Author: Richard C. Trotter

Towards the end of every year, I catch myself lamenting how much my health and fitness routines have slipped in the run-up to the holiday season. Oh well, I’ll just harness that New Year’s resolution energy in January, I think to myself. This year, I’ve decided, will be different. (And I really do mean it this time!) Yes, I know that most new year’s resolutions epically fail. So I started wondering: What would happen if I “test drove” some resolutions right away? Rather than waiting for an artificial fresh start dictated by the calendar, I could play around with behavioral…

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Guam, lies the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). Made up of hundreds of tiny islands and about 30 atolls (ring-shaped islands with lagoons in the center), the country is more ocean than it is land. But despite being surrounded on all sides by water, the 60,000 residents haven’t ever had reliable access to clean drinking water. Most Marshall Islands residents have long relied on traditional rainwater harvesting, which is easier to set up and manage than water utility systems in such a remote region. But as droplets…

Gut health is something we talk about regularly at Well+Good, and one essential nutrient that comes up in just about every conversation is fiber. But this is no coincidence considering it’s one of the key ingredients for keeping your digestion flowing smoothly (literally). While fiber is just one of the many important pillars for maintaining a well-balanced, nutrient-dense diet for long-term positive health outcomes, consistency is key—meaning regular fiber intake is vital for gut health. (Unless you have a GI or digestive disorder; more on that later). So: It’s worth checking on your daily fiber intake, because statistics show that…

If you’re a human with a social media account in the year 2023, then odds are fairly high that you’ve stumbled across the term “empath” or “empathy.” The psychological label du jour has become incredibly popular online, with videos tagged as #empath garnering 3.1 billion views on TikTok. This isn’t just a social media buzzword to shrug off: Being empathetic, also known as understanding and experiencing the feelings and energy of another person, is an important psychological skill that helps us be more connected with others. Cultivating a genuine feeling of connectedness with your community is a critical part of…

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 Skechers. As a former 90s kid, I have a lot of thoughts when I hear this brand name: Chunky Dad shoes (which have since seen a resurgence). Step-Ups. Affordability. And, most significantly, “I wouldn’t be caught dead in a pair of Skechers.” Well, all of that changed…

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 The concept of dry shampoo seems almost too good to be true. When you’re too lazy to wash your hair, the idea that simply spritzing your scalp with a little bottle will make it look clean and fresh feels like straight-up sorcery—and yet, it works. But as…

Caffeine is a well-studied and effective ergogenic aid. That means it improves endurance and speed. But before you go pounding energy drinks before exercising, let’s look at how much you need. While caffeine can improve athletic performance, too much may leave you jittery and dehydrated—not exactly ideal during a work out. Like almost all things in life, there’s a balance to achieve. Just enough to aid performance but not so much that you feel like garbage. What’s the sweet spot? How do you introduce caffeine without going overboard? Here are some expert opinions on adding caffeine to your fitness routine…

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 Throughout my early 20s, while getting my bachelor’s degree, I lived in several different student apartments and rented homes. Whenever the lease of one apartment ended, I’d pack up all my things—textbooks, winter jackets, and, like, a million random socks without a match—into giant cardboard boxes and…

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 Whether you’re a frequent flier or only take to the skies occasionally, you’ve probably noticed that air travel can do a number on your skin and hair—especially if you throw jet lag or switching climates into the mix. Because about half the air inside the plane is…

To say my family is important to me would be an understatement. They’ve always been phenomenal supporters of me and my dreams. This support started well before I took my first swimming lesson at the age of five, continued through my teenage years when I found my passion for swimming competitively, and persisted at 17 when I won four gold medals in my Olympic debut at the 2012 London Summer Olympics. It has been a reliable constant throughout my entire career—and life—and has helped shape me into the woman I am today. So needless to say, when my dad was…