Tag: balance

Maybe you’re finding your dad to be a little more annoying than usual or you’ve looked around and noticed that your mom’s not like other moms. Maybe you’re finally realizing that it may not be normal to hide in your bedroom or screen your parents’ calls. Or maybe your SO is like “WTH with your home life?”
The sad truth is, any kind of relationship can be toxic, including ones between parents and their children. The technical definition of a narcissistic or toxic parent is someone who lives through, is possessive of, and/or engages in marginalizing competition with their offspring.
Basically, life is all about them and everything they do (or want you to do) is done to satisfy their needs. Oftentimes, it’s hard to recognize a toxic parent because most are disguised as caring people who immerse themselves in their children’s lives.

The involvement is a facade and what appears as devotion is not a selfless act but an effort to control and manipulate their kids through very close relationships with them. But how do you know if this is really what’s going on?
The problem with trying to figure out if you were affected by a toxic parent is that it takes the ability to self-reflect. You probably grew up thinking that the behavior in your house was normal and it may not be until you grew and matured that you had the ability to recognize that something was “off” in your house.
Unfortunately, the road to healing is often long and lonely because no toxic parent wants to admit that they have issues. The child of such a parent must muster up the strength and courage to stand up and make a change.
The good news is, if you’ve been raised by a toxic parent, you can be happy! Studies show that through therapy, you can overcome your abusive childhood and become an even better parent. The first step is to recognize it.
Think maybe you got “toxic parents”? Here are nine signs to help you decide (and deal).

1. Their feelings always come before yours.

A good parent will consider how everyone in the family in affected when making decisions. The toxic parent will consider only his feelings and how decisions affect him, as those are the ones that count the most.
Has your parent said things like “It’s not enough to make me happy just to know that you’re happy”? Has your mother complained about the crappy nurse at the doctor’s office and how it affects her, as you’re lying in pain on the table? Red flags.

2. They don’t recognize your boundaries.

Normal parents can be interested and curious, but a toxic parent will take it too far and stomp over healthy boundaries that a child sets because they believe it’s their right to.

Has your parent busted open your bedroom door whenever they want? Do they endlessly pry into your phone and your private life? Do they listen in on your conversations and question you about them later?

3. They control you using guilt.

A little guilt is part of normal parenting, but a lot of it is a problem. The narcissist parent is interested in maintaining domination of their kids. They want to control their actions as well as their decisions, and they’ll use whatever means to make sure that they maintain. This often includes using guilt or money to get one to heed.
Has your parent ever given you a gift then expected something in return? Have they often told you how much they’ve given up for you?

4. They demand your attention.

It’s normal for parents to expect children to answer timely but narcissistic parents demand constant attention and instant gratification. They feel threatened by anyone or anything that threatens their control of their kids.
Has your parent blown up your phone so many times that you’ve had to shut it off? Have they interrupted your phone calls and acted disrespectfully?

5. They don’t talk to you.

A healthy relationship involves discussing issues openly, leading to feelings of security. Many times, the toxic parent will immaturely shut down communication in the form of ignoring, in order to get what they want.
Have you ever not agreed with your father only to have him throw a fit and not answer any of your questions? Has your mother locked herself in the bedroom in response to something that you did or said?

6. They take away their love.

In a healthy parent/child relationship, love is unconditional and isn’t based upon their actions. The toxic parent will use love as a bargaining tool to get a child to act the way they want.

Has your mom ever said, “If you don’t go to the school I choose, then you no longer have my support”? Have you felt that if you didn’t act a certain way then your parents would stop caring for you?

7. They’re overly critical.

Normal parents want the best for their kids and to help guide them. Narcissists “help” their children avoid mistakes by criticizing, in belief their “suggestions” aide their kids to achieve perfection, which is a reflection of themselves.
Are you afraid to show your mom your new outfit in fear that she’ll find everything wrong with it? Have you hesitated to try something new in fear you’ll fail in your parents’ eyes?

8. They compete with you.

Friendly competition in a relationship is fun and healthy and can contribute to good self esteem. Narcissistic parents can turn competition unhealthy when they see their child’s achievements as a threat to their own self worth. They become jealous.
Has your parent ever said to you, “You’re pretty, but my hair was so much thicker than yours as a child”? Has your dad said to you, “You’re close, but you’ll never be as fast as I was”?

9. They make you responsible for their happiness and well-being.

Normal parenting involves happy and sad times, with or without children. A toxic parent will turn their child into their substitute BFF or parent in order to take care of both their physical and emotional needs.
They make unreasonable demands of their children often forcing them to choose between them and their relationships with their friends or significant others. They often make them sacrifice healthy extracurricular activities and interests by guilting them into taking care of them.
The toxic parent can mask it as quality bonding when in reality what they’ve done is established an unhealthy relationship that doesn’t allow their child to grow into a happy, healthy independent individual.
Has your mom said to you “why are you going out with your friends? I thought the weekends are for us?” Or has your dad said, “you like your boyfriend more than me?”

10. You’re still scared of them.

In a healthy relationship, one should be able to be themselves without fear that they’ll be criticized, made fun of, talked down to or disrespected.

Toxic parents, on the other hand, will use hurtful tactics like these, even on adult children, in order to maintain their hold. Especially when they think their kids are growing up and they’re “losing them.” As a result, children learn to be fearful of their parents, often expecting some sort of emotional, physical or financial punishment.
They learn to curb their behavior in order to please the toxic parent. Many children describe “walking on eggshells” waiting to see if their behavior was acceptable or if they should expect retribution.
Are you afraid to express your opinion or voice yourself in fear of being disrespected? Does your heart jump every time the phone rings because it may be your mom or dad calling?

You might think that just remembering to put on underwear each day is good enough, but we’re here to tell you otherwise. Believe it or not, some of these mistakes can even be harmful to your health.

We all know that wearing underwear for more than one day is a big no-no, but did you know there are mistakes just as detrimental to your health and style that you could be making every day?

No, we’re not just talking about the temporary embarrassment of wearing black underwear with a pair of white jeans or the slight discomfort of wearing something too skimpy. The wrong habits when it comes to buying, washing, and wearing underwear could be causing you lasting issues that are more than just embarrassing.

They’re too small.

Many women might not think there’s anything too wrong with wearing underwear that are a bit small—after all, they’re the only ones who’ll know, right? However, aside from not giving yourself a muffin top, there are plenty of good reasons to make sure you’re buying yourself underwear that fits.

Underwear that’s too small can keep your downtown area hot and humid, which is essentially the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and infections. The same goes for wearing pantyhose often, too.

The Solution?

To make sure you’re getting yourself the right size, shop by brand and determine what your size is in that label.

Don’t buy one size across the board just because you wear it in one brand or style of underwear. They can be incredibly different from company to company.

They’re washed with scented detergents.

If you’re like most people, you probably just toss your underwear in with the rest of your laundry and call it a day. Unfortunately, though, the scented soaps and fabric softeners you might use for your jeans and shirts can actually be wreaking havoc on your lady bits.

The skin down there tends to be more sensitive than on the rest of your body, and it can be irritated incredibly easily—even by something as simple as a scented soap. Not only that, but the fragrances and chemicals in things like dryer sheets and detergents can even make your skin burn or itch.

The Solution?

Try to wash all of your underwear separately from the rest of your clothes in detergents and fabric softeners that are unscented.

Even better, look for products that are labeled hypoallergenic, so you can be sure they’re free of harsh irritants found in most commercial laundry products.

They’re not cotton.

In a perfect world, our underwear would be made of nothing but cotton, but most people wear pairs that are at least lined with the natural fabric. If you’re not one of them, it’s time to go shopping, especially if you’re someone who often finds themselves with some type of infection or irritation down there.

Lace, polyester, and other synthetic fabrics can hold in moisture and heat, which can not only cause irritation but create the perfect environment for bacteria and fungus to hang around in. Unfortunately, even silk is a culprit.

The Solution?

Try to stick with underwear made from only cotton as much as you can, or it least make sure it’s lined with cotton.

If you have to wear underwear made from other materials or you refuse to get rid of your favorite cotton-free pair, try to save them only for special occasions or for shorter nights out.

They move around.

Women turn to thong underwear for a lot of different reasons, and one of them is because they hate the dreaded VPLs—visible panty lines. It’s an understandable desire, not wanting your underwear to bunch up and create lines on the back of your pants, but this type of skimpy underwear does more harm than good.

Not only are they typically pretty tight, but they can also shift throughout the day, especially if you’re active. Unlike other underwear, the back part of a thong can sit against you skin and transfer some pretty gnarly bacteria from back to front and leave you with an infection.

The Solution?

If VPLs are your issue, you’re in luck, because companies now sell many types of underwear in fabric that is designed to have a seamless look.

If you like thongs because of the skimpy look, however, try out the “cheeky” underwear style, which is kind of like a thicker version that won’t rub against you in the back.

They’re always stained.

Hey, every woman probably has at least one pair of period panties; no one’s judging you for wearing underwear that you’re not afraid of having ruined, if you know what we mean.

However, when it comes to your everyday discharge, it’s important to pay attention to any changes you may notice, and a lot of women don’t. Depending on what’s causing the change, you might see more or less discharge, or it could be thicker or thinner, or even a different color from normal.

The Solution?

If you notice anything going on down under that seems abnormal for you, make sure to get it checked. Discharge that’s green or gray in color could point to a common infection called bacterial vaginosis, whereas thick and clumpy discharge might point to a yeast infection.

And don’t hesitate to see your doctor if you experience any excessive itching or burning, especially if it’s persistent and keeps getting worse.

You sweat then sit.

We’ve all been there—you hit the gym for an intense workout, then run some errands on your way home and sit around for a bit, all while in those same sweaty clothes. Although you may be planning on taking a shower later, you should still change out of your workout clothes as soon as possible, especially when it comes to your underwear.

Not only can tight, sweat-soaked clothes irritate your skin, but they can also create the perfect environment for bacteria to flourish in and around your lady bits. If your sweaty underwear is rubbing against your skin, it can also lead to some pretty unfortunate chafing.

The Solution?

If you don’t feel like changing your outfit entirely after working out, at least bring a spare pair of underwear to change into before you head home.

When you finally get there, try not to delay when it comes to taking a shower and getting into some fresh clothes.

You sleep in them.

This doesn’t necessarily apply to all women who sleep in underwear, but it does affect a good number of them. Wearing underwear throughout the night doesn’t seem to affect some women at all, but for others, it can actually irritate any existing conditions they have or cause them to flare up.

For example, any woman who is prone to yeast infections might find that sleeping in underwear causes them to develop one, most likely because their underwear is trapping moisture and heat as they sleep.

The Solution?

If you’re comfortable with it, sleep commando! It can help keep your downstairs area cool throughout the night and promote air circulation. If you prefer to wear something, opt for a pair of looser underwear or boxers, if your man has some lying around.

If you don’t want to go without your regular underwear throughout the night, try to make sure you’re wearing a pair that’s made from 100 percent cotton.

You pair white with white.

The initial thought process makes sense—you pick white underwear for white pants because a darker color would show through, right? Surprise! White does the exact same thing! Unless the pants you’re wearing are super thick or opaque, white underwear will definitely show through them, and it will look very, very bright and be easily seen by everyone else.

The same goes for any bright or super dark colors—when you’ve got on white pants, make sure you avoid them at all costs because we can guarantee they’ll show through. It might not be something that affects your health, but it can be an embarrassing situation to deal with when it happens.

The Solution?

Instead of white, opt for underwear in a neutral, earthy type of color. Ideally, you’ll want a neutral that comes as close to your natural skin tone as possible.

That way, it won’t look like there’s any difference between your underwear and your skin.

When you visit the supermarket, you’re in a comfortable place.
That’s by design. Grocery stores carefully control the experience by mapping out their aisles, playing serene music, and even pumping in scented air. The goal, plain and simple, is to keep you shopping.

1. When it comes to shopping carts, bigger is better (for supermarkets).

Have you ever realized that you always fill up your shopping cart? Well, supermarkets have taken note.
The Consumerist reports that shopping cart sizes have grown dramatically over the past few decades, and for good reason: When carts doubled in size, consumers purchased 40 percent more, according to marketing consultant Martin Lindstrom.

2. They might change expiration dates.

What’s more…it’s not really a big deal, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To all of the expiration date–obsessed shoppers out there: Don’t be lulled into a false state of comfort by the label, friends.

3. The butchers might glue meat together.

Many supermarkets use a substance called transglutaminase to bind pieces of meat together, essentially creating large steaks with smaller chunks of beef. The substance is sometimes called “meat glue,” which, in addition to being a great band name, is a fairly unappetizing combination of words.
Naturally, some consumers were outraged to learn that their $5 sirloins were Frankenmeats, but in many parts of the country, supermarkets aren’t legally obligated to label their glued meat products.

4. Even the yellow of your banana was engineered to pull you in.

As National Geographic noted, supermarkets pay big money to study the psychology of shoppers. High-end supermarkets know how to carefully frame their fruits and vegetables in the perfect amount of light to attract interest; they understand that when customers walk through the produce section first, they’re more likely to make impulse purchases later.

5. The entire layout of a grocery store is designed to make you spend more money

Even if you know what you need before you go to the store, and even if you only go down one aisle, you are still going to walk past a plethora of tempting items that you can’t help but add to your basket.
As our video below details, grocery stores tailor their layouts specifically to ensure you buy more than you intended—and it works.

6. Once you make it to the cookie aisle, all bets are off.

So, let’s say that supermarket psychologists succeed in delivering you to the Isle of Delicious Temptations—because, honestly, once you find yourself there, isn’t it kind of like everything else disappears except you and those temptations?—you’re on your own, my guy, like Jesus in the desert.
The flesh is weak. Food manufacturers know this, and that’s why they’ve invested so much in creating the sultriest foods imaginable: We’re talking scientifically-engineered-to-get-you-hooked combos of luscious fat, salt, and sugar.
The ideal levels of certain essential tasty features in a product maximize consumer cravings, and this is known in the food industry as the “bliss point.” These hyper-palatable items keep us coming back for more.
“Regardless of the terminology we use to describe the effects of these stimuli on our brains, the point is that food—and especially food that is layered and loaded with sugar, fat, and salt—holds great sway over us,” wrote Dr. David A. Kessler in his book The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite. “This is simply how we are wired to respond.”

7. About that water that sprays on the “fresh” produce…

Well, in some cases. Some greens do require frequent misting. However, many fruits and vegetables don’t require additional hydration when they get to the store. So…why waste the water?

8. Fish are often mislabeled.

You can’t sell chicken and call it pork, but you can certainly sell certain types of seafood as other types of seafood.

9. Supermarkets can fail inspections without getting shut down—and that’s gross.

Like restaurants, grocers face regular health inspections. They can lose points for operating unclean stores, especially if inspectors find mice, insects, or other pests contaminating the stock. You might reasonably assume that a failed inspection means a total shutdown for the offending grocer.

So you’re not a celebrity chef on Chopped, entertaining the world with your culinary masterpieces. Just because you didn’t go to cooking school doesn’t mean that you can’t delight your eager audience at home with your kitchen prowess, though.

Never fry bacon.

When you fry bacon, you end up getting grease splatter everywhere—and the bacon can become crumbly and unevenly cooked.

Sprinkle chopped garlic with salt.

This is a really helpful hack! When you’re chopping garlic, chop it really finely with your knife, then sprinkle salt on it and grind the salt into it with the flat side of the knife.

Make epic mashed potatoes.

Everyone loves mashed potatoes! But making them can be really tedious. Try this hack the next time your family screams for them. Bake the whole potatoes on a bed of salt on a baking sheet. When you can easily poke holes in them, peel them. Save the skins.

Buy a good knife.

You don’t need that electric juicer or all-in-one breakfast station to be a good cook. However, it is important to make sure you have the best of the basics. In the video below, learn about the most essential tool to have with you in the kitchen.

Additionally, you must learn how to properly cut and chop with your knife. Check out these videos on how to slice and dice your favorite fruits and vegetables. In no time, you’ll be prepping like a pro!

What about kiwis, mangos, and other tricky fruits?

Get good tongs.

Next in line, and equally as important, is having a good pair of sturdy tongs. Most experts love the ones with the silicone tips because they can be used on any surface without scratching and are heat resistant up to 600 degrees.

Cream the heck out of your butter.

For the best-tasting baked goods, the one rule of thumb is to cream the butter and sugar together for longer than you would ever think (4 to 5 minutes is the standard guideline).

The video below demonstrates how to correctly peel an orange.

Citrus sections never looked so sweet.

Bacon makes everything better.

Have you got something bland that needs a little oomph? Add bacon (and don’t forget to bake it)!

Save bacon fat for everything.

Speaking of bacon, the secret to making anything fried taste even better is to fry it in bacon fat (aka bacon grease) instead of olive or vegetable oil.

Make the best stir fry ever.

Ever wonder why the fried rice at the Chinese restaurant tastes so good?

Recycle leftovers for stock.

Homemade stock is simply scrumptious and makes a huge difference in the taste of dishes. Professional chefs make their own stock by collecting the unused parts of vegetables, such as carrot tops, onion stems, and celery ends. Leftover chicken bones and extra meat can also be saved for your broth.

Slice cake with a hot knife.

Ever notice how beautiful a perfectly cut piece of cake is? Have you ever attempted to cut a piece of cake perfectly?

Make the best chicken ever.

Everyone loves chicken! But not everyone can make it delicious. Chefs agree that there are two hacks to cooking the best-tasting chicken your family has ever had.
1. Season both the outside and the inside of the chicken.

Form cookie dough into balls and freeze them.

Everyone loves homemade cookies. They taste so much better than store bought ones. But who has time to whip up a batch on the spur of the moment? Do what the pros do and make extra batter when you’ve got extra time!

Microwave your baked potatoes for fast meals.

Do you love the taste of a good baked potato but don’t have the hour it takes to cook it? Cheat the clock! Set your microwave to the baked potato setting and cook it until it’s semi-soft.

Here’s the proper way to dice an onion.

First, trim the ends off the onion using a sharp knife. Then cut the onion in half lengthwise and peel off the skin. Working with one side of the onion, slice crosswise. Flip onion sideways and cut downward, finishing with a quick chop. Voila!

Parenting can be really tough sometimes. The pacing, the lack of sleep, and the seemingly endless loads of laundry that pile up. Add to that the stress of the cost of raising a kid in the 21st century.

According to a report of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average middle-income family will spend more than $12,500 per year on child-related expenses. Many of these expenses come from buying products that are supposed to make parenting easier—or your baby happier. Sometimes they’re great; other times they’re not. As a parent, it’s so frustrating to spend money on something (and get excited about what it offers) only to find that it doesn’t live up to its claim.

Don’t Buy: Pacifier Sanitizing Wipes

We understand why these make sense for a first-time parent. First-time parents tend to religiously scrub the first-born’s pacifier every time it hits the floor (which is often). By the time kid No. 2 or 3 arrives—or maybe just after two or three months—parents usually start to relax. A little floor dust never hurt anyone, after all.

Do Buy: The NoseFrida “Snot Sucker”

This is, on the other hand, an absolute must to have on hand. Since you can’t protect your little one from every single germ, it’s only natural they’ll pick up a bug and feel a little gross for a few days. One bad baby cold and you’ll realize the reason why this product is a necessity.

Don’t Buy: Floor Seats

Most infants can’t sit up on their own until they’re a few months old. That is fine. They’ve got their whole lives to sit up and stare at screens. Why rush into it?

Do Buy: Boppy Pillow

This product is extremely useful, and its function changes as your baby grows older. Moms use it during the infant stage to elevate their baby during breastfeeding. It can also act as a support for a little one to lie on.

Don’t Buy: Wipe Warmers

Didn’t Freud say something about adult depression being caused by contact with freezing cold baby wipes during infancy? No, he didn’t, because the idea is absurd.

Unless you store your baby wipes in the refrigerator, there’s no good reason to heat them up before using them for their disgusting and necessary purpose. If you do store baby wipes in the fridge, though, let us know; we’ve got an idea for a $450 baby wipe cooler we’d love to discuss with you.

Do Buy: Boudreaux’s Butt Paste

If you’ve never taken care of a baby who’s having a bad case of diaper rash, you’re lucky, because it’s just awful—and something that you’ll do anything to avoid ever happening again.

Don’t Buy: Baby Food Makers

We come from a proud tradition of collecting kitchen gadgets that we’ll never use. With dedicated puree machines, you can get your young one started on this tradition early.

Do Buy: Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder AND/OR The Spuni

Babies can’t eat certain foods because the size or shape of the item might make them choke. Even certain purees have lumps that can get caught in an infant’s throat.

Don’t Buy: Thermometers Made for the Bath

While we’re on the subject of bathing, you might see some cute thermometers that are designed to warn you when the bath water is too hot. You actually already own a product that can do this. It is your elbow.

Do Buy: Puj Tub

The sink always seems to be the most comfortable and convenient place to bathe a newborn. The problem is that most baby tubs are huge, bulky, impossible to store between baths, and might not even fit in your sink anyway. The Puj Tub makes washing your baby in the sink (any sink!) a lot easier, and it won’t fill up your entire closet when bath-time is done.

Don’t Buy: Walking Helpers

Unless your doctor specifically orders you to use one of these portable harnesses, there’s no real reason to invest in one. They’re supposed to help your kid learn to walk, but learning to walk is a natural process that doesn’t really need fancy new devices to take effect.

Do Buy: Baby K’tan Baby Carrier

This wrap-style carrier is a big hit among parents of newborns, babies, and toddlers up to 35 pounds. It offers the comfort and flexibility that parents love in wrap carriers but avoids the messy, complicated “over” wrapping.

Don’t Buy: Super-Fancy Bedding Sets for a Crib

There’s a whole cottage industry based on the human need to make nurseries as cute as possible. You know what’s really cute, though? Your baby. You can spend thousands on a chic, perfectly matched bedding set. Or you could spend a few bucks at the thrift store. Either way, your baby won’t know the difference.

Do Buy: Summer Infant SwaddleMe Original Swaddle

Most babies love to be swaddled! But we challenge you to find an overwhelmed new parent who can do it effectively and without frustration.

Women are empathetic creatures. The universe made us so! Actually, it was evolution that did. Empathy is a useful and necessary trait in women because it makes for more nurturing mothers and more connected friends. Unfortunately, empathy is also linked to the feeling of guilt.
Ever notice that your guy doesn’t feel bad about things like you do? Studies show that most men are guilt deficient because they lack “interpersonal sensitivity” or empathy. Unfortunately, because of all of our empathy, we as women go to the other end of the spectrum and suffer from something called destructive guilt. This is overwhelming guilt that can be habitual and become a part of everyday life.

Stop saying “yes” to everyone.

“Sure, I can meet you for dinner (even though I’m exhausted).” “No problem, I’ll edit your article for you (even though I have a ton of work to do).” “Yes, I’ll drive you to the train station (even though I’m late).”

Stop apologizing for everything.

The waiter bumps into you and you say sorry. You need something filed, and you apologize about it to your assistant. You ask your best friend her advice, then follow up with an apology for not having figured it out on your own.

Comparing Themselves to Other Women

You find yourself on social media comparing yourself to your friends, your neighbors, your coworkers. You obsess over every detail: how they look compared to you, what they wear, how successful they are, and even what their homemade muffins look like.

Holding on to Regrets

A wise woman once said, “I never regret nor do I look back on decisions I had to make; regret just seems so unuseful to me.” We can’t agree more! Own up to your decisions and mistakes, then move on.

Feeling Unworthy at Work

When you get complimented for a job well done at work do you often respond with, “Thanks, but someone else could’ve done even better.” Or “Thanks, but it was no biggie.” Do you often feel that you’re undeserving of your job and maybe even that someone might find out that you’re a fake?

Worrying About Having a Clean House

No one cares about the dust under the bed, the dishes left in the sink, the bills on the dining table, or the disorganized coat closet…except you. Obsessing about it will only leave you feeling stressed and bad about yourself.

Worrying About Everything Being Perfect

Studies show that women worry about perfection much more than men do. If women are doing five things and four are going well but one is not, they’ll hyper focus on that particular not-so-great thing. Some experts believe this is a cultural phenomenon, while others think it may be genetic.

Trying to Do Everything

As you’re making dinner, you’re talking to your mom, while you’re doing crunches, writing a check, and googling where to go to dinner next week. Although studies show that women can multitask effectively, sometimes trying to do too much ends up being more of an act of messing up several things at once.

Living in the Future

“I’ll be so happy when I make more money.” “When I have a house, then things will be perfect.” “When I lose 20 pounds, then I’ll find a husband.”

Fearing Being Labeled a B****

Men who are pushy at work and demand what they want are called go-getters; when women act the exact same way, they often get pasted with a nasty label. So women—not wanting to be viewed as difficult—change their behavior, which results in them getting less of what they want (and often less of what they deserve).

Obsessing Over Their Body

The universe made all people unique so that we could appreciate and celebrate our differences: Differently shaped hips, differently shaped breasts, differently shaped legs. Some are bigger, some are smaller, some are in between. As our kids often remind us, “You get what you get, and you don’t get upset.”

Checking Social Media 24/7

Studies show that 30 percent of women check their social media multiple times a day, and although it makes them feel connected, it can make them feel anxious as well. It seems that obsessing over others’ seemingly perfect lives makes women feel not very good about themselves.

Doing Things Because You Have to

There are a whole lot of things that you HAVE to do in life: pay your taxes, stop at red lights, brush your teeth. Those are the non-negotiables. But how about other things that you often feel like you must do, even though you really don’t want to?

Feeling Guilty About Eating

You can feel guilty that you missed your friend’s birthday. Or that you forgot to pick up the dry cleaning. Or that you haven’t seen your parents in a while.