Life Kit

We could all be eating more vegetables. One fast way to do that: toss them in a salad. To make a crave-worthy salad you'll actually want to eat, don't be afraid to experiment with flavors (like kimchi or sauerkraut), add texture (think candied nuts or thinly sliced red cabbage) — and treat yourself to a freshly made homemade dressing. This episode originally published July 24, 2023. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

To find a job you actually enjoy, figure out what's making you unhappy and move forward from there, says Tessa West, author of the new book Job Therapy: Finding Work That Works for You. West offers practical exercises to help assess your strongest skill sets, your stressors and what you need next from your career. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

New, sophisticated scams are popping up all the time. Experts explain how to safeguard your data and money from being exploited or stolen by fraudsters. This episode originally published on November 11, 2023. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

With a baby on the way, you'll need to babyproof your home — and your relationship. In this episode, how to strengthen your connection with your partner and survive the newborn phase. Learn how to navigate fairness in domestic responsibilities, keep a cool head on little sleep, and your new roles. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Just because you're renting your home doesn't mean you can't make it your own. Three home décor experts share their tips to make your rental homey for the long term. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The list of things we dread is almost endless: the Sunday scaries, deadlines, climate change — the list goes on. How can we feel better? Saleem Reshamwala, host of the podcast More Than a Feeling, shares practices for managing that nagging feeling of impending doom. The episode originally published November 28, 2022. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

You might not know a lot about your parent's life before they had you: their childhood dreams, their first love, their heartbreaks. If you're a child of immigrants, there might be even less you know due to language barriers or traumatic experiences. But all of these things are passed down through generations. This episode, journalist and writer Aarti Shahani interviews Min Jin Lee, author of Pachinko, and three other writers about how to unpack your parent's past with them — and how doing so can both bring you closer and help you better understand yourself. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

You don't need much to go for a hike. You can enjoy nature whether you're at a national park or on a neighborhood stroll. But before you head out, you'll want to consider your route, a couple of safety precautions and your gear. Want better sleep? Sign up for Life Kit's Guide to Better Sleep, our special newsletter series. When you sign up, you'll receive a series of emails over one week, with tips you can try that very night to prioritize and improve your sleep. Sign up at npr.org/sleepweek. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Psychologist Becky Kennedy, author of the book "Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be," urges parents to spend more time raising thoughtful humans instead of fixing their behavior. This episode originally published September 26, 2022. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Making sure you're protected from the summer sun starts with a good sunscreen. But how do you know which sunscreen is best, how much to use or when to reapply? In this episode from Short Wave, NPR health correspondent Allison Aubrey shares the six common mistakes people make with sunscreen — and how to level up your sunscreen game. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Dining out with a large group and not sure how to handle the check? In this episode, chef and food writer Kiki Aranita walks us through common dining scenarios to ensure the bill is handled fairly and smoothly. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Trying to read more can be a hard habit to stick to. If you want to read more, try setting a goal to get you motivated. To make a goal that works for you — consider setting a genre or page count goal rather than just counting the number of books you read. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Do you have "screen apnea?" Former Microsoft executive Linda Stone coined this term in 2007 after noticing she'd developed an unhealthy habit while answering emails: She held her breath. Body Electric host Manoush Zomorodi talks to Stone about this phenomenon — and gets insight from James Nestor, author of "Breath," on how to reset our breath and relieve screen time stress. Binge the whole Body Electric series here. Sign up for the Body Electric Challenge and their newsletter here. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

It's hard to find time for anything with a newborn at home. And in the months after having a baby, intimacy with your partner may fall to the wayside. But sex and relationship experts say that maintaining your intimate relationship with your partner is a worthwhile challenge. In this episode we'll talk strategies for reconnecting with your partner, exploring your desires, and expanding your ideas of sex and intimacy. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

For decades, health experts have relied on body mass index (BMI), a ratio of weight to height, to classify people as underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. But sometimes, you need more than two numbers to understand your health. For example, BMI can't tell you how much of your weight is fat versus muscle. That's why a growing number of researchers and physicians prefer other metrics instead. NPR health correspondent Allison Aubrey breaks down the history and shortcomings of BMI, and shares other methods to get a fuller picture of your body. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

There are a lot of misconceptions about sleep. Sleep scientist Rebecca Robbins and her colleagues looked into common myths about sleep to help everyone get a better night's rest. This episode originally published Janaury 9, 2024. Want better sleep? Sign up Life Kit's Guide to Better Sleep, our special newsletter series. When you sign up, you'll receive a series of emails over one week with tips you can try that very night to prioritize and improve your sleep. Sign up at npr.org/sleepweek. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The summer's first major heat wave has arrived. Our bodies do have natural ways to dissipate heat, but when temperatures get extreme, sometimes they just can't keep up. In this episode of Life Kit, learn how to keep cool, hydrated and safe in extreme heat. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Intimidated by grilling? Cooking over an open flame can do that. In this episode, learn the basics from which type of grill to choose, to how to maintain a fire and create different temperature zones, to tips on tools and safety. This episode originally published May 24, 2022. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Should you merge your finances with a significant other? Keep them separate? Or something in between? Financial therapist Lindsay Bryan Podvin breaks down different ways to handle your finances with a partner and how to keep communication open and honest no matter what financial plan you pick. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

With graduation season here, our friends at NPR's All Songs Considered asked listeners to tell them about songs that bring back memories of the final days of high school, when they said goodbye to old friends, left home and struck out on their own. Join NPR's Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson as they reflect on graduation through song. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy