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Life Kit

Life Kit

Tools To Help You Get It Together
Stop doomscrolling and get ready for bed. Here's how to reclaim a good night's sleep
Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Stop doomscrolling and get ready for bed. Here's how to reclaim a good night's sleep

When your days are packed, it can be hard to find some "me time" time to unwind. You might find yourself staying up past your bedtime, scrolling on social media or watching an extra episode of your latest show, That's called "revenge bedtime procrastination." These tips can help you overcome it.

Stop doomscrolling and get ready for bed. Here's how to reclaim a good night's sleep

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4 elements to create "home:" discussing mental health in the Asian American community
Kim Ryu for NPR

4 elements to create "home:" discussing mental health in the Asian American community

For a lot of people from Asian American backgrounds, discussing mental health - especially with loved ones - can be difficult. Psychologist and author Jenny T. Wang has advice on everything from working through guilt to defining home on your own terms.

4 elements to create "home:" discussing mental health in the Asian American community

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6 tips to help you overcome your fear of flying
Becky Harlan/NPR

6 tips to help you overcome your fear of flying

Whether you're a nervous flyer, you'll do almost anything to avoid flying or you have an actual flying phobia, these tips from associate professor of psychiatry Luana Marques, Ph.D. can help you overcome a fear of flying.

6 tips to help you overcome your fear of flying

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How to find joy in activism
Kristen Uroda for NPR

How to find joy in activism

Activism can look like big gestures of protest, but it can also look like baking cupcakes for a charity bake sale or reading at an after school program. These tips will help you find joy in activism while avoiding burnout.

How to find joy in activism

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How to learn a heritage language

Heritage language learners can sometimes feel like a failure for not being fluent before they've even given themselves a chance to try. Finding the right tools, setting realistic goals and acknowledging existing skill can make the process of learning your parents' language more fun and fulfilling. Cha Pornea for NPR hide caption

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Cha Pornea for NPR

How to learn a heritage language

Heritage language learners are different from people learning a second language for the first time. They often grow up hearing it, but that can come with its own set of challenges. Experts offer their advice on how to learn your heritage language.

How to learn a heritage language

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Find your singing voice with these 5 tips
Sol Cotti for NPR

Find your singing voice with these 5 tips

When some of the greatest singers are Whitney Houston, Ariana Grande or Beyonce, it's easy to feel like being a good singer is just a dream. But you don't need to be a Grammy-grade singer to have fun at karaoke. These tips will help you find your voice.

Find your singing voice with these 5 tips

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Hurricane season starts June 1. Here's how to prepare
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Life Kit

Hurricane season starts June 1. Here's how to prepare

Atlantic hurricanes are more intense and have heavier rainfall due to the effects of climate change. These tips will help you prepare for hurricane season before disaster strikes.

Hurricane season starts June 1. Here's how to prepare

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Grilling is easier than you think. Here's how to start
Plays Well With Butter

Grilling is easier than you think. Here's how to start

Intimidated by grilling? Cooking over an open flame can do that! In this guide, learn the basics from which type of grill to choose, to how to maintain a fire and create different temperature zones, to tips on tools and safety.

Grilling is easier than you think. Here's how to start

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How to overcome FOMO
Photos by Simon Haven/Getty and Correia Patrice/Getty; Collage by Becky Harlan/NPR

How to overcome FOMO

The fear of missing out isn't confined to our social lives; worrying about whether we're missing out on new experiences, content, trends and even investments can create an existential crisis. Psychologist Aarti Gupta explains how FOMO shows up in our lives and how to battle it.

How to overcome FOMO

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If you've ever wanted to take a break from the internet, try these tips
Malaka Gharib/NPR

If you've ever wanted to take a break from the internet, try these tips

The world has changed a lot since the internet. Remember asking people for directions? If you miss the days pre-internet (or wonder what it was like), Pamela Paul, author of 100 Things We've Lost To The Internet, gives us a few ways you can reconnect with an analog way of life.

If you've ever wanted to take a break from the internet, try these tips

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Raising kids is hard work. The way we think about it can shift how we value mothering
Simone Martin-Newberry for NPR

Raising kids is hard work. The way we think about it can shift how we value mothering

Raising kids is among the most essential work humans do, and yet it's rarely valued as skilled labor. Angela Garbes, author of Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change, guides us through a shift in mindset to help give mothering the value it deserves.

Raising kids is hard work. The way we think about it can shift how we value mothering

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How paying attention can help you appreciate what's right in front of you
 

How paying attention can help you appreciate what's right in front of you

When you're in a familiar place, it's easy to go on autopilot and fail to notice the small joys that surround you. Artist and author Jenny Odell shares tips on how to pay attention to and appreciate what's right in front of you.

How paying attention can help you appreciate what's right in front of you

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5 steps to cooking healthy food on a budget
LA Johnson/NPR

Life Kit

5 steps to cooking healthy food on a budget

Minding your budget while eating the foods that nourish you takes a little planning — but it's possible. Dietitian Shana Spence shares her tips to help you shop and keep your fridge stocked without breaking the bank. This episode first aired in October 2020.

5 steps to cooking healthy food on a budget

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How to arrange supermarket flowers like a pro

Florist Alexander Campbell shares tips to help you level up your supermarket bouquet. We followed his advice to create this arrangement from grocery store flowers. Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR hide caption

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Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

How to arrange supermarket flowers like a pro

Whether you forgot to order flowers for that special occasion, or you just want to flex a new creative muscle, here's how to DIY a professional-looking bouquet with grocery store flowers.

How to arrange supermarket flowers like a pro

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6 tips to help you get the most out of your health insurance plan
Subin Yang for NPR

6 tips to help you get the most out of your health insurance plan

Using your health insurance doesn't have to be on an "in-case-of-emergency" basis. Learn how to make the most of your coverage by taking advantage of preventative care, strategically timing procedures and getting exercise classes covered.

6 tips to help you get the most out of your health insurance plan

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Wedding season is here. This acronym will help you give the perfect toast
Simone Noronha for NPR

Wedding season is here. This acronym will help you give the perfect toast

It's the wild card of every big event — the toast. If you're giving a new year's toast, a best man or maid of honor speech, or any other toasts this coming year, we've got some tips to make sure people remember your toast with fondness and not horror.

Wedding season is here. This acronym will help you give the perfect toast

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How to tell a captivating story — from a wedding toast to a job interview
Kristen Uroda for NPR

How to tell a captivating story — from a wedding toast to a job interview

Storytelling creates connections and builds community. In this episode of Life Kit, storytelling coaches from The Moth give a step-by-step guide to telling good stories.

How to tell a captivating story — from a wedding toast to a job interview

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