These nearly flat ThinOptics reading glasses are made from elastic nitinol metal and shatterproof polycarbonate and weigh less than two sheets of paper. The genius is their magnetic case, which attaches to your smartphone for quick access and secure storage. — MF
To allow peace and pain to sit side by side, I practice this Anchoring Heart Technique by Deborah Grassman. It was initially created to help military veterans in hospice care, but is universally effective for anyone wishing to embrace conflicting feelings. How it works:
Place one hand or both hands firmly and tenderly over your heart. Breathe deeply.
Feel whatever you are experiencing, even if it’s just for a few seconds.
Be curious about the place inside you that is strong enough to hold your pain without fear. Get to know your BRAVE SPACE.
There is something very powerful and effective about being able to name your tension and embrace it at the same. It really is a very simple and beautiful act of self-compassion. Here’s a link to a 10-minute video that expands on how and why it works. — CD
Meredith Arthur, who has spent the past nine years investigating the source of her anxiety and physical pain, has recently put out a three-part newsletter series called Ultimate Stress Relief Cheat Sheets. She hopes that by sharing what is tried and true for her, she can help readers skip some of the steps she had to labor through. Reading about her personal journey was very helpful to me. It gives me hope that I can make my nervous system my best friend rather than my enemy. I love her practice of in-the-moment mantras and her current examples for escaping the freeze response.
“I know that future me has [insert issue] covered, so I am going to let this go until it’s time to take action.”
“I am allowed to have a short vacation from [insert issue].”
“If I keep thinking this way, I will only get sicker. Instead, I am going to imagine a future in which I’ve solved [insert issue] in detail. I’ll allow that feeling of peace to wash over me.”
— CD
If you’re ever feeling rejected, anxious, or insecure, at AreTheyMadAtMe.com you’ll find a wall of comforting messages from anonymous posters to remind you that you are not alone. Uncertainty can make me feel lonely or disconnected from other people, and this is a good reminder to not make assumptions about how others might be feeling toward me and practice some self-soothing. — CD
I watch sad movies when I'm feeling hormonal, low in spirits, or when the source of my sadness is unknown. Inducing tears has always helped me release stagnant energy in my body, and the website Cry Once a Week seems to expedite that emotional process. I'm not embarrassed to admit that a short 5-minute scene from Pixar's 'Inside Out' was enough to make me weep. If you provide them with your email, they'll send you a free PDF detailing the benefits of crying.— CD
Residents of the US can get 4 free Covid home tests mailed to them just by signing up here at this US covid.gov site. This offer works even if you got free tests from the earlier round. — KK
In my ongoing war with mosquitoes, I've been trying different ways to relieve the itching caused by these tiny beasts' bites. The Bug Bite Thing is extremely effective, provided you use it right after noticing a mosquito bite. It's a suction tool that extracts the itch-causing mosquito saliva from your skin, providing instant relief. However, avoid using it on your face or neck unless you want a circular hickey. — MF
I recently learned the concept of Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) which refers to energy expended for everything we do that is not sleeping, eating or sports-like exercise. I’ve always been aware of it, I just never knew the name for it and since I’ve learned what NEAT is, I started finding opportunities to go out of my way to “move” more. This NPR article outlines the science behind it and all the benefits. It’s not a substitute for exercise but it is the most accessible and practical way to increase physical activity. Examples of NEAT includes using a standing desk, walking to work or parking far away from buildings, cleaning the house, or fidgeting while sitting down. — CD
My eyes have been itching like crazy for the last few months. I was rubbing them so hard and so often that they started to feel sore. I finally decided to try over-the-counter allergy eye drops. I bought Alaway from Bausch + Lomb, based on the many positive reviews. It contains an antihistamine, and one drop provides almost instant relief for hours. — MF
Heart-centric meditations are what help me quickly diffuse highly-charged emotions within my body. Sometimes it’s as easy as telling myself to “breathe through my heart.” Other times I need to practice visualizations and taking on the perspective of someone other than me. The meditation that has been working for me lately is the Cut-Thru Technique created by the Heart Math Institute. It’s designed to create objectivity and dissolve the significance of perplexing emotions. The entire 5-step process is highlighted and outlined here in this article I saved (scroll down). — CD
I was at a restaurant and bit something hard hidden in a piece of cake. It broke off part of my molar, and the jagged tooth cut into my cheek whenever I talked. I made an appointment to see the dentist the next day, and in the meantime, I bought a little container of orthodontic wax to smooth over the sharp part. The next day, the dentist told me I'd done the right thing. The container is so small that I keep it in my toiletries bag when I travel. I hope I never have to use it. — MF
The Subjective Effect Index currently has 235 descriptions of sensory, cognitive and physical effects that may occur under the influence of psychedelics. There's also a really cool and appropriately trippy replications gallery that has artistic representations of hallucinatory effects. Whether you're trying to find a name for something you've experienced in a drug trip or just curious, this website is informative and invaluable. — CD
This animated psychology video outlines the process of healing — which can be very uncomfortable. Examples of healing include acknowledgement of painful emotions, expressing boundaries, and acceptance that healing is not a linear experience. Pain will continue to resurface, but eventually less often. I think it’s a lovely video and reminder that the path to growth is a balance of success and failure. — CD
I find the world of “Breathwork” hard to navigate. There are many methods and the physical effects of those methods vary widely. This infographic created by Kyle Kowalski of Sloww Sunday does a fantastic job of describing different breathing practices to help master your nervous system and down-regulate anxiety. What works for me in moments of stress, is the Physiological Sigh - a full inhalation followed by a relaxed sigh. Sloww Sunday is one of those newsletters I open as soon as it hits my inbox. It’s free and you can subscribe here. — CD
I get my eyes checked every year, but haven’t had my hearing tested since I was in high school. Soundly.com has a free 5-minute hearing test that was designed by audiologists and sound engineers. It’s for educational purposes only, but a good place to start nonetheless. I took the test and it reported back I have mild hearing loss which is not at all surprising or alarming. It just motivates me to mention this at my next physical. — CD
I normally wear +3.0 reading glasses but I bought this inexpensive 5-pack of +6.0 glasses to see tiny things, like markings on electronic components, fine print, splinters, and so on. I kept the small “+6.00” label affixed to the upper left corner of the lens so I don’t get them mixed up with my regular glasses. — MF
For the past ten years I’ve packed some Quick Clot bandage in my first aid kit. It’s a bandage that decreases bleeding five times faster than a regular bandage, from 10 minutes to 2 minutes. It is especially useful for scalp wounds which bleed profusely. It is expensive ($15) so I cut one up into smaller pieces to use for smaller gashes. — KK
At least once a week, I move a tabletop mirror (similar to this one) onto my desk to help with my sitting posture. I keep it just to the right of me so it’s not distracting and I position it so that if I can see myself in it out of the corner of my eye, I know I’m sitting up straight. — CD
I recently returned from a long trip to Portugal and I used these tiny sealable plastic bags to store and organize my supplements and prescription medications. I saved them so I can use them the next time I travel. — MF
US residents can order 4 free at-home covid tests to be mailed by the US Post Office to their home. One set per household. Order from this US Post Office site, which is well designed and takes 10 seconds. — KK