For something we’re supposed to do while unconscious, we put a lot of thought into sleep: what foods to eat, the ideal bedroom temp, navigating perimenopausal insomnia and night sweats. Which could explain why I can’t stop thinking about a woman who spent part of her summer sleeping like a medieval person. For four weeks, she turned in early, woke up for a few hours in the middle of the night, then went back to bed. While she didn’t emerge with a 2 am candlelight journaling practice, she did come away questioning some assumptions about what a “good night” looks like.
I’m into it. Not necessarily the wee-hours wake-up, but the idea that maybe we don’t need to optimize every hour we spend in bed. Some nights I want to stay up late binging Outer Banks. In the spirit of loosening the rules, here’s what else is on my mind:
Magnesium glycinate may be the supplement of SleepTok, but the evidence is more modest than the hype. One recent trial did find a small improvement in insomnia symptoms among adults with poor sleep who took it. If you decide to try it, tell your doctor beforehand, especially if you take medication or have health conditions. And if you want to know what our resident insomniac editor keeps on her nightstand, here are her recs.
A recent meta-analysis found that quiet rest after learning can help the brain consolidate memories. In other words, staring out the window isn’t slacking at work, it’s processing.
I have a fair amount of travel this fall and always sleep terribly in a strange place. Turns out, it’s not me, it’s the “first night effect”: Your brain stays more alert somewhere new. It could help to bring comforts from home, like your pillow.
— Anna “I Do Like the Idea of Candlelight,” Davies, writer
Five-plus years in, a lot of us have developed a pretty casual relationship with COVID-19. So much so that a scratchy throat in August might not set off any alarm bells. Except the virus is in the midst of a late-summer surge, because apparently it still doesn’t respect the traditional respiratory-illness calendar. Rude.
Why it still matters: COVID can feel a whole lot like a cold these days, but what happens after the initial infection may be more complicated. In a new study of people hospitalized with severe COVID, researchers found the illness can reactivate dormant viruses in the body. One little-understood group was associated with Long COVID and lasting physical disability, though researchers don’t yet know whether it plays a causal role.
What you can do: Start by figuring out what you actually have. The answer can affect treatment, how careful you are around others (due to the difference in transmissibility), and which symptoms you watch for afterward. You don’t need to dust off every pandemic-era precaution, but a few are still worth keeping around.
For Your Sanity:
Don’t trust one negative test. First, check the expiration date on your at-home kit. And just to be safe, the FDA recommends you try again 48 hours later because antigen tests can miss early infections. A quick answer matters if you’re at higher risk for severe illness, since oral antivirals like Paxlovid need to start ASAP.
Know what’s going around. Wastewater data can offer an early look at viruses circulating in your area. Amanda Bidwell, scientific program manager at WastewaterSCAN, told CNN she checks the data before she travels. You can search by location and see what’s up, down, or holding steady, which may help you decide whether extra precautions make sense.
Put the new vaccine on your radar. This fall’s shot isn’t just another booster: With the2026–2027 formula, the FDA has advised manufacturers to target XFG, a descendant of the JN.1 lineage, a newer version of the virus that’s become increasingly common in the US. Current CDC guidance recommends individual decision-making, so whether and when to get it may depend on your age, health, and vaccination history.
the more you know
Are You Well Informed?
Researchers found a wild new way to get cancer treatment directly into pancreatic tumors. What’s doing the delivery?
This cult-favorite meal kit is currently offering 50% off its subscription, along with some luxe Staub mixing bowls for free.
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Well traveled
How To Feel Like a Person When You Land
Don't start a trip stiff, parched, and $19 poorer thanks to one sad sandwich. These small moves can make air travel a little easier on your body — and your last nerve.
Look for loopholes. From skipping the standard security line to dropping off your bags the day before departure, new airport services could help cut your wait time. Not technically a wellness practice, but neither is losing your mind at Terminal B.
Think “and,” not “or.” Part of the fun of travel is being out of your routine, so get the airport snack you actually want. Then add something hydrating, protein-packed, or fiber-filled, like an orange, nuts, or an energy bar. (Just be sure to finish fresh fruit before you go through customs on international flights.)
Stretch before you board. Trainer and fitness expert Liz Plosser, who writes the Substack Best Case Scenario, suggests these moves — and firmly supports doing them in the aisle, at the gate, or anywhere else you can claim a little space. Yes, people will stare. They’ll get over it.
Drink the water. Plane cabins have very low humidity, which can leave your skin, eyes, and throat feeling dry. Soda still counts toward your fluid intake, but alcohol can make dehydration worse — so if you drink, add a cup of water too. One surprisingly brilliant hack: TSA allows frozen liquids through security, provided they’re completely solid when screened.
just one thing
Put Number Two on Your Doctor's Chart
Bathroom habits not your idea of polite conversation? Fair, but your doctor still needs the unedited version. Blood in your stool, constipation or diarrhea that won’t resolve, persistent bloating, or any other lasting change is worth a mention at your next appointment. Why? Signs of colorectal cancer can easily be explained away as something less serious, like hemorrhoids — just see this story of a 39-year-old who mistook her colon cancer symptoms for unresolved IBS. With rates on the rise among adults under 50, it’s worth speaking up. Awkward doc talk? Maybe. TMI? Absolutely not.
Well Fed
Yes, Yogurt Can Be Exciting
Diet can play a role in colon cancer risk, and doctors recommend plenty of plants and fiber. Something else to add to the mix? Yogurt. Research suggests regularly eating it may lower the risk of certain types of colon cancer. The only problem: Plain styles could use some help in the flavor department. These are some of our favorite ways to jazz it up:
