There are things we're supposed to do routinely for our health — brush our teeth, shower, and exercise.  There's a version of that for financial health, too. We'll talk about what those tasks are — and also go beyond the number crunching to talk about mental health and finances.

Start a financial self-care routine

Children's health professionals widely recommend a strategy known as 'special time' to help reduce behavioral issues in young children. This episode explains how to do it and why this simple and free tool is so powerful.

The 5-minute playtime ritual that can help your kids listen

Heritage language learners are different from people learning a second language for the first time. They often grow up hearing it, but that can come with its own set of challenges. Experts offer their advice on how to learn your heritage language. This episode originally published May 31, 2022.

Start learning your family's language

Colorectal cancer cases are on the rise among people under 50. In this episode, we explain the risk, symptoms to look out for and how to get screened.

Millennial? Gen Z? It may be time for colorectal cancer screening

How helpful are personal connections? When should you send a thank you email? Cynthia Pong, founder and CEO of the career coaching firm Embrace Change, answers questions about how to find a job.

Looking for a job? Advice to help you land the gig

My brother-in-law was convicted of murder and is serving a life sentence. We haven't shared any of these details with our kids, ages 7 and 9. When should we tell our children where he is and what he did?

Dear LK: How should I talk to my kids about their incarcerated uncle?

You don't need to spend a lot of money to have fun. Have you done a chocolate bar taste test? Hosted a themed hangout? Gone to a surprise movie night? Here are some ideas to help you save money and maximize entertainment.

Let's have some cheap fun

Many of us will experience back pain at some point in our lives. It might not disappear entirely, but you can find ways to comfortably perform everyday tasks like cooking. This episode offers strategies for minimizing your pain when making a meal – like chopping and loading an oven with minimal discomfort.

Minimize your back pain while cooking

It's time to get your MBA — the easy way. We're sharing an episode from Planet Money's Summer School. In this lesson: Everyone has a million dollar business idea (e.g., "Shazam but for movies"), but not everyone has what it takes to be an entrepreneur. You'll hear two case studies with founders who learned the hard way what goes into starting a small business and a biz school professor who chimes in to explain the fundamentals.

Start your own business

Play isn't just fun. Researchers argue it can help you adapt to difficult circumstances, collaborate better and problem-solve. We'll help you figure out your play personality and how to prioritize play in your life.

Bring more play into your life

Everyone needs a little help being a human. From sleep to saving money to parenting and more, we talk to the experts to get the best advice out there. Life Kit is here to help you get it together.Want another life hack? Try Life Kit+. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks an exclusive sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/lifekit

Informative, helpful, and relevant. Thank you so much for this podcast!

Much needed

My son now asks, “Can we listen to our friend Grover?” Thank you.

A comfort

Everyone needs a little help being a human. From sleep to saving money to parenting and more, we talk to the experts to get the best advice out there. Life Kit is here to help you get it together. Want another life hack? Try Life Kit+. Your subscription supports the show and unlocks an exclusive sponsor-free feed. Learn more at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/lifekit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">plus.npr.org/lifekit</a>

Life Kit

Should you hand-write your notes or use a laptop? What about flashcards? Does highlighting even do anything? Here's how to improve your study habits and remember what you've learned — and keep college stress under control.

How To Do Well (And Be Happy!) In College

You might be wondering how to prevent coronavirus and protect your family if the virus continues to spread. Nancy Messonnier from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shares five things you can do to prepare. One takeaway: Wash your hands often with soap and water.

5 Ways To Prevent And Prepare For The Coronavirus

Summer is here, but the typical summer activities don't feel quite as carefree. How do you know if it's safe to hit the beach, rent a vacation home or pitch a tent? Life Kit host Allison Aubrey interviews experts to rate the risks of favorite summer pastimes.

From Camping To Road Trips: Here's How Experts Rate The Risks Of Summer Activities

Microaggressions are the everyday, thinly veiled instances of racism, homophobia, sexism and other biases that come across in gestures, comments or insults. But the "micro" doesn't mean that the acts don't have a big impact. While there's no one right way to address a microaggression, we have some pointers for ways you can begin to respond.

Microaggressions are a big deal: How to talk them out and when to walk away

From the moment you wake up, your body starts to prepare for sleep. We show you how to adjust your daytime habits to get the best possible night of rest.Here's what to remember:- Start the day with natural light — from an east-facing window, or even better, go outside — to put the brakes on melatonin. - Cut the caffeine off by late morning. Even if it doesn't keep you up, caffeine impacts how much deep sleep you're getting. - Get moving during the day. Exercise can increase the quantity and quality of your sleep.- Avoid the nightcap. Alcohol makes you feel sleepy but disrupts deep sleep.- Ban the smartphone and TV from the bedroom. Too stimulating, when you should be letting go.

From the moment you wake up, your body starts to prepare for sleep. We show you how to adjust your daytime habits to get the best possible night of rest. Here's what to remember: - Start the day with natural light — from an east-facing window, or even better, go outside — to put the brakes on melatonin. - Cut the caffeine off by late morning. Even if it doesn't keep you up, caffeine impacts how much deep sleep you're getting. - Get moving during the day. Exercise can increase the quantity and quality of your sleep. - Avoid the nightcap. Alcohol makes you feel sleepy but disrupts deep sleep. - Ban the smartphone and TV from the bedroom. Too stimulating, when you should be letting go.

Do This Today To Sleep Well Tonight

According to therapist Anastasia Locklin, procrastinating isn't a sign of laziness. It's your inner critic come to life. In this episode, she explains how you can kick the habit.

Why you procrastinate — and how to stop

Owning a home is part of the quintessential American dream, but how do you know if it's right for you? These 6 tips will help sort out the pros and cons to renting and owning — and reveal some things a rent vs buy calculator can't tell you.

Is It Better To Rent Or Buy A House?

Our biology makes it hard to lose weight. In this episode, we won't tell you how to lose weight  —  or whether you even need to. We will give you five realities about biology, and they might even help you be kinder to your body. Here's what to remember: - Metabolism slows when you lose weight.- Hormonal changes that come with weight loss make you hungrier. - What you eat is more important than how much you exercise.- Exercise seems to play a big role in maintaining weight and preventing further gain.

Our biology makes it hard to lose weight. In this episode, we won't tell you how to lose weight — or whether you even need to. We will give you five realities about biology, and they might even help you be kinder to your body. Here's what to remember: - Metabolism slows when you lose weight. - Hormonal changes that come with weight loss make you hungrier. - What you eat is more important than how much you exercise. - Exercise seems to play a big role in maintaining weight and preventing further gain.

The Biology Of Weight Loss

NPR's Michel Martin talks with Jennifer Harvey, author of Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America, about how to talk with white kids about racially charged events — and how to keep the conversation going. If you're a white (or nonblack) parent, don't wait for your kids to bring up the topic of race to start the discussion, says Harvey.

NPR's Michel Martin talks with Jennifer Harvey, author of Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America, about how to talk with white kids about racially charged events — and how to keep the conversation going. If you're a white (or nonblack) parent, don't wait for your kids to bring up the topic of race to start the discussion, says Harvey.

How White Parents Can Talk To Their Kids About Race

If you'd like to read more, but you're finding it difficult — maybe you can't focus, you feel slow or like you're not enjoying the books you tried — don't give up! These four reading strategies will help make reading a little easier and more fun.

How To Focus While Reading

How do race and racism affect our friendships? In this special episode, NPR's Code Switch team and WNYC's Death, Sex &amp; Money podcast answer your questions on race and friendship. Be a good friend and listen.

How Race And Racism Affect Our Friendships

Here's how to start a book club that actually meets, has a focus, fosters good discussion and steers clear of logistical nightmares.

How To Start A Book Club That Actually Meets

In this special episode, Sam Sanders of NPR's "It's Been A Minute" talks with financial journalist Hannah Seligson and Aminatou Sow from the podcast "Call Your Girlfriend" about why millennials are so financially intertwined with their parents.

Millennials And Money

Difficulty sleeping can cause anxiety, which often leads to more trouble sleeping. Life Kit host Allison Aubrey talks to sleep experts about how cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia can bring relief for people with chronic sleep issues.

Difficulty sleeping can cause anxiety, which often leads to more trouble sleeping. Life Kit host Allison Aubrey talks to sleep experts about how cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia can bring relief for people with chronic sleep issues.

Anxious Thoughts? 5 Tips To Help You Sleep

Healthy eating can be easy if you follow a few simple rules. We guide you through three types of healthy food you should add to your diet, and three not-so-nutritious foods to cut back on.

6 Food Rules That Could Help You Live Longer

Millions of people are trying to work from home because of coronavirus. Life Kit wants to help WFH work for you, especially if you're doing so for the first time.

Millions of people are trying to work from home because of coronavirus. Life Kit wants to help WFH work for you, especially if you're doing so for the first time.

8 Tips To Make Working From Home, Work For You

So many weekends get filled up with too many errands, plans, and, yes, work. Never getting time to relax means feeling like a zombie come Monday. Say no to burnout by making your two days off into a mini vacation with relaxation techniques and tips to unplug.

How To Have A Good Weekend

Emotions are everywhere, even at work. It might be tempting to hide them — but you can use them to your advantage.

How To Harness The Power Of Emotions In The Workplace

Peter Sagal

You don't need fancy equipment or a gym to start running. Grab your headphones and some sneakers and let Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me host Peter Sagal tell you how he keeps going.

Peter Sagal Teaches Us How To Run

The best podcast episodes on parenting. Interviewing experts and talking through common issues surrounding parenting. This topic is filled with important lessons and insights for anyone listening. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

OwlTail

Best Parenting Podcasts

The best podcast episodes on romantic relationships. Episodes talk about the 5 love languages, intimacy, and the taboo topics of sexual desires and infidelity. This topic is a deep dive into the science and complexities that face us in our relationships with others. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!