16 Weird Dreams People Actually Had During the Pandemic

All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Personally, Im not super interested in the why. sarayut Thaneerat / Getty Images Instead, Im interested in the what. So I asked people to share whats been going down in dreamland for them over the past two months. Heres what they had to say....

April 28, 2020 · 3 min · 430 words · Ashley Torres

9 Ways People Are Getting Migraine Relief These Days

Anyone who experiencesmigrainesknows that theyre painful, frustrating, and can eat up a lot of your time. Unfortunately,common triggers for migrainesinclude stress and sleep changes, as theMayo Clinicexplains. We spoke with a few to find out how theyre getting some migraine relief these days. Thais Ramos Varela/Adobe Stock Responses have been edited for length and clarity. When I do get migraines, it is right before or at the beginning of my period....

April 28, 2020 · 3 min · 552 words · Bruce Farrell

As an American Expat in Paris, Boulangeries Are My Source of Comfort Right Now

The gregarious man at the farmers market fruit stand who asks about my family in the U.S. The friendly coffee shop server who knows my dog (and me) by name. Then thecoronaviruspandemic hit France. Eskay Lim / EyeEm / Getty Images On March 17the French government ordered a nationwide lockdown, including the closure of nonessential businesses. Pariss normally bustling sidewalks are eerily still; empty buses zoom by on quiet roads....

April 28, 2020 · 2 min · 351 words · Ronald Buck

For People With Chronic Illnesses, Social Isolation Is Nothing New

Many of my friends are doing okay, but some have told me: This sucks. I have to cancel my birthday party. Were really itching to do something soon. Irina Kruglova/Adobe Stock This staying in is hard for me because Im an extrovert. And I hear them. But I also think: This is what Ive been dealing with for 12 years of my life. Not thecoronavirusoutbreak, of course, but a lot of the consequences that are coming with it....

April 28, 2020 · 3 min · 431 words · Rachel Galvan

15 Things on Sale at Nordstrom That Would Make Great Gifts for Mom

All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. She definitely deserves it. Images courtesy of Nordstrom Currently available in XXS through XL (in regular and petite sizing). Currently available in sizes S through XL.

April 27, 2020 · 1 min · 52 words · Oscar Gates

18 Low-Lift Things That Might Actually Make You Feel Better Right Now

What wont be on this list? Listen, learning Japanese or creating a large-scale art installation are valid ways to use your time. I hope some of these brighten your day a little bit. Even on cloudy days, natural light can help brighten up your space. Bonus points if its warm enough to open your windows. Read a childrens book (to a child if you’re able to). Kimberly C., 35, tells SELF that reading to her young sons is restorative....

April 27, 2020 · 3 min · 431 words · Heather Smith

Grocery Shopping Used to Be My Self-Care—Now It’s Overwhelming

There is an employee who hands out carts at thegrocery storenow. We stagger ourselves where we can. Were less than two feet apart. Porcorex / Getty Images Only the employee and I are wearingmasks. It was social, it got me out of the house, and of course, it had food. Many of my food-shopping trips used to involve both. Money couldnt buy me happiness, but it could buy me dark chocolate with caramel....

April 27, 2020 · 3 min · 517 words · Alejandro Moreno

What It’s Like to Bartend at the ‘World’s Best Bar’ During the Pandemic

For our latest installment, we spoke with Liana Oster, head bartender atDante NYC. They spiffed up the joint while leaving its historic ambience intact and shifted the spotlight from espresso to cocktails. This interview was edited for length and clarity. Monica Ninker/Getty Images SELF: Dante is known for being crowded and lively. What was life like behind the bar before the pandemic hit? There was lots of training, lots of menu tastings....

April 27, 2020 · 4 min · 699 words · Melissa English

What It’s Like to Be a Musician Who Suddenly Can’t Do Live Performances

Levins views are her own and not reflective of the DSO or Southern Methodist University. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. SELF: When did you begin to fear for the fate of the arts because of COVID-19? Adobe Stock / Barta; Designed by Morgan Johnson Im also worried about the deep spiritual and psychological impacts ofisolationon the human psyche. The arts elevate us above ourselves. We need them in our society....

April 27, 2020 · 3 min · 467 words · Jean Joyce

What It’s Like to Run an Online Sobriety Program Right Now

For our latest installment, we spoke with Holly Whitaker, the founder of an online sobriety program calledTempest. The program incorporates mindfulness practices, behavioral therapy, andpositive psychologywith an eye totrauma-informed care. It also provides a community of peers and people with expertise in sobriety for constant support. Adobe Stock / Nadia Snopek / Morgan Johnson Here, Whitaker talks about how Tempest works and how things have changed since the pandemic hit....

April 27, 2020 · 3 min · 469 words · Corey Olson

This Triceps Workout With Dumbbells Takes Just 7 Minutes

Looking to work your arms? All you need is one set of light dumbbells to get started. Then, after you snag everything down, you could get started with the workout. Katie Thompson Believe us: This will be one dumbbell workout youll want to bookmark to keep coming back to! What are your triceps muscles? Your triceps are the opposing muscles to your biceps, which make up the front of your upper arms....

April 25, 2020 · 2 min · 317 words · Benjamin Rogers

33 Home, Beauty, and Fashion Brands That Keep Sustainability in Mind

All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. The wordsustainablegets tossed around a lot these days when it comes to a company’s values. PANGAIA Depending on the business in question, this kind of term can mean a number of things. But it also offers a range of organic cottonbath and beddingbundles. The company has the goal of reaching 100% sustainability by 2022....

April 24, 2020 · 2 min · 342 words · Angela Martin

8 New Anxiety Coping Mechanisms I’m Trying Right Now

All products featured on Self are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. And then, well. Vaselena / Getty Images Maybe these tips will be obsolete in a month. But maybe theyll help you right now, too. I ask myself, Is this helpful? Somehow, this has become an accidental refrain for me the past month and a half....

April 24, 2020 · 3 min · 430 words · Gary Aguirre