Some aspirations seem truly impossible to start, let alone maintain forever. Rather than put too much pressure on yourself, consider taking on more bite-size, micro-challenges to foster wellness in every aspect of your life. We asked experts in a variety of fields—mindfulness, mental health, nutrition, business, and more—to recommend their favorite manageable, yet meaningful, mini-goals for everyday wellness. RELATED: 6 Stretching Exercises to Help Your Whole Body Loosen Up RELATED: It’s Probably Time for a Self Check-in—Here’s How to Do It Plan a brief morning routine that’s just for you, and remember that everything on your phone will still be there when you decide to pick it up more consciously....

Get the recipe: Chicken and Vegetable Potpie Get the recipe: Grilled Shrimp Tacos Get the recipe: Salted Oatmeal Cookies With Dark Chocolate Get the recipe: Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce Get the recipe: Saucy Baked Chicken Legs With Olives and Tomatoes. Get the recipe: Salmon Burgers Get the recipe: Basil Spaghetti With Cheesy Broiled Tomatoes Get the recipe: Mexican Chicken Soup Get the recipe: Slow-Cooker Lamb, Apricot, and Olive Tagine Get the recipe: Deep-Dish Sausage, Ricotta, and Onion Pizza With Tangy Romaine Get the recipe: Chicken Tikka Masala Get the recipe: Mustardy Kale Salad With Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple Get the recipe: Cedar-Plank Salmon Get the recipe: Flourless Chocolate Cake Get the recipe: Bourbon Apple Cake Get the recipe: Pan-Roasted Chicken With Lemon-Garlic Green Beans Get the recipe: Maple-Roasted Chicken With Sweet Potatoes Get the recipe: Turkey Sloppy Joes With Coleslaw Get the recipe: Tilapia Tacos With Cucumber Relish Get the recipe: Espresso Brownies Get the recipe: Molasses-Ginger Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches Get the recipe: Kale Smoothie With Pineapple and Banana...

Christmas cards have changed a lot in the last few years: Photo cards are all the rage, digital or e-cards are almost as popular as paper ones, and foil-printing is the look du jour. But the task of finding the right phrases to use in your annual send remains the same. They’re sort of like Christmas quotes or gift exchange ideas in that way. The difficulty lies in finding the perfect term to represent your family and share holiday cheer with the recipient....

Do Your Research Horticulturists at local universities often offer free advice to save you from making costly mistakes, such as putting shade-loving plants in full sun. Also, visit your local library to check out gardening videos, books, and magazines (side bonus: some libraries even offer seeds and lend garden tools). And, of course, websites like this offer plenty of how-to landscaping and gardening information. Comparison Shop Know which plants you want before you head to the nursery or garden center....

While there are affordable alternatives to traditional financial advisors, such as robo-advisors and online financial planning services, independent financial advisors can be valuable for managing investments. They can help you set and reach money goals and even help with estate planning. More importantly, a study by investing platform Envestnet PMC estimates that an advisor can add 3 percent value on investments each year. However, finding a financial advisor you trust is crucial for reaping the benefits, and the process requires research and thorough vetting....

“While pinot noir and chardonnay are great go-to’s, the seasonal change presents an opportunity to explore a new selection of wines,” explains Christopher Hoel, founder of Harper’s Club and Luckysomm and expert wine curator for Wine Insiders and Martha Stewart Wine Co. Below are lesser-known (but equally enticing) wines that beg to be uncorked in cold weather months. Whether you’re sipping them by the fireplace or pairing them with a favorite meal, enjoy warming up with one of these five cold-weather wines....

Mustard is one of the world’s oldest condiments. Roman chefs used to grind mustard seeds with grape juice (known as must) into a spicy paste known as mustum ardens, which was shortened to “mustard” when the sauce arrived in the States. In essence, mustard is a combination of ground mustard seeds and some form of liquid—it’s the type of seeds and liquid that differentiates one variety from the next. Some are sweet, some are spicy, and others are downright astringent....

Ever wondered what A-list chefs like Giada De Laurentiis or Anne Burrell pick up for everyday snacking, meal prep, and feeding last-minute guests? We chatted with a few famous chefs at the 2020 South Beach Wine and Food Festival in Miami, Florida. They shared which items they always reach for along the aisles of their local supermarkets. Some of them are tiny, others are indulgent, and some are just plain necessary....

Instead of viewing cooking for one as lonely or too difficult, consider the benefits: you get to cook exactly what you’re craving (no compromising with a picky roommate), at whatever time is most convenient for you (9 p.m. is A-OK), to the soundtrack of your choosing, in your pajamas. Proud of your creation and wish you had someone to share it with? That’s what Instagram is for. If you enjoy planning your meals in advance, great—choose recipes with overlapping ingredients, make a list of exactly what you need, and head to the store over the weekend....

When we first started talking about going on an Alaskan Cruise for my mom’s 50th birthday, I was so excited. Alaska has always been on my bucket list of places to visit, and well, I love cruises. I’ve been on 10 or more Caribbean cruises, so I thought I knew pretty much everything I needed to about cruising. I was so wrong. An Alaskan Cruise is nothing like a Caribbean one, other than the fact that you’re cruising on a big boat and everything on the ship is included....

What is Never Have I Ever? Growing up one of my favorite games ever was Never Have I Ever. We played it all the time in high school and even in college if I’m being honest. The basic idea is that everyone sits or stands in a group and one person says, “Never Have I Ever XYZ” and they name something they’ve never done. Then anyone who has done that either switches places or puts a finger down depending on how you’re playing the game....

These apps differ in offerings and user experience: They range from bright and stimulating to more minimalistic; pre-set programming to flexibility and personalization; and super-niche and detailed to more general and versatile. However, all of them offer quantifiable tracking tools and helpful reminders for anyone trying to stay on course to meet a personal goal. When you find one that works for you, you’ll be able to develop and maintain a pattern of healthy behaviors that turn into stepping stones toward your final destination....

Plant This Instead: Though its flowers aren’t fragrant, ajuga also can grow in shady spots similar to lily-of-the-valley, but won’t take over the garden. Plant This Instead: For early summer color, plant well-behaved, pollinator favorite penstemon instead of perennial bachelor’s button. Plant This Instead: There are many other well-behaved groundcover plants like creeping thyme, oregano, or barrenwort that won’t give you a decade-long headache like chameleon plant will. Plant This Instead: If you want early color with a more pleasing scent, opt for the delightful perfume of miniature daffodils....

The Best Christmas Songs There are so many Christmas songs out there these days that it’s hard to keep track. This list is the ultimate list of Christmas songs – only the best of the best! I only included songs that I personally recognize and ones that you’d find on the “best Christmas songs” lists. I do know quite a bit of Christmas music though so feel free to just use the ones that work best for your group if you think some of them are a bit obscure or not going to be guessed....

Test (and Replace) Your Smoke Alarms There’s a reason we include this on our checklists for both the start and end of daylight saving time: a functioning smoke alarm is your best line of defense in a home fire. “In the event of a home fire, you may have three minutes or less to escape,” says Steve Kerber, the VP and executive director of UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute. “Working smoke alarms provide the earliest possible warning that there is a fire, and every second counts....

Continued use of abrasive toothpaste can remove tooth enamel and cause gum recession, exposing the tooth’s root surface and leading to painful tooth wear.Instead, Berg recommends using a multi-purpose fluoride toothpaste daily. “People who have tooth-colored fillings or restorations (including crowns and veneers) in their ‘smile zone’ should limit the whitening they do.” That’s because crowns, veneers, and fillings are made of porcelain or composite materials which, unlike enamel, does not whiten and may look darker in comparison to natural teeth after whitening....

Bright Orange Front Door A punchy shade of orange is a sure-fire way to draw attention to your front door. A vibrant tangerine color makes a surprising splash on this spacious front porch painted white. Light blue shutters and lush boxwoods lining the front walkway complement the front door without competing with it. Suggested Paint Color: Navel SW 6887, Sherwin-Williams Electric Blue Front Door Blue front doors are a popular exterior color choice, but this electric shade kicks the intensity up a notch....

Before you start painting, most cabinets will require sanding the surface, filling in any cracks or uneven areas with wood filler, and allowing it to dry. Once sanded, use a damp cloth or a lint-free tack cloth to remove all of the dust and debris. Any small particles that aren’t cleaned up can waft into the paint and ruin the pristine surface of the cabinet. If you have patience and some DIY skills, this is a project you may be able to tackle yourself; however, depending upon the intricacy of the cabinet design and your expectations for the final product, it may be worth it to hire a pro....

Secondly, she adds, if you’re not cleansing your skin thoroughly, any anti-aging serums or lotions you apply at night are unable to penetrate effectively. The bottom line: Nightly face-washing is a non-negotiable. But on that note… To avoid excessive scrubbing, she suggests washing your face in the shower. Get your skin super wet for about five minutes, and then follow this two-step process: 1) Use a gentle micellar water to remove makeup, and 2) Use a gentle cleanser to wash off leftover dirt or oil....

“In the morning, a few simple breathing techniques and movements will clear away the aches and stiffness of the body while clearing the cobwebs out of your mind,” says Tory Schaefer, national director of yoga operations at Life Time in Minneapolis. You’ll also start the day more energized. Meanwhile, “at night, a yoga practice will help reset everything so your bed becomes a sacred space rather than a think tank of residue from the day....