Health & Balance News & Features

August 7, 2023 — Giving to others isn't just generous – it's healthy and linked to longer life. Here's what's going on in your body when you help someone.

If the words "clean house" are always on your to-do list, here's help.

It’s key to know which items in your home you need to disinfect regularly. Learn what they are and how to keep them germ-free.

“Going green” is good for your health and for the planet. Here’s how to bring the ideas to your home cleaning routine.

Cleaning can reduce the number of germs around you, but sometimes you need to take extra steps to disinfect. Here’s why – and how.

June 20, 2023 — Social isolation increased the risk of early death by 32%, and loneliness increased the risk of death by 14%, according to a study published Monday.

May 2, 2023 — The United States is facing a public health crisis of loneliness, isolation and lack of social connection, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, said Tuesday in issuing an advisory report.

April 13, 2023 — Positive beliefs about aging give older people a 30% better chance of recovering normal thinking after experiencing mild memory loss.

February 6, 2023 — Urban dwellers who frequently visit green spaces, such as parks and community gardens, have a lower use of some commonly prescribed medications.

January 3, 2023 — Women scored higher in cognitive empathy – the extent to which a person can understand another’s emotions and take on another’s perspective to understand their feelings -- in a study to measure empathetic reactions of more than 300,000 people from 16 to 70 in 57 countries.

Habits are what can turn your goal or resolution into reality. Find out how to make good ones and break bad habits – for keeps.

November 14, 2022 — Two art teachers in Healdsburg, CA, set out to create a hotline for anyone in their small wine country town in need of a mental health lift this past March. Cleverly known as PepToc, a call into the number features seven options of pre-recorded bilingual messages from joyous elementary school children.

October 24, 2022 — Our penchant for fear dates back millennia. But new research is testing the theory that indulging in morbid curiosity and scary play can help us build psychological resilience, overcome phobias, and deal with genuine scares. So far, the answer is yes.

Your next staycation shouldn’t be just time to catch up on errands. Here’s how to make sure it feels like a true break.

What do you say when you’re the target of someone’s guilt trip? And what do you tell yourself about it? Read expert advice.

Many people have felt judged for being overweight. The fat phobia, weight bias, or weight stigma that other people subject them to can be harmful. Read experts’ advice.

Ahead of this year’s awards, we explore why five of this year’s nominees might strike an emotional chord.

Sibling rivalries come down to how kids perceive they’re treated by parents. An imbalance causes strain even as adults. Empathy can help you make amends.

Make ‘em and break ‘em: It doesn’t have to be that way! Find out what helps you set New Year’s resolutions you can stick with.

Learn the benefits of music and how it can help with studying.

Do you often find yourself procrastinating? Learn more about why you do this.

Are candles bad for you? Learn more about the benefits, chemical risks, and best types of candles.

Learn about why thinking realistically is better than simple optimism.

Learn helpful tips for protecting your finances during a divorce.

Learn how to relieve anxiety about climate change.

Does shopping boost your mood? Learn why and what to be aware of.

Knowing basic self-defense moves is a great way to keep yourself safe. Learn tips for escaping an attack using self-defense techniques.

Learn about how helpful daydreaming can be.

Subtracting instead of adding is better for your health. Read on to discover why it’s essential to reduce in some aspects of your life to improve your overall health.

Plastics are everywhere. They can break apart so much that you can’t even see them. Learn about how to avoid plastics and plastic pollution.

Learn what's helpful and not helpful when you feel overwhelmed or helpless.

Have you ever seen someone being harassed? Learn more about what to do if you find yourself in that situation.

Learn about helpful responses to sexist comments.

Do you see ageism in your life? Learn how to identify ageism, what to say, and more.

Urge surfing is a mental technique to manage urges and cravings. Learn more about what it is, why it’s important, and more.

Learn what’s helpful and not helpful to say to someone trying to lose weight.

Learn gardening tips from master gardeners, including planning, planting, and upkeep of your garden.

Step-by-step tips on how to be more generous.

Learn how to develop a healthy relationship with your social media.

Learn about health coaching, including what questions to ask so that you find the right coach.

Everyone has unconscious biases. Learn how they work and how to change them.

Learn about how to improve your commute, including how to adopt commuting rituals to keep your travels interesting.

Struggling to stop negative thoughts? Read more to learn how to shift your mind and transform the types of thoughts you have.

Learn what catastrophizing looks like and how to stop yourself from doing it.

“Microaggression” refers to when someone, either accidentally or purposefully, says or does something offensive to a member of a minority group.

The air in your home may be as polluted as the air outside of it – or even more. Find out why and learn strategies for breathing easy.

Struggling to reconcile something you have done to another person? Read on to learn more about the process of self-forgiveness.

Step by step tips on how to break up with a toxic friend.

Learn about financial anxiety and its effects on your health, along with how to get a handle on financial stress.