Days get crowded, calendars get booked, and usually, one of the first things to fall by the wayside is self-care. But prioritizing mental health activities (which are practices meant to reduce stress and improve mental wellbeing) is an extremely worthy use of your time—even if you only have a few minutes to spare. “It’s so important that you make this a priority—not an afterthought,” says licensed therapist Melissa Legere, clinical director and co-founder of California Behavioral Health. “Our...

In this article What Is Friendly Competition? The Benefits of Friendly Competition How to Turn Friendly Competition Into an Advantage The Takeaway When I was training for the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon, one of my friends asked if I wanted to run once per week before work. She was (and still is!) a faster, more skilled runner, and keeping up with her was the friendly competition I needed to ultimately achieve my goal of a sub-four-hour marathon time. As it turns out, I’m not alone in...

There’s a reason why there are so many songs written about Sundays. Easy, full of love, and never long enough, the weekends are the perfect time to relax and recharge. By the end, though, many of us feel the dreaded Sunday scaries creeping in. To combat stress and encourage self-care to prepare for the week ahead, we rounded up some of the best Sunday motivational quotes. From activity recommendations (a little mindful meditation, anyone?) to sentiments about Sundays, these are inspiring...

After more than a year of 5Ks, 10Ks, and half marathons and four months of dedicated training, I crossed the finish line at the TCS New York City Marathon on November 4, 2018. I still consider it one of my major life accomplishments, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, friends, and the electric crowds in New York. Running through each borough, I was boosted up by the spectators, who often wield motivational (and sometimes downright hilarious) marathon signs. From...