Life Skills(Page 3)

Research-backed advice to make your daily life a little better—or at least a little easier.

Latest in Life Skills

Deer tick passing tick-borned diseases to a young person by biting back of the neck

6 tick-borne diseases you really don’t want to get 6 tick-borne diseases you really don’t want to get

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A shower of Perseids meteors lights up the sky in 2009 in this NASA time-lapse image.

Two full moons, colorful meteors, and an asteroid will light up August’s sky Two full moons, colorful meteors, and an asteroid will light up August’s sky

By Laura Baisas

A redheaded person in a blue plaid shirt sitting at a desktop computer, doing work and trying to minimize distractions while working from home.

How to avoid distractions while working from home How to avoid distractions while working from home

By Whitson Gordon

Borax powder in multicolor scoops on a blue background

Don’t drink or douche with Borax, no matter what TikTok tells you Don’t drink or douche with Borax, no matter what TikTok tells you

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A person demonstrating how to safely cross a river or creek in the outdoors

How to safely cross a running body of water on foot How to safely cross a running body of water on foot

By Alisha McDarris

A car passenger appears to feel nauseous with her hand to her mouth.

What causes motion sickness—and how to avoid it What causes motion sickness—and how to avoid it

A short-haired teenage boy wearing a black shirt and grinning with his head stuck in a metal fence.

Read this if you or someone nearby is stuck in a fence Read this if you or someone nearby is stuck in a fence

By John Kennedy

a person showing a sunburn on their shoulder and back, probably looking for a sunburn treatment.

A sunburn treatment that actually works A sunburn treatment that actually works

By Sandra Gutierrez G., Claire Maldarelli

Three cows taking shelter near a house during a flash flood. A black one and a brown one are standing knee-deep in water, while a second brown one is standing on the porch.

Flash floods are rare, but deadly. Here’s how to be ready for them. Flash floods are rare, but deadly. Here’s how to be ready for them.

By Maria Parazo Rose

three stages of woman standing and lifting barbell

I lift heavy weights to soothe my fibromyalgia pain—here’s what the science says I lift heavy weights to soothe my fibromyalgia pain—here’s what the science says

By Urmi Bhattacheryya

Kidney beans black beans, corn, and tomatoes can all increase your daily fiber intake

Up your daily fiber intake for a happy microbiome Up your daily fiber intake for a happy microbiome

By Claire Maldarelli

A bunch of poison ivy leaves which you'll need to learn to spot to avoid an allergic reaction.

How to keep poison ivy from ruining outdoor fun How to keep poison ivy from ruining outdoor fun

By Alisha McDarris

A white cooler sitting in the sun on a concrete sidewalk by a large body of water.

The scientifically best way to pack a cooler The scientifically best way to pack a cooler

By John Kennedy

Fourth of July partygoers playing in red, white, and blue confetti, which could be a fireworks alternative

Celebrate a firework-less Fourth of July with drones, bubble guns, or confetti cannons Celebrate a firework-less Fourth of July with drones, bubble guns, or confetti cannons

By Carla Delgado

A distant shot of a hiker about to go downhill

How to hike downhill safely and comfortably How to hike downhill safely and comfortably

By Alisha McDarris

Four women sitting around two small, white, round tables having a conversation.

9 science-backed tips for better conversations 9 science-backed tips for better conversations

By Sofia Quaglia

Person working out in living room with dumbbells.

How to start lifting weights—even if you’ve never picked up a dumbbell in your life How to start lifting weights—even if you’ve never picked up a dumbbell in your life

By Amanda Svachula

A person wearing a yellow sweater and sitting at a wooden desk while using a silver Macbook laptop.

It’s time to buy the domain name of your dreams It’s time to buy the domain name of your dreams

Toilet on palm tree-filled beach

Why your poop gets weird on vacation—and what to do about it Why your poop gets weird on vacation—and what to do about it

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A woman running on a desert trail to burn the most calories.

These heart-pumping exercises burn the most calories These heart-pumping exercises burn the most calories

How pilots end up in a ‘death spiral’

How pilots end up in a ‘death spiral’ How pilots end up in a ‘death spiral’

By Julia Craven

A concerned-looking person sitting on a couch with the back of another person in the foreground, perhaps a therapist talking with someone who has high rejection sensitivity.

How to manage anxiety in response to rejection How to manage anxiety in response to rejection

ISS astronaut taking selfie during space walk for social media

Make your social media feed smarter with these science accounts Make your social media feed smarter with these science accounts

By Jamie Dickman

Two bear cubs in a meadow.

How to keep your food safe from hungry bears when camping How to keep your food safe from hungry bears when camping

By Alisha McDarris

Mountains and a pine forest covered in wildfire smoke.

What to do when wildfire smoke fills the air What to do when wildfire smoke fills the air

By Natalie Wallington

Hand holding a cupcake with purple frosting, sprinkles and a birthday candle.

How to make sure you never miss someone’s birthday How to make sure you never miss someone’s birthday

Two people in workout clothes putting food and supplements into a blender to make their own pre-workout

What science says about popular pre-workout ingredients What science says about popular pre-workout ingredients

By Purbita Saha

The mpox virus. 3D illustration.

What you can do to prevent the spread of mpox What you can do to prevent the spread of mpox

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Three people hiking in the rain wearing raincoats.

How to stay dry and safe while hiking in the rain How to stay dry and safe while hiking in the rain

By Alisha McDarris

Person holding laptop and a white reusable water bottle.

You’re probably not washing your water bottle often enough You’re probably not washing your water bottle often enough

By Amanda Svachula

Opened silica gel packet on a wood countertop, ready for someone to find another use for them.

6 clever ways to reuse silica gel packets 6 clever ways to reuse silica gel packets

By Bridget Reed Morawski

White-skinned person pouring ice cubes into bath with a dark-skinned person recovering after a workout. Illustrated in orange, white, and black.

The best way to relieve sore muscles after a brutal workout The best way to relieve sore muscles after a brutal workout

Baby sleeping naked in a white hammock

Why you should sleep naked tonight, according to science Why you should sleep naked tonight, according to science

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A male and a female mallard duck in some green grass by some bushes.

Don’t feed ducks bread. Here’s what to give them instead. Don’t feed ducks bread. Here’s what to give them instead.

By Natalie Wallington

Hand writing on notebook

How to improve your handwriting How to improve your handwriting

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Person with dark skin and short hair jumps rope while pregnant person with light skin and hair in a bun squats and lifts dumbells. Illustrated in orange, black, and gray.

The 6 essential parts of an effective workout The 6 essential parts of an effective workout

By Frankie de la Cretaz

Tabby cat on hardwood floors playing with a fabric toy resembling a mouse

5 ways to ensure your cat actually likes playtime 5 ways to ensure your cat actually likes playtime

By Jamie Dickman

Mammatus types of clouds over a lighthouse and rocky coast

A scientific guide to clouds, even the ones that look like udders A scientific guide to clouds, even the ones that look like udders

By Briley Lewis

An elderly person with short gray hair, wearing a pink shirt and jeans, with their hands on the shoulders of a kid they're teaching how to ride a bike. The child is wearing a red helmet and using a balance bike on a park path.

Pro tips for teaching a kid how to ride a bike Pro tips for teaching a kid how to ride a bike

By Jean Levasseur

Senior man and woman in wheelchair

How to get through to your aging parents without arguing How to get through to your aging parents without arguing

By Judith Graham / KFF Health News

split screen showing phone with halo on one side, phone with horns on the other

The Opt Out: 10 rules for better internet etiquette The Opt Out: 10 rules for better internet etiquette

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Person on yoga mat doing bridge exercise to work out muscles in core, neck, and back. Illustrated in red, black, white, and gray.

A guide to the muscles you forget to exercise A guide to the muscles you forget to exercise

By Jamie Dickman

Wall covered in ripped posters and stickers.

How to use science to remove sticker residue How to use science to remove sticker residue

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Pink feathery muhly grass are one the many native types of grass you plant in the US.

9 native grasses that will revitalize your sad, water-wasting lawn 9 native grasses that will revitalize your sad, water-wasting lawn

By Helen Bradshaw

A mouse eating a morsel of food, a scene that would prompt many to wonder how to get rid of mice.

How to get rid of mice and keep them away How to get rid of mice and keep them away

By Mary Beth Griggs

Box of iHealth COVID rapid tests being distributed at a school before the US COVID public health emergency ended

Your guide to COVID testing for the unforeseeable future Your guide to COVID testing for the unforeseeable future

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A person wearing barefoot shoes that form around their toes, sitting on a rock overlooking a body of water.

For a better hike, try swapping clunky boots for barefoot shoes For a better hike, try swapping clunky boots for barefoot shoes

By Alisha McDarris

Earth's horizon and Pacific Ocean photographed by NASA astronauts on the International Space Station. The planet's curvature proves that the Earth is round, not flat.

10 ways you can tell the Earth is round 10 ways you can tell the Earth is round

By Moriel Schottlender

Teddy bear sitting in a corner and hands peeking from the corner with a phone taking pictures of the teddy bear.

The Opt Out: Read this before sharing another photo of a kid online The Opt Out: Read this before sharing another photo of a kid online

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

The view of Zion National Park from Lava Point.

A beginner’s guide to visiting national parks A beginner’s guide to visiting national parks

By Nadia Bajuelo

Person rides a mountain bike on an outdoor trail.

How to start mountain biking this summer How to start mountain biking this summer

By Alisha McDarris

A TV with the Stranger Things title screen on it, in a dark room bathed in purple light. Exactly what you might see if you're binge-watching instead of going to sleep.

How to stream movies and shows without destroying your sleep How to stream movies and shows without destroying your sleep

Cannabis plant under purple weed grow light

On 420, learn more about weed with these carefully cultivated science stories On 420, learn more about weed with these carefully cultivated science stories

By Jamie Dickman

Hand holding a joint,

A step-by-step guide to rolling a joint A step-by-step guide to rolling a joint

By Sandra Gutierrez G.

Baby with brown eyes and brown hair laying on their back. The baby is sleeping in a crib, not a bed, to prevent SIDS.

This is the safest way to sleep with your baby This is the safest way to sleep with your baby

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Person in a dark room watering a houseplant with a beam of light. Illustrated.

How to grow plants in the dark How to grow plants in the dark

By Ellen Airhart

A group of people outside their cars along a closed road, wearing eclipse glasses to watch a solar eclipse.

Watch this week’s rare solar eclipse from anywhere in the world Watch this week’s rare solar eclipse from anywhere in the world

By Briley Lewis

A carpenter bee on a white flower. If you're trying to figure out how to get rid of carpenter bees, it's best not to kill these crucial pollinators.

Easy ways to stop carpenter bees from remodeling your home Easy ways to stop carpenter bees from remodeling your home

By Julia Rittenberg

Narcan naloxone nasal spray vending machine in Illinois to fight opioid overdoses

4 common myths about Narcan, the ‘antidote’ to opioid overdose 4 common myths about Narcan, the ‘antidote’ to opioid overdose

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

Person crying over bills and a calculator on a desk.

5 ways to deal with financial anxiety before it seriously harms your health 5 ways to deal with financial anxiety before it seriously harms your health

By Jocelyn Solis-Moreira

A wooden serving tray with a variety of dehydrated fruit and herbs on it, along with fresh fruit and herbs.

Dehydrating food can save you money and reduce waste Dehydrating food can save you money and reduce waste

By Bridget Reed Morawski

A total solar eclipse, a bright ring of sunlight around a dark moon on July 2, 2019.

April’s skies boast the full pink moon, Lyrid meteor shower, and a total solar eclipse April’s skies boast the full pink moon, Lyrid meteor shower, and a total solar eclipse

By Laura Baisas

Hands putting bandage on a hiker's foot outdoors

How to save your feet from painful blisters How to save your feet from painful blisters

By Alisha McDarris

Two people, silhouetted, looking up at a clear night sky.

Catch 5 planets (including Uranus) in an ultra-rare planetary alignment Catch 5 planets (including Uranus) in an ultra-rare planetary alignment

By Briley Lewis