Marisa Cohen, SELF magazine
Make any gig more fun with these 6 tips.
Think back: Remember all the reasons you took this job in the first place. Was it the sweet hours? A quickie commute? Tons of responsibility? Then come up with ways to rekindle the excitement you felt on day one, says Jane Boucher, author of How to Love the Job You Hate. Go out after work and enjoy your free evenings; bike to the office just because you can.
See more: The Flat-Abs-Fast Secret
Escape your desk: Working endless hours can affect your productivity. Take an honest-to-goodness lunch break (we know, crazy, right?) and eat your salad in the park or hit a yoga class. You'll be more effective after a time-out, research shows.
Set two goals: Make one short-term-"I'll go to two networking events this month"-to get an instant sense of satisfaction that you're opening doors to a happier future. The other should be bigger-picture: "In a year I want to get promoted." Clear-cut goals increase your energy and focus,
Blog Posts by Self Magazine
Read More »from Stress Test: What's Bugging You?
Julai Savacool, SELF magazine
Ask yourself these questions to see what's draining you.
Are you stressing hard-core?
A crazy day at the office can cause production of the hormone cortisol to skyrocket, says SELF contributing expert Catherine Birndorf, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. "Once whatever's stressing you out is over, cortisol levels go back to normal, but that drop leaves you feeling fried."
Taking mini time-outs during the day-texting a friend, updating your Spotify playlist or chatting with a coworker-can help keep stress freak-outs in check so you won't be completely zonked by 6 p.m.
See more: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss
Is your pee the color of a tangerine?
Unappetizing, but true: Urine should be pale yellow; any darker means you're dehydrated. Even mild dehydration can make you feel wiped and less able to focus, finds research in The Journal of Nutrition.
As for what you sip, it doesn't have to be water. Any liquid, evenJD Rinne, SELF magazine
Overdid it on sweets this holiday? Put your diet back on track with these smart choices-no refrigeration (or guilt) required.
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5 Simple Steps to Cellulite-Free Skin
3 CrossFit Total-Body Workouts
6 Secrets to Firing Up Your Metabolism
Read More »from Snacks Under 150 CaloriesRachel Jacoby, SELF magazine
New Years' Eve may be in our rear view mirrors, but there's no reason you can't indulge in a cocktail or two in 2013. If your resolutions included a healthier diet, you're in luck-we've got low-cal drink ideas for you!More from SELF:
5 Simple Steps to Cellulite-Free Skin
6 Secrets to Firing Up Your Metabolism
Read More »from Low-Cal Cocktail Ideas
Read More »from Curing a Stuffy Nose
SELF magazine
Winter knock you off your game? Your favorite M.D., Dr. Lodge, is on the case.
Q. What's the best thing to do for a stuffy nose? -Ruby M., New York City
A. There's no secret formula, so you'll need to try treatments one at a time to see what works for you. Use this backgrounder on some common decloggers; as always, read labels for directions and side effect info.
See more: The No-Cook Diet
Antihistamines: They fight histamines, chemicals that cause congestion and stuffyiness during an infection or allergy attack. Older ones such as Benadryl may make you sleepy, so look for newer formulas marked nondrowsy.
Decongestants: Oral decongestants with pseudoephedrine work to clear you up by shrinking swollen nasal tissues, but they could make you jittery. Nasal sprays are great for occasional relief, but they lose effectiveness with prolonged use.
See more: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss
Nasal irrigation: Neti pots and the like can help literally wash out congestion. SalineThis trendy root is packed with benefits-anti-inflammatory compounds, antioxidants-and adds a zesty zing to these 10 recipes.
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5 Simple Steps to Cellulite-Free Skin
3 CrossFit Total-Body Workouts
6 Secrets to Firing Up Your Metabolism
Read More »from 10 Ginger RecipesZoe Singer, SELF magazine
Throwing a boozy brunch is a fun, easy and cheap way to celebrate the season. Prep almost all of these delish dishes the day before so, come party time, you can actually hang out. Cocktail?
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5 Simple Steps to Cellulite-Free Skin
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Read More »from Holiday Brunch How-To
Jaclyn Emerick, SELF magazine
Lose the equipment-and the excuses. All you need is a wall to firm every square inch. Watch the step-by-step instruction video.
Your expert New York City trainer Rustin Steward. "The less stuff you need, the harder it is to blow off a workout," Steward says. So unless you live in a tent, this is your new go-to routine. "The wall supports you, helping you stay aligned and sculpt more efficiently than with freestanding exercises," he explains. Disclaimer: The moves are hard. But your body will be, too.
You'll need Yup, just a plain old wall. Don't want scuff marks? Lose the sneaks. There-one less thing to worry about.
See more: Foods That Fight Belly BloatYour plan Do these seven moves three times a week on alternate days and you'll realize that sometimes it can be a good thing when your workout hits the wall. Ha, ha.
Do just the numbered moves and you'll firm up. Add this squat jump for 1 minute between each and you'll also torch Read More »from No-Equipment Workout
Read More »from World's Wackiest Diets
Julianne Pepitone, SELF magazine
From grapefruit to cabbage soup, diet trends have certainly changed through the ages. Here, a primer on the craziest.
3100 B.C.: Ancient Egyptians supposedly swig apple cider vinegar to drop pounds. Modern-day fans claim it curbs appetite and burns fat. Science says: didn't work then, still doesn't work now.
1600s: Seaweed, long thought to be trimming, is used in "weight loss soap" in East Asian countries. It's believed to shrink a fat layer. The slimming payoff is iffy at best, but people are squeaky-clean.
See more: Foods That Fight Belly Bloat
Early 1900s: Some desperate dieters swallow pills containing tapeworm eggs, hoping the parasites will hatch and eat their meals. Risky! The worms can block the appendix and make you super sick. Also, gross.
1920s: The grapefruit diet has come and gone over the years, but it debuts in the flapper era. The gist: Eat half of one with each small meal. The fruit is healthy; the 800ish calorie diet, not so much.Little strategic moves you can do with your clothes on to make things hotter than ever when you finally go skin-to-skin tonight.
See more: Foods That Fight Belly Bloat
Go on a breakfast date. Romantic dinners are overrated. For one, they're pricey; plus, you're usually too full to even think about hooking up when you get home. Clocking some quality one-on-one time, anytime, is what really matters. Couples who go out together at least once a week are three times more likely to have wowza sex, according to research from the National Marriage Project. Grab a table at Starbucks, buy a couple of muffins, and catch up while you caffeinate.Chillax. How crazed are you at work, on a scale from zero to "I'm ready to jump out a 10th-story window"? We ask because you're 76 percent less likely to have sex during weeks when you're super stressed, the Journal of Family Psychology notes. Ease your nerves by spending 10 minutes outside. (Lie in the grass, and think of
Read More »from Turn Up Your Sex Life
