City

2023 was a monumental year in women’s sports, marked by a record-breaking attendance at the Women’s World Cup 2023 and the highest-scoring NCAA women’s basketball championship of all time. As we move into 2024, the momentum continues: the WNBA reports its biggest increase in viewership in 24 years, and women represented more than half of Team USA's medal haul at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Yet, despite this progress, an alarming 2022 survey by Puma and Modibodi reveals that up to half of young menstruators are opting out of sports due to period shame and inadequate menstrual products. This situation highlights a critical need for innovation in how we support menstruators in athletics. Improved accessibility to a variety of period products—ranging from menstrual cups to athletic period clothing—could ensure that menstruators are empowered to continue participating in sports. Below, we discuss insights from elite…

Lindsay Brewer has been breaking new ground in the world of motorsports over the past few years. With over 3 million social media followers, the 27-year-old has been a trailblazer for female race car drivers—who only make up less than 10 percent of all athletes in the sport. In 2024 alone, Brewer has broken barriers, becoming the first American female racer to compete in the Indy NXT (the stepping stone to Indy 500) in 16 years. While her achievements should speak for themselves, Brewer continues to face both gender bias and societal misconceptions about the physicality of racing as a whole. “It’s incredibly physical,” she tells Well+Good. “I’ve tried almost every sport out there growing up, and racing was always the most physical sport. There’s no power steering, so imagine holding up a 25-pound weight for almost an hour and keeping it turning…

Attention, fellow coffee lovers: Our caffeinated drink of choice not only adds vibrancy to our days but may also enhance our longevity. A December 2024 analysis published in Ageing Research Reviews reveals that individuals who consume up to three cups of coffee daily could gain an average of 1.84 years of life expectancy. Moreover, moderate coffee consumption is correlated with an extended healthspan—the period during which one enjoys good health. The positive effects of coffee on reducing mortality rates are consistent across various genders and ethnicities, covering regions from the Americas to Europe, Australia, and Asia. These benefits extend to both those with underlying health conditions such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and cancer, as well as healthier individuals. This begs the question: What is it about coffee that makes it such a beneficial elixir? “Brewed coffee contains various components that are…

Olympic gymnast Suni Lee has dazzled audiences across the globe with her gravity-defying flips and unshakable poise. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Lee became the first Hmong American to win an Olympic gold medal, securing the all-around title. Then, despite being diagnosed with two rare, incurable kidney diseases in 2023, Lee made a remarkable comeback at the Paris 2024 Olympics, leading Team USA to gold in the team event.Her determination and achievements continue to inspire many worldwide, but have you ever wondered how this trailblazing athlete starts her day? Spoiler alert: it’s more than just backflips!Lee’s mornings are a delicate balance of discipline and self-care. Whether prepping for a big meet or enjoying some rare downtime, her routine is a testament to the determination and grace that have made her a household name.She starts her day with self-care“I typically wake up and have…

Many aspects of our physical health require regular maintenance—our teeth need cleanings, our muscles need regular workouts, etc. The state of our emotional health, especially our chief relationship, is no exception. Enter the “relationship audit,” a check-in to evaluate your relationship’s strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Basically, a progress report about where your relationship currently stands. Mind you, this isn’t just for new couples; people who have been married for 30 years can benefit from these talks as much as people who just started dating. “The idea of a relationship audit is really important because sometimes we avoid dealing with problems and hope they go away,” says Patrice Le Goy, PhD, LMFT, a psychologist and licensed marriage and family therapist. As we all know, problems don’t tend to magically go away. Relationship audits don’t need to be overly complicated. All you have…

I’ve long been acquainted with Jenni Kayne’s sweaters (see Well+Good editors’ emphatic endorsement of Jenni Kayne’s internet-viral Cocoon Sweater). However, it wasn’t until acquiring one of my own—the Jenni Kayne Cashmere Half-Zip (now $396)—that I fully understood its cult appeal. Yes, the cashmere is kitten-soft, and yes, it’s as cozy as many people claim it to be. Much to my wallet’s chagrin, Jenni Kayne has won me over, just like it did with Well+Good staffers and celebrities like Emma Stone, Jennifer Garner, and Jessica Alba. Lucky for all of us—it’s 20 percent off now, alongside the entire site, including bestselling knits, shoes, and outerwear. Why I Love My Jenni Kayne Cashmere Half-Zip The Cashmere Half Zip is a cool $495, quadruple of what I’d usually consider paying for a cashmere knit. But it’s so plush, cozier than any of the other sweaters in…

If there’s anyone who can take side stepping, lunging, and punching to an Olivia Newton-John song into the 21st century, it’s Jane Fonda. The aerobics icon has released a new workout, and it’s out of this world—literally—because it takes place in virtual reality. On Wednesday, the Meta-owned VR fitness app Supernatural announced the December 25 release of a series of workouts led by Fonda. Supernatural is a VR fitness game played on Meta Quest devices that prompts players to squat, lunge, twist, and crunch in time to music, while swiping (with virtual light sabers) or punching targets flying at your face. The workout game all takes place in real-life immersive scenic environments, like the surface of the moon or on a sand bar in the Galápagos. Well+Good got a sneak peek at a few of the workouts ahead of time, and they seriously…

If you’re a person with a period and a penchant for exercise, odds are you’ve wondered: Are there any risks to working out with a tampon?The short answer is that it is safe to exercise with a tampon in, and it shouldn’t fall out—as long as you insert the tampon correctly and switch it out often enough, that is. Otherwise, there are rare instances when the menstrual product could shoot out of your body faster than soda out of a Coca-Cola bottle during a baking soda experiment.We spoke to a team of obstetrics-gynecology and pelvic floor specialists to answer your questions about wearing a tampon while you exercise. Ahead, what every person with a monthly gym membership and menstrual cycle needs to know.First up: Is it safe to wear a tampon while you exercise?This past summer, fear-mongering headlines about “toxins” in tampons were…

You roll out of bed to a layer of frost outside your window. Wafts of coffee come from the kitchen (thank you, timed brew). You’re tempted to stay indoors all day, wrapped in blankets with slippers on and your favorite mug in hand, but there’s also something totally invigorating about breathing in crispy winter air—and you’re determined to get your steps in, after all. Once you’ve convinced yourself to bundle up, you’re faced with one more minor issue: Walking in the winter can be treacherous. But according to podiatrist Elizabeth Bass Daughtry, DPM, your shoes can make all the difference when it comes to successful, safe, and comfortable winter strolls. Whether you’re braving icy sidewalks or meandering through snowy parks, Dr. Daughtry says there are a few boxes your winter walking shoes should check: They should prioritize shock absorption and traction, especially in…

We know that walking is good for your body—think heart health, bone health, and joint health, for instance. But new research shows the higher your step count, the better it is for your mind, too. That’s right: Something as straightforward as putting one foot in front of the other could actually help reduce symptoms of depression. According to the Mayo Clinic, the average American takes 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day—that’s significantly lower than that magical “10,000 steps a day” rule so many people try to follow. But recent research shows a sweet spot of at least 7,000 steps daily could be enough to boost your mental health. Keep scrolling to learn more. More about the research In a systematic review published on December 16 in JAMA Network Open, researchers analyzed 33 different studies that involved more than 96,000 adults over 18 years…