Life Kit

By NPR

What's Life Kit about?

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.

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Dear LK: My folks guilt-tri...

12.01.2022

Between long-held traditions, unfair expectations and clashing personalities, the holidays can be a perfect storm for conflict. Therapist John Kim helps untangle three holiday conundrums.

Life Kit episodes:

12.01.2022 Dear LK: My folks guilt-trip me into spending the holidays with them Between long-held traditions, unfair expectations and clashing personalities, the holidays can be a perfect storm for conflict. Therapist John Kim helps untangle three holiday conundrums.
11.29.2022 How to apply the rules of improv to everyday life Improv comedy is about more than making people laugh. It can help performers be more creative and self-assured — and combat anxiety, both on and off stage.
11.28.2022 Transform the way you deal with dread Worried about deadlines, errands or your holiday to-do list? Reframe your relationship with dread with these simple exercises, from drawing the things that scare you to scheduling worry time.
11.26.2022 How much money do you need to become a parent? An episode from This Is Uncomfortable A couple clashes about how much money they need to save before having children. This episode is from our friends This Is Uncomfortable's podcast series on fights about money.
11.24.2022 How to set boundaries with family Maintaining healthy boundaries is a way of taking care of your closest relationships, but setting those boundaries can be hard. The process starts with asking yourself what you need. (This episode originally ran in January 2021.)
11.22.2022 Make holiday travel less stressful There will probably be long lines, delays and overbooked flights, says aviation journalist Benét Wilson. So take steps to prepare for these situations and make the journey a little more pleasant.
11.21.2022 Get better at being grateful Showing appreciation can improve our mental and physical health. But we don't often express it in our daily lives. Here's how to make thankfulness a habit, from starting a gratitude journal to writing a letter to a loved one.
11.17.2022 Dear LK: My boyfriend is too close with his former coworker My partner is constantly texting his former coworker and even spent the night at her house. He says they're just friends, but I don't like it. How can I trust him when he ignores my boundaries?
11.15.2022 Michelle Obama's philosophy on relationships In her new memoir, 'The Light We Carry,' the former first lady shares her philosophy on the relationships we have with our partner, our family and ourselves. 'You have to evolve with it,' she says.
11.14.2022 Connect with your ancestors Spiritual practitioners and Indigenous educators explain how to set up an special place to honor your loved ones.
11.10.2022 How to rethink the way you spend your time — and life Assuming you live to be eighty, you have just 4,000 weeks to live. While that may come as a brutal dose of reality, it's also an opportunity to think about how you're spending that time.
11.08.2022 Life Kit answers your pressing questions about inflation The prices of goods and services have gone up. How much of that is due to Ukraine or the pandemic? What can our elected officials do to lower prices? And how does inflation slow down? NPR's Marielle Segarra and Stacey ...
11.07.2022 Credit card points are for everyone. Here's how to get into them Credit card rewards programs can offer big perks like airline miles and hotel upgrades. Finance journalist Katherine Fan explains how to choose the right card and what to know before signing up.
11.03.2022 Dear LK: My son is upset his brother didn't make him best man. Should I intervene? A mother debates whether she should talk to the groom about the issue. Catherine Newman, an etiquette columnist for Real Simple magazine, gives her advice.
11.01.2022 Mexican cooking 101 Want to start making authentic Mexican cuisine at home? Here's what you'll need in your pantry and your fridge to get started, according to two Mexican chefs and cookbook authors.
10.31.2022 How to stay safe during a night out Safety experts explain how to prevent harm in nightlife settings like bars and clubs. That includes how to project an air of confidence with your body language — and how to effectively say "no."
10.27.2022 How to throw a clever theme party Party planning experts say to send out invites at least 6 weeks in advance. That can give guests ample time to mark their social calendars — and prepare for the big bash. Read on for more tips.
10.25.2022 How to wake up early, even if you're a night owl Waking up at dawn with the bakers and the baristas may not be for everyone — especially night owls. Whether you have to wake up early or you'd like to become more of a morning lark, here are a few ...
10.24.2022 Student loan forgiveness Q&A Life Kit teams up with NPR Education to answer some common questions about student loan relief, including: What's the application process like? What loans qualify for debt relief? What if you have multiple loans?
10.20.2022 Dear LK: I cared for our dad. Now my greedy siblings want the inheritance She cared for her stepdad through illness and death. Now she's disheartened that her siblings only seem to care about the inheritance. Financial therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin weighs in.
10.18.2022 Braving the 'quarterlife' crisis Stuck between two conflicting desires and can't seem to move forward? Psychotherapist Satya Doyle Byock shares an exercise called "My Two Conflicting Selves" to help people find a compromise.
10.17.2022 The 5-minute daily playtime ritual that can get your kids to listen better Called "special time," the strategy is widely recommended by children's health professionals to help reduce behavioral issues in young children. Here's a guide on how to do it with your kids at home.
10.15.2022 How to use music to express your authentic self For R&B darling Omar Apollo, music has been a powerful way to showcase his Mexican American culture and queer identity. In an episode with NPR's Alt.Latino, he explains why that takes courage and confidence — and a little soul-searching too.
10.13.2022 Why rest is an act of resistance Known to her fans as the 'nap bishop,' Tricia Hersey, author of the new book 'Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto,' explains why relaxation and leisure are a human right — especially for communities of color.
10.11.2022 Tips for finding relief from IBS More than 25 million Americans have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. While IBS symptoms present in the gut, it turns out that stress and anxiety can actually exacerbate symptoms. Here's how to identify triggers for IBS, eat a diet that decreases gas ...
10.10.2022 How to recreate a beloved family recipe Step 1? Throw your expectations out the window, says NPR's Noor Wazwaz. Your dish won't be the same as the one you grew up eating — and that's OK. Here's how to add your own unique spin to a family ...
10.08.2022 Dear LK: Should I give my boyfriend an ultimatum? Pop musician and reality dating series host Betty Who gives advice to a letter writer who asks if she should give her boyfriend an ultimatum because she's ready to move in together — and he isn't.
10.06.2022 Protect yourself from election disinformation It's almost time to vote. NPR's Miles Parks explains what research can tell us about how to combat fake political news — and why it's so tricky to separate fact from fiction.
10.04.2022 How to start professional networking (and feel good about it) Networking expert Robbie Samuels explains why adapting the attitude of a croissant is more likely to create meaningful job connections — and shares ways to make networking feel more natural.
10.03.2022 The markets are down. Here's how to handle your investments About 60% of Americans have some money in the stock market — and the markets are not doing great. Your knee-jerk reaction might be to sell. But experts explain why that's not a good idea.
10.01.2022 Dear LK: My dad's wife died and he won't leave the house Psychotherapist David Defoe offers advice to a letter writer who is concerned about how to help their grieving father.
09.29.2022 What to do when driving during flood conditions Hurricane Ian is rapidly intensifying, and with that there are predicted storm surges of up to 18 feet. We'll walk you through how you can to stay safe during heavy rain on the road.
09.27.2022 When something feels personal, here's how to cope Being offended by something that someone did or said can be upsetting — but it doesn't have to eat away at us. Mental health experts share how to slow down and gain clarity when things get personal.
09.26.2022 When it comes to parenting, lead with connection It all starts with the assumption that your kids have good intentions and want to do the right thing, says Becky Kennedy, a psychologist and host of the Good Inside parenting podcast.
09.24.2022 Dear LK: My parents ran a background check on my boyfriend A daughter tries to rebuild trust with her parents after they secretly ran a background check on her boyfriend. Therapist and author Nedra Glover Tawwab shares insight on how to move forward.
09.22.2022 How much water does your body really need? Do you really need to drink eight glasses of water a day? Can drinking water help you lose weight? Does coffee dehydrate you? Experts explain the science of hydration.
09.20.2022 Stuck doing all the household chores? This practical guide can help In four steps, experts Eve Rodsky and Jacqueline Misla explain how to fairly split domestic work with a partner or roommate. Don't forget to print out the handy zine!
09.19.2022 How to start a new job Life Kit host Marielle Segarra asks friends and family for advice on how to overcome her new-job jitters, meet new colleagues at NPR — and stay confident.
09.17.2022 Dear LK: Do I have to read the book my husband wrote? What's more, the letter writer hates her husband's writing style. Should she bite the bullet and read his novel? Or can she pass? Family therapist Kiaundra Jackson offers her two cents.
09.15.2022 How to counteract common thinking traps Humans have a tendency to make snap judgments and assumptions due to our cognitive biases, says Woo-kyoung Ahn in her book 'Thinking 101.' So how do we fight them?
09.13.2022 A friendship expert shares the science of making and keeping friends Psychologist Marisa Franco, author of a new book on the science of making and keeping friends, shares how to deepen the bonds in our platonic relationships.
09.12.2022 The omicron boosters are here. What you should know about them They target the original coronavirus strain and the omicron subvariants causing most of the current infections. And they're available at pharmacies, clinics and doctors' offices around the country. Should you get one? And if so, when?
09.10.2022 Dear LK: I uninvited my sister-in-law from our wedding The bride said she was "pissed" because her future sister-in-law was bringing two unauthorized guests. Rachel Wilkerson Miller, editor-in-chief of Self magazine, explains how to smooth things over.
09.08.2022 How to gamify your exercise routine Exercising doesn't have to feel like a chore if you approach it like a video game, say fitness gamification researchers Dr. Mitesh Patel and Elizabeth Lyons. Strategies to have fun while staying active.
09.06.2022 3 tips for talking to your Latinx parents about mental health Shame and stigma play a huge role in discouraging folks in the Latinx community from seeking mental health care — and talking about it with their families. These steps can help you prepare for the conversation with your loved ones. ...
09.05.2022 Simplify dinner (and cleanup) with these clever one-pan meals NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to food writer Melissa Clark about her new book, "Dinner in One: Exceptional & Easy One-Pan Meals" — and gets tips on how to cook flavorsome weeknight dinners without a sink full of dirty dishes.
09.03.2022 Dear LK: My co-worker posted a terrible review about me! A secretary asks if she should tattle-tale on a colleague who wrote an anonymous negative review about her. Career coach and HR professional Shanita Williams weighs in on the conundrum.
09.02.2022 Learning a new skill can be easy — if you have the right mindset Mastering a new hobby, like bowling or baking, can be a frustrating process. But experts say it doesn't have to be that way. If you set yourself up for success at the start and allow yourself to make mistakes — ...
08.30.2022 The sex ed most queer students never got School health classes in the U.S. rarely include instruction about sex for LGBTQ students. Here's what it could look like if they did. (This episode originally aired in April 2021 and was updated in August 2022.)
08.29.2022 4 exercises that can prevent (and relieve!) pain from computer slouching and more Vinh Pham, physical therapist and author of "Sit Up Straight: Futureproof Your Body Against Chronic Pain with 12 Simple Movements," explains why mobility exercises and good posture may be your best defense against muscle and joint pain.

Older episodes

Life Kit

What's Life Kit about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Life Kit episodes:

Dear LK: My folks guilt-trip me into spending the holidays with them

How to apply the rules of improv to everyday life

Transform the way you deal with dread

How much money do you need to become a parent? An episode from This Is Uncomfortable

How to set boundaries with family

Make holiday travel less stressful

Get better at being grateful

Dear LK: My boyfriend is too close with his former coworker

Michelle Obama's philosophy on relationships

Connect with your ancestors

How to rethink the way you spend your time — and life

Life Kit answers your pressing questions about inflation

Credit card points are for everyone. Here's how to get into them

Dear LK: My son is upset his brother didn't make him best man. Should I intervene?

Mexican cooking 101

How to stay safe during a night out

How to throw a clever theme party

How to wake up early, even if you're a night owl

Student loan forgiveness Q&A

Dear LK: I cared for our dad. Now my greedy siblings want the inheritance

Braving the 'quarterlife' crisis

The 5-minute daily playtime ritual that can get your kids to listen better

How to use music to express your authentic self

Why rest is an act of resistance

Tips for finding relief from IBS

How to recreate a beloved family recipe

Dear LK: Should I give my boyfriend an ultimatum?

Protect yourself from election disinformation

How to start professional networking (and feel good about it)

The markets are down. Here's how to handle your investments

Dear LK: My dad's wife died and he won't leave the house

What to do when driving during flood conditions

When something feels personal, here's how to cope

When it comes to parenting, lead with connection

Dear LK: My parents ran a background check on my boyfriend

How much water does your body really need?

Stuck doing all the household chores? This practical guide can help

How to start a new job

Dear LK: Do I have to read the book my husband wrote?

How to counteract common thinking traps

A friendship expert shares the science of making and keeping friends

The omicron boosters are here. What you should know about them

Dear LK: I uninvited my sister-in-law from our wedding

How to gamify your exercise routine

3 tips for talking to your Latinx parents about mental health

Simplify dinner (and cleanup) with these clever one-pan meals

Dear LK: My co-worker posted a terrible review about me!

Learning a new skill can be easy — if you have the right mindset

The sex ed most queer students never got

4 exercises that can prevent (and relieve!) pain from computer slouching and more

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