendly) Positive emotions (experiencing “joy, happiness, love, and excitement”) Low levels of angry hostility Low anxiety (not being “shy, fearful, nervous, tensed, and restless”) Low depression Low vulnerability to stress Low impulsivity (being able to control cravings

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November 19, 2018 at 08:26AM Advancements in technology have brought us some amazing things, like space travel, Jennifer Garner’s Instagram account, and dog memes. But because of all these tech advances, we’re also spending a lot more time in front of computer and phone screens (like, a lot. That Screen Time app is terrifying.) Some of the time spent computer-side is necessary—can you even imagine if I had to turn this article into my editor via typewriter and snail mail?—but overall most of us spend a lot of time looking at various screens. And the resulting eye strain could be the culprit behind your recurring headaches. “These days, we’re using smart phones, tablets and computers more and more, which means eye strain-related headaches are becoming increasingly more common than they ever were before,” says Waldo’s in-house optician, Anita Mistry. But knowing whether or not you have one can be the tricky part. Photo: Stocksy / Sergey Filimonov What is eye strain, exactly? You know how when you’re at work trying to focus on a big project, and people keep interrupting you and asking you to do other stuff that is technically part of your job—but stresses you TF out because now you have a ton of things you have to get done all at once? That’s basically what you’re asking your eyes to do when you spend hours working at your computer or scrolling through IG stalking your ex. You’re likely not just staring at one page for a while, but

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November 19, 2018 at 08:22AM On a recent first date, the guy I was out with happened to mention his birthday. My heart dipped a little bit as I did some mental calculations: a Libra, sigh. So, I took the only logical recourse and calmly excused myself to the restroom, where I proceeded to climb out the window, permanently block his number, and get on with my life. I kid, I kid. I stayed, had a great time, and we have a second date lined up. That said, I’m still superstitious about dates with Libras. As a Pisces, Libras are not the most compatible sign for me. Maybe it’s not of paramount importance, but it’s also not not of importance. In fact, astrological compatibility has become such a thing that dating app Bumble added a feature for users to include their sign in their profiles. Bumble’s sociologist Jess Carbino, PhD, says this trend has to do with young people choosing to identify less with religion and more with spirituality and astrology. So, duh, makes sense that we’d be interested in dating for compatibility, according to the universe’s POV. So, back to me: Is there any hope at all for a Pisces and a Libra? And what about all the other sign combos that haven’t earned that zodiac seal of approval? Since my many credentials (okay, I just have a degree in English lit) don’t extend to this subject matter, I turned to Juliana McCarthy, astrologer and author of The Stars Within You, to

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November 19, 2018 at 07:37AM Just like treadmill runners, bikers, and even boxers, rowers, too, can now WFH (work out from home). In August of this year, a company called True Rowing released a sleek domestic rower that powers consumers sweat sessions with live-streaming classes taught by the United States National Rowing team. And earlier this month, CityRow joined the virtual (river) race with CityRow Go—an on-demand streaming service that allows you to row with the boutique studio’s impressive roster of instructors at home or your local gym via the app. Your very own CityRow Machine by WaterRower will cost you $1,395, plus $19 a month to subscribe to the streaming content (which is slightly more affordable than True Rowing’s offering). But if the actual machine doesn’t quite fit into your budget—or in your living room, for that matter—you can still take the app with you to the gym and power row there instead. The app will offer classes taught by CityRow’s studios in Michigan and New York in 20 to 50 minute sessions, so you can choose between “Cardio+Core” (a combo of rowing and mat workouts), “Just Rowing” (high-intensity rowing intervals), or their “Signature Class” (high-intensity rowing intervals paired with weighted strength training). “In today’s on-demand world, we want to bring the magic of CityRow classes to consumers across the country,” says Helaine Knapp, the company’s founder and CEO. “With our incredible new rower and app experience, CityRow Go allows consumers nationwide who can’t get to a class or studio to get the signature CityRow burn from the comfort

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