Category: Life
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7 Simple Mindfulness Exercises That Can Reduce Stress and Anxiety
If you’ve got a pulse on the wellness world, you’ve likely heard about mindfulness exercises—a term that captures various techniques for bringing your attention to the present moment. You might have even tried your fair share of mindfulness meditations with the help of an app, a guided video session, or your smartphone’s timer. But let’s be…
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7 Simple Ways to Be Kinder to Yourself, According to Experts
Since childhood, chances are you’ve been expected to be nice to others; to “treat them how you want to be treated,” presumably with kindness and respect. But why do so many people (myself included) struggle to apply this golden rule to themselves? We talk a lot about self-compassion at SELF—how it can help you move past…
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3 Things to Do If Your Work-From-Home Setup Could Use a Revamp
I’ve been working from home for three years now, and while I miss a few things about office life—especially the coworker camaraderie—the ability to have more control over my physical environment has probably been the best perk. I don’t have to deal with a crowded, stress-inducing daily commute. I can also avoid obnoxious overhead fluorescent…
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Try This Stress-Relieving Grounding Technique Next Time You’re Outside
Spring never comes soon enough for me. After months of being cooped up indoors and finishing my workday in darkness, the warmer, longer, brighter days make me feel like a sparkly new person. As a kid, I spent countless hours swimming and floating in the lake by our summer rental cottage until my fingertips looked…
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‘I Didn’t Fit the Profile of a Victim’: Megan Thee Stallion on Surviving Gun Violence
Megan Thee Stallion opened up about experiencing gun violence firsthand, the online harassment she faced as a result, and the lasting trauma that the shooting and its aftermath caused her in a new essay for Elle magazine published on Tuesday. The 28-year-old rapper used her personal experience to call attention to the ways race complicates victimhood, advocating for…
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How to Instill a Love of Nature in Your Kids
“There are about 100 million people in the United States, including 28 million children who don’t live within a 10-minute walk of a high quality park or green space,” says Ostfeld. If this rings true, know that there are still ways to work nature into your day-to-day—whether it’s by visiting “pocket parks” in your city…
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How to Stop Romanticizing the Past So You Can Enjoy Your Life Right Now
A quick way to find out the answer? Give your memories a reality check by balancing the positive with the negative—or maybe the neutral. If you’re reminiscing over a “perfect” past relationship, say, Frank recommends identifying (out loud or in a journal) five things about it that weren’t exactly the stuff of romance novels. Ditto for past “dream”…
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How to Feel Less Lonely at Work, According to Experts
It might not seem like much, but this approach to socializing—with a wave when walking through the door or a “good morning” in the elevator—can be a helpful way to start building a new habit that can eventually bring you closer to your coworkers, Dr. Lim says. For people who work in the gig economy…
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Dyson V12 Detect Slim Review in 2023: I’ve Never Owned a Vacuum This Good
I’ve owned a lot of vacuums over the years: top-rated corded vacuums, stick vacuums, handheld vacuums, and even mini vacuums designed for desk crumbs. Some of this is a result of my job as a commerce editor who tests products, but also because I live in a one-bedroom apartment with two cats that shed a lot (and trigger my…
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What Diet Culture Stole From Me—and Why I Took It Back
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the issue of food apartheid (often referred to as “food deserts”) and accessibility when we are talking about food as well. The push for “organic” and whole foods is steeped in racism, ableism, and capitalism, as it doesn’t account for the fact that large portions of the…
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SELF Well-Read Book Club April Pick: ‘The Body Liberation Project’
Each month, the SELF Well-Read Book Club highlights a timely, delightful, and crucial book on a subject that helps readers live better lives. So far, we’ve covered everything from the politics of running to the state of modern motherhood. Chrissy King spent years of her life yo-yo dieting. She’d try one fad diet or exercise trend to lose weight,…
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How to Enjoy the Benefits of Nature Without Ever Leaving Your Home
Why it’s helpful: Whether it’s the sounds of ocean waves crashing, a lake gently lapping on the shore, or a trickling mountain stream, water can provide comfort to us, says Lomas. “The importance of water sounds may relate to the critical role of water for survival, as well as the capacity of continuous water sounds to…
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Christina Applegate Slams Candace Owens’s ‘Horrifying’ Rant About Skims’s Wheelchair-Inclusive Ad
Ask and you shall receive. On March 23, Christina Applegate took Candace Owens up on her call to be educated about inclusivity. In her latest show of faux outrage, conservative talking head Candace Owens went on a rant about a Skims ad campaign that featured a model in a wheelchair. “I don’t really understand how…
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6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Cutting Off a Toxic Family Member
Again, if you feel that a family member poses an immediate threat to you (or your child, partner, or pets), you’re well within your rights to cease contact immediately. If any of the additional examples above sound familiar, it’s okay to choose to step back from interacting with them entirely—either for a sustained period or…
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4 Ways to Tell If Your Self-Care Practice Is Actually Making You Feel Better
Every weekday, I try to carve out 30 minutes or so to jog around my neighborhood. Between the hours of 9 to 6, I am essentially tied to the desk in my home office. I consider these daily outings short, very necessary bursts of self-care—opportunities to detach from my laptop, move my body, and breathe in…