If a post didn't get a like within two minutes, I'd delete it and try again, often asking friends to like it and comment just to keep up with appearances. When I lost a follower, I'd look at an app to see who it was. I was constantly refreshing, hoping to get more than 100 likes in an hour. I drove myself crazy.
Last year, building my career and staying focused on my profession mattered the most to me. I didn't have time for really anything else. I'm used to powering through things. I'm a military spouse and I'm raising kids, but over the course of several months, I noticed my health was declining in ways that didn't feel like typical burnout. I found out I was suffering from the effects of two undiagnosed autoimmune conditions: rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto's disease.
When I was cast on the TV show "Survivor" in 2023 (yes, that show is still on), I thought I knew what anxiety felt like. I had spent years helping clients understand it, name it, and care for it. I had been in active therapy for around a decade. But living through it in front of millions of people is something no training could have prepared me for.
I was the one people turned to. And if they didn't turn to me, I turned to them. If someone was going through a hard time, I'd show up with soup, a handwritten card, or a call that stretched for hours. I'd intuit needs before they were spoken. And when people said things like "Wow! How do you even manage all this?" or "You're incredible," my heart swelled with pride. It felt good to be seen. It felt powerful to be needed.
At a time when the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement is spreading across the U.S., 101-year-old Ann Angeletti who still works six days a week embodies the exact opposite ethos. Let's call it WATER (Work And Thrive, Evade Retirement). It's a fitting acronym, given she's cool, brimming with life and remains enthusiastic about running her store, Curiosity Jewelers in Cresskill, New Jersey.
Have you ever felt like your brain was one of those viral egg experiments, cracked open and sizzling on a bare sidewalk that was truly, much too hot? You may have been experiencing signs of burnout (and dehydration). As an introverted professional, I've been there as well, many times in my career. Over the years, I've developed healthy reflective coping methods to recharge my batteries and prevent (or at least combat) that intense feeling of overwhelm.
In many ways, taking a break from sex is an act of self-care, says Naomi Zelin, APCC, a sex and relationship therapist at Humbly Elevated. There are plenty of reasons to say no, whether it's due to something physical, mental, emotional, or all of the above. If it isn't making you happy, or if it's complicating your life, it makes sense to step away.
October this year feels sacred. While the world has been engulfed in all sorts of chaos, tragedy, and difficult conversations, I'm looking forward to deep inhales of freshly fallen leaves, a quart of spiked apple cider, and a happy Halloween. Truly, who doesn't want to surround themselves with a little magic, a bit of escape, and a whole lot of chocolate? It's time to disassociate a bit.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed right now? We are all feeling it lately, personally and collectively as a society. You may be absorbing not only your own stress, but stress from those around you, as well as national stress. The world - and maybe your life - feels like it's turned upside down and may not seem like it makes sense anymore.
By the time I pulled into the driveway, the only things on my mind were a hot shower and no fewer than 16 hours of sleep. But as soon as I opened the door, my three cats immediately surrounded me, taking on the role of a furry TSA team and inspecting all my bags thoroughly. They had been waiting expectantly, and despite my sheer exhaustion, they reminded me that dinner time doesn't wait, no matter how tired I am.
As I've shared before, when I was 12, I was playing at a friend's house one hot August afternoon when I was told I was needed at home. As I turned into my long driveway, I saw the lights of an ambulance, a stretcher being loaded into the back. The doors slammed shut. The whirling lights threw red streaks across the oaks as it sped past me out of our driveway. No one noticed the small, pale, immobilized girl standing by the mailbox.
If you're at home, just brew some coffee and pour as much friggin' creamer in as you want! But, if you're in public, options vary. Some coffee shops will have creamer; others will be, like, "We just have half-and-half," and that is insane. It is not the same. When in doubt, bring your on-the-go creamer and do not allow anyone to shame you. You are an adult and you know what you like.
This summer, I did something unusual for me: I hit pause. After a year that included launching an in-person summit for nearly 200 women, hosting a retreat in Cabo, launching my podcast (with co-host Dr. Nicole Martin), and releasing a book, I was, in a word, tired. The kind of tired that no amount of coffee or color-coded planner could fix.
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Expect a slow start to your morning as the week begins under the tender Cancer moon, helping you prioritize comfort and your emotional well-being. A few extra minutes under the duvet or a comforting conversation with a loved one could make all the difference. By mid-morning, sparks fly as loving Venus coordinates with diplomatic Mars. Your charm, grace, and lightheartedness will make sure people don't forget your name. But you know what's really memorable? Making people feel seen, appreciated, and uplifted.
Eclipse season is raging, and right now everyone is in the thick of the portal. Today's last-quarter moon serves as the exact midpoint between this past weekend's lunar eclipse and next weekend's solar eclipse, so feelings are raging. Thankfully, lines of communications are open and there's lots of mental clarity available to you now, so there's no need to keep anything bottled up inside.
Let's be real: being a teenager isn't easy. You're balancing schoolwork, friendships, family expectations, and figuring out who you are, all while trying to keep up with the fast-paced world around you. On top of that, social media, the pressure to succeed, and even world events can all weigh your mood down. It's no surprise that many teens today are struggling with anxiety, stress, and emotional fatigue.
Sometimes I think of my sobriety in terms of a relationship. My sober self and I have been going along now for over 10 years. We are besties. We trust each other. We vibe. But recently, after a long bout of illness, I wondered how loyal sobriety would stay through sickness. Through turbulence. Through the valleys of life. Research says that divorces happen most commonly around the eighth year of marriage.
Most of us have been reminded many times to practice self-care for the sake of our own physical and mental health or general well-being. We have been advised to eat a healthy diet, include some physical activity in each day, and get adequate sleep. These habits have been characterized as self-nurturant skills (Webb, 2014). It's not difficult to see how these actions would improve general well-being; you might even consider them to be obvious parts of a balanced lifestyle.
31Strappy Lace Panties That Look Expensive, But Aren't Thanks to their strappy design and scalloped floral lace, these cheeky panties will look like they cost a lot more than you spent. According to reviewers, they're also shockingly comfortable, which isn't surprising given that they're soft and stretchy with an elastic waistband that stays put and doesn't roll. Available sizes: Small - XX-Large Available styles: 17
These chic huggie earrings look like a pricey jewelry boutique find, so you'll be shocked when you see the low price. They're made from 14-karat gold-plated sterling silver and feature a trendy chunky design with multi-colored cubic zirconias. And as one shopper gushed, 'These are become my favorite everyday earring. I receive SO many compliments when I wear them.'
Every year on August 15, the country collectively takes a deep breath and exhales in celebration of National Relaxation Day. Originally started in 1985 by Sean Moeller, this day is a reminder to pause, decompress, and take care of yourself.
Forest Bathing offers participants a chance to connect deeply with nature, enhancing physical, mental, and emotional health through a guided experience in Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.
