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Dear Life Kit: Should I spend $1,000 on a wedding gift?
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Perspective

Dear Life Kit

Dear Life Kit: Should I spend $1,000 on a wedding gift?

Etiquette coach Myka Meier revisits traditional wedding customs, including the cost of wedding gifts — and how much a mother-in-law should contribute to the matrimonial budget.

Dear Life Kit: Should I spend $1,000 on a wedding gift?

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The physical sensations of watching a total solar eclipse

Science writer David Baron witnesses his first total solar eclipse in Aruba, 1998. He says seeing one is "like you've left the solar system and are looking back from some other world." Paul Myers hide caption

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Paul Myers

Life Kit

The physical sensations of watching a total solar eclipse

"A total solar eclipse is so much more than something you just see with your eyes. It's something you experience with your whole body," says science writer David Baron.

The physical sensations of watching a total solar eclipse

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From food to finance, 9 life hacks from Life Kit experts

Life Kit editors share some of our favorite tips from our March episodes (clockwise from left): How to prevent eye strain, how to quickly get a messy house back in order and how to manage adult sibling relationships. From left: We Are/Getty; Becky Harlan/NPR; Francesco Carta Fotografo/Getty; Collage by NPR hide caption

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From left: We Are/Getty; Becky Harlan/NPR; Francesco Carta Fotografo/Getty; Collage by NPR

Life Kit

From food to finance, 9 life hacks from Life Kit experts

Our most memorable and useful expert advice from Life Kit's March episodes, hand-picked by the editors.

How to prevent stress from escalating into distress
Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Life Kit

How to prevent stress from escalating into distress

If you've been experiencing negative feelings like panic or anxiety for more than a few days, you might be in distress, says psychiatrist Dr. Kali Cyrus. Here's how to keep those emotions in check.

How to prevent stress from escalating into distress

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Feeling anxious? Try smiling or doing a good deed to snap out of it
Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Life Kit

Feeling anxious? Try smiling or doing a good deed to snap out of it

Feeling overwhelmed, panicked or anxious? Clinical psychologist Jenny Taitz offers simple techniques to improve your mood and calm your body and mind in minutes.

Feeling anxious? Try smiling or doing a good deed to snap out of it

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How to cut costs, pay down debt and save more money in 2024
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Life Kit

How to cut costs, pay down debt and save more money in 2024

The new year is a great time to update your budget, say financial experts. Here's what you can do to curb your spending, save for emergencies and keep your investments on track.

How to cut costs, pay down debt and save more money in 2024

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Boo! Halloween is coming. Here's how to decide on a costume
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Life Kit

Boo! Halloween is coming. Here's how to decide on a costume

Haven't figured out your costume yet? Don't sweat. Stylist Sophie Strauss explains how to create a Halloween outfit that's unexpected, fun and won't break the bank.

Boo! Halloween is coming. Here's how to decide on a costume

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8 loving ways to honor a pet's memory: Write an obit, grow a garden, dedicate a day
Clockwise from top left: Edele Brennan, Beth Fadely, Linda Smith, Jason Bauerschmidt, Marie Hernandez

Life Kit

8 loving ways to honor a pet's memory: Write an obit, grow a garden, dedicate a day

How do you deal with the heartbreak of losing a beloved pet? Our audience shares creative and inspiring ways to process grief — and celebrate the lives of our animal companions.

8 loving ways to honor a pet's memory: Write an obit, grow a garden, dedicate a day

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We've heard we need more fiber in our diets. Here are 8 easy tips for getting there
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Life Kit

We've heard we need more fiber in our diets. Here are 8 easy tips for getting there

Rethink your relationship with fiber, the dietary superhero of food — and learn clever ways to add more of it to your diet.

We've heard we need more fiber in our diets. Here are 8 easy tips for getting there

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Wolfing down your meals? Here's how to slow down and eat more mindfully
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Life Kit

Wolfing down your meals? Here's how to slow down and eat more mindfully

Lilian Cheung, a mindful eating lecturer at Harvard, shares helpful tips on how to slow down while eating — including saying 'The 5 Contemplations' by Buddhist master Thích Nhất Hanh.

Wolfing down your meals? Here's how to slow down and eat more mindfully

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Prenups aren't just for the rich and famous. Here's when to consider one
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Life Kit

Prenups aren't just for the rich and famous. Here's when to consider one

Everyone should consider a prenuptial agreement before getting married, says family law attorney Theresa Viera. Here's how to talk about it with your partner and decide whether it's right for you.

Prenups aren't just for the rich and famous. Here's when to consider one

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Spending time in a forest can boost health and lower stress. Here's how
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Life Kit

Spending time in a forest can boost health and lower stress. Here's how

Spending time in the forest isn't just enjoyable, it's good for your health. Here are some research-backed exercises to try the next time you find yourself under a canopy of trees.

Spending time in a forest can boost health and lower stress. Here's how

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Why it's OK to judge a book by its cover (and more tips on how to find a great read)
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Life Kit

Why it's OK to judge a book by its cover (and more tips on how to find a great read)

Traci Thomas, host of the hit reading podcast The Stacks, explains how she finds books she can read from start to finish. Some of her ideas may surprise you!

Why it's OK to judge a book by its cover (and more tips on how to find a great read)

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I revamped my personal brand using this 5-step process. Here's how it went.
We Are/Getty Images

Perspective

Life Kit

I revamped my personal brand using this 5-step process. Here's how it went.

Life Kit's Andee Tagle talks to networking coach Lynda Peralta about how to present her personal life and her professional life on Instagram. See how her experiment went, then try it out for yourself.

I revamped my personal brand using this 5-step process. Here's how it went.

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7 tiny hacks that can improve your to-do list
Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR

Perspective

Life Kit

7 tiny hacks that can improve your to-do list

Is your to-do list helping you reach your goals? Or is it holding you back? Productivity experts explain how to level up your list so it prioritizes what matters.

7 tiny hacks that can improve your to-do list

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How to be a better movie watcher, according to film critics (plus a handy brochure!)
Malaka Gharib/ NPR

Life Kit

How to be a better movie watcher, according to film critics (plus a handy brochure!)

This guide — which comes with a fun brochure you can download and print at home — offers advice on how to pick a film, get outside your comfort zone and deepen your enjoyment of movies.

How to be a better movie watcher, according to film critics (plus a handy brochure!)

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