Are you a side sleeper or do you doze off while lying on your back? The question’s not for nothing: Today is World Health Day — and it turns out your sleep position can have implicationsfor your well-being just as other nighttime habits do.Dr. Abhinav Singh, a medical review expert for the Sleep Foundation and author of Sleep to Heal, told USA Today there isn’t a single “right” choice, but certain positions do offer benefits for specific concerns, like snoring, acid reflux, back and neck pain, and more. Learn which one might make most sense for you.
Featured Story
Other People Like Us More Than We Think, Research Finds
Are you the type to lie in bed at night dwelling on conversations from the day, perhaps reliving an awkward moment at lunch or wondering if you said the right thing during a Zoom call? It’s a common practice, and unfortunately, it can lead to the common conclusion that people don’t like us as much as we hope they do. Thanks to robust research on the subject, however, we can happily report that this interpretation is — in most cases — likely incorrect. That’s according to a team of psychologists who spent nearly a decade investigating the accuracy of individuals’ beliefs about how others perceive them, and observing an illusion they call the “liking gap.” Dig into our article below to learn more and get tips on how to deter that illusion from interfering in your relationships.
If you have outstanding credit card debt, the last thing you want is a high interest rate. Transferring your balance to a new 0% intro APR credit card could help ease the pressure while you pay down your debt. But how do you pick the right card? The experts over at FinanceBuzz identified one of their top credit cards for balance transfers, perfect for anyone looking to pay down debt and not add to it. Click below to get the scoop.
The next U.S. census is still more than five years away, but the government is currently working on how to make the count more accurate. On March 28, the Office of Management and Budget announced the first changes to how the country categorizes race and ethnicity in nearly 30 years. Adjustments include combining questions about race and ethnicity that were previously separate. This will allow people to pick multiple categories — for example, someone with a mixed-race background could choose “Asian,” “Black,” and “Hispanic.” The office also added the option to check “Middle Eastern or North African” as a category. These changes, which will affect the census as well as other government forms, could help inform research on public health, discrimination, and economic outcomes, Allison Plyer, the chief demographer of The Data Center in New Orleans, told the Associated Press. “You can’t underestimate the emotional impact this has on people,” added Meeta Anand, the senior director for Census & Data Equity at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “It’s how we conceive ourselves as a society. ... You are seeing a desire for people to want to self-identify and be reflected in data so they can tell their own stories.”
Culture
250-Year-Old Revolutionary War Sketch Offers Rare Eyewitness Account
Museum of the American Revolution
Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution recently received a donation of a nearly 250-year-old drawing of Continental Army soldiers and camp followers. The pen-and-ink sketch, seen above, shows the soldiers marching through Philadelphia on Aug. 25, 1777 — and it’s one of the few works created by a Revolutionary War eyewitness that still survives today. “This sketch is the first wartime depiction of North Carolina troops known to exist, and only the second-known depiction of female camp followers of the Continental Army done by an eyewitness,” the museum explained in a press release. The piece previously hung in art collector Judith Hernstadt’s New York City apartment, where Matthew Skic, a curator at the museum, spotted it. He immediately knew it was something noteworthy — “I was shocked to see what I saw!” Skic told Artnet. He added in a statement: “This sketch is extremely important to our understanding of the daily operations of the Continental Army. It helps us visualize the everyday lives of these troops — the joyous, the difficult, and the mundane.” See the back of the sketch, which shows five male figures.
Sports
Meet the Former Pro-Surfer Who Had to Leave the Sport to Love It Again
Each year, flocks of surfers head to Nazaré, Portugal, in hopes of catching some truly giant waves. One of those surfers is Laura Crane, a 29-year-old who recently became the first British woman to surf the town’s 60-foot crests. But she first had to leave the sport in order to love it again. Crane reflected on her early surfing years in a new BBC report: She had big-name sponsors by age 12, and in high school, she moved to France and then Australia to keep pursuing her passion at a more competitive level. However, at 21, the athlete retired from surfing as she grappled with an eating disorder, self-doubt, and industry pressures. She then did a stint on the romance reality series Love Island, during which she said she lost herself even more. After years of therapy, returning to England, and meeting a mentor, Crane found her way back to surfing and, ultimately, herself. Now, she hopes her accomplishment in Portugal is areminder to others to keep goingand believe in themselves: “To be the first British female to surf there was a really nice feeling, and I hope that it inspires other young female British athletes in their sports, too.” Watch Crane take on the massive waves in Nazaré.
Paige Layle is a 23-year-old activist and social media influencer, posting playful (and often viral) content that educates and challenges stereotypes about autism spectrum disorder. Despite being told she was just like everyone else when she was growing up, Layle always felt a little different — it wasn’t until she was finally diagnosed with autism at 15, though, that she was able to fully make sense of her experiences. In her new memoir, she shares the story of that turning point and how it allowed her to begin living authentically.
Something We Love
Maison Nomad Noé Candles
A beautiful — and beautiful smelling — candle can be considered an investment in your home and happiness. That’s how we feel about Maison Nomad Noé’s collection, in any case. With intoxicating fragrance oils crafted in France, 60-hour burn times, and attractive porcelain vessels that glow when the wicks are lit, these hand-poured soy wax candles add a touch of luxury to any area. Plus, they’re free from sulfates and phthalates and come in recyclable packaging.
With collections spanning over 5,000 years, the Met is one of the world’s most esteemed art museums — and, of course, famous for the star-studded annual gala benefiting its Costume Institute. It first opened to the public 154 years ago this coming Saturday, thanks to the dedication of a group of U.S. expats in Paris who wanted to “bring art and education to the American people.” That same year, the Met acquired its first artifact: a Roman sarcophagus. Take a 360-degree virtual tour of the museum.
FinanceBuzz Has the Scoop on Balance Transfer Cards
A balance transfer allows you to move credit card debt from one account to another, usually one with a lower interest rate so you can pay down your balance rather than adding more to it. And FinanceBuzz’s credit card experts can help you choose the right one.
