Life Kit : NPR
Life Kit Everyone needs a little help being a human. From sleep to saving money to parenting and more, host Marielle Segarra talks to 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

Life Kit

From NPR

Everyone needs a little help being a human. From sleep to saving money to parenting and more, host Marielle Segarra talks to 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

Most Recent Episodes

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Avoid these 6 sunscreen mistakes

Making sure you're protected from the summer sun starts with a good sunscreen. But how do you know which sunscreen is best, how much to use or when to reapply? In this episode from Short Wave, NPR health correspondent Allison Aubrey shares the six common mistakes people make with sunscreen — and how to level up your sunscreen game.

Avoid these 6 sunscreen mistakes

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Check, please! The etiquette of splitting the tab

Dining out with a large group and not sure how to handle the check? In this episode, chef and food writer Kiki Aranita walks us through common dining scenarios to ensure the bill is handled fairly and smoothly.

Check, please! The etiquette of splitting the tab

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Even if you're someone who reads regularly, it can be hard to keep up your reading goals. Jackie Lay/NPR hide caption

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Jackie Lay/NPR

Set your summer reading goals

Trying to read more can be a hard habit to stick to. If you want to read more, try setting a goal to get you motivated. To make a goal that works for you — consider setting a genre or page count goal rather than just counting the number of books you read.

Set your summer reading goals

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Daniel Hertzberg

"Screen apnea": How our use of tech affects our breathing

Do you have "screen apnea?" Former Microsoft executive Linda Stone coined this term in 2007 after noticing she'd developed an unhealthy habit while answering emails: She held her breath. Body Electric host Manoush Zomorodi talks to Stone about this phenomenon — and gets insight from James Nestor, author of "Breath," on how to reset our breath and relieve screen time stress. Binge the whole Body Electric series here. Sign up for the Body Electric Challenge and their newsletter here.

"Screen apnea": How our use of tech affects our breathing

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Keeping intimacy alive after having a baby
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Keeping intimacy alive after having a baby

It's hard to find time for anything with a newborn at home. And in the months after having a baby, intimacy with your partner may fall to the wayside. But sex and relationship experts say that maintaining your intimate relationship with your partner is a worthwhile challenge. In this episode we'll talk strategies for reconnecting with your partner, exploring your desires, and expanding your ideas of sex and intimacy.

Keeping intimacy alive after having a baby

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Maria Fabrizio for NPR

BMI is flawed. Try a body composition test

For decades, health experts have relied on body mass index (BMI), a ratio of weight to height, to classify people as underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. But sometimes, you need more than two numbers to understand your health. For example, BMI can't tell you how much of your weight is fat versus muscle. That's why a growing number of researchers and physicians prefer other metrics instead. NPR health correspondent Allison Aubrey breaks down the history and shortcomings of BMI, and shares other methods to get a fuller picture of your body.

BMI is flawed. Try a body composition test

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Does it matter what time you go to bed? Sleep scientist Rebecca Robbins identifies commonly held beliefs about sleep — and debunks misconceptions. Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR hide caption

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Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Debunking sleep myths

There are a lot of misconceptions about sleep. Sleep scientist Rebecca Robbins and her colleagues looked into common myths about sleep to help everyone get a better night's rest. This episode originally published Janaury 9, 2024.

Debunking sleep myths

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Staying safe in extreme heat

The summer's first major heat wave has arrived. Our bodies do have natural ways to dissipate heat, but when temperatures get extreme, sometimes they just can't keep up. In this episode of Life Kit, learn how to keep cool, hydrated and safe in extreme heat.

Staying safe in extreme heat

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Plays Well With Butter; NPR

Grilling for beginners

Intimidated by grilling? Cooking over an open flame can do that. In this episode, learn the basics from which type of grill to choose, to how to maintain a fire and create different temperature zones, to tips on tools and safety. This episode originally published May 24, 2022.

Grilling for beginners

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Healthy money habits for couples
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Healthy money habits for couples

Should you merge your finances with a significant other? Keep them separate? Or something in between? Financial therapist Lindsay Bryan Podvin breaks down different ways to handle your finances with a partner and how to keep communication open and honest no matter what financial plan you pick.

Healthy money habits for couples

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