There are countless upsides to smartphones, not least the ability to read and share positive news. But as the technology becomes increasingly all-consuming, the idea ofintentionally disconnecting from our devices sometimes seems that much more appealing. Setting and keeping boundaries is easier said than done, though, and doing so involves navigating the feelings of withdrawal that can occur when we go cold turkey from tech. If you’re considering a digital detox, check out these four key strategies for making it a success. — Rebekah, Ally, and Natalie
Featured Story
The Wonders of an At-Home Trail Cam — And How to Set One Up Yourself
Harry Collins Photography/ Shutterstock
When self-proclaimed “city person” Hilary Hattenbach noticed that a family of finches had nested on her Los Angeles balcony, she decided to set up a basic trail camera she bought online. “In a matter of days,” the writer shared in an article for the BBC, “I’d plunged into the lives of my neighborhood skunks, squirrels, and possums, a nature-made reality show unfolding in the bushes of my own garden.” You too can experience this window into the (not-so) secret animal realm where you live, be it a fourth floor apartment or sprawling homestead — click below to read about the myriad benefitstrail cams offer and learn how to set up your own.
This holiday season, give back while giving the gift of absolute comfort. A Bombas present spreads double the joy — with every item purchased, the company also donates an item of clothing to someone in need, making your gift even more meaningful. Bombas’ holiday sale came early this year, so you can enjoy 25% off essential cozy items like socks, slippers, tees, underwear, and more for a limited time. The brand even offers holiday gift boxes that are packed in one beautiful box (perfect if wrapping isn’t your thing). And with the 100% Happiness Guarantee, Bombas promises to refund, replace, or exchange items, no questions asked.
Toddlers Ponder the Impossible, First-of-Its-Kind Study Shows
Fly View Productions/ iStock
Toddlers have a lot to think about: Which toy is their favorite? What sound does a cow make? Why can’t they eat that sticky fruit snack that fell on the floor? The ability to evaluate probabilities and possibilities, though, might seem a bit outside their wheelhouse. As adults, we’re used to analyzing the likelihood of events. If 181 million people are playing Powerball, we know (despite all hope we’re wrong) that we’re probably not going to win. But we also know if we don’t buy a ticket at all, it’s impossible for us to win. And according to a first-of-its-kind study, toddlers practice the same type of mental judgment. “Even young toddlers already think about the world in terms of possibilities,” co-author Lisa Feigenson, co-director of the Johns Hopkins University Laboratory for Child Development, said in a news release. Watch the adorable experiment researchers set up to arrive at this conclusion.
Health
This Playlist Could Ease Flying Fears, Report Finds
Maxxa_Satori/ iStock
Whether you have a full-on fear of flying or just get a case of takeoff jitters from time to time, the secret to calmer plane journeys may be a matter of curating the right soundtrack — and that doesn’t necessarily mean listening to spa music or classical symphonies on repeat. In a recent report, the site Netflights found that anxious passengers benefitted the most from listening to music with a lower number of beats per minute, or BPM. A lower BPM was associated with reduced heart and respiratory rates, lower blood pressure, and less muscle tension, per Thrillist. To help make flying less stressful, Netflights curated a playlist of chart-topping hits that also hit the right BPM, including “Please Please Please” and “Taste” by Sabrina Carpenter and “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish. As for which tunes not to listen to, consider saving the Charli XCX for when you’re on the ground. Check out the best (and worst) songs to listen to.
Culture
USS New Jersey Is First Submarine Designed to Be Fully Gender Integrated
MCC Joshua Karsten
The USS New Jersey is unlike any other submarine in the U.S. Navy’s fleet for one specific reason: It’s the first sub intentionally designed for men and women to live and work on. The Navy lifted the ban on women on submarines over a decade ago and retrofitted bathrooms and sleeping quarters to accommodate them. But this nuclear-powered submarine, nicknamed “Jersey Girl,” wasn’t adjusted after the fact — it was built to be fully gender inclusive. At 377 feet long, the ship has a capacity for 135 crew members, and about 40 are women. “There’s no other fast-attack submarine with that volume of women part of the crew,” Steven Halle, the commanding officer of the ship, told CBS News. He added: “Studies have shown that a fully integrated, diverse crew, they just perform better. Up to 15% or 20% better.” Lt. Victoria Meyer, the Navy’s Women in Submarines coordinator, explained that the newly commissioned submarine represents change. “When I was on the USS New Jersey, I was one of just a couple of female officers, and now almost half the wardroom is female officers who are absolutely crushing it out there.” Learn more and see the history-making submarine in motion.
Sunday Selections
Deep Dives
A 130-mile road through “the most beautiful place on Earth” has transported people and ideas for millennia
Videos on reparenting your inner child are trending on social media: A relationship coach explains what that means
In the middle of nowhere, Australia, a tiny town’s only inhabitants are a husband and wife with an important role
Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s cozy fantasy series is set in an enchanted Tokyo cafe where customers time travel in between sips of coffee, and it’s garnered a legion of devoted fans. “A comment I get a lot is ‘the books helped me heal,’” the author recently told The New York Times.The fifth installment is now on shelves, and it’s as magical and moving as its predecessors. In it, four new characters set out to revisit their pasts so they can find closure in the present.
In this intimate, uplifting documentary, Elton John prepares for his final North American concert at Dodger Stadium while looking back on the early days of his extraordinary, 50-year career. Recounting his childhood love for music all the way through to his meteoric rise in the ’70s, the iconic pop star chronicles how he overcame adversity, abuse, and addiction to finally feel at peace with himself. The film is in theaters now and hits Disney+ on Dec. 13.
Before it was re-launched as a pictorial by Time magazine’s Henry Luce in 1936, Life started out as a weekly humor publication, folding during the Great Depression. Per History.com, Luce wrote that his re-tooled publication’s mission was to provide the American people a chance “to see life; to see the world; to eyewitness great events … to see things thousands of miles away … to see and be amazed; to see and be instructed … to see, and to show.” And immediately upon opening the first 10-cent issue, readers were given that chance: Page 2 featured a vivid photograph of a baby held upside down in a doctor’s hands moments after birth, and theremarkable cover story captured one of the sprawling public works projects being developed under then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s historic New Deal. Explore the inaugural issue in its entirety.
Discover the World of Rare Wines With the Weekly Pour
Each month, The Weekly Pour from Bonner Wines brings you four thoughtfully chosen wines from unique vineyards around the world, delivered right to your doorstep. No mass production — just rare, small-batch wines crafted with extra care. It’s an experience like you’ve never tasted before.
