She’s not tuning in, she’s tuning inward — letting go of stress, or at least trying to, with a mindfulness app on her phone. Photo Illustration by Carolyn Rogers/NPR hide caption

She’s not tuning in, she’s tuning inward — letting go of stress, or at least trying to, with a mindfulness app on her phone.

From fires and hurricanes, to confrontational politics — with all that’s been going on, it’s no wonder the American Psychological Association found an increase in Americans’ stress levels over the last year.

Our constant checking of smartphones — with the bombardment of news and social media — can amp up our anxiety. So, why not use your device to help you disconnect?

Mindfulness apps, such as Simply Being, are an increasingly popular way to help manage stress. Using this app, you can tap into a soundtrack of soothing sounds to help clear your mind. (Cue babbling brook, singing birds, meditation gongs!)

The idea behind mindfulness is simple to explain, but hard to execute. The goal is to focus on the present moment, and to let go of regrets of the past or worries about the future. And some researchers say apps can be a useful tool to assist this practice.

Read more…

No stove? No problem.

Filled with protein thanks to the quinoa and edamame.

Broccoli + quinoa + edamame + cilantro + sesame vinaigrette + olive oil + salt.

Place broccoli in a microwavable container with a bit of salt, water, and olive oil. Cover with a wet paper towel, and microwave on high for two minutes. That’s literally it.

Place half a cup of quinoa with a cup of water in a pyrex bowl. Cover with a plate, and microwave for five minutes. Take it out of the microwave, stir, cover again, and let sit for about ten minutes until all the water is absorbed.

Filling, protein-packed, and delicious (sweet potatoes are also loaded with fiber, potassium, and vitamin A.)

Sweet potato + bacon + broccoli + milk + cheddar.

It may sound weird, but the result is just as great as stovetop bacon. To make it, just lay two paper towel sheets on a plate, place the bacon slices on top, and cover with another paper towel sheet. Microwave for one minute and a half. Voilà!

Read more…