December 04, 2018 at 11:21AM True life: I am physically incapable of making a manicure last more than two days. No matter what I do, the polish starts to chip by hour 48, leaving me seriously frustrated at the fact that I dropped hard-earned cash for what feels like no reason. Gel is slightly better, but instead of the two-week staying power that the bottle promises, I’m lucky if it sticks around for a week. Champagne problems? Yes. But still. I always figured it was because I type too hard on my laptop (… my keys have been known to fall off of my keyboard), but when I sat down for a manicure with celebrity nail artist Gina Edwards, who works with KISS, she blew my mind by telling me the real reason why my polish won’t stay perfect. “Your nails are oily,” she told me matter-of-factly. “The reason you have oily nail beds is because you have a high pH, so you’re creating more oil within your nail beds. So you want to get a pH balancer for your nail.” Yup—apparently that’s a thing. I was familiar with pH-balancing skin care, which helps keep your skin in a pH “sweet spot” to combat issues like acne and rosacea, but had never heard the principle applied to nail care. But apparently, it’s so common that there are even products out there to help combat it. “It’s going to say ‘pH balancer, plus dehydrator,’” Edwards explained. This helps to dry out the
Tag: WFH
One-stop wellness is putting your healthy life under one roof
December 04, 2018 at 03:45AM People freaking love Costco. And it’s no mystery why: Today, life moves at a breakneck pace, and if you can’t stock up on toilet paper, get your eyes checked, and book a vacation all in one spot (while snacking on an açaí bowl), those things might not get done at all. Now, both newcomers and some of the biggest names in the wellness and hospitality industries are hoping to capture the same magic of this one-stop-shop approach by housing multiple aspects of your wellness routine under one roof. “Millennials are a generation fascinated by self-actualization, self-improvement, and community—and in finding spaces that enable them to experience all those things together,” says Christina Disler, founder of Werklab, a coworking space in Vancouver that offers a meditation zone, beauty bar, access to energy-healing practitioners, and other wellness amenities in addition to a place to plug in your laptop. Why does this matter? Because, according to Forbes, millennials—now the largest generation by population—are the driving force behind the rapid growth of the wellness market, with 78 percent of millennials choosing to spend money on experiences rather than “stuff.” “Millennials are a generation fascinated by self-actualization, self-improvement, and community—and in finding spaces that enable them to experience all those things together,” —Christina Disler, founder of Werklab “We see more and more people looking for wellness options that fit seamlessly into the flow of their day-to-day work and personal lives,” echoes Avi Yehiel, WeWork’s head of wellness. That’s why the
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
Your “duh” for the day: Lack of sleep intensifies anger
November 29, 2018 at 08:37AM You might want to take a seat for this news confirming everything you know to be true: According to a recently published small study, lack of sleep makes you more irritable. WHO KNEW, RIGHT? The research, conducted by Iowa State University, claims to be the first of its kind to crystalize this specific finding since previous studies have only linked sleep and anger, but not the causal relationship. (As in, it used to be unclear whether anger disrupted sleep or lack of sleep lent itself to an anger uptick.) So yes, you can now feel scientifically vindicated the next time those zzz’s evade you for one reason or another, and you find yourself with white knuckles as you try to not rip off the head of your slow-as-molasses barista. To get these super-obvious results, the small study’s 142 participants were randomly sorted into two groups—one would maintain normal sleep, and the other would restrict sleep duration by two to four hours a night. Both before and after the measured night of sleep, the participants’ reactions to anger-provoking irritants were recorded. Barking dog? Check. An uncomfortable shirt? You got it. And yep, sleep deprived people were less adept at rolling with the punches unaffected. Shocking right? What would have been super-interesting to note, however, is how angry/sleepy people react to other types of stressors. You know—the ones that now seem to infiltrate our lives on a daily basis. For example, how might your reaction to a troubling
Have anxiety about work? Try being a “quitter”
November 21, 2018 at 06:43AM We’re taught from a young age that being a “quitter” is the worst possible thing you can be—that in order to be successful, you have to say yes to every opportunity, juggle tons of different projects at once, and be an expert at everything. Doing all of the things at all hours, we’re told, is the way to get ahead. But of course, the cost of that success includes long hours, busy schedules, and zero downtime whatsoever. Which makes it pretty unsurprising that in our recent survey of more than 2,700 readers, work was by far the most common anxiety trigger. Well, according to our panel of experts at this week’s Well+Good TALKS: Generation Anxiety event at The Assemblage NoMad in New York City, it’s more than time to make a change—even if that means calling it quits. “I’m a quitter. I’m someone whose work has triggered anxiety and depression, and when that happens, I’m out of the door. I’m very firm with boundaries,” said author and licensed social worker Minaa B. “My boss knows that at two o’clock when I clock out, don’t call me, don’t text me…If you send me an email, I’m not checking it until I come back the next day.” Well + Good’s “Generation Anxiety” panel. From left to right: managing editor Abbey Stone, Lo Bosworth, Minaa B., Dr. Ellen Vora. Photo by Elena Mudd. This might seem like a bold move, but Minaa said that setting those boundaries is a key part of her well-being. “For
Get through the Mercury retrograde with an out-of-this-world playlist
November 14, 2018 at 09:52AM Bad news, guys. Mercury goes retrograde on November 16. And you know what that means? You’d better prepare yourself for mayhem concerning all things logistical and communication-based. Holiday travel plans are going to get screwed up. Your laptop is going to be on the fritz. You might get dumped. Or laid off. The long and short of it is that things are about to go haywire—and there’s not much you can do to stop it. Mercury goes retrograde roughly four times a year when, thanks to the way Earth orbits, the smallest planet in the solar system seems to travel backward. During these phases, it’s smart to not make any important moves. I’m talking engagements, big financial transactions, and huge trips. Communication and honesty are really put to the test, as are technologies and formal contracts, since these are all the areas of your life that Mercury rules. So when the planet is on the fritz, it’s best to let these sleeping dogs lie. But that doesn’t mean you have to suffer in silence: I’ve put together an entire playlist to help you get through this trying and stressful astrological time. Apologies in advance if your noise-canceling headphones break trying to listen to it. That Mercury is a tricky minx after all…. Give a listen to the Mercury retrograde playlist below. https://open.spotify.com/embed/user/wellandgood/playlist/1QzObpGT9w3wyAg5gHzkq1 1. “Mercury” by Bloc Party Let’s kick this off on a literal note, shall we? This Bloc Party song is a refresher into
This flight attendant-approved hack is absolutely lifesaving for forgetful travelers
November 13, 2018 at 07:47AM There’s no official count on how many people end up forgetting their passports, laptops, and wallets in hotel safes every year, but chances are it’s pretty darn high. In the frenzy of packing up before your flight, it’s embarrassingly easy to forget about that tiny little safe in hotel closet…and the fact that you stashed your most valuable stuff in there for safe-keeping. Whoops. Luckily, there’s a simple travel hack that will prevent you from experiencing that full-on panic. If anyone knows how to avoid the biggest travel mishaps, it’s flight attendants. (It’s literally their job, after all.) And Ty Opoku Adjei, who works for British Airways, swears by a brilliantly simple technique that makes it nearly impossible to leave your passport behind. “When we go on holiday, it’s natural to want to keep your valuables in the hotel room safe, but some people make it all the way to the airport only to realize they’ve left their passport there,” she told Business Insider. “My top tip is to keep one of your shoes you plan to wear on your journey home in the safe. If you do this, you’ll never leave the hotel room without checking the safe ever again.” Pretty genius, huh? Unless you’re totally unfazed by walking around with only one shoe, there’s no way you’re going to head out without everything you need. If you’re one of those people who just doesn’t use the hotel safe at all…you should. While some
How one simple tweak to your email signature supports LGBTQ+ inclusivity
November 13, 2018 at 01:00AM Emails are a medium for sharing a message, and they’re not new (bear with me here). But something that is relatively new? The email signature—that often-automated inch at the very bottom of your message—holding the power to send a separate message. Like a tweet, the character-limited, easily-digestible space allows for concisely sharing a bit about who you are, what you do, and even where you’re from. So choosing what to disclose (or not!) sets a tone all its own. This is especially true at work, and especially if you want to share facets about yourself and your identity—like your pronoun of choice. You may have landed on a generic signature ages ago—full name, job title, workplace address, phone number, Instagram handle—without giving it a moment’s thought since. That was the case for me, at least. But the latest book from gender-diversity advocate Lee Airton, PhD, Gender: Your Guide, brought to my attention that something important and informative is missing. They say putting (“signposting”) your pronoun of choice in your email signature could help increase a vibe of inclusivity and ethic of LGBTQ+ allyship in your office and in the world at large. For basic background, here’s the SparkNotes breakdown of the pronoun issue: Gender exists on a spectrum. We’re no longer just cisgender women (she/her/hers) or men (he/him/his); we’re trans*, gender-fluid, genderqueer, nonbinary, and agender. Some trans* folks identify as either a man or a woman, and use the correlating pronouns. Others have a fluctuating gender identity, no gender at all,
How to keep your teeth healthy if you grind them in your sleep
November 03, 2018 at 12:27PM If you’re really into oral hygiene (as we all should be), you may have switched to a holistic dentist, ditched the fluoride for homemade toothpaste, or concocted a turmeric and coconut oil “mask” to keep your pearly whites looking good. But teeth grinding, otherwise known as bruxism, is one bad habit that you could still be partaking in without even knowing it. It’s actually a very common issue at any age, says Beverly Hills-based cosmetic dentist Bill Dorfman, DMD. Although the grinding mainly goes down at night while you’re sleeping, it can also happen during the day. So if you fall into the former category, how do you know if you’re grinding your teeth at night? Asking your significant other or a loved one (one that is totally cool with creepily watching you sleep) is a good place to start, Dr. Dorfman says. However, the only way to know for sure is to ask your dentist. “A trained dentist will be able to look at your teeth and know instantly just by the wear patterns on your teeth,” he says. Before you pencil in an appointment with your dentist—which you should be doing regularly anyway because, hygiene—noting your symptoms, if any, can also give you a good indication of whether you’re engaging in bruxism while you snooze. Things like headaches, migraines, and stiffness in the jaw can all be telltale signs, says Dr. Dorfman. Tooth damage is also a major red flag, says Timothy Chase, DMD, a
How to actually be present during sex (rather than going over your grocery list in your mind)
November 01, 2018 at 04:00AM Have you ever found yourself making a mental grocery list in the middle of sex? You could be completely into the person beneath you (or atop you, beside you, what have you), and enjoying yourself immensely, and then bam. Nope, not an orgasm. Rather, you just remembered there’s no mylk in the fridge, and now there’s nothing else you can think about. The problem, it turns out, is actually super common. “We used to have more clearly delineated lines between our personal lives, our work lives, and everything else,” says Daniel Olavarria, LCSW. “The convenience that’s afforded to us by the internet, mobile phones, flexible work hours, and social media also has a flip side: It’s hard for our brains to keep track of which moments and places in our day are dedicated to certain things.” Basically, we’re so great at multitasking that sex, too, can certainly fall victim to busyness. Basically, we’re so great at multitasking that sex, too, can certainly fall victim to busyness. Your mind very well might not know that once you slip between the sheets for some fun, it’s a “safe” moment for it to turn off. And if you’re someone who tends to look at your phone in bed—or binge-watch the latest and greatest on Netflix, or fire up the laptop for some hygge WFH—the effects may be more severe for you, since your brain associates stimuli with your mattress. Furthermore, the tendency for your mind to wander tends to