Meditation can also stabilize your stress, as numerous studies show that regular meditators have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their brains versus non-meditators. When the mind or body is stressed or in fear, your body will release cortisol. In the short term, elevated cortisol levels are necessary to help the body focus through temporary emergencies, but long term, excess, lingering cortisol levels can wreak havoc on body systems, harming memory, immunity, blood pressure, and more....

Enter: the capsule wardrobe. This small, curated collection of clothes—usually 30 to 50 pieces in size—has the potential to unlock many long-term benefits, including eliminating decision fatigue. Once you’ve pared down your closet to a more manageable list of versatile favorites, you’ll begin saving time and money, while gaining clarity and having a positive impact on the environment. “Keeping only your favorite things is not a sacrifice,” says Courtney Carver, founder of Be More with Less and inventor of the capsule wardrobe challenge Project 333....

Using a plastic cutting board with a moat—called a channel—around the edges will help catch liquids, and you’ll need a great chef’s knife for the job, too. Follow these simple instructions to break down birds like a pro.

Would it be easier if people, businesses, and publishers could share links directly in their post captions? Probably. But we need to work with what we’ve got. Which is why, instead of being able to click directly into a website URL within a post caption, Instagram directs you to the “link in bio” to view the rest of the article, photo gallery, recipe, or what-have-you, in its entirety. The meaning, at least, is pretty literal: Click into the account’s bio (or main profile) to find an external link to something on their (or another) website....

El Versalles Passion Fruit Cocktail Gin, Grapefruit, and Thyme Cocktail White Negroni Punch Quick Crab Cakes Charcuterie Meats The Perfect Cheese Platter

Need a little help? Try these tips, and pick up a few party games and activities to have on-hand for the next soiree. With this guide, your guests are sure to have a ball. Pick Your Playlists Music-streaming services make it simple to keep a playbook of playlists. DJ Taiga of Remixologists, an events company in New York and Philadelphia, recommends the playlists “Indie Dinner Party,” “Jazzy Dinner,” and “Feel Good Dinner” on Spotify....

Considering how frequently we use olive oil, it makes sense that so many home cooks keep the bottle right next to the stove within arm’s reach. Unfortunately, this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make in regards to keeping your favorite ingredient fresh. Olive oil deteriorates and turns rancid more rapidly when exposed to light, heat, and air—so storing it next to the hot stove (and under the bright overhead lighting) is just about the worst place possible....

The French press is a low-lift way to make a delicious cup of coffee at home, and we’re willing to bet you already have one stashed away in your kitchen cupboard from that time your in-laws insisted upon buying you one years ago. The press pot offers direct infusion for full-bodied coffee, and is an ideal companion for dark roasts. Here are step-by-step instructions for making a rich and complex cup of French press coffee, according to Patrick Main, the beverage innovator at Peet’s Coffee....

You have already created the “reality” in which you exist via the thoughts, habits, and actions you’ve repeated over and over throughout your life. You will experience whatever you believe. And you will believe whatever you repeatedly tell yourself is true. This is why ditching those types of mantras and consciously creating (and endlessly repeating) ones that are aligned with what you’d like to experience and who you’d like to become is a powerful way to change your life....

If your head is spinning, you aren’t alone. Here’s a cheat sheet for hitting that sweet spot, no matter your preference—or anyone else’s. Hint: It’s all about the sugar, butter, flour… you get the gist. RELATED: 5 Smart Substitutes for Brown Sugar

What You’ll Need: ScrewdriverPlastic bag Drop cloth Palm sander Sandpaper (80-, 120-, and 220-grit)Anti-vibration glovesTack cloth (or damp cloth)PrimerPaintPaintbrush (A high-quality 2-inch brush is an excellent default, but having a range of small, medium, and large brushes can come in handy)Sealant What’s the Best Paint for Furniture? The best paint for furniture ultimately depends on how you’ll use the piece, as well as the aesthetic you want to achieve. Matte finishes are on-trend right now, and create a soft appearance....

On this week’s Money Confidential, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez tackles wedding planning to help 30-year-old Jane (not her real name) come up with a realistic financial plan for her celebration. Jane is torn, balancing the financial burden of her wedding with the emotional experience of having all the people she loves in the same spot. “I don’t want to spend however many tens of thousands of dollars on essentially a six-hour party, but we also don’t want to sacrifice that really wonderful experience of having our families travel to Colorado and really get to meet one another,” she says....

Most of the time, muscle cramps go away on their own. But why do they happen in the first place? And what can you do to relieve a cramp the next time you get one? We talked to a couple of experts to find out. How and Why Toe Cramps Occur Cramps happen when one of your muscles suddenly and involuntarily contracts. These cramps can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes....

Recycle From A to Z This A to Z guide explains how to recycle batteries, light bulbs, and more. Basics, like paper, can typically just go in the recycling bin, while other items may require a little extra recycling effort. If it can be recycled (or otherwise disposed of using a zero waste method), you can learn how to do it here. A Aerosol cans: These are usually recycled with other cans, as long as you pull off the plastic cap and empty the canister completely....

So, how should you go about cleaning off your makeup so you can start anew tomorrow? We chatted with Nancy Satur, MD, board-certified dermatologist, medical director and CEO of Curology, to find out the right steps to removing your makeup at the end of the day. Do You Have to Remove Makeup Before Going to Bed? Ready for a little controversy? According to Satur, you don’t technically have to remove your makeup before bed, as long as you’re wearing the right kind....

“The sun’s UV rays can cause uneven pigmentation, brown spots, broken blood vessels, and white spots,” explains Debra Jaliman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and author of Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist. “It can also break down the collagen and elastic tissue leading to wrinkles and sagging of the skin.” While a full reversal of sun damage isn’t always feasible, there are a handful of treatments and products that can partially turn back the clock and curb future damage....

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, poor driving habits alone—aggressive speeding, braking, and rapid acceleration—can lower your gas mileage by roughly 15 to 30 percent at highway speeds and 10 to 40 percent in stop-and-go traffic. Here are eight things you can do to save money at the pump, both during times of peak gas prices and everyday. “These habits require patience and budgeting of your time to arrive a little later than normal,” says Montoya....

How to Take Care of Your Candles Ensure Your Candle Burns Evenly When you light a candle for the first time, let it burn for a while. You want to ensure the entire surface of the candle melts before you put it out. If you don’t, your candle could end up with a rim of solid wax that never ends up melting. (This is called tunneling, and you’ve probably seen it happen....