14 Unexpected Signs Of Seasonal Allergies That Aren’t Sneezes Or Sniffles

Posted on 20/04/2024 by Boris Clair

Trees, grass, weeds, pollen and mould are just a few of the things that people who experience seasonal allergies are constantly doing their best to dodge.

Those who are allergic to these plants know that sneezing, congestion and red, itchy eyes are some of the hallmark symptoms they experience when coming into contact with them. “However, seasonal allergies can cause some weird signs that a lot of time patients do not associate with seasonal allergies,” said Dr. Duyen Nguyen, an allergist at Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, Texas.

From snoring to feeling like you’re going to tip over, here are 14 lesser-known signs that you may be suffering from allergies.

1. Bad Breath

That bad taste in your mouth might not be from food. It could be due to all the pollen in the air.

“When too much nasal discharge slides down the back of the throat, patients can feel nausea and even vomit,” said Nguyen. This, he explained, can give bacteria in the mouth and throat a place to multiply, leading to characteristic bad breath.

2. Dizziness

Feeling like you’re going to fall down, and not able to blame it on having too much fun at happy hour? Your allergies may be the culprit. A constant mucus build up in the Eustachian tubes, which connect between the mouth and inner ear, can create pressure inside the ears. This can potentially lead to chronic ear pain or cause you to feel off balance, according to Nguyen.

3. A Loss Of Smell

In recent years, we’ve come to associate a loss of smell with a COVID-19 infection, but it may also be due to allergies.

“Seasonal allergic patients can sometimes present with anosmia, which is the partial or full loss of smell,” said Nguyen. This, he added, can occur when mucous membranes in the nose are significantly irritated or obstructed.

4. Exhaustion

Feeling a little bit more exhausted than usual? Not getting enough restful sleep could be due to allergy symptoms keeping you up at night.

“In addition to allergy symptoms impacting the quality of sleep, they can also exacerbate sleep issues like sleep apnea, which can also impact the quantity of sleep,” said Dr. Julie Wendt, a tripled-board-certified allergist and immunologist at Relieve Allergy, Asthma & Hives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

It could also be due to what allergists refer to as “allergy fatigue syndrome.” Fighting off allergies all day can make your body exhausted, thus leaving you with a lot less energy throughout the day, said Dr. Robert Eitches, an allergist at Tower Allergy in Beverly Hills, California.

5. Concentration Problems

“With allergies, many people report brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and even some symptoms of ADHD,” said Eitches. He attributed this to your body expending energy on other things like rubbing your nose or eyes, which causes a loss of the expendable energy needed to focus.

“There have been studies that indicate that people with allergies have a higher likelihood to have ADHD than the general population,” Eitches added. One study found “strong evidence for the link between allergy and ADHD,” noting that “patients with allergy have a 30–50% greater risk of developing ADHD.”

6. A Sore Throat

While a sore throat can be a symptom of a virus, like the common cold or flu, it could also be an indicator that the body is fighting off seasonal allergies. “This is due to the increased mucus production in the body causing postnasal drip, the main instigator of a sore throat,” Wendt said.

In addition to post-nasal drip, Wendt warned that a sore throat could be due to the increased usage of antihistamines causing excessive dryness. And increased sneezing and coughing from postnasal drip is also a symptom that can lead to irritation in the throat.

7. Snoring

While common sleep disorders like sleep apnea can lead to excessive snoring, increased congestion could also be the culprit. “Nasal congestion from allergy symptoms increases snoring as it restricts the airways, impacting the quality of sleep overall,” Wendt explained.

Overall, untreated allergies can lead to chronic sleep disruptions and have a long-term impact on health, leading to higher blood pressure, heart failure and weight gain.

Exhaustion and concentration problems are red flags you may be suffering from allergies.

8. Voice changes

Clearing your throat or other off sounds can be another sign of allergies.

“Clucking ― imagine Daffy Duck ― is a way to rub the back of the roof of the mouth, where the allergy cells are located, just as you would scratch an itch,” Eitches said. “Oftentimes people are clucking subconsciously.”

9. Unexplained Headaches

Increased sinus pressure from congestion just may be the reason behind your unexplained headaches. Sinus headaches are usually localised to the forehead and cheeks, often leaving the area tender and are usually the worst in the morning, due to the pressure build up from lying flat all night and often become less intense as the day progresses.

“This is due to the sinus cavities swelling, blocking any drainage that could relieve pressure,” Wendt said.

10. Rashes

Seasonal allergies can cause flare-ups of chronic skin conditions like eczema due to increased inflammation.

“Some individuals might also develop itching and rashes after direct contact with an allergen,” Wendt said. “This is often seen in the summer when kids are playing outside in the grass and develop raised, itchy rashes after spending time outside.”

11. Odd Mannerisms

Many people try to relieve their allergies through what others perceive as tics or other mannerisms.

“One such mannerism is what I call the allergic salute,” Eitches said. “This is when someone tries to relieve their allergies by pushing up on the tip of their nose with the heel of their hand. You’ll often see someone use their index finger to push on their ear.”

12. An Itchy Tongue

Your mouth or tongue gets itchy while eating a certain food, but that doesn’t mean you are allergic to that food. It could mean that the food cross-reacts with another allergen, Eitches said. One example is ragweed and bananas. This is known as oral allergy syndrome (OAS) and occurs when patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis eat a fruit, vegetable, spice or nut that cross-reacts. It can typically be quelled by cooking the food.

13. Achy Joints

Seasonal allergy symptoms can be accompanied by general inflammation as the body tries to get rid of the allergens causing the reaction, which can lead to painful swelling of the joints and soreness in the body as it tries to fight off the irritant.

“This inflammation, combined with the fatigue from poor sleep and changes in the weather that bring on allergy season can lead to frequent joint pain,” Wendt explained.

14. Ear-Ringing

Ringing in the ears can occur from pressure buildup from congestion, which can block the Eustachian tubes, causing inflammation and irritation.

“Those suffering from seasonal allergies also have an increased risk for ear infections as the ear does not have the ability to properly drain any excess fluid,” Wendt said. “Research has also shown that patients who experience seasonal allergies are significantly more likely to have Eustachian tube dysfunction, another leading cause of tinnitus.”

This can also lead to ear pain, a feeling of fullness, and sounds like popping and crunching in the ear as well as decreased hearing. And some studies have found that allergy medication may cause ear-ringing as a side effect. If you experience this, it is definitely something to bring up to your doctor.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms ― or the classic signs of your body combating allergens ― the good news is there are many ways to find reprieve. To start, make an appointment with an allergist to get tested to see what you’re allergic to.

“In general, allergies symptoms or signs, either common or uncommon, are treated by strict allergens avoidance, over-the-counter medications including oral antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays and decongestants,” Nguyen said.

If symptoms are not well controlled with medications, allergy shots may be beneficial.

All That Time You’re Spending Deciphering Men’s Texts Finally Has A Name

Posted on 20/04/2024 by Boris Clair

As Ellie Anderson approached 30, she started thinking about all the time she and her friends had wasted poring over conversations and texts they’d received from men they’d dated: Was that stray “K” over text cause for alarm? How long should you wait to say you had a great time on a date and want to do it again soon without coming on too strong?

“These conversations generally happened when one of us started dating a new guy. A lot of the time, we’d try to guess at what a guy wanted and how to avoid ‘freaking him out,’” said Anderson, an assistant professor of philosophy at Pomona College in Claremont, California.

Of course, the early days of a relationship are often a period of uncertainty. Still, it seemed to Anderson that the uncertainty usually worked in men’s favor. Meanwhile, it forced women to spend a lot of time trying to guess at men’s feelings because the men themselves were unwilling or unable to fully express themselves.

That kind of unspoken work deserved a definition, Anderson thought. On her popular philosophy podcast, “Overthink” ― and now in a recently published academic paper ― Anderson coined the phrase “hermeneutic labour” to describe the emotional work that goes into trying to decipher men’s often muddy communication. (It’s highfalutin sounding but hermeneutics is basically just the interpretation of language, whether written or spoken. It’s a word that’s often used in philosophy and religious studies.)

“Basically, men benefit from both having emotional needs they may not even be aware of met for them, and also not having to bear the burden of interpreting women partners’ emotions,” Anderson told HuffPost.

What we call “women’s intuition,” Anderson said, is actually a hard-won achievement that takes years to produce and sustain.

“It’s a euphemism for hermeneutic labour,” she said. “We tend to deny the substantial amounts of work that women do to maintain relationships, as well as the fact that a lot of this work is cognitive in character.”

Hermeneutic labour can be divided into three stages of emotional work, according to Anderson:

Interpreting your own feelings, desires and intentions
Interpreting the other person’s feelings, desires and intentions through their nonverbal cues or minimal communication
And lastly, comparing and contrasting both sets of feelings and intentions for the purpose of conflict resolution

Sounds laborious? That’s because it is.

Hermeneutic labour is a form of “emotional labour.”

Anderson’s theory ties in nicely to a more well-known concept: emotional labor, the idea that the effort of managing nearly everything at home ― especially the seemingly invisible jobs no one in your family acknowledges (making dentist appointments, managing temper tantrums) ― often falls on women’s shoulders. As outlined by sociologist Arlie Hochschild, emotional labor also involves having to suppress any negative emotions you might have around such thankless work.

“Emotional labor is the nurse suppressing her frustration toward a difficult patient and presenting a warm attitude of care,” Anderson said. “Hermeneutic labor is this same nurse considering, on her drive home, whether or not that way of interacting with the patient was the right one.”

Sometimes "it's helpful and fun to discuss your dating life with others and as long as you are getting the benefit of further insight, or at least a few giggles with friends," therapist Sarah Spencer Northey said. — Sometimes “it’s helpful and fun to discuss your dating life with others and as long as you are getting the benefit of further insight, or at least a few giggles with friends,” therapist Sarah Spencer Northey said.

Anderson also likens the concept to something explored by feminist and critical theorist Mari Ruti in her book “Penis Envy.”

“In the book, Ruti looks at how sometimes men’s opacity about their own emotions lead to unethical behavior toward romantic partners,” Anderson said.

It’s not that men don’t involve themselves with hermeneutic labour, Anderson said, it’s just that it’s nowhere near to the same degree as women partners do.

Anderson’s research focuses on hetero- and cisgender couples because they overwhelmingly make up the participants in the empirical studies on which her argument draws. But a handful of studies have also focused on the emotional labour that cisgender women partners of trans men undertake, which Anderson said is in some ways similar to straight couples, but also involves some unique dynamics, such as emotionally supporting a partner during transition.

Therapists who work with women say “hermeneutic labour” comes up in their sessions.

Akua K. Boateng, a psychotherapist in private practice in south Philadelphia, sees hermeneutic labour as a rite of passage for young women, especially in the text-centric online dating era. Generally speaking, women often let men take the lead in such communication.

“If he is texting, she is texting ― even if she might desire to talk by phone ― while talking with her friends about what the frequency or tone of his texts might mean about his true intentions,” Boateng said.

Women are conditioned to do this, Boateng thinks. For some, this kind of close reading starts in childhood with decoding the emotional lives of fathers and male figures.

“Many women have a history of failed attempts to track the emotional impact of life on the men in their social world,” she said. “Dating is a repeat of this past.”

Jennifer Chappell Marsh, a marriage and family therapist in San Diego, California, often hears women lament hermeneutic labour when they bring up emotionally distant partners.

“In therapy, it often shows that she’s putting in a lot of effort to understand his feelings and needs by paying close attention to small things like how he moves, the tone of his voice, or the words he chooses,” she said.

"[Hermeneutic labour] can make the relationship stronger because it helps with communication, but it’s important to remember that this effort by women should be appreciated and not just expected," Chappell Marsh said. — “[Hermeneutic labour] can make the relationship stronger because it helps with communication, but it’s important to remember that this effort by women should be appreciated and not just expected,” Chappell Marsh said.

As a marriage therapist, Chappell Marsh sees firsthand how men benefit from the proactive women they know: The wives who can read their husbands’ body language or tone of voice like a book. The girlfriends who psychoanalyze the punctuation of their boyfriends’ texts over dinner with the girls.

“All this work can make the relationship stronger because it helps with communication, but it’s important to remember that this effort by women should be appreciated and not just expected,” Chappell Marsh said.

Another therapist, Sarah Spencer Northey in Washington, D.C., said she’s seen hermeneutic labour play out with her clients, but not to a problematic level.

“As a therapist, I’m usually shutting down a long, drawn-out analysis by immediately emphasizing a need for clarity,” she said. “I would not want someone to give their therapy time away to someone who is being cryptic over text.”

Northey notes that there are times where analyzing texts with friends can be a lighthearted way of bonding for women. (If you’re a guy receiving a text back, it’s fair to expect that the response might have been dictated by a committee of five women you’ve never met, plus your date.)

“It’s helpful and fun to discuss your dating life with others and as long as you are getting the benefit of further insight, or at least a few giggles with friends,” Northey said.

Naming a process helps us tame a process, Spencer Northey said, so she appreciates that the concept has been named in academic study.

How to improve communication when hermeneutic labour is a problem

If you’re in a relationship where one partner does the heavy lifting communication-wise, therapists have some advice.

Ask for clarity.

If you’re the mind reader in the relationship, don’t just assume you know what your partner is getting at. Be direct, and lean in for more clarity.

For instance, if you’re only receiving texts in the morning and that’s causing communication problems, Boateng said to say something like, “It seems like mornings are the best time for you to connect, right? Is there a way for you to briefly respond to my more timely texts at night?”

If you’re the uncommunicative one, make a point to up your participation.

Clear communication doesn’t come naturally for any of us ― it’s something that needs to be honed and worked on, and there’s always room for improvement, Chappell Marsh said.

“If you’re bad at it, you really have to strive to express your feelings and thoughts more openly and clearly, reducing the burden on your partner to decode your emotions,” she said.

If you need more time to respond to a text because you can’t find the language to communicate your feelings, there’s no shame in sending a text that says, “Hey, I received this but just give me a little time to respond,” Boateng said.

And if you’re dating and realise that you’re sabotaging good connections because of poor communication, she recommends taking time to practice emotional expressivity with your friends and family, to get in the habit of it.

If you don't know what to say in the moment, there's no shame in sending a text that says, "Hey, I received this but just give me a little time to respond," Boateng said. — If you don’t know what to say in the moment, there’s no shame in sending a text that says, “Hey, I received this but just give me a little time to respond,” Boateng said.

Acknowledge and appreciate any quality communication.

Hermeneutic labour tends to go unacknowledged, which is fair ― it’s a newly coined concept! With that in mind, make a point to recognise when your spouse or partner is doing a particularly good job of communicating or interpreting the emotional world of the relationship.

“Show appreciation for her efforts and acknowledge the strain it can put on her ― or him,” Chappell Marsh said. “This recognition can be validating and can lead to a more balanced relationship dynamic.”

If you’re dating a hardheaded non-communicator, remember, you don’t have to be.

Unless the deciphering game is part of a flirtation and “a fun dance in the context of otherwise connected communication,” Spencer Northey thinks hermeneutic labour needs to be nipped in the bud and quick.

“The easiest way is for the confused party to refuse to play,” she said. “You can call, text, video, voice message, or contact the person through any number of ways and ask for clarification. If someone faults you for asking for clarity, that is a red flag. I hope I don’t have to explain why!”

This Is What You Should Be Eating Right After Exercising, According To An Expert

Posted on 14/04/2024 by Boris Clair

After a particularly gruelling workout, the one food I want to immediately reach for is a giant bowl of chips, coated in vinegar with a buttered bread roll on the side.

Obviously, there is nothing wrong with this and food has no inherent moral value but it’s probably not the ideal meal to opt for to keep my energy up for the rest of the day, and help my body to process the work I put into exercising.

So, what is best to eat after exercising and how can we maximise the workouts we’ve done?

The best food to eat after a workout

In good news, the health experts at ZOE said: “If you have a good-quality, varied, plant-based diet, and you’re only doing gentle to moderate exercise, you don’t need to eat anything different after a workout.”

Alex Platts, one of ZOE’s senior nutrition coaches, said that while we do place too much emphasis on protein and the idea that not consuming protein after a workout makes it a waste of time is a myth.

However, he added: “Total protein intake throughout the day appears to be more important for recovery than timing.

“But consuming a protein-rich meal pre- or post-training can be a good habit to get into to help reach daily goals.”

Platts also pointed out that both animal and plant sources of protein are equally effective for muscle-building but Platts added: “you may need to eat a larger amount of plant sources to get quite the same level of total protein intake [as animal sources provide]”

What are the best protein-rich foods?

According to BBC Good Food, protein-rich foods include:

Eggs
Milk
Yoghurt
Fish and seafood
Chicken and turkey
Soya
Nuts and seeds
Pork
Beans and pulses
Tofu and tempeh

What should you avoid drinking after exercise?

Platts said that as you eat and drink normally following exercise, your electrolytes are naturally replaced.

However, if you have a long, intense exercise, you were exercising somewhere warm or you plan to exercise again shortly, you need to put a little more work into rehydrating and replacing electrolytes.

While a sports drink could be a good solution, Platts warns that some of them do more harm than good.

If you do choose sports drinks, Platts urges you to check for additives, sweeteners and artificial colours. He added: “Sports drinks are very simple, and any attempt to dress them up or make them taste amazing will likely come from these sources.”

Alternately, he said: “Making homemade fruit or veg smoothies (potentially with a little added salt if you’ve had a very long, intense, or hot exercise session) might be a good option.”

Good sources of electrolytes

ZOE recommends the following foods and drinks for replacing fluids and electrolytes without grabbing a sports drink:

sodium: vegetable juices, cheese, fermented foods, and pickles
potassium: avocado, bananas, and sweet potato
magnesium: dark chocolate, whole grains, nuts, and seeds
chloride: prawns, seaweed, and any sodium-rich foods
calcium: okra, kale, dairy foods, almonds, and fortified plant milk

Time to re-assess my fave post-workout foods.

UK Gardeners Warned About This Watering Mistake Which Could Ruin Plants

Posted on 14/04/2024 by Boris Clair

If you’re a keen gardener, you may be looking forward to the coming months as you fill your garden with plants, flowers, and even vegetables – but did you know that you may have actually been watering your plants wrong?

Yep, it turns out that there is a right way to water plants and it definitely isn’t just pouring water from a watering can over them the way that some of us are used to doing.

So, what is the right way to water plants?

According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), there is an art to watering plants, especially if you hope to avoid wasting water and give your plants the best possible chance at flourishing.

According to the RHS, the best time to water is in the mornings as this is when the sun rises and plants will start to use water. They added: “The foliage and soil surface is also likely to stay drier for longer than evening watering, discouraging slugs, snails and mildew diseases.”

Each individual plant has its own watering schedule so it is worth researching the plants growing in your garden to figure out a schedule for keeping them hydrated and thriving.

When you are watering plants, especially if you’re using a watering can, it’s essential to water them at the roots. This is because wet or humid foliage encourages fungal problems and evaporation from surfaces.

The RHS added: “Watering more thoroughly, but less frequently helps get the water down to the deeper root tips.

“It is better to water the garden before drought really sets in, to keep the soil moisture levels even and avoid the soil being continuously dry.”

However, the society warned that soil doesn’t have to be really wet all the time because plants need air as well as water to grow.

What is the best water to use on outdoor plants?

According to the RHS, rainwater is actually best as it’s freely available if you are able to store it. Additionally, tap water requires treatment and often contains more minerals than many plants need.

Who knew?!

What’s The ’30-30-30 Rule’ And Does It Actually Make You Healthier?

Posted on 14/04/2024 by Boris Clair

Spend five minutes on FitTok (the fitness side of TikTok), and you’ll see dozens of different diets, workouts and supplements claiming to help you get fit and be healthier. Millions of accounts credit programs like 75 Hard or intermittent fasting for transforming their health, but these can be unsustainable and taxing on your body and brain.

Enter the “30-30-30 rule,” one of the internet’s latest obsessions. This now-viral wellness plan is brilliant in both its simplicity and its adaptability, but will it actually make you healthier? We spoke with experts to find out.

What exactly is the ‘30-30-30 rule’?

Popularised recently by Gary Brecka, an online health personality and biologist, the 30-30-30 rule involves eating 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning, then doing 30 minutes of low-intensity exercise.

It’s popular because it’s easy to remember, doesn’t require you to make any other fitness or diet changes throughout the rest of the day and, in theory, is easy enough for everyone to do.

“A growing body of research suggests that combining a high-protein diet with exercise helps improve fat mass, blood glucose control, inflammation, physical performance and markers of heart health such as triglycerides and total cholesterol, especially among those who classify as obese,” Edwina Clark, a registered dietitian and wellness expert, told HuffPost.

She explained that protein in particular “requires more energy to metabolise than fat and carbohydrates,” which means eating more can help “stabilise blood sugar and promote satiety.”

“Protein is also needed for muscle building and maintenance — an important component of any weight loss program,” Clark said. “Some evidence suggests that eating a protein-rich breakfast in the morning can assist with hunger and appetite control throughout the day, although research is mixed.”

According to Elizabeth Huggins, a registered dietitian and nutritionist at Hilton Head Health, adding protein and physical activity to your morning routine “sounds good,” but the only way to know how beneficial it truly is would be to compare it to your current morning habits.

“It could be seen as an improvement for someone who either routinely skips breakfast and later craves and eats junk food or who starts their day consuming highly processed foods, such as sugary beverages and cereals,” Huggins said. “Eating a source of protein first thing in the morning can promote satiety and curb cravings for less healthy foods.”

It could also help those with insulin resistance and/or diabetes.

“Following this rule could help minimise a rise in blood glucose compared to a high-carb breakfast,” Huggins said.

The type of protein you eat matters.

Not all proteins are created equal when it comes to your health. Think of it this way: sausage compared to two eggs with reduced-fat Greek yogurt will both get you 30 grams of protein, but the latter is much better for you overall.

“If you’re routinely eating steak and sausage at breakfast, you might see an increase in cholesterol and other markers of heart health and inflammation over time,” Clark said.

She recommended eating high-quality protein in the morning, such as Greek yogurt, eggs and nut butter, which “can help keep you full and fuel your brain and body for the day ahead, especially when combined with high-fibre carbohydrates.”

The timing seems to be less important. While there’s little evidence to suggest that eating within the first 30 minutes of your day will help significantly, experts say it isn’t harmful either.

The type of protein you consume in the morning can make a huge difference in your health and wellness.

The 30-30-30 rule is an achievable way to help you meet exercise recommendations.

Adding in 30 minutes of exercise to your morning routine has health benefits that can’t be ignored. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommend getting 150 minutes of exercise a week, and the 30-30-30 rule can definitely help you reach that if you aren’t already.

“Having a specific plan regarding food and activity first thing in the morning may set a positive tone for the day,” Huggins said, adding that “participating in activity first thing in the morning prevents distractions from derailing one’s efforts later in the day.”

Basically, it can be effective because it’s easier to commit to than other diet and exercise routines, and you can knock it out at the beginning of every day.

“Starting your day off with a plan for fuelling your body and movement seems like a good place to start, as long as a person understands rules can be modified,” Huggins said. “We know that physical activity is a critical component to preventing chronic diseases and can promote a variety of positive health benefits. Many Americans do not get enough physical activity, so adding 30 minutes of lower-intensity exercise first thing in the morning could be seen as a great start.”

Low-intensity exercise, which includes walking, hiking, swimming or gentle yoga, can make your mornings more enjoyable. Also, there’s a bonus to doing it. Low-intensity exercise can help build aerobic capacity, according to Clark.

There are some setbacks with the 30-30-30 rule.

No wellness trend is perfect, and 30-30-30 comes with its own set of downsides. Huggins pointed out that “it does not take into consideration a person’s unique needs or goals” and added that “if someone already has a solid plan with balanced nutrition, it may just serve as a strange distraction.”

If you already have a dedicated morning fitness routine, it’s probably best to skip this method.

“For those that like to crank up the intensity of their exercise first thing in the morning, this rule wouldn’t make sense to have to dial back intensity or to restrict carbohydrates that may be needed to fuel their activity,” Huggins explained.

Another thing to keep in mind: 30-30-30 won’t work for everybody.

“This specific rule may not mesh well with a person’s schedule or cultural preferences,” Huggins said.

At the end of the day, those who have a poor relationship with food and exercise may also see this as another diet to follow strictly, which can worsen mental health. Plus, those with certain health conditions may not be able to follow this plan.

“It is worth noting that Gary Brecka’s website includes a disclaimer that states he is not a licensed medical provider and advises people to seek medical advice, diagnosis and treatment from a qualified physician or other healthcare provider,” Huggins said.

So, does the 30-30-30 rule make you healthier?

“Health is the accumulation of many tiny habits practiced consistently over time,” Clark said.

Whether or not following the 30-30-30 rule makes you healthier depends a lot on the individual person, their starting health and fitness habits, and how effectively they can stick with it.

Not to mention all the other tiny things we do throughout the day that affect our health and wellness.

“The quality of what you eat matters for weight loss, as does sleep, stress and movement throughout the day,” Clark said.

Your best bet is sticking to the timeless advice: move more, eat healthier and sleep well. And be sure to talk to your doctor before starting a new diet and/or fitness regimen.

7 Things You Should Never, Ever Do In Your First Week At A New Job

Posted on 13/04/2024 by Boris Clair

During your first week at a job, what you do or say can leave a lasting impression on your new colleagues. And you want to make sure it’s a good one.

That’s because, while you may have gotten the job, the evaluation is not over. Your new boss, your new department — there will be many eyes carefully assessing how you fit with the team.

HuffPost asked career experts about the actions and strategic missteps that will make you memorable in a bad way as a new hire and what you should do instead to ensure you’re received positively.

1. You’re late.

It’s normal to get lost in a new building or to underestimate your new commute, but if you’re late to meetings on your first week, you will make a bad first impression about your time management skills.

“You don’t want to be showing up to meetings three or four minutes late … you want to be respectful, be punctual,” said Mary Abbajay, president of the leadership development consultancy Careerstone Group.

To account for time you may spend lost, give yourself at least a half hour more than you need to get to work or a meeting.

2. You are a know-it-all.

When you’re a new hire, people will be evaluating your competence, commitment and compatibility, said Gorick Ng, a Harvard career advisor and creator of the “How To Say It” flashcard series for professional communication.

You may think that pointing out what is wrong or what does not align with how you’ve seen things done before will show your competence. But being overly confident in your own expertise will win you more enemies than allies.

Even if you privately believe that your new employer’s way of getting work done is outdated, be open-minded and curious.

You can show that curiosity by asking polite questions. So, “Rather than say, ‘This isn’t how we did things at _____,’ try saying, ‘This is interesting! Could you help me understand the thought process behind _____? It’s a bit different from what I’m used to, but I’m excited to learn your way of doing things,’” Ng said.

You also want to show that you’re a quick learner who is dedicated to getting up to speed. When in doubt, try saying, “I know you said earlier that _____ is important. Would this be an example?” Ng suggested.

3. You don’t play the ‘new card.’

Patricia Schwartz, an executive coach who works with new hires, said playing the new card is a strategic advantage new hires should leverage.

“You can interact with people that you might feel more intimidated to interact with later,” she said.

But you need to be thoughtful about your first impression. Don’t just send every colleague the same generic message, because that “risks coming across as spammy,” Ng said.

When in doubt, Ng said you should focus on “building relationships with the people that you are already meeting and then introduce yourself to the people that you will soon work with, with a message like, ‘Hi! I’m _____ and I’m the new _____. Just thought I’d introduce myself!’”

4. You don’t follow the dress code.

What is appropriate to wear for a job can vary, so don’t assume your T-shirt and jeans will work.

“Dressing inappropriately is also a mistake that I think people make,” Abbajay said.

Typically, your hiring manager will let you know how buttoned up you need to be for the office. If they say that “we have a very informal culture” during your interview, then “that means they probably are more of a Friday casual look,” Abbajay said.

If they haven’t told you what is and isn’t OK to wear yet, you should be able to look it up. Often, employee handbooks outline dress code policies. You could also ask your new boss or team member, “What is the general dress code here?” Abbajay suggested.

5. You overshare.

There is a clear line between being cordial and assuming an intimacy you don’t actually have with a new co-worker. Don’t cross over into the latter in your first week.

“I was working with this woman once we were new colleagues. And in our first time working together on a task, she told me so many things about her personal life that were just TMI, like how she left her first husband,” Abbajay said. “All of these things really made me want to avoid her … it was just too much too soon.”

6. You gossip.

Are you noticing whispered arguments and muffled laughs when certain colleagues walk in? When you join a company, you are also joining its culture, where there can be warring factions.

Be careful not to engage if you get roped into gossip about other team members.

“Do not align yourself with any group in your first week,” Abbajay said. “Just listening is kind of engaging. So I would either excuse myself, change the topic or turn around and say something nice about the person they’re gossiping about if you have met them.”

7. You don’t touch base with your manager.

Out of all the people you will meet during your first week, the most important relationship you need to establish is the one you have with your boss.

“A very high percentage of people will leave their jobs because of the relationship with the boss,” Schwartz said.

To build that foundation of trust between you and your boss, you need to align your communication style and get on the same page about what’s important.

Ideally, your boss is checking in with you during your first week to have that conversation. But if they are not, you should proactively ask for a one-on-one meeting before the week is over.

“A lot of times bosses don’t reach out because maybe they just got busy, they didn’t hear from you or they’re managing a lot of people,” Abbajay said. “But this is why you should not take that as a sign that they don’t want to talk to you.”

Here are strategic questions career experts previously told HuffPost that you should ask your new boss to understand them better:

What’s the best way to approach you with a question?
How would you like to communicate day-to-day and week-to-week?
What work, project or priority is top-of-mind for you right now?

Observe if you get lukewarm or enthusiastic support for your questions. Managers are evaluating your early performance, and you should be too.

The first week is “so much information. It’s really overwhelming,” Schwartz said. To learn what’s important, she suggested taking notes about how staff talk about their jobs and your experience being there, or debriefing with a friend to get a second opinion.

She also said you should reflect on whether your manager is playing their part or if more of the responsibility to get up to speed keeps falling on you.

“Usually the first few months [are] often a probationary period. So the employee also is determining, ‘Is this a good match for me?’” Schwartz said.

By asking the right questions and paying attention to the culture of your new company, you can figure out if your new job is or isn’t a good fit sooner rather than later.

If You Have To Choose 1 Skin Care Step Before Bed, Make It This One

Posted on 13/04/2024 by Boris Clair

There’s so much that your body does to reset and refresh while you’re sleeping, and your skin is no exception.

“Just like our entire body, the skin has a circadian rhythm,” said dermatologist Dr. Helen M. Torok. “It repairs at night and protects during the day. The skin works hard to renew itself from the damage done throughout the day. Your skin cells regenerate at night, recovering from high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, that can wreak havoc on your body during the day.”

As such, it’s important to make the most of the money you’re spending on skin care during the overnight hours, when it can work its magic most effectively. Essentially, it’s your chance to undo everything that you did to your skin throughout the previous day.

“The repair of damage from UV exposure, pollution and other environmental stressors occurs at night, when the skin’s blood flow increases,” said dermatologist Dr. Sonia Badreshia. “This is also when collagen production is boosted and harmful free radicals are neutralised.” Dermatologist Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose added, “It’s believed that the rate of skin renewal doubles at night.”

Your skin absorbs products better when you’re sleeping.

As productive as the skin is at night, you can make it even more so with the application of products it can really drink in and use. “If you aren’t doing targeted nighttime care, you’re missing the opportunity to support skin’s natural repair mechanisms,” Badreshia said.

“Your nighttime skin care routine should facilitate repairs and regeneration,” Murphy-Rose said. “The nighttime skin care product you apply can boost the skin’s hydration overnight or target cell turnover while you rest,” Wolinsky said.

There’s one thing you MUST do at night.

Each of the experts revealed what they believe to be the biggest non-negotiable for nighttime skin care.

Murphy-Rose insists on using an eye cream. “Our skin undergoes significant water loss through the skin at night if we don’t take measures to prevent it,” Murphy-Rose said. “While some will tell you that an eye cream is unnecessary, the truth is that an undereye cream, which is typically richer than your facial moisturiser, can help to prevent water loss through this very thin skin while sleeping. Dehydrated eyes are more tired-appearing eyes, so I do recommend applying an undereye cream before bedtime.”

Wolinsky suggests using your most potent products at night. “Night is a good time to use any products that may have a slight odour, or may bleach clothing, like benzoyl peroxide, or which may be deactivated by the daytime UV rays, like tretinoin and some other retinoids,” Wolinsky said.

Retinol gets another vote: “My opinion is that with the exception of people with rosacea or overly sensitive skin, everyone should be using a retinol, and they’re ideal for nighttime use,” said dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman. “The benefits are numerous and unparalleled and are arguably the most important step that you can take for overall skin health and anti-aging after sun protection factor. Retinols regulate cell turnover, promote effective exfoliation, prevent acne, even discolouration, control oil, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, unclog pores and so much more.”

And if you can’t even with the idea of slathering something on, at least wash the dirt off, experts said. “The biggest mistake people make is not washing their faces,” Hartman said. “The one thing you must do is wash your face at night before you go to sleep. You want to remove makeup, oil and other impurities that are “stuck” to the face from the day. If you go to bed with your face unwashed, you are asking for a breakout, or oily skin.”

KISS = Keep it simple, skin.

If the thought of caring for your skin is the last thing you want to do most nights, know that these dermatologists understand the struggle is real. One way to ensure that you’ll follow through is to simplify this one part of your life. “The majority of patients tell me that they are more consistent with their morning routine versus their nighttime routine, as a result of being tired from the day and just wanting to crawl into bed out of sheer exhaustion,” Torok said. “Others find their nighttime routine overwhelming and are not confident on how to layer their nighttime skin care routine.”

“Patients tend to overdo skin care and add unnecessary steps,” Wolinsky chimed in. “My recommendation is to cleanse the skin with a gentle cleanser and then follow with a small amount of a retinoid if tolerated and a hydrating thicker moisturiser. If skipping retinoid that evening, then just moisturise.”

“Consistency is key,” Badreshia said. “The benefits of nighttime skin care accumulate over time, and a consistent, targeted approach can lead to significant improvements in skin health and appearance. Listening to your skin and adjusting your routine as needed can also help address emerging issues before they become more significant concerns.″

The 1 Vegetable You Should NEVER Store Next To Potatoes

Posted on 13/04/2024 by Boris Clair

We’ve written before about how boiling your spuds in water might not be your most delicious option.

And now, it turns out some of us are making a common storage mistake ― you really shouldn’t store potatoes next to onions, it seems.

On Martha Stewart’s site, vice president of culinary recipe box company Blue Apron says that onions should be kept far away from potatoes (and apples).

“Storing onions and potatoes together will hasten the ripening process on the potatoes, leading them to grow eyes and sometimes roots,“he revealed in an article about the topic.

Despite previous advice to never store potatoes in the fridge, the Food Standards Agency has since found that the crisper drawer is actually a pretty great place to keep your spuds.

In fact, data from the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) suggest that spuds kept in the fridge can last up to three times longer than those stored in the cupboard.

Meanwhile, onions become soggy in the fridge ― they shouldn’t ever be stored there, experts advise (oops).

So, the answer seems clear ― spuds in the fridge, onions in the pantry. And never the twain shall meet (’til cooking time, anyway).

You Can’t Totally Avoid Microplastics, But These 7 Things Can Help

Posted on 08/04/2024 by Boris Clair

For many people, microplastics and nanoplastics (tiny plastic particles that come from larger and commercial plastics) are terrifying. It seems like news about their harmful effects comes out weekly, along with warnings about the chemicals these plastics emit. Athletic wear, plastic takeout containers and even cutting boards are just some of the items in our everyday lives that contain microplastics.

It’s only natural to want to limit your exposure to these products, especially since the unfortunate reality is that most people have some level of microplastic in their system, according to Jamie Alan, associate professor in the department of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University. Research is being conducted to understand the full effect of microplastics, but they’ve been found in the plaque in our arteries, in placentas, in our blood and more.

Studies have also looked at the effect that microplastics have on our cells and organoids, Alan told HuffPost. Research shows that when microplastics get into our cells it can lead to cell death, she said. Additionally, they can attack our DNA and cause unwanted DNA changes, Alan explained.

“You can get a [DNA] change that causes zero effects, but you can get a change that can cause effects,” Alan said. This sounds scary ― and it is scary ― but it doesn’t mean you should totally panic. Our body is trained to handle these kinds of changes, she noted. However, there can be adverse effects — most notably cancer and fertility issues.

All in all, this is obviously very concerning, especially given the sheer prevalence of microplastics. While you can’t totally avoid them — they’re in our air and in our water, too — you can make some choices that limit your interactions with microplastics. Here’s what experts say you can do:

Watch how much ocean-caught fish you’re eating

Microplastics often come from food, Alan said. “If you think about fish and things like that, there’s a lot of microplastics in our oceans, and the fish are eating these, and when we consume the fish, we’re consuming microplastics from them,” Alan said.

What’s more, microplastics are thought to be carriers of heavy metals and other elements. “And we worry about mercury and things like that in fish,” but elements such as chlorine have also been found in microplastics, Alan said.

As a result, reducing the amount of ocean-caught fish you eat can decrease the amount of microplastics you consume this way, along with other chemicals you likely don’t want in your system, she noted.

But know that seafood isn’t the only food culprit

Shrimp and wild fish are known to contain high amounts of microplastics, but foods like chicken nuggets, plant-based nuggets, sirloin steak and other non-seafood proteins also contain microplastics.

If this feels like a lose-lose situation, you aren’t wrong. We’re told to eat fish and follow a Mediterranean diet for the sake of our health, but the fish at the center of such a diet can be full of microplastics. Sigh.

So what can you do? Alan said you can be mindful of the food you’re eating and be aware of the items that are known to contain higher amounts of microplastics than others.

Though microplastics are prevalent in a lot of our foods, chicken breast, pork loin chop and tofu have less.

Microplastics are found in our waterways and in our air, making it impossible to totally escape them.

Consider your clothing materials

A major source of nanoplastics in our waterways and airways is our clothing, according to Kizzy Charles-Guzman, CEO of the Center for Environmental Health, who added that “about 70% of all our clothing is made from plastic materials.”

This includes nylon, polyester, acrylic and synthetic fibers — anything that is not a natural fiber like wool, cotton and linen, she said.

“When these textiles are manufactured, when you wash them in your laundry, when you wear them, when you dry them, they are releasing tiny plastic fibers into the water and into the air,” Charles-Guzman explained.

“So clothing, bedding, any other textiles that are not natural materials, they shed microplastics in fiber form,” she said. “And then they’re just carried off into the environment … either by air or water.”

These microplastics are too small to be filtered in wastewater treatment plants, so they end up in our waterways, she noted.

“The reason this is important is that that’s why you’re seeing [microplastics] in almost everything that we eat and drink,” such as fish and tap water, said Charles-Guzman.

“To limit our exposure … it’s consumer choice. So, selecting natural materials whenever we can — cotton, linen, wool — those are really the best products for reducing plastic microfiber pollution,” she said.

It’s worth noting that polyester blends ― when compared to fabrics like wool ― are often more affordable, making this an impossible choice for many people. (Although thrifting can be a good option, Charles-Guzman noted.)

Rethink your plastic food storage containers

“Food containers and takeout food is a big one,” Alan said. “It goes in these plastic containers a lot of the time, and those plastic containers can leach out nanoplastics into our food.”

Then, when you eat your meal, you’re putting those microplastics in your system, she said. Microwaving these plastic containers is particularly harmful because they release even more microplastics when heated up.

“If you can get a paper food container or something non-plastic, that’s great,” Alan said. “And that’s another way you can reduce your intake of these plastics.”

You can also opt for glass containers, which are readily available online and at most home retail stores.

Choose reusable water bottles when possible

It’s well-known that plastic water bottles are bad for the environment. Even more, they are a source of the microplastics, Alan said. To avoid the microplastics, simply switch to metal or glass reusable water bottles.

When it comes to the microplastics in our tap water, new research suggests that boiling your tap water can reduce the amount of microplastics you’re consuming, too.

Pay attention to microbeads in personal care items

Plastic microbeads, which are associated with personal care products including body scrubs and toothpaste, are another item you should try to avoid, according to Charles-Guzman. These tiny plastic beads used as scrubs or exfoliants are too small to be filtered out in wastewater treatment plans, “so they end up in our lakes and rivers and oceans and all of that,” Charles-Guzman said. From there, the microplastics get distributed in our seafood, drinking water and more.

While the Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015 prohibits the use of plastic microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics, such as soaps, microbeads are not banned in all self-care products, she said.

“It’s important to note that [the act] does not include microbeads found in deodorants, lotions or other non-cleansing cosmetic products,” said Charles-Guzman. “We hope the scope of the statute expands to ban microbeads in more consumer products.”

Look at product labels to determine if what you’re purchasing contains microbeads and opt for products that don’t, she said.

Show your support for those who are working to combat microplastics

The truth is that this work should not all fall onto the consumer’s shoulders — and, in reality, there is only so much you can do to control microplastics.

“The main thing that needs to happen, and this is the boring answer … it’s a systemic change,” said Charles-Guzman. “What we need to do is governments and companies need to work together to stop the pollution and reformulate away from harmful chemicals.”

Though the actions above can limit your own microplastic use and send messages to corporations about the types of products folks want to buy, more change is necessary.

“We all can play a role, but also … there is a systemic change here that needs to be made, and we are the ones that need to be asking for that change to be made,” she added.

How? You can vote for representatives who want to protect public health, and you can use your dollars to show support for companies that give safer alternatives to shoppers, she said.

This can mean purchasing from brands that sell 100% cotton shirts as opposed to stores that sell polyester alternatives. Or it can mean bringing your reusable mug to your local cafe for your coffee order instead of using one of their plastic cups.

Additionally, know that there are corporations doing the work to create federal and local change when it comes to microplastic use, said Charles-Guzman. You can consider getting involved with organizations like the Center for Environmental Health (Charles-Guzman’s organization), the Plastic Soup Foundation or the Environmental Working Group to push the cause along. These organizations also have resources that can help you determine if the products you’re using are safe.

10 Undeniable Benefits Of Working From Home, According To Science

Posted on 08/04/2024 by Boris Clair

Four years since the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to shut down office spaces around the world, remote and hybrid work seems here to stay.

About a third of US workers who can work from home now do so all the time, according to a Pew Research Center survey from March 2023. (The majority of U.S. workers – 61% – do not have jobs that can be done from home, Pew notes.)

Still, there are a lot of work-from-home skeptics out there – most of them C-level business executives. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has remarked that engineers “get more done” in-office, and JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said that remote work “doesn’t work for those who want to hustle” while calling all US-based employees back into the offices in May 2021.

Companies that insist on mandatory full-time attendance at the office do so at their own peril; today’s employees value the autonomy that comes with remote or hybrid work and are increasingly leaving workplaces that forget they have lives outside their 9-to-5.

In March 2022, Microsoft’s second annual Worker Trend Index found that 53% of respondents prioritise their health and well-being over work, “and if unhappy, more than half of Gen Z and millennial respondents said [they’d] seriously consider switching employers over the next year.”

Of course, working from home is not without its drawbacks. Many working women say they feel greater conflicts between their job and family roles while teleworking, and studies have shown increased rates of depression and anxiety during remote work. (Though it’s worth noting, most of the research was conducted while respondents were living through an active pandemic ― stressful in its own right.)

Still, with increased social support and systems put in place by managers and organisations trained in managing hybrid teams, research also suggests there’s plenty of benefits to working from home. Below, 10 studies and surveys that quantify just how game-changing remote work can be for employees and companies.

Remote workers experience a better work-life balance

Prior to the remote work era, a healthy work-life balance often felt like a pie-in-the-sky goal for workers: nice to idly dream about but never quite attainable. Now, it’s more in reach: Among hybrid workers who are not self-employed, 71% say working for home at least partially helps them balance their work and personal lives, according to the Pew Research survey.

They don’t feel micromanaged, either, despite being out of the office and outside the eyeline of their bosses. The same Pew survey found that employees who work from home at least some of the time (71%) say their manager or supervisor trusts them a “great deal” to get their work done when they’re out of the office.

Working remotely can halve an office worker’s carbon footprint

Working from home isn’t just good for your morale, it’s also pretty good for the planet. According to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences last year, people who work remotely all the time produce less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of on-site employees.

Hybrid work arrangements help some, too. Working remotely two or four days a week reduced an individual’s emissions by up to 29% compared with office workers.

In 2015, Xerox reported that its teleworkers drove 92 million fewer miles, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 41,000 metric tons.

Working remotely two or four days a week reduced an individual’s emissions by up to 29% compared with office workers.

Remote workers tend to eat more healthy ― up to a point

Research on remote work can be a little contradictory – is it good for your mental health or does it lead to depression? – so in December 2023, British researchers set out to interpret over 1,930 academic papers on teleworking and hybrid work arrangements.

What they found was that people working from home tend to feel lower rates of stress, eat healthier meals and have lower blood pressure.

The study, funded in part by the British National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, pointed out some negatives, too. One of the studies reviewed found that 46.9% of employees working from home had put on weight. Another study put that number around 41%. Remote workers also tended to drink and smoke more.

A downside for workers: Remote employees work longer hours

Though working from home is often equated with laziness and low productivity, the aforementioned British study found that remote workers tend to work longer hours and that their work is more likely to bleed into evenings and weekends. Regrettably, they’re also less likely to take sick time.

Another study – this one tracking more than 60,000 Microsoft employees over the first half of 2020 – found that remote work led to a 10% boost in weekly hours.

One drawback was less collaboration. The Microsoft study, published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, found that cross-group collaboration dropped by about 25% of the pre-pandemic level.

Less commuting time means more time for work

Remote employees are working more because they’re spending less time stuck in traffic. One 2023 University of Chicago study looked at data from 27 countries and found that remote workers saved 72 minutes in daily commuting time. On average, employees spent about half an hour of that extra time engaged in daily work, which comes out to more than two hours a week.

Since the pandemic, some social scientists have highlighted the downside to eliminating the daily commute: In one 2022 study published in the Organisational Psychology Review, researchers argued that commutes are a source of healthy “liminal space” – a time free of constraints from work and home that gives people a chance to recover from the workday and mentally prepare for reentering the home.

“Without the ability to mentally shift gears, people experience role blurring, which can lead to stress,” the study’s co-authors wrote in The Conversation. “Without mentally disengaging from work, people can experience burnout.”

Remote or hybrid work options may help with employee retention.

Worried about losing your employees to more enticing offers? Give them the chance to work from home. In 2019, video conferencing company Owl Labs surveyed 1,200 U.S. workers between the ages of 22 and 65 and found that remote workers were 13% more likely to stay in their current job for the next five years than on-site workers.

When asked if the opportunity to work remotely would make them happier, 83% of the survey respondents agreed, while 80% agreed that working remotely would make them feel like their employer cares.

People of colour say they’re able to manage stress better working from home

More Black professionals want flexible work policies than their white, Asian and Latino colleagues, according to a 2021 study conducted by The Future Forum, a research consortium organised by Slack.

Black workers reported a 50% increase in their sense of workplace belonging and a 64% increase in their ability to manage stress when they began working from home.

In the wake of the pandemic and office closures, many Black Americans spoke of how draining microaggressions in their office environments can be.

“Most of my interactions with my co-workers are very focused on the work that we’re doing, and for me, I appreciate that,” Christina, a Black software engineer, told HuffPost in 2021 after switching to remote work. “Sometimes hearing your co-worker’s opinions on current events are not really the most inclusive opinion. It’s nice that I don’t have to delve into that with them.“

Black workers reported a 50% increase in their sense of workplace belonging and a 64% increase in their ability to manage stress when they began working from home.

Mothers and caregivers report higher rates of well-being with hybrid work

A March 2023 study out of the University of Melbourne found that women – especially mothers and caregivers – reported improved well-being when they’re given the option to work from home. The researchers posited that such flexibility helps women balance paid employment with unpaid caregiving and household duties, which women disproportionately bear the brunt of.

Remote work has been a benefit for people with disabilities, too

Workers with disabilities appreciate the option to work from home because it reduces transportation and accessibility challenges they face going into the office every day. It also allows them to better manage chronic health conditions.

“Before COVID-19, work from home was generally not popular, and disabled people had to try hard to get these accommodations,” Meenakshi Das, a software engineer focused on accessibility, told HuffPost in 2021. “It took a pandemic for people to realise how accommodations are low-cost and totally doable, and I hope it stays that way.”

There’s benefits for employers, too. Almost two-thirds of disabled employees believe they were more productive when working from home than at an office or external workplace, according to a 2023 study out of the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.

Workers with disabilities appreciate working from home options because it reduces transportation and accessibility challenges they face going into the office.

Employees with flexible schedules tend to have better mental health

Employees at workplaces that prioritize flexibility and higher job security are less likely to experience serious psychological distress or anxiety, according to a March 2024 study published in JAMA Network Open. The study, which polled more than 18,000 U.S. workers, defined “job flexibility” as the ability to adjust their own work schedule to meet personal demands.

Workers with flexible schedules were 13% less likely to experience daily anxiety, 11% less likely to experience weekly anxiety and 9% less likely to experience anxiety several times a year. The researchers also found that increased flexibility and job security led to reduced absenteeism ― a win for everyone involved.