Author: Richard C. Trotter

Resting tends to be something we put off or save for later when there’s “more time.” Yet, when we’re feeling fatigued, rushed, or distracted, slowing down can be one of the most productive ways to recharge a tired body and fragmented mind. “So much of our day-to-day life is ruled by demands on our time, energy, and bodies,” says yoga teacher Victoria Rutledge, E-RYT 500. “Slowing down allows us to notice our patterns of thought and cultivate a non-judgmental self-awareness that primes us for honest and generous communication with ourselves and our communities.” If you’re imagining a long mid-afternoon nap,…

With the Well+Good SHOP, our editors put their years of know-how to work in order to pick products (from skin care to self care and beyond) they’re betting you’ll love. While our editors independently select these products, making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. Happy shopping! Explore the SHOP In my 20s and early 30s, I didn’t own flats. I lived in New York then, and, much like Carrie Bradshaw, I constantly ran around the city in 5-inch stilettos. Cut to eight years ago, and a freak slip on black ice caused me not only to…

The seasoned home chef knows that no matter your skill level, not every recipe will be a slam-dunk. Part of spending time in the kitchen is accepting that some recipes will make your taste buds sing, while others will leave you crying on the floor (just me?). Social media recipes represent the epitome of the challenging cooking truth that, sometimes, you just have to take a gastronomical leap of faith—but is there a better way to predict whether those viral TikTok and Instagram recipes are truly worth your time? There’s a reason we fall head over heels for the beautiful…

With the Well+Good SHOP, our editors put their years of know-how to work in order to pick products (from skin care to self care and beyond) they’re betting you’ll love. While our editors independently select these products, making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. Happy shopping! Explore the SHOP When it comes to nail colors for spring, one might call to mind pastels and shades that are reflected in nature, like pinks and greens—all striking signals to the season’s optimistic energy of rebirth and renewal. (Call it dopamine dressing for your nails, if you will.) However,…

Could the next game-changer for your fitness routine be just… hanging out? It might be. TikTok is certainly convinced; trainers and avid gymgoers are taking to the social media app to sing the praises of the dead hang, the practice of hanging from a pull-up bar for short periods of time. And the truth is, adding this simple move to your workout could come with a lot of benefits, like reduced back pain and a stronger upper body. That said, unless pull-ups are already part of your workout program, getting started with dead hangs is no easy task; as a…

When you think of ear infections, you may think of childhood. Lots of kids come down with ear infections after swapping germs at school or even getting pool water stuck in their ears. But unfortunately, adults can get ear infections, too, and they may be just as painful as they were back then. Add in other symptoms like jaw pain, and it’s twice the trouble. If you’re unlucky enough to have an ear infection and jaw pain at the same time, you might wonder what’s up—is it just a coincidence, or are the two things related? Here, Philip Chen, MD,…

With the Well+Good SHOP, our editors put their years of know-how to work in order to pick products (from skin care to self care and beyond) they’re betting you’ll love. While our editors independently select these products, making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. Happy shopping! Explore the SHOP Picture this: The frost has finally thawed and the 15-weekend rain streak is finally over, so you decide to call up your friends to hit the backyard and crack open a few brews. About an hour before they get there, you head outside to assess the state…

Being the oldest sibling comes with a lot of memorable firsts for you and your parents: the very first baby steps, the first name in the baby book, the first child to graduate high school. Unfortunately, you may have also been the first one up in the morning because you had to get your younger siblings ready for school, or the first one who learned to cook because making dinner became your responsibility. Perhaps you felt more like a surrogate parent to your siblings rather than a child yourself. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone and there’s a name…

Poke around the parenting side of Reddit or TikTok long enough, and you’ll find parents voicing their concerns about the fact that their toddler is suddenly and inexplicably afraid of bathtime. This irrational fear of bathing or washing—also known as ablutophobia—seems to be more common in young children as they become more aware of their surroundings. But ablutophobia can continue into adulthood or pop up later in life, and, like other phobias, it is a type of anxiety disorder that “includes intense, irrational fear of an object, situation, or activity,” says Amy Braun, PhD, a licensed clinical professional counselor and…

The more I learn about caffeine, the more *stimulated* I get—especially since many of my discoveries appear to validate my long-standing coffee-drinking habits. For instance, most of the longest-living people on the planet across all but one of the Blue Zones aren’t strangers to caffeinating, either; and Finland, the reigning happiest country on Earth, just so happens to have the highest coffee consumption rates. And let’s definitely not forget about caffeine’s powers to facilitate satisfying poops aplenty. To see if I could uncover more good news about java and caffeine at large, I reached out to Kaustubh Dabhadkar, MD, MPH,…