Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
samedi 4 juillet 2020
Jasmine Cephas Jones and Anthony Ramos Have a Hamilton Love Story Worth Telling
At one of the first table reads for Hamilton in 2015, Anthony Ramos couldn't keep his eyes off of Jasmine Cephas Jones, at least according to Lin-Manuel Miranda. From there, it didn't take long for the pair to start dating, even adding in a flirtation for their Hamilton characters John Laurens and Peggy Schuyler. Four years later, Anthony proposed to Jasmine in England in front of her mother, grandmother, and good friend Cynthia Erivo.
In an Instagram post about the proposal, Jasmine gushed about the exciting moment, telling Anthony, "I love you beyond words and am so excited to continue this awesome journey with you." And what an awesome journey the pair have had; from debuting on Broadway at the same time in Hamilton to appearing in music videos together and supporting each other throughout their respective careers, they've certainly made an impression. "Thank you for saying yes to writing stories together for the rest of our lives," Anthony previously captioned an Instagram post dedicated to Jasmine, "I'm honored and blessed to marry you."
Since their Hamilton days, the couple has been booked and busy. Anthony played Ally's best friend in A Star Is Born, Mars Blackmon on Netflix's She's Gotta Have It, Tony on Will & Grace, and will be starring as Usnavi in the upcoming film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's In the Heights. Meanwhile, Jasmine has had roles in Blindspotting as Ashley, on Girls as Shopgirl, on Midnight, Texas as Addie Wigget, and as Chloe on Mrs. Fletcher. If you can't wait to see the couple in Hamilton when it streams on Disney+ starting July 3, keep reading to see some of their cutest moments.
Related: ICYMI: Hamilton's Jasmine Cephas Jones Is the Real-Life Daughter of William From This Is Us
Yep, You Can Remove Shows From Your Netflix Viewing History - Here's How
Tired of getting Netflix recommendations based off that one show you stopped watching after two episodes? Good news: you can remove something from your Netflix viewing history to make that stop! Instead of having a bunch of shows you haven't watched in ages clogging up your "continue watching" feed - and skewing your recommendations - there's a handy feature that lets you remove the stuff you don't want in your viewing history anymore. It's a simple hack that lets you remove individual episodes, movies, or entire shows from your history, so you've only got the stuff you actually want in the algorithm. Follow these easy steps to clear out your Netflix history now!
Yep, You Can Remove Shows From Your Netflix Viewing History - Here's How
Tired of getting Netflix recommendations based off that one show you stopped watching after two episodes? Good news: you can remove something from your Netflix viewing history to make that stop! Instead of having a bunch of shows you haven't watched in ages clogging up your "continue watching" feed - and skewing your recommendations - there's a handy feature that lets you remove the stuff you don't want in your viewing history anymore. It's a simple hack that lets you remove individual episodes, movies, or entire shows from your history, so you've only got the stuff you actually want in the algorithm. Follow these easy steps to clear out your Netflix history now!
vendredi 3 juillet 2020
50 Smashing Red, White, and Blue Desserts
Show off your colorful spirit this Fourth of July by cooking with red, white, and blue ingredients to create festive recipes. Many of summer's most delicious offerings - strawberries, vanilla ice cream, and blueberries - fit the color scheme, so don't be afraid to get creative! Whether you like cakes, popsicles, fancy floats, or something unique, there are so many tasty sweets to inspire your next celebration. So what're you waiting for? Create a dazzling dessert with the red, white, and blue ideas ahead!
- Additional reporting by Haley Lyndes and Susannah Chen
These 12 Breathable Leggings Will Make Your Summer That Much Cooler
Summer is sweaty enough as it is, so when we're working out, moisture-wicking, breathable gear is a nonnegotiable part of our fitness routine. Whether we're working out outside or training at home, we need all the help we can get keeping sweat at bay, so come summertime, our leggings have to be lightweight and breathable. If they can't keep us cool, they have to go to the back of our drawer, and can return to our rotation once temperatures dip.
These 12 breathable leggings are the ones we'd pick for a summer sweat session. From mesh panels to light, buttery fabric and even little cutouts, there are plenty of ways to keep cool this summer. Luckily for us, they all involve cute leggings. With these 12 picks, you don't have to give up your fitness habit during the sweatiest season of all, and that's something worth cheering about.
Tessa Thompson Encourages More LGBTQ+ Representation, Racial Diversity in Marvel Films
On July 1, Tessa Thompson opened up about the importance of racial diversity and LGBTQ+ representation in film during an interview with Ramy star Ramy Youssef as part of Variety's annual Actors on Actors conversation series. Thompson stars in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Valkyrie, the franchise's first confirmed LGBTQ+ superhero. As the MCU continues to add on to its impressive film count, Thompson says the cast and crew are opening up the conversation about what kinds of representation they hope to see on screen.
"The truth is these movies travel globally in such huge ways, and if you can represent people that are of color, if you can represent people with disabilities, if you can represent the LGBTQIA community inside of these films, it's a pretty big deal," Thompson said. The actor also said that she would like to see more accurate representation of different races on screen and to see more people of color cast in roles across all platforms, so as not to place the responsibility of representing an entire race on the shoulders of a select few.
"I want for us to be able to exist in ways that we've never existed before."
"There is a real feeling of responsibility when you're the only one," she said. "There's this burden of being exceptional. While I think you [Ramy] are exceptional and I hope I'm exceptional, too, I don't think we should be the only ones. The work that we do should be inside a diversity of ideas around our identity, because Muslims are not a monolith, and neither are Black people."
Thompson added that she tries not to feel like an ambassador for all Black women because every individual has different experiences and a different perspective. "You look at the way that Black and Brown people are portrayed in the media, and there's a sameness - we're obsessed with watching Black pain and Black and Brown criminality," she said. "I want for us to be able to exist in ways that we've never existed before."
Thompson went on to say that she hopes an increase in the amount of diversity and representation in films will have a positive impact on future generations of superhero fans who see themselves represented on screen. "I think it's really important for everybody, but for young people especially, to be able to show up to those movies and see projections of themselves," Thompson said. "So I'm really excited that we're able to continue to push the bounds of that and that I'm able to do that with Valkyrie. Because there's so many cool queer characters in the comic books, and they should have a place on screen." Watch Thompson and Youssef's full interview here to see them discuss cultural change and how they present themselves on screen.
Workout Clothes $25 and Under Exist, So We're Getting Ready to Sweat
Whether you're someone who likes to hit the gym or you prefer to sweat it out at home, great workout clothes are essential to your routine. Plus, when we wear clothes we love, we feel better, and that makes us all the more likely to finish that extra rep. Athleisure tends to be expensive, but we found 15 items that cost $25 or less. Does that sound too good to be true? Well, believe it, because it's real and it's amazing.
From cute sports bras to sweat-wicking leggings and fun, colorful picks, these items will be staples in your workout wardrobe. Plus, they're so affordable, you can splurge on a couple of different styles. Just keep reading to shop our picks!
50 Smashing Red, White, and Blue Desserts
Show off your colorful spirit this Fourth of July by cooking with red, white, and blue ingredients to create festive recipes. Many of summer's most delicious offerings - strawberries, vanilla ice cream, and blueberries - fit the color scheme, so don't be afraid to get creative! Whether you like cakes, popsicles, fancy floats, or something unique, there are so many tasty sweets to inspire your next celebration. So what're you waiting for? Create a dazzling dessert with the red, white, and blue ideas ahead!
- Additional reporting by Haley Lyndes and Susannah Chen
This Artist Reimagined NBA Logos With Disney Characters, and Can We Make These Official?
If all goes according to plan, the NBA will return this month, with 22 teams finishing out the season at a single site: none other than DisneyWorld in Orlando, FL. It's pretty exciting news for sports-hungry fans, including Phoebe Williams, the artist behind PK Air Designs on Instagram. She was so excited for the return and inspired by the Disney-NBA crossover, she told POPSUGAR, that "I thought it would be a really fun idea to create mashup logos!"
Williams took the original logos of all 30 NBA teams and slipped in whatever Disney character she thought looked the best. "All of the characters . . . were chosen to match the aesthetics of the logo," she explained. "Some of them don't necessarily match the original logo, like Dumbo for the Hornets or Ariel for Miami Heat, but at a first glance they look like the original and that was my main goal!" Even then, some of the mascots match impressively well, like Woody's cowboy boot for the Spurs and Lightning McQueen for the Detroit Pistons. Williams's favorite? "Definitely the Timberwolves, because it's my and my partner's team! But I do also love the Phoenix Suns!"
Check out the full set ahead, and if anyone wants to make a petition to make these the official logos, you've got my signature.
This Weekend Is a Great Time to Stock Up on Fitness Essentials (All on Sale!)
This July, we're busy shopping all the deals we can get our hands on. As lovers of all things fitness and wellness, we're particularly excited about all the products we can buy on sale right now. Everyone seems to be putting their sale on sale this weekend, and we're not mad about it one bit. Whether you want some new sneakers or a cute sports bra, now's the time to shop these 45 items, all on sale.
From the perfect leggings to tank tops you'll never want to take off, these are the items we want right now. Let the holiday weekend be your excuse to save on some new fitness gear. Just keep reading to shop our picks.
Tessa Thompson Encourages More LGBTQ+ Representation, Racial Diversity in Marvel Films
On July 1, Tessa Thompson opened up about the importance of racial diversity and LGBTQ+ representation in film during an interview with Ramy star Ramy Youssef as part of Variety's annual Actors on Actors conversation series. Thompson stars in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Valkyrie, the franchise's first confirmed LGBTQ+ superhero. As the MCU continues to add on to its impressive film count, Thompson says the cast and crew are opening up the conversation about what kinds of representation they hope to see on screen.
"The truth is these movies travel globally in such huge ways, and if you can represent people that are of color, if you can represent people with disabilities, if you can represent the LGBTQIA community inside of these films, it's a pretty big deal," Thompson said. The actor also said that she would like to see more accurate representation of different races on screen and to see more people of color cast in roles across all platforms, so as not to place the responsibility of representing an entire race on the shoulders of a select few.
"I want for us to be able to exist in ways that we've never existed before."
"There is a real feeling of responsibility when you're the only one," she said. "There's this burden of being exceptional. While I think you [Ramy] are exceptional and I hope I'm exceptional, too, I don't think we should be the only ones. The work that we do should be inside a diversity of ideas around our identity, because Muslims are not a monolith, and neither are Black people."
Thompson added that she tries not to feel like an ambassador for all Black women because every individual has different experiences and a different perspective. "You look at the way that Black and Brown people are portrayed in the media, and there's a sameness - we're obsessed with watching Black pain and Black and Brown criminality," she said. "I want for us to be able to exist in ways that we've never existed before."
Thompson went on to say that she hopes an increase in the amount of diversity and representation in films will have a positive impact on future generations of superhero fans who see themselves represented on screen. "I think it's really important for everybody, but for young people especially, to be able to show up to those movies and see projections of themselves," Thompson said. "So I'm really excited that we're able to continue to push the bounds of that and that I'm able to do that with Valkyrie. Because there's so many cool queer characters in the comic books, and they should have a place on screen." Watch Thompson and Youssef's full interview here to see them discuss cultural change and how they present themselves on screen.
50 Smashing Red, White, and Blue Desserts
Show off your colorful spirit this Fourth of July by cooking with red, white, and blue ingredients to create festive recipes. Many of summer's most delicious offerings - strawberries, vanilla ice cream, and blueberries - fit the color scheme, so don't be afraid to get creative! Whether you like cakes, popsicles, fancy floats, or something unique, there are so many tasty sweets to inspire your next celebration. So what're you waiting for? Create a dazzling dessert with the red, white, and blue ideas ahead!
- Additional reporting by Haley Lyndes and Susannah Chen
This Thought-Provoking Card Game Helps Initiate Conversations About Racism and Privilege
It can be difficult to start up an open and honest conversation about prejudice and racism, but the card game We're Not Really Strangers is hoping to make this crucial step a little more accessible.
The latest installment of the thought-provoking game allows players to download a PDF of 25 questions and wildcards that initiate meaningful conversations about racism and privilege. "What was your first memory realizing that race existed?" one card asks. "When was the last time you had a shift in perspective regarding the topic of race/racism? How did that shift occur for you?" another card asks. The PDF also includes reflective questions to ask yourself post-game, video resources, and articles for deeper reading.
The card game was created by Koreen Odiney, a 25-year-old model and artist based in LA who saw a need for a conversational tool kit in everyday life. Odiney originally created the game with the intent to spark "meaningful connections" among strangers, according to an interview with Forbes in May, by asking questions such as, "How are you, really?" and "What about me intrigues you?" In the past, WNRS has also released a "Quarantine" expansion pack PDF allow people to interact while social distancing. Now the card game is hoping to address an entirely different pandemic.
To play, at least two people must read each other thoughtful questions and answer truthfully. The game cards are arranged in three levels: Level 1 (Perception), Level 2 (Connection), and Level 3 (Reflection). Level 1 lays the groundwork by letting players ask each other about their initial thoughts on privilege and race. Level 2 allows players to better understand each other's personal experiences with prejudice and racism. Level 3 gives players the opportunity to reflect on the conversation they've just had and make a roadmap to being actively anti-racist in the future.
Keep scrolling to purchase the full We're Not Really Strangers game for yourself and to see some of the Race and Privilege expansion pack questions ahead.
This Artist Reimagined NBA Logos With Disney Characters, and Can We Make These Official?
If all goes according to plan, the NBA will return this month, with 22 teams finishing out the season at a single site: none other than DisneyWorld in Orlando, FL. It's pretty exciting news for sports-hungry fans, including Phoebe Williams, the artist behind PK Air Designs on Instagram. She was so excited for the return and inspired by the Disney-NBA crossover, she told POPSUGAR, that "I thought it would be a really fun idea to create mashup logos!"
Williams took the original logos of all 30 NBA teams and slipped in whatever Disney character she thought looked the best. "All of the characters . . . were chosen to match the aesthetics of the logo," she explained. "Some of them don't necessarily match the original logo, like Dumbo for the Hornets or Ariel for Miami Heat, but at a first glance they look like the original and that was my main goal!" Even then, some of the mascots match impressively well, like Woody's cowboy boot for the Spurs and Lightning McQueen for the Detroit Pistons. Williams's favorite? "Definitely the Timberwolves, because it's my and my partner's team! But I do also love the Phoenix Suns!"
Check out the full set ahead, and if anyone wants to make a petition to make these the official logos, you've got my signature.
This Weekend Is a Great Time to Stock Up on Fitness Essentials (All on Sale!)
This July, we're busy shopping all the deals we can get our hands on. As lovers of all things fitness and wellness, we're particularly excited about all the products we can buy on sale right now. Everyone seems to be putting their sale on sale this weekend, and we're not mad about it one bit. Whether you want some new sneakers or a cute sports bra, now's the time to shop these 45 items, all on sale.
From the perfect leggings to tank tops you'll never want to take off, these are the items we want right now. Let the holiday weekend be your excuse to save on some new fitness gear. Just keep reading to shop our picks.
I Ditched My Fitness Watches During the Pandemic, and I Might Keep It That Way
There was a time, not too long ago, when I was a double-fisting fitness tracker kind of girl: Apple Watch on the right hand, FitBit on the left. It's not that I monitor my steps and calorie count that closely. I just liked getting the happy notification that I'd hit my step goal, or feeling the satisfaction of closing all my rings. It was fun to hit little daily goals and feel proud of myself, and keep up some friendly ("friendly") competition with my family while I was at it.
When we started shelter-in-place, my step count went down. A lot. Like, all the way. I didn't have my three-mile walking commute and I was dealing with some nagging injuries, so I couldn't run around my neighborhood or even do a lot of at-home workouts. My Apple Watch, of course, noticed REAL fast. It thought some concerned notifications would help. "Maggie, you're usually farther along on your rings by now." "Maggie, you closed your rings once last week." Even the encouraging messages just came off as condescending: "Maggie, you've almost closed your exercise ring! A brisk 20-minute walk should do it." As though it was that easy with one foot in a walking boot and a pandemic making me nervous to leave the house.
I could've just turned off the notifications, but even on the days my trackers didn't ping me, a quick glance at the time (and my rings and step count) was a reminder of how far behind I was. It was such a small thing, but I couldn't stop the cascade of negative thoughts that would follow. "You're so out of shape compared to last year." "You're not working out at all anymore." "Remember when you'd hit 12,000 steps a day like it was nothing?"
I was already stressed and anxious from the pandemic, but beyond staying at home and wearing a mask, I couldn't do much about that. Instead, I took all that fear and negativity and turned it towards my falling step counts, my low calorie burn, my fitness, and my body. Seeing the actual numbers was just evidence that I was losing control of yet another part of my life. It was like if I berated myself about it - with hard numbers to back it up! - I could prove that I still had some kind of power.
I don't know if you know this, but being hard on yourself has never actually forced a pandemic to go away or made an injury heal faster or magically turned life back to normal. (Hear that, anxiety?) There were a lot of things I couldn't control - and it'll probably be that way for a while - but one simple, small thing I could do was give it a rest on the fitness tracking. I liked my Apple Watch and FitBit because they told me tidbits of info I didn't know, like how much I was walking or standing or burning in a day, but when you're at home 24/7 and unable to work out, you pretty much already know the answers to those questions. I didn't need the constant reminders, especially if my brain was going to take it as an excuse to whip up some more negativity. We all have enough of that already.
Currently my Apple Watch and my FitBit are both chilling in their chargers, and that's where they're staying for a while. I might strap one on when I can run again, but even then, I'm not sure; I don't exactly have a race to train for, and going out for a run without any numbers on my mind sounds pretty wonderful. Monitoring things like steps, calories, and standing is helpful and fun for some people, but I realized that for me, it just played into a need for control that quickly turned toxic when I couldn't satisfy it. As I'm slowly (soooo slowly) starting to work out again, all I really want is that amazing rush of endorphins and calm that comes after a hard workout. You know that simple joy of movement that can't be quantified or tracked on your wrist or sent to you in a notification? I can't wait to feel that again.
Excuse Us While We Watch This Lady Gaga-Inspired Ballet Video on Repeat
Dancers everywhere have been inspired by Lady Gaga's latest album, Chromatica. We've seen skillfully upbeat routines and even some dance workouts, overwhelmingly set to "Rain on Me," a collaboration with Ariana Grande. Gaga is known for churning out dance hits, so it's no surprise to see so many people getting up and moving to her songs. Two dancers, though, took it to the next level, creating a stunning ballet routine to Gaga's "Chromatica II" and "911" that stands apart from the crowd. Isabella Boylston and James Whiteside, both principal dancers at New York's American Ballet Theatre, shared an Instagram video of them dancing to Lady Gaga surrounded by nature, and the result is honestly stunning.
Watch as these two incredibly skilled dancers leap and twirl through the woods. The "Chromatica" interludes on the album are the perfect orchestral background for ballet, and as the sound builds in the transition from "Chromatica II" to "911," so does Boylston's and Whiteside's dancing, culminating in flawless lifts and impressive jumps.
This routine, choreographed by Whiteside, comes as the two have been sharing virtual dance classes on Instagram. The New York dance pros have tapped several guest dancers to join them a few times a week, all while collecting donations for various charities and people in need. Check out more of Boylston's videos and Whiteside's videos on their Instagrams and tune in to one of their classes to learn some ballet skills of your own.
Strengthen Your Glutes With Kelsey Wells's 10-Minute Equipment-Free Workout
When's the last time you've done a lower-body workout that left you exhausted but proud of the work you did? If you can't remember, we've got a four-move equipment-free workout that will ignite your lower body, specifically your glutes, and leave you feeling stronger than when you started.
This quick workout is inspired by NASM-certified and Sweat app trainer Kelsey Wells's PWR at Home program. "The four glute activation exercises are a great way to help activate and engage your glute muscles prior to you workout and they can also be done as a quick, standalone session," Wells told POPSUGAR.
"Activating your glutes is important as they are a major muscle group that play a large role in almost every lower-body movement and are particularly important for squat and deadlift exercises," Wells said. Additionally, activated glutes can help you perform movements that recruit your glute muscles better since those muscles are turned on, and it can significantly help to improve your overall performance, she added.
Kelsey Wells's Glute Activation Workout
Before getting started, Wells said to warm up with three to five minutes of cardio such as jogging in place or skipping to increases your heart rate and warm your muscles up. After doing light cardio, she also recommends doing a few dynamic exercises like leg swings and arm circles, which will help to increase your range of motion and reduce injury, she explained.
If you plan on using these glute activation exercises before a lower-body workout, Wells said to complete one round of the following four exercises. If you plan on doing these exercises as a stand-alone workout, Wells said to complete the following four moves as a circuit, taking little to no rest in between each move followed by one minute of rest. Repeat for a total of three rounds.
Once you've finished the workout, be sure to cool down. Wells suggested completing three to five minutes of a light walk to lower your heart rate. She also recommends doing static stretches, holding each stretch for 20 seconds or longer, to provide relief from any potential cramping and to reduce soreness and risk of injury.
- Glute bridge with an opening: 10 reps
- Double pulse squat: 10 reps
- Fire hydrant: 12 reps on each leg
- Glute kickback pulse: 12 reps on each leg
This Thought-Provoking Card Game Helps Initiate Conversations About Racism and Privilege
It can be difficult to start up an open and honest conversation about prejudice and racism, but the card game We're Not Really Strangers is hoping to make this crucial step a little more accessible.
The latest installment of the thought-provoking game allows players to download a PDF of 25 questions and wildcards that initiate meaningful conversations about racism and privilege. "What was your first memory realizing that race existed?" one card asks. "When was the last time you had a shift in perspective regarding the topic of race/racism? How did that shift occur for you?" another card asks. The PDF also includes reflective questions to ask yourself post-game, video resources, and articles for deeper reading.
The card game was created by Koreen Odiney, a 25-year-old model and artist based in LA who saw a need for a conversational tool kit in everyday life. Odiney originally created the game with the intent to spark "meaningful connections" among strangers, according to an interview with Forbes in May, by asking questions such as, "How are you, really?" and "What about me intrigues you?" In the past, WNRS has also released a "Quarantine" expansion pack PDF allow people to interact while social distancing. Now the card game is hoping to address an entirely different pandemic.
To play, at least two people must read each other thoughtful questions and answer truthfully. The game cards are arranged in three levels: Level 1 (Perception), Level 2 (Connection), and Level 3 (Reflection). Level 1 lays the groundwork by letting players ask each other about their initial thoughts on privilege and race. Level 2 allows players to better understand each other's personal experiences with prejudice and racism. Level 3 gives players the opportunity to reflect on the conversation they've just had and make a roadmap to being actively anti-racist in the future.
Keep scrolling to purchase the full We're Not Really Strangers game for yourself and to see some of the Race and Privilege expansion pack questions ahead.
This Thought-Provoking Card Game Helps Initiate Conversations About Racism and Privilege
It can be difficult to start up an open and honest conversation about prejudice and racism, but the card game We're Not Really Strangers is hoping to make this crucial step a little more accessible.
The latest installment of the thought-provoking game allows players to download a PDF of 25 questions and wildcards that initiate meaningful conversations about racism and privilege. "What was your first memory realizing that race existed?" one card asks. "When was the last time you had a shift in perspective regarding the topic of race/racism? How did that shift occur for you?" another card asks. The PDF also includes reflective questions to ask yourself post-game, video resources, and articles for deeper reading.
The card game was created by Koreen Odiney, a 25-year-old model and artist based in LA who saw a need for a conversational tool kit in everyday life. Odiney originally created the game with the intent to spark "meaningful connections" among strangers, according to an interview with Forbes in May, by asking questions such as, "How are you, really?" and "What about me intrigues you?" In the past, WNRS has also released a "Quarantine" expansion pack PDF allow people to interact while social distancing. Now the card game is hoping to address an entirely different pandemic.
To play, at least two people must read each other thoughtful questions and answer truthfully. The game cards are arranged in three levels: Level 1 (Perception), Level 2 (Connection), and Level 3 (Reflection). Level 1 lays the groundwork by letting players ask each other about their initial thoughts on privilege and race. Level 2 allows players to better understand each other's personal experiences with prejudice and racism. Level 3 gives players the opportunity to reflect on the conversation they've just had and make a roadmap to being actively anti-racist in the future.
Keep scrolling to purchase the full We're Not Really Strangers game for yourself and to see some of the Race and Privilege expansion pack questions ahead.
My Husband and I Are Struggling to Connect Without Date Nights Amid COVID-19
Let's face it: this whole social-distancing situation has been hard on everyone. I was fortunate enough to work from home with my children already when the pandemic started, so that wasn't a huge adjustment. What has been jarring, though, is living with the dread of my husband being an essential worker, having increased anxiety, and being unable to go anywhere.
My husband and I are probably struggling with our inability to take each other out on a date more than anything else. I know staying home is the right thing to do, and we aren't putting others in danger this way. But date nights have always been so important to our marriage, even 10 years in, and not having them is an adjustment. It's a privilege we're grateful for every day, but even more so now.
Ever since we started dating, we've made a habit to go out once a week. When we started having children, and now that I'm pregnant with our third (and being pregnant during this mess is a whole other story), we've had to slow our date nights down a bit, but we still made a point to find time to focus on each other.
But that's been a lot harder now with the struggles of parenting while social distancing. We don't have the option of bringing a babysitter into our home or dropping our kids off with friends. We can't trade off slumber parties with a friend to exchange date-night coverage. Instead, we're at home, trying to have at-home family date nights with our kids. These are super fun, and it means a lot to our kids when they suddenly get to stay up late. But it's not the same as when it's just my husband and I.
We're really missing that personal connection time. We've always enjoyed each other's company, going out to explore a new place or try out a new restaurant, and I think we're missing that element of surprise that otherwise doesn't appear in our marriage. It's what's kept us so close all these years, and without it, we're feeling a little lost.
I'm realizing, too, how revitalizing these little escapes with my husband are to me. When I've already been working at home, spending time with our children at home, and then having family dates at home, the constant time in our home is becoming more and more dull. I've noticed my husband and I speak less, and he finds more to talk about with his friend next door than he does with me. And while I'm sure these are normal, bored, cooped-up feelings, I'll just say it: I miss my husband and the connection date nights brought us.
18 Yara Shahidi Quotes to Uplift and Empower You to Become a Better Person
Yara Shahidi is so much more than an actress. At just 20 years old, she has quickly become a voice for young people, thanks to her outspokenness about social issues and her ongoing activism. Whether she's using her Eighteen x 18 campaign to encourage teenagers to stay politically active or spreading awareness about human rights, Yara continues to inspire hearts and minds everywhere just by being herself. Luckily for us, she's dropped a few gems of advice over the years that, honestly, we all could use in our lives. So if you're ready to feel empowered, keep reading for some of Yara's most inspiring quotes.
I Ditched My Fitness Watches During the Pandemic, and I Might Keep It That Way
There was a time, not too long ago, when I was a double-fisting fitness tracker kind of girl: Apple Watch on the right hand, FitBit on the left. It's not that I monitor my steps and calorie count that closely. I just liked getting the happy notification that I'd hit my step goal, or feeling the satisfaction of closing all my rings. It was fun to hit little daily goals and feel proud of myself, and keep up some friendly ("friendly") competition with my family while I was at it.
When we started shelter-in-place, my step count went down. A lot. Like, all the way. I didn't have my three-mile walking commute and I was dealing with some nagging injuries, so I couldn't run around my neighborhood or even do a lot of at-home workouts. My Apple Watch, of course, noticed REAL fast. It thought some concerned notifications would help. "Maggie, you're usually farther along on your rings by now." "Maggie, you closed your rings once last week." Even the encouraging messages just came off as condescending: "Maggie, you've almost closed your exercise ring! A brisk 20-minute walk should do it." As though it was that easy with one foot in a walking boot and a pandemic making me nervous to leave the house.
I could've just turned off the notifications, but even on the days my trackers didn't ping me, a quick glance at the time (and my rings and step count) was a reminder of how far behind I was. It was such a small thing, but I couldn't stop the cascade of negative thoughts that would follow. "You're so out of shape compared to last year." "You're not working out at all anymore." "Remember when you'd hit 12,000 steps a day like it was nothing?"
I was already stressed and anxious from the pandemic, but beyond staying at home and wearing a mask, I couldn't do much about that. Instead, I took all that fear and negativity and turned it towards my falling step counts, my low calorie burn, my fitness, and my body. Seeing the actual numbers was just evidence that I was losing control of yet another part of my life. It was like if I berated myself about it - with hard numbers to back it up! - I could prove that I still had some kind of power.
I don't know if you know this, but being hard on yourself has never actually forced a pandemic to go away or made an injury heal faster or magically turned life back to normal. (Hear that, anxiety?) There were a lot of things I couldn't control - and it'll probably be that way for a while - but one simple, small thing I could do was give it a rest on the fitness tracking. I liked my Apple Watch and FitBit because they told me tidbits of info I didn't know, like how much I was walking or standing or burning in a day, but when you're at home 24/7 and unable to work out, you pretty much already know the answers to those questions. I didn't need the constant reminders, especially if my brain was going to take it as an excuse to whip up some more negativity. We all have enough of that already.
Currently my Apple Watch and my FitBit are both chilling in their chargers, and that's where they're staying for a while. I might strap one on when I can run again, but even then, I'm not sure; I don't exactly have a race to train for, and going out for a run without any numbers on my mind sounds pretty wonderful. Monitoring things like steps, calories, and standing is helpful and fun for some people, but I realized that for me, it just played into a need for control that quickly turned toxic when I couldn't satisfy it. As I'm slowly (soooo slowly) starting to work out again, all I really want is that amazing rush of endorphins and calm that comes after a hard workout. You know that simple joy of movement that can't be quantified or tracked on your wrist or sent to you in a notification? I can't wait to feel that again.
Excuse Us While We Watch This Lady Gaga-Inspired Ballet Video on Repeat
Dancers everywhere have been inspired by Lady Gaga's latest album, Chromatica. We've seen skillfully upbeat routines and even some dance workouts, overwhelmingly set to "Rain on Me," a collaboration with Ariana Grande. Gaga is known for churning out dance hits, so it's no surprise to see so many people getting up and moving to her songs. Two dancers, though, took it to the next level, creating a stunning ballet routine to Gaga's "Chromatica II" and "911" that stands apart from the crowd. Isabella Boylston and James Whiteside, both principal dancers at New York's American Ballet Theatre, shared an Instagram video of them dancing to Lady Gaga surrounded by nature, and the result is honestly stunning.
Watch as these two incredibly skilled dancers leap and twirl through the woods. The "Chromatica" interludes on the album are the perfect orchestral background for ballet, and as the sound builds in the transition from "Chromatica II" to "911," so does Boylston's and Whiteside's dancing, culminating in flawless lifts and impressive jumps.
This routine, choreographed by Whiteside, comes as the two have been sharing virtual dance classes on Instagram. The New York dance pros have tapped several guest dancers to join them a few times a week, all while collecting donations for various charities and people in need. Check out more of Boylston's videos and Whiteside's videos on their Instagrams and tune in to one of their classes to learn some ballet skills of your own.
Strengthen Your Glutes With Kelsey Wells's 10-Minute Equipment-Free Workout
When's the last time you've done a lower-body workout that left you exhausted but proud of the work you did? If you can't remember, we've got a four-move equipment-free workout that will ignite your lower body, specifically your glutes, and leave you feeling stronger than when you started.
This quick workout is inspired by NASM-certified and Sweat app trainer Kelsey Wells's PWR at Home program. "The four glute activation exercises are a great way to help activate and engage your glute muscles prior to you workout and they can also be done as a quick, standalone session," Wells told POPSUGAR.
"Activating your glutes is important as they are a major muscle group that play a large role in almost every lower-body movement and are particularly important for squat and deadlift exercises," Wells said. Additionally, activated glutes can help you perform movements that recruit your glute muscles better since those muscles are turned on, and it can significantly help to improve your overall performance, she added.
Kelsey Wells's Glute Activation Workout
Before getting started, Wells said to warm up with three to five minutes of cardio such as jogging in place or skipping to increases your heart rate and warm your muscles up. After doing light cardio, she also recommends doing a few dynamic exercises like leg swings and arm circles, which will help to increase your range of motion and reduce injury, she explained.
If you plan on using these glute activation exercises before a lower-body workout, Wells said to complete one round of the following four exercises. If you plan on doing these exercises as a stand-alone workout, Wells said to complete the following four moves as a circuit, taking little to no rest in between each move followed by one minute of rest. Repeat for a total of three rounds.
Once you've finished the workout, be sure to cool down. Wells suggested completing three to five minutes of a light walk to lower your heart rate. She also recommends doing static stretches, holding each stretch for 20 seconds or longer, to provide relief from any potential cramping and to reduce soreness and risk of injury.
- Glute bridge with an opening: 10 reps
- Double pulse squat: 10 reps
- Fire hydrant: 12 reps on each leg
- Glute kickback pulse: 12 reps on each leg
18 Yara Shahidi Quotes to Uplift and Empower You to Become a Better Person
Yara Shahidi is so much more than an actress. At just 20 years old, she has quickly become a voice for young people, thanks to her outspokenness about social issues and her ongoing activism. Whether she's using her Eighteen x 18 campaign to encourage teenagers to stay politically active or spreading awareness about human rights, Yara continues to inspire hearts and minds everywhere just by being herself. Luckily for us, she's dropped a few gems of advice over the years that, honestly, we all could use in our lives. So if you're ready to feel empowered, keep reading for some of Yara's most inspiring quotes.
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