Life Kit: Health

When's the best time to start a new habit? And what makes some stick while others fall by the wayside? Behavioral scientist Katy Milkman's new book, How to Change , breaks down the research about how to leverage human nature instead of working against it to achieve your goals. (This episode originally aired in May 2021.) See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal...

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Jasmine Marcelin shares how she has conversations about the COVID-19 vaccine with people who have doubts about getting vaccinated. (A version of this episode originally aired on NPR's Short Wave.) See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Amid the omicron surge, there is understandable anxiety among parents, particularly those with kids under 5. In this episode, infectious disease doctor Ibukun Kalu answers listeners' questions on the latest COVID variant, daycare and travel for unvaccinated children. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsor...

In 2021, nearly half of all new year's resolutions in the U.S. were based on weight loss. Why do we set these goals for ourselves? Diet culture, the social expectations that value thinness and appearance above all else, can impact how we view our bodies and treat others. The good news is, we can free ourselves from this mindset. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of p...

It's counterintuitive, but an effective way to manage our negative reactions to life's stressors actually involves slowing down and paying very close attention. Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based-Stress-Reduction, explains how to begin a meditation practice — and how doing so can help you seize the present moment. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of pe...

Feeling blocked with it comes to starting an exercise habit? You can actually get the health benefits of exercise with just 22 minutes of exercise a day — and you might be surprised what "counts" as exercise. Kiss your excuses goodbye! (This episode originally aired in December 2018.) See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage yo...

Thinking about taking a break from drinking? Here are ways to help you make a plan, navigate tricky social situations and reassess your relationship with alcohol so you can experience the benefits of dry January. (This episode originally aired in January 2020.) See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship p...

Everyone needs a little alone time, but during this pandemic, you may have felt like you had too much "me" time or not enough. Let's get that balance back! This episode breaks down research behind what makes even small bouts of solitude restorative and what to do when you're alone too much. (This episode originally aired in July 2020). See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and u...

When we lose a loved one, it can feel like we've lost a part of ourselves. And for good reason, our brains are learning how to live in this world without someone we care about in it. In this episode, psychologist Mary-Frances O'Connor explains what happens in our brain when we experience grief. (A version of this episode originally aired on NPR's Short Wave.) See pcm.adswizz.com for information ab...

The holiday season is well underway, and with it, a fresh batch of worries over the latest COVID-19 variant, omicron. For those planning end-of-year celebrations and travel, NPR senior science and health correspondent Maria Godoy breaks down the latest coronavirus news. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast spon...

Freezing your eggs can open doors for your fertility. It's also emotional, time-consuming and expensive. Here are some things to think about before you decide to freeze your eggs — and what to know if you do, including how much it costs and how to prepare for the process. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sp...

Getting enough sleep helps you focus, retain information and helps to fortify your immune system. But when it comes to children, they aren't always thinking about these benefits. For parents and caretakers struggling to get their little ones to bed on time, here are tips on establishing healthy sleeping habits — that can benefit your entire family. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our col...

Waking up at dawn with the bakers and the baristas may not be for everyone — especially night owls. Whether you have to wake up early, or you'd like to become more of a morning lark, here are a few habits that can help you set yourself up for success at that first alarm. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast spo...

Your skin is your largest organ. If you want to care for it without getting sucked into a wormhole of pharmacological-sounding mumbo jumbo, this guide to building a basic skin care routine is for you. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

The climate crisis is here, and if you feel climate anxiety, that's a totally normal response. It's easy to feel overwhelmed or numb when you start thinking about the bigger picture, but it's important to let yourself feel all those emotions, says ecotherapist Phoenix Smith. In this episode, Smith talks about tools to acknowledge and use these feelings for the decades to come. See pcm.adswizz.com...

Picking health insurance takes a lot of work. It's not a one-size-fits-all type of situation, and there are a lot of confusing terms that come up every year. You also need to consider your general health and finances. So how can you make sense of it all? That's where we come in. In this episode of Life Kit, we'll have experts guide you on where to look for coverage, how to narrow down plans — and...

Strength training is a great way to exercise efficiently while preventing injury. And while it's not that difficult to get into it, it can be intimidating if you don't know what you're doing. That's where we're going to help! In this episode, you'll hear from experts about their tips to get started and find a training plan that works for you. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collectio...

Research shows that suicide is preventable. And while surveys have shown that Americans know this, they might not know how to help someone who may be at risk. It's National Suicide Prevention Month, and we're looking at ways you can help if you know someone who is struggling. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcas...

We don't question whether our pets, friends or family have earned their right to exist, so why do we sometimes think about our own lives in those terms? What we learn about the value of productivity and the negative connotation of "laziness" is part of the problem, says social psychologist Devon Price. In this episode, Price, author of Laziness Does Not Exist, shares tips for rethinking the concep...

Whether you know it or not, you know somebody who is autistic. So if you think autism doesn't affect you, you're wrong, says Eric Garcia. In this episode, Garcia, author of We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation, talks about myths surrounding autism, how to talk about it and how to help your autistic loved one live their most fulfilling life. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about o...

Exercise is important, but balancing exercise with mental health and your own body confidence can be a tricky thing to pull off. In this episode, we talk to experts about how to keep comfortable in your body as it changes, and how to find that balance while exercising. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast spons...

Medical transition-related treatments like hormone replacement therapy are associated with overwhelmingly positive outcomes in terms of both physical and mental health for transgender people. But, it can be hard to know exactly how to get started. In this episode of NPR's Short Wave, reporter James Factora explains where to start, common misconceptions about HRT, and the importance of finding comm...

Anxiety can feel like the enemy, and it's easy to want to obliterate those feelings. But that might not be the best approach, according to Wendy Suzuki. In this episode, Suzuki, author of Good Anxiety: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion, outlines strategies to turn that sinking feeling into something productive. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use o...

Returning to in-person schooling is both a relief — and a source of great anxiety — for a lot of parents this year. The pandemic is still happening. The Delta variant is surging. And millions of children are too young to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The news changes fast — updates on vaccine trials and breakthrough infections seem to roll in every day — but there's still a lot the whole family can do t...

People are making up for time lost during the pandemic. Weddings are happening again. People are hosting cookouts, and going on vacation. Some people are heading back to in-person school and adjusting to working from the office again. But the health crisis is not over, and people in different parts of the country are taking very different approaches to that fact. These different approaches and tho...