Life Kit Tools to help you get it together.

Life Kit

Tools To Help You Get It Together

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Fed up with your phone? Burned out on Zoom? Journalist and author Catherine Price has tips to help you find the right screen time balance for your life.

Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

10 tried-and-true methods to stay off your phone, according to our readers

March 20, 2026 • We asked our audience to share the creative ways they limit their own phone use. They range from the practical (keep your phone in another room) to the creative (pair your phone with a fun paperback).

A dark pink tulip in a mint green vase droops, nearly touching the surface that the vase is resting on. The vase sits against a gray backdrop.

Feeling like a wilted flower most days? Perk up with these natural energy boosters. Photo illustration by Beck Harlan/NPR hide caption

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Photo illustration by Beck Harlan/NPR

Kick your tiredness with these 7 natural energy boosters

March 19, 2026 • A full calendar doesn't mean you have to feel exhausted all the time. Experts share natural ways to boost energy and beat the constant battle of tiredness.

A photographic still life of objects used for post-workout recovery and cooling down, including a large yellow metal water bottle, a black foam roller, a black yoga block, one small glass dish of almonds, one small glass dish of goldfish crackers, a glass of milk, a lime green visual timer set to 20 minutes, and a few stacked weight plates, all arranged on an exercise step covered with a green yoga mat.

A good post-workout routine includes a 10- to 15-minute cool down, stretching, foam rolling and a good protein snack. Beck Harlan/NPR hide caption

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Beck Harlan/NPR

4 post-workout essentials that boost performance and prevent injury

February 22, 2025 • These simple post-workout activities can help reduce pain and even improve athletic performance. But many people don't prioritize recovery and self-care after exercise.

A man is looking at his laptop, trying to do his taxes, and the light from the laptop is creating shadowy figures behind him.

Chloe Sun/NPR

Can you write off a pet dog? How to vet tax advice from social media

March 14, 2026 • So you heard a piece of tax advice from a friend or on social media that sounds interesting. Should you try it? A certified public accountant explains how to vet the claim — and avoid getting scammed.

A banned smartphone is taped down to a red surface with two strips of adhesive tape that cross like an X over the phone's screen. The strips of tape have alternating yellow and green stripes on them.

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5 ways to resist the urge to keep looking at your phone

March 12, 2026 • So you want to spend less time on your phone. How do you do that when it's designed to suck you in? Life Kit spoke to experts in behavioral science, psychology and technology for real-world advice.

A calming bedtime routine can help tell our bodies it's time for bed. Dim the lights in the evening, pour yourself a relaxing cup of tea and keep a notebook nearby to jot down any stressors (and get them out of your head). Photo illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR hide caption

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Photo illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Too hyped up to sleep? Rituals to calm your body and mind before bed

March 7, 2026 • The chaos of the day can make it hard to shut off your brain and fall asleep. Here's how to create a relaxing environment before bedtime to help you quiet the chatter and feel ready for sleep.

The door on the left has clutter and an "X" mark. The door on the right is free of clutter with a check mark.

Malaka Gharib/NPR

6 design tricks to transform your home, according to a feng shui expert

July 20, 2024 • Fall in love with your home again with these feng shui-inspired decorating tips from architect Cliff Tan. They focus on creating an environment that feels happy, harmonious and full of good energy.

A photograph shows two pink frames covered in sparkly heart, star and smiley face stickers, each holding a photograph of two friends. On the left the frame shows a photo of two children wearing party hats, one with red hair and one with blonde hair, that's slightly out of focus. On the right, the photo shows the same people posing for a photograph as young adults, symbolizing a long-term friendship progressing and enduring over the years.

Photo illustration by Tsering Bista/NPR

The secret to long-lasting friendships? Don't keep score

May 23, 2025 • To maintain old friends, focus less on what they're doing (or not doing) for the relationship and focus on your own efforts, says Nina Badzin, host of a friendship podcast.

How to keep old friends

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Clocks spring forward this weekend when Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 9. You might lose an hour of sleep, but there are things you can do to protect your sleep through the time change.

Clocks spring forward this weekend when daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday. Protect your sleep through the time change and sign up for our special sleep newsletter. Artur Debat/Getty Images hide caption

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Artur Debat/Getty Images

Get your sleep on track with our Better Sleep newsletter

March 7, 2025 • Don't let daylight saving time mess up your sleep. Sign up for our Better Sleep newsletter and get one week of science-based strategies for healthier and more restful sleep.

A young boy sits in a car set in a car while Elizabeth Kanagawa demonstrates how to adjust the harness of the car seat.

Elizabeth Kanagawa, a certified child passenger safety technician, demonstrates how to adjust the harness of a car seat. She is also the owner of Three Littles, a children's store that sells car seats and strollers, among other items, in Washington, D.C. Beck Harlan for NPR hide caption

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Beck Harlan for NPR

Parents, are you sure your kid's car seat is installed right? Here's how to know

February 28, 2026 • In this visual guide, certified car seat experts walk through common installation mistakes and how to fix them. Learn what a secure car seat base and a tightly fastened tether look like and more.

A photograph of an ace-of-hearts playing card shows a broken heart in the center of the card, symbolizing being unlucky in love and having relationship issues. The card is photographed straight on, on a light pink background.

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Dear Life Kit

Dear Life Kit: I officiated their wedding. Now I think they should get a divorce

February 14, 2026 • An NPR listener says they've become increasingly concerned by their friends' marriage and feels a sense of duty to fix their relationship problems. Can they tell them what they really think?

Stop picking at your cuticles! 7 ways to keep your nails healthy and strong

"Healthy nails should be firm. They should not be soft. They should be shiny. They can have some lines in them, but they should generally be very smooth," says dermatologist Dr. Shari Lipner. bee_photobee/ Getty Images hide caption

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bee_photobee/ Getty Images

Stop picking at your cuticles! 7 ways to keep your nails healthy and strong

February 21, 2026 • Should you trim your cuticles? How do you cut a hangnail? Is it better to use a cardboard or crystal file? Dermatologists and a nail technician share basic nail health tips.

An older man waters his village of friends and neighbors with a watering can.

Faven Mulugeta/NPR

8 creative ways to build your village, according to our listeners

February 18, 2026 • NPR listeners share how they've made relationships with their neighbors and community. Many of them, through parties, potlucks and coffees, say they've made the first move.

An illustration shows two floating pink hands holding a string of paper cutout people that are attached at the hands. The colors of the paper cutout people alternate between green and blue. The image symbolizes the concept of building community.

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Want to be part of a village? You might need to get out of your comfort zone

January 30, 2026 • If you've always dreamed of having a village but feel disconnected from your community, try these five tips. Plus: We want to hear from you. Tell us how you cultivate community where you live.

An illustration shows various faces, almost like masks, making different expressions across a spectrum of emotions, ranging from angry to happy to sad; each mask is a different color, red, yellow, and purple, all against a gray backdrop.

"All emotions, even the 'bad' ones, provide us with information that can be useful," says psychologist and neuroscientist Ethan Kross, author of the book Shift: Managing Your Emotions — So They Don't Manage You. woocat/Getty Images/iStockphoto hide caption

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woocat/Getty Images/iStockphoto

No, you don't always have to confront your feelings right away

February 6, 2025 • Psychologist and neuroscientist Ethan Kross busts common assumptions about how to manage feelings in his book Shift — and explains why it's OK sometimes to avoid them for a while.

An illustration in a style mixing line drawing with pastel, shows two women laughing and talking over coffee at a cafe. The woman on the left has white skin, a sandy blonde ponytail, and wears a purple neck scarf and white sweater. The woman on the right has light brown skin, and wears a pink headscarf and a purple sweater. Both women hold white mugs with steam coming out of them and throw their heads back in laughter. They are set against a light yellow background.

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How to turn an acquaintance into a friend — and make the friendship stick

February 12, 2026 • Friendship expert Kat Vellos shares tips on how to make a new friendship stick, including what to do together, how often to hang out — and what to do if the vibes just aren't there.

An illustration shows a woman with brown skin and dark brown hair in the foreground, lounging in a blue hammock. In her right hand, she holds a glass with a straw and a lemon slice on the edge of the drink. With her left hand, she reaches up into the sky and holds the sun in her fingertips as a plane flies nearby in the distance.

Sol Cotti for NPR

You owe it to yourself to go on a solo trip. Here's how to plan one

February 4, 2026 • Traveling on your own can be scary, but it can be one of the most meaningful things you can do for yourself. Three solo travelers share their experiences — and what makes for a successful trip.

Your strength-training workout doesn’t need to be complicated. Researchers recommend prioritizing just a handful of exercises, including (from left to right, clockwise) the split squat, row, bench press and goblet squat.

Your strength-training workout doesn't need to be complicated. Researchers recommend prioritizing just a handful of exercises, including (clockwise from left to right) the split squat, row, bench press and goblet squat. Mike Kane for NPR hide caption

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Mike Kane for NPR

Want to get stronger? Start with these 6 muscle-building exercises

January 31, 2026 • If you're curious about starting a resistance training routine and not sure where to begin, start with these expert-recommended movements.

Malaka Gharib/NPR

Tired of bad haircuts? 3 stylists share tips on how to get the do of your dreams

January 24, 2026 • No more crying over bad haircuts. This illustrated guide has advice on how to find a great stylist and communicate what you want, even while you're sitting in the salon chair.

Kubkoo/Getty Images

Yes, introverts and extroverts can be good friends. Here's how

January 17, 2026 • Can't seem to match the energy of a good friend? You might be on opposite ends of the personality spectrum — and that's OK. Here's how to foster deep connections despite your differences.

An illustration shows a person in the foreground, lying on a pillow with their eyes open, staring up at the sky. They have small red veins in their eyes, and they appear mildly distressed. They float on an open ocean, water splashing up around them as they drift toward the horizon, where a large alarm clock rises as if it were the morning sun. The person in the image is depicted in cool blue and purple color tones, with the alarm clock sunrise shown in pinks and golds, giving the image a dreamy look.

Antoine Doré for NPR

Life Kit's Guide to Better Sleep

4 ways to end the cycle of sleep anxiety

January 15, 2026 • People struggling with insomnia tend to hyperfocus on the fact that they can't sleep, which can prevent them from getting any shut-eye. Experts share effective practices to overcome sleep stress.

An illustration shows a close-up of clasped hands. Two hands, which are light purple, come in from the left side of the frame. The purple hands clasp a blue hand which comes in from the right side of the frame. They are wrapped in a black leafy vine which is shedding leaves, and they are viewed against a light yellow backdrop.

Hanna Barczyk for NPR

What being around death taught this hospital chaplain about life

December 30, 2025 • J.S. Park helps patients and their families cope with death every day as a hospital chaplain. He explains what to expect as a person is dying, and how to reckon with uncomfortable feelings about death.

LA Johnson/NPR

Get stronger with Life Kit's 5-day newsletter series

December 26, 2025 • Over the course of a week, we'll send you the essentials of gaining muscle and strength, based on the latest research and interviews with some of the leading experts in the world.

Managing a full December calendar and a long list of to-dos can quickly take you from festive to frazzled if you're trying to make everything picture-perfect, Instagrammable and a core memory. ⁠Niro Feliciano, a clinical social worker and author of All is Calmish: How to Feel Less Frantic and More Festive During the Holidays, shares advice on reducing stress and increasing joy this season. Julia Neroznak/Getty Images hide caption

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Julia Neroznak/Getty Images

How to focus on what really matters during the holidays

December 12, 2025 • Managing a full December calendar can quickly take you from festive to frazzled. Psychotherapist Niro Feliciano shares advice on reducing stress and increasing joy this season.