Author: TECH

As Americans increasingly report feeling overwhelmed by daily life, many are using self-care to cope. Conversations and social media feeds are saturated with the language of “me time,” burnout, boundaries, and nervous system regulation.To meet this demand, the wellness industry has grown into a multi-trillion-dollar global market. A myriad of providers offer products, services, and lifestyle prescriptions that promise calm, balance, and restoration.Paradoxically, though, even as interest in self-care continues to grow, Americans’ mental health is getting worse.I am a professor of public health who studies health behaviors and the gap between intentions and outcomes. I became interested in this…

Pune: A recent study conducted by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) on 130 postgraduate medical students has underscored a critical shift in healthcare thinking: emotions are not peripheral to health; they are foundational.For decades, medical studies have recognised that emotional state influences stress regulation, behaviour, and long-term health outcomes, with chronic emotional dysregulation associated with increased allostatic load, impaired immunity, and a higher risk of non-communicable diseases. Yet, despite this understanding, emotional assessment in clinical and institutional settings remained largely dependent on self-reporting — an approach that is often unreliable and influenced by awareness, recall, interpretation, and an…

You don’t become eligible for Social Security until you’re 62 for the entire month. Your birth month is your first month of eligibility only if you were born on the first or second day of the month. The Social Security Administration pays benefits in the month after the month they’re due. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › You want as many Social Security checks as possible, so you plan to sign up as soon as you can. You probably know that you become eligible at 62, but thanks to an obscure Social Security rule, you and…

House Finch – Credit: James Tornetta via Cornell Lab of Ornithology / Macaulay Library Do you love bluebirds, finches, and chickadees? Why not count birds in your community with your kids and friends during the Great Backyard Bird Count in 2026. Our mental health is nurtured by nature—and it will take under an hour to give back to what birds give us. The annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) runs through Valentine’s Day, from February 13 through February 16, 2026. Spending time immersed in nature by watching birds can reduce stress, so join in the fun this February and spend…

It’s totally normal to feel uninspired at different times in your life. And sometimes you find yourself in a season of rest, low energy or just sort of…being.  But when you’re ready to get out of that uninspired state, the key is to know what you can do when you find yourself in it. If you just sit by idly, you may continue to be uninspired for a very long time. So, if you’re ready to break the blahs and reignite your passion for life again, start by learning what works for you when it comes to receiving inspiration. Here…

The new year brings a slew of changes to Social Security. While many of them are subtle, they can make an impact on your bottom line — especially if you’re relying heavily on your benefits in retirement. Not all the changes are positive, but one could help you keep more of your monthly payments in 2026 if you’re continuing to work in retirement. Here’s what you need to know. Image source: Getty Images. If you’re still working in any capacity while receiving Social Security, you could be subject to the retirement earnings test. This is essentially an income limit that…

Credit: Anna Jakutajc-Wojtalik for Unsplash+ Which states in the USA are known for the best food and what are the dishes most associated with each state? A new poll has the answers. A survey of 5,000 Americans—split evenly by state—explored sentiments about each region’s homemade dishes and which are the tastiest. The top state chosen for best food was California—with New York, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida rounding out the top five regions with the best cuisine. Above all, Louisianans know they’ve got it nailed: 94% of those surveyed expressed the most confidence in their state as having the best cuisine.…

Distributed by EIN Presswire Tampa, Florida – Veterans benefits attorney David W. Magann is advising Florida veterans, survivors, and caregivers that disability compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation will increase with the 2026 federal cost-of-living adjustment of 2.8 percent. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has recently announced the 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) uses this same COLA percentage for VA compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments. The adjustment will take effect on December 1, 2025, and will be reflected in the 2026 financial statements, either at the end of the year or at…

When people talk about retirement planning, it’s common to hear the term “net worth” tossed around. And it’s natural to track your net worth with the hope of growing it over time. But if you want to set yourself up for a secure retirement, net worth isn’t the figure you should be focusing on. Instead, you should focus on a completely different number — your savings. Image source: Getty Images. To understand why you shouldn’t focus on net worth in the course of retirement planning, it’s important to understand how that number is calculated. Your net worth is the total…

From small moments of joy to major celebrations, we bring you inspiring stories from around the world to brighten your week. This is your reminder to take a moment to savor the simple acts of kindness and happiness in your day. “Kindness is a gift everyone can afford to give.” – Unknown   Enjoy this week’s uplifting stories! A boy spends months saving to surprise his sister A woman’s first snowfall experience brings pure joy A support group helps women find strength after divorce A family finds kindness after being stranded in a blizzard   Positively Uplifting Stories | January…