There’s no better time than now to start implementing healthier habits into your everyday life. Health crisis aside, it’s also cold, flu and allergy season. This means you should prepare to be laid up in bed under a pile of used tissues—or make this the year you actually prioritize self-care. Jotting down some doctor-approved immune system boosting tricks wouldn’t hurt either.

“Young women who are busy working often do have trouble taking care of themselves and protecting their immunity, so they come down with all these little colds during the year,” says Joyce Gottesfeld, MD, an OB-gyn at Kaiser Permanente in Denver, Colorado. That includes things like eating well, finally going to bed on time, and taking a breather when you need it. Here are some foolproof recommendations to keep in mind.

Cap Your Social Media Time

This is your gentle reminder to not get sucked into Instagram right before bed since good sleep (seven to eight hours for adults) is what keeps your immune system running at a strong clip. “Sleep is the time when your body restores itself and when all of your repair work takes place,” says Susan Blum, MD, MPH, Founder of Blum Center for Health and author of Healing Arthritis and The Immune System Recovery Plan.

Blum explains that when you don’t get enough or quality sleep, your body cues up its stress response and releases cortisol. “The stress hormone suppresses your immune system,” she says. It can also prompt your body to pack on belly fat, too. Designate a cut off time before bed where you’ll stop looking at your phone—those posts will be waiting for you in the morning.

Rethink (Virtual) Happy Hour

Winter and spring can be endless-feeling seasons, so you might think, what else am I going to do to kill time other than enjoy a cocktail at the end of the day? We’re not saying you have to skip the booze altogether (although dry January isn’t the worst idea for some), but at least practice the fine art of chasing each drink with a glass of water to slow you down.

Research in the journal Alcohol discovered that a single night of binge drinking (for women that’s four or more drinks in two hours) reduces the activity of your immune system. More than that, though, your healthy habits are likely to tank after you’ve had too many, adds Gottesfeld. “You’re less likely to eat a proper meal, get proper sleep, or pay attention to good hand-washing habits,” she adds. Plus, you may accidentally reach for someone else’s glass and take a sip.

Getty Images/Allison Kahler.

Just Breathe

Adding to the plea for more sleep: The number-one thing you can do to fortify your body’s defenses is to buffer stress, says integrative medicine physician Jeffrey Gladd, MD. “Regular, constant stress puts the body in fight-or-flight mode,” he says, which is a major drag on your immune system. In addition to good sleep, he also suggests practicing mindfulness every day and laughing more. “Anything you can do to press pause in your day and allow the body to relax will boost your immunity,” he says.

Carry This in Your Purse

You guessed it: hand sanitizer. This is more of a preventative measure than one that has a direct impact on your immune system, but hear us out. “Keeping your hands clean by washing them or using hand sanitizer is one of the most important ways to prevent sickness,” says Gottsfeld. When you come back home from the grocery store or mall, the first thing you should do is wash your hands. Out and about? Carry around an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and use it liberally and often—particularly before you eat or touch your face.

Keep Exercise in Check

Regardless of the circumstances, it’s still important to get your sweat on. “Anyone who exercises regularly will tell you they don’t get sick as often,” says Gottesfeld. There is a happy medium, though. Over-exercising (going at too high of intensity without building in necessary rest days) can weaken your immunity, so she recommends 30 to 60 minutes a day, four to five days a week at moderate-high intensity for her patients. Oh, and gentle doctor reminder: don’t share your water bottle, and (ahem) if you’re going for a quick run outside, wash your hands when you get home.

Amp Up Your C

It’s time to fill your plate with strawberries, kiwis, and citrus. “Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and antiviral, which is great for helping to prevent cold and flu,” says Blum. If you often get saddled with colds, she recommends taking 1,000 mg of vitamin C a day. Otherwise, make sure you’re adding ample C-rich foods in your diet, like broccoli, tomatoes, bell peppers, and oranges.

Originally published December 2017.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

The case of spouse abandonment plagues our world. In the common case, you think your decades-long marriage is fine, you even plan your retirement together – and then POOF! Your spouse, out of the blue, says these shocking words:

• “I’m leaving.”
• “I want out of this marriage. I haven’t been happy for years.”
• “We both know this isn’t working.” (But you didn’t know!) “I’m moving out.”
• “I want you out of the house. I don’t want to be married to you anymore.”

It’s devastating when your spouse of 20+ years suddenly decides to end a life-long relationship, especially when things seemed good to you, and there had been no signs that they were suffering.

You Get the Short Straw

But here’s where it gets sticky.

Trying to figure out the “why did they leave?” is going to slow down – or even stop – your healing.

You may end up spending months – even years – wracking your brain, trying to understand why your spouse just up and left when you thought your marriage was fine.

You may toss and turn in your bed at night, unable to sleep, trying to figure out if there was a certain day, or time, or life event, or something you said during your decades together that could have caused your spouse to decide they no longer wanted to be with you.

And you tell yourself, as you dissect the past, that if you get your answers, if your ex gives you the explanation that you are owed, then, and only then, can you get that closure and move on from your long-term marriage.

Ugly Truth #1: You May Not Get the Closure You Want

But lo and behold, that’s rarely the case as you may never get the closure you hoped for.

I know this truth stings, but it’s better to embrace it rather than fight it.

Does your spouse owe you an explanation of why they blindsided you?

Heck yes. It’s the decent, kind and human thing to do. When you were married to a person for years – even decades – and you stood by their side and made sacrifices for the sake of their wellbeing, you at least deserve an explanation and a heads-up.

But the truth of the matter is, a spouse who goes out of their way to just leave you hanging and did not think to give you an explanation when they left, will probably not provide one later either.

Their character shined through in the manner they chose to leave the long marriage, and it’s unlikely that they get a visit from the Human Decency Fairy and knock on your door to a) apologize and b) explain. Chances are, your hopes to get that closure you crave from them may very much be in vain.

Ugly Truth #2: Being a Detective of the Past Will Get You Nowhere

Of course, the logical part of you already knows that the past doesn’t hold the answers. But your heart is a completely different story.

“That’s BS! If I can only find a reason why, then I’ll be able to move on!”

“I can’t move on until they tell me why they changed after all this time.”

I get it. You want those answers. You want to know why. You want to corner your ex-spouse, tie them up and sit them at a chair, where they cannot leave until they provide you with a full and concise explanation of what made them act that way.

You want to know why they left and how long they thought about it. Were they thinking of leaving the last few times you were at dinner together? When you were discussing retirement, sharing the bed, going on vacation? The list goes on and on.

You want to be the detective and look for clues as to why your spouse left. Often, you are guided by the belief that those clues to the past will make you feel better.

That all sounds great, but let’s suspend reality for a second. Let’s imagine your spouse gives you a full explanation – a line-by-line account, day-by-day – of why they left.

What do you expect would happen then? Do you think you’d feel somehow vindicated?

Probably not. In all honestly, it may have the opposite effect, and guess what?

The outcome is the same. You’re still going to be in the same place you are now, trying to figure out how to establish your independence at 50 and beyond. The only difference in this scenario is, you’ve spent more emotional energy playing detective than the joker who left you deserved.

Your emotional energy is finite during this recovery time. Don’t waste it on playing detective – invest it on yourself and your life after 50.

Ugly Truth #3: If You Want Closure, It May Have to Come from Within

Someone who left you without an explanation is someone who does not deserve to spend the rest of your life with you. It doesn’t matter if they were your spouse, co-parent or partner for years.

If they walk out the door without having enough decency to let you know why, you are better off finding the closure and moving on by yourself.

Their explanation won’t unlock your emotional recovery. Waiting on them to grace you with that honor, and wasting your time playing detective robs you of the precious time and energy that you should be investing in your own recovery, healing and moving on.

You Shouldn’t Figure This Stuff Out by Yourself

No one’s saying you have to go through this process alone. In fact, thinking you have to just “suck it up” can actually stifle your healing process, and that’s not cool, either.

There is a ton of resources out there that you can turn to for help, and many of them deal specifically with abandonment issues. A great place to start is Runaway Husbands, which has a supportive community of folks who all share a similar story – both men and women are welcome!

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words ‘spouse abandonment’? Have you had to deal with this kind of thing in the past? Are you dealing with spouse abandonment now? What helps your healing process? What type of advice would you share with others going through the same difficult life circumstance? Please join the conversation below.

Tinsley Mortimer’s Black Printed Ruffle Dress in The Hamptons

Real Housewives of New York Season 12 Episode 3 Fashion

Based on the previews for this week’s episode of RHONY Tinsley Mortimer totally came dressed to impress for the party the ladies attend at Ramona’s friend’s $30 $39 million dollar Hamptons mansion (complete with a freakin’ bowling alley). And the fact that her black printed ruffle dress is still in stock? Well that my friends is what we call a lucky strike.

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to Shop Her Saloni Dress on Sale

Click Here to Shop Additional Stock

Click Here to Shop it in Red on Sale

Click Here to See Her Sold Out Saint Laurent Bag

Click Here for Info on Her Earrings

Click Here to See Her Sold Out Alexandre Birman Sandals

Originally posted at: Tinsley Mortimer’s Black Printed Ruffle Dress

Although it’s so easy to get carried away and drop half a paycheck at Sephora, the retailer does stock a plethora of under $25 goodies that won’t make you break out in hives when you see the receipt. The best cheap Sephora products include makeup, haircare, skincare and beauty tools. In fact, some of them are even top sellers on the entire Sephora site so there’s a good chance you’re trying something fans love—and you could, too.

Brands including Benefit Cosmetics and Anastasia Beverly Hills hawk full-size eyebrow products priced at less than $25 that have almost five stars on Sephora’s website. There’s a good reason. These best-sellers last months in the tube and hours on your face, so you won’t have to reapply as often. Prefer an affordable lipstick? Fenty Beauty (really!) and Sephora Collection have some of the prettiest gloss and matte shades for under $20.

There’s skincare, too, especially from Sephora’s own in-house line, Sephora Collection. Stock up on face masks and hydrating oil that feel way more expensive than they are. Shop some of our best-selling Sephora favorites, below.

Image: Benefit.

Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel

Fans love this natural-looking eyebrow gel for the way it uses tiny microfibers to create fullness.

Image: Fenty.

Fenty Beauty By Rihanna Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer

Although Fenty Beauty came out of the gate with its buzzy foundation, we’d say this high-shine lip gloss is just as popular.

Image: Sephora.

KVD Vegan Beauty Tattoo Eyeliner

It might have a different name, but this long-wearing liquid black eyeliner’s ultra-precise brush tip continues to be a best-seller.

Image: Sephora.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade

This waterproof brow pomade comes in 11 natural shades and stays put all day long.

Image: Sephora.

Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick

There are a whopping 78 shades of this best-selling comfort matte liquid lipstick so you’re sure to find a new favorites.

Image: Sephora.

Sephora Collection Face Mask

Stock up on these affordable sheet masks for brightening, hydrating and detoxing skin.

Image: Sephora.

Sephora Collection Ultra Glow Serum: Glow + Strengthen Vitamin C Serum

This vegan serum contains vitamins C and E to brighten and protect skin, as well as peptides to tighten.

Laneige.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

In four yummy flavors, this hydrating lip balm makes your pucker feel ultra-soft thanks to ingredients such as vitamin C and hyaluronic acid.

Image: Sephora.

Drunk Elephant Sili Body Lotion

This new body lotion is already a best-seller thanks to ultra-hydrating ingredients such as Marula and shea butter.

Image: Sephora.

Beautyblender The Original Beautyblender

We never tire of this OG makeup applicator.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Much like the rest of the world, Koh Lanta is locked down. No one can get off the island, and no one can get on. There are exceptions for medical personnel and food delivery, but that’s it unless you have a letter of permission from the local authorities.

Stranded on an Island

I can leave if I have a plane ticket
back to my home country, but it’s a risk because I wouldn’t be allowed to come
back. After all, if I’m flying back home, why would I want to return to this
foreign land?

Yet, many international flights out of Thailand are being canceled at the last minute. And where would that leave me? I have visions of that movie with Tom Hanks, The Terminal. I definitely don’t want to live at an airport till the shutdown is lifted. It could be weeks!

Here on Koh Lanta, there is nowhere
to go and nothing to do. Hotels, resorts, and beach bungalows are closed. Restaurants
are not allowed to serve food, so a few are providing take away. Bars are
closed, as are all sporting events and entertainment venues.

Massage and hair salons closed a
while ago, along with the nail shops, gyms, and yoga studios. The meditation,
Muay Thai Boxing, and yoga vacation retreats have all shut down.

People are hunkered down at home and
are only allowed to go out to buy food from 4 am to 8 pm. No social gatherings
are allowed. We all have to wear a mask. Heavy fines are in place to encourage
everyone to follow the rules.

A Grand Dystopian Adventure

While some people complain about the
curfew, it’s really out of boredom, since we’re only supposed to stay home or
take solo walks, runs, or bike rides.

I could be super stressed and
panicked with all the limitations on my freedom. But I’m not. I don’t feel
confined; rather, I see it as an adventure.

We are experiencing something
historic, monumental, and rather surreal. I’m a big fan of dystopian and
post-apocalyptic fiction, and I now see it playing out all around me. It’s
really happening, and I’m fascinated!

The Physical Symptoms of Stress

Like many of us, I wake up in the
middle of the night with shortness of breath, pain in my chest, and the sweats.
But I don’t let it control me. I know it’s my body’s way of managing the fear
of catching the virus.

My strategy is to quickly take my
mind off myself and focus on something else. Maybe my cat’s crazy sleeping
position or the way the leaves are moving outside my window. I force myself to
think about what I just watched on Netflix or a treat I’ll give myself
tomorrow.

If I can’t stop the worrying, I’ll
tell myself that first thing in the morning, if I still feel the same way, I’ll
go to the doctor. And I mean it.

The next day I usually forget about the
midnight experience until around lunchtime or when I’m out on my beach bike
ride. I chuckle at how real the physical symptoms were.

Whether it was my fear playing with
me, or my body was truly in agony, it doesn’t matter. I had respected the
feelings and had created a plan for the next morning. This plan allowed me to
fall asleep; it removed the urgency and lowered my stress.

Staying Rational in the Face of Fear

I have no idea if I will get this
virus. However, I do know that worrying about it definitely won’t help. I’m
staying healthy, following all the social distancing and washing advice, and
finding things to do with my day.

If the authorities close the beaches,
I’ll take up exercising at home. But that isn’t today. Today I can still bike
on the sand, wearing a face mask and staying a hockey stick (my inner Canadian surfacing)
away from everyone.

My Home Away from Home

A few weeks ago, when all foreigners were
advised to go home, I realized that Koh Lanta was home. I retired here over 5
years ago. I have an amazing house with a beautiful garden, along with three
wonderful cats and my partner of 30 years.

I take each day as it comes, even
with all the changing restrictions and concerning statistics around the planet.
My advice to everyone is to live each day the best you can. Don’t look at it as
living with limitations and fear – see it as an opportunity to live through this horrid global pandemic.

Do you experience physical symptoms
of stress? What are they? How do you manage them? Please share your tips with
our community.