Comic: Honest questions about bathing

Plus: How to show your friends you love them

View this email online Today’s newsletter is brought to you by producer Clare Marie Schneider Do you prefer to start your day with a shower? Or end your day with a relaxing bath? Use a loofah? Or a washcloth? Shower every day? Or every other?  Even though it seems intuitive, people have different approaches to getting clean. Bathing is cultural and personal, says dermatologist Dr. Michelle Henry. “It represents our family, because that's who teaches us hygiene. And because of that, it's emotional. And people are wed to their patterns.”  Whichever way you wash up, there are some best practices to follow, says Henry. She and dermatologist Dr. Sonia Batra answer honest questions about bathing in our latest comic and episode.  Read the comic Malaka Gharib/NPR We want to know your thoughts on bathing Do you have strong feelings about how often people should bathe? We want to hear your thoughts and tips on personal hygiene. Send us an email at lifekit@npr.org and we may feature your response in an upcoming newsletter. Newsletter continues after sponsor message 🧼 More Life Kit episodes on body care Kaz Fantone/NPR How to protect your ears. Go easy on the Q-tips. Watch your phone volume. And if you're experiencing hearing issues like muffled sounds or tinnitus, see a professional. This comic offers advice on how to care for your ears. Read the comic here.  'Do I really need to floss?' and other common questions about dental care. We asked experts to answer five questions about how to properly care for your teeth. Here's what they said about finding a dentist, whitening your teeth at home, and whether daily flossing is necessary. Read the story here.  Your skin care routine doesn't have to be 10 steps. Your skin is your largest organ. If you want to care for it without getting sucked into a wormhole of pharmacological-sounding jargon, this guide to building a basic skin care routine is for you. Read the story here.  Listen Sponsor-Free Support public media while getting expert advice on health, finance, relationships and more with Life Kit+. You'll get sponsor-free listening AND that warm fuzzy feeling that comes with making a difference. You can also check out loads of other NPR+ podcasts with benefits at plus.npr.org. Level up your kid’s lunches Photograph by Ciarra Siller/DK Sulhee Jessica Woo, author of the new book Let’s Make Some Lunch and a mom of three, explains how to make artful, thoughtful lunches for your little ones.   Mix up your recipes – you don't always have to make a sandwich. Woo likes to roll up turkey, avocado, cheese and ranch dressing in a tortilla for her three daughters when she’s short on time. It comes together quickly and it’s a welcome surprise in their lunchbox.  Add snacks to bulk up any lunch. Woo says she goes for protein-based snacks when packing her daughters’ lunches. Some of her go-tos include: beef jerky, pistachios and hard boiled eggs.  Include a sweet note or joke for flair. Woo says adding in a small detail like a personalized note doesn’t take much time but makes the lunch extra special for whoever is receiving it. Try telling a joke: “Why did the teddy bear say no to dessert? Because he was stuffed.”  For more tips on lunch-making, listen to the episode here.  Quote of the week Believe it or not, the math you learned in school can help you in everyday life, says Ben Orlin, math teacher and author of the new book, Math for English Majors. Whether you’re trying to figure out the tip at dinner or the best deal at the grocery store, a little bit of math can go a long way. Listen to the episode here. In case you missed it Malaka Gharib/NPR How to show your friends you love them, according to a friendship expert. Loneliness can be just as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day — which means that having friends might literally save your life. But often, we don't pay friendships the respect they deserve compared to romantic or familial relationships. Here’s how to make more friends and deepen our preexisting friendships. Read the story here.  Dear Life Kit: I resent that my WFH partner has more free time than I do. A listener says she has trouble respecting her husband because of his work-from-home habits. While she works long hours, he gets to sign off early. Therapist Moraya Seeger DeGeare weighs in. Read the story here. Caring for a newborn is a team sport. Here's how to share the load. Before the baby comes along, expecting parents should have a conversation about how they will divide the household labor — and any anticipated childcare needs. Read the story here.  Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? 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