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HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS | Extravagant holiday parties and family dinners are out of the picture this year. Being realistic with yourself and understanding that this is the case for almost everyone will help you handle the emotions that might come with missing these events, according to Rashid. "I think keeping your expectations realistic about what you can and can't do this year will be a good place to begin," Rashid says. "We're often expecting the holiday season to look and feel a certain way because it's what we're used to being exposed to. For example, [you might have] the expectation that you need to have a lot of presents under your tree or that you need to be the perfect host of a New Year's Eve party. These are both ideas that might not be realistic for many this season just because of financial and safety reasons."

How to handle holiday loneliness during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a therapist

December 3, 2020 at 9:58 p.m.

The holiday season, as festive and jolly as it might seem, can also be a stressful time. Add in a global pandemic that has required separation from family and friends...

BUCHAREST, ROMANIA | Rainbow-colored umbrellas help keep cafe patrons cool on a street in Bucharest, Romania.

Cute cafes across Europe

November 30, 2020 at 6:03 p.m.

Across Europe, cafe culture is a vital part of daily life. It's a place for family, friends and colleagues to socialize, relax, people-watch and enjoy a snack, coffee or perhaps...

LOOK AT ONLINE GIFT GUIDES | Online retailers will often create gift guides for every budget that can be incredibly useful. For example, on Amazon, you can select from several categories like "Home under $50" or "Gifts under $30" and even specify who and what age you're shopping for. These gift guides can help you stay focused and not waste time searching and scrolling through pages of gifts you can't afford.

15 money-saving strategies for holiday shopping

November 24, 2020 at 4:49 p.m.

Between gifts, decorations, food and more, the holiday season can be expensive. But it doesn't have to be if you stick to some creative swaps for gift-giving, shop at discount...

SHOULD I GO TO THERAPY? | Therapy can help with a wide variety of issues and situations. Therapy is beneficial if you're experiencing depression, anxiety or other psychiatric disorders, according to UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital. But it can also help you talk about everyday struggles, process a life-changing event or address actions or habits that are harmful to yourself and others.

How to find the right therapist for you

May 13, 2022 at 4:09 p.m.

SHOULD I GO TO THERAPY? | Therapy can help with a wide variety of issues and situations. Therapy is beneficial if you're experiencing depression, anxiety or other psychiatric disorders, according...

SIMILARITY: COVID-19 AND THE FLU ARE BOTH CONTAGIOUS RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES | First off, COVID-19 and the flu are both contagious respiratory illnesses, meaning they can be spread from an infected person or a noninfected person and affect a person's lungs and respiratory system.

Coronavirus vs. Flu: These are the similarities and differences to know

August 16, 2021 at 3:37 p.m.

Flu season in the U.S. lasts from fall through winter. During a usual year, cases peak sometime between December and February and taper off by May. This year, as flu...

METHODOLOGY | To determine the maximum holiday budget for every city, WalletHub compared the income, age, debt-to-income ratio, monthly income-to-monthly expenses ratio and savings-to-monthly expenses ratio across 570 American cities.

These are the U.S. cities with the highest holiday budgets

January 28, 2021 at 2:54 p.m.

Although gift-giving isn't the most important part of the holidays, exchanging presents with those you love most is one of the perks of the season. Creating a budget and taking...

KIRIBATI | Kiribati is an independent island nation in the central Pacific Ocean — about 5,000 miles northeast of Australia — that has a population of almost 120,000. As of Nov. 11, the World Health Organization is reporting that the nation has zero cases of coronavirus.

Countries that have reported zero COVID-19 cases

March 29, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.

In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic has run rampant, impacting countries all over the world, and hitting especially hard in the United States. Some countries, however, have been able to keep...

HOW TO BALANCE YIN AND YANG IN YOUR HOME | The theory of yin and yang is one of the ways you can use feng shui to balance your surroundings. Soft and hard textures, cold and warm colors, dark and light, straight and curvy — these can all play off each other. According to Dong, it is the appropriate interaction of these two forces that creates harmony around you.

How to boost the good vibes in your home, according to a Feng Shui master

December 10, 2020 at 11:06 p.m.

Breathe in, breathe out. Take a look at your space, your surroundings and the place you call home — does it make you happy? Does it emit all the good...

ADD A NATURAL TOUCH | For the family members or friends who love nature, add a rustic touch to their gifts by using evergreen branches, pine cones, acorns or other items you can find outside.

Gift wrapping ideas that go beyond wrapping paper

November 12, 2020 at 4:49 p.m.

The holiday season is nearing, which for many means gift-giving. Whether they're for your family, a significant other, or friends, there are a lot of people you may want to...

METHODOLOGY | To best explain how to process the emotional turmoil you might feel during and after the national election in a healthy and fulfilling way, here are tips from four experts: Incia A. Rashid, a licensed professional counselor on the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Team at The Family Institute at Northwestern University; Dr. JaNaé Taylor, a licensed psychotherapist and owner and operator of Taylor Counseling and Consulting Services in Virginia Beach, Virginia; Crystal Joseph, a licensed clinical professional counselor and owner of PsycYourMind, a private practice in the Washington, D.C. area; and Dr. Daneen Skube, an executive coach, counselor, speaker and author.

Post-election detox: Professional tips to manage stress

November 5, 2020 at 9:12 p.m.

2020 has been a hard year for Americans. If stress over the nation's future has you spiraling down a rabbit hole of overwhelming emotions, you might be in need of...

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