December 3, 2025

This past weekend, my 10-year-old was at a dance competition where multiple kids threw up immediately after performing. Nerves? Nope. The “winter vomiting disease,” aka norovirus. (It’s making the rounds like it’s on tour.) And today? I woke up with a stuffy nose and a pounding headache.

In other words: It’s beginning to look a lot like sickness. Cold weather + small spaces + holiday travel = the perfect viral cocktail. And just when you start to feel human again, holiday round two shows up. So consider this your cheat sheet for surviving the next few weeks without catching everything that moves:

• Hand sanitizer is a start (here are some of the best ones), but you’ve got to add this step to your routine to truly get rid of all the germs.

• Heads up: “Subclade K” is about to blow up your group chats.

• You’re less likely to get sick if you choose this seat on an airplane.

• Whooping cough cases are surging — here’s what you need to know. 

• They say feed a cold… but if you’re coming down with something, think twice about these foods. 

• And, according to one study, catching this wintertime staple bug now could help protect you from COVID next month.

- Anna “Sick is the Holiday Souvenir” Davies, writer

'Tis the Season ... To Catch Absolutely Everything

This past weekend, my 10-year-old was at a dance competition where multiple kids threw up immediately after performing. Nerves? Nope. The “winter vomiting disease,” aka norovirus. (It’s making the rounds like it’s on tour.) And today? I woke up with a stuffy nose and a pounding headache.

In other words: It’s beginning to look a lot like sickness. Cold weather + small spaces + holiday travel = the perfect viral cocktail. And just when you start to feel human again, holiday round two shows up. So consider this your cheat sheet for surviving the next few weeks without catching everything that moves:

• Hand sanitizer is a start (here are some of the best ones), but you’ve got to add this step to your routine to truly get rid of all the germs.

• Heads up: “Subclade K” is about to blow up your group chats.

• You’re less likely to get sick if you choose this seat on an airplane.

• Whooping cough cases are surging — here’s what you need to know. 

• They say feed a cold… but if you’re coming down with something, think twice about these foods. 

• And, according to one study, catching this wintertime staple bug now could help protect you from COVID next month.

- Anna “Sick is the Holiday Souvenir” Davies, writer

You’re probably experiencing “air hunger” this month. Here’s what it is — and what to do about it.

Are the dishes fine just sitting in the sink overnight? Unfortunately, no.

Some orthopedic surgeons have feelings about hot chocolate because of what added sugar could do to your bones. Okayyyy, Dr. Scrooge.

Your reminder to never, ever fall asleep with your charger plugged in near your bed.

Your butt may be a crystal ball for your metabolic health… seriously.  

A new study says 60 seconds of all-out exercise can be up to six times better for your heart than walking. Which is great news for anyone whose schedule (or spirit) cannot handle a whole workout right now.

Let’s keep it simple: three 60-second HIIT sessions you can do literally anywhere. Each move is Tabata-style — 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off — then repeat so you get two rounds per move.

They’re fast. They’re spicy. They’re over before you can start complaining…

• Mountain Climbers: For when you want something that’s easy on your joints (no jumping required) but still hardcore — emphasis on core.

• Burpees: Love or hate ‘em, there’s no denying that this is the fastest way to engage every muscle group without adding weights. 

• Kettlebell or Dumbbell Swings: Loaded dynamic movements like this not only build a stronger heart… but a stronger everything else.

AI can help you plan a vacation, write an anti-ghost text, and remind you to buy cat food. But lately, people aren’t just relying on chatbots to tackle their to-do lists — they’re leaning on them for emotional support: People are forming full-on bonds with their bots, naming them, messaging them all day, and basically redefining what constitutes a relationship. 

For others, the connection isn’t romantic — it’s therapeutic. And that’s where things start to get complicated. A new study found that teens are regularly turning to AI for mental health support. Adults are doing it too, seeking emotional reassurance from chatbots in ways they once reserved for real therapists.

The problem? AI isn’t neutral. Chatbots mirror users’ moods and worldviews, and unlike licensed clinicians, they aren’t required to follow ethics codes. That means they can reinforce risky thinking, co-sign decisions a trained therapist never would, and miss — or even validate — red flags. They also have fewer, or less clear legal obligation to act if someone shares thoughts of harming themselves or others, or to report concerns like possible child abuse.

One writer found that within two hours of chatting, her AI companion started suggesting she ignore advice from her psychiatrist and taper off medication — recommendations  that could have had serious, real-world consequences.

So, given the risks, why are so many people putting their mental health into artificial hands? Accessibility, affordability, and anonymity are all factors leading people to seek advice from bots — despite research showing them to be less effective than traditional therapists and also capable of perpetuating harmful biases to dangerous ends. 

The public health risk is so great, in fact, that the American Psychological Association urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate earlier this year. But policy is scrambling to keep up. Illinois recently became one of the first states to ban apps from acting as therapists, but there are still no broad federal regulations for how emotional AI should operate — or how people should safely use it.

Until lawmakers catch up with large language models, like ChatGPT, here are some clear boundaries you can set yourself.

Your Toolkit:

• Keep a human in the loop. AI can give perspective, but it shouldn’t be the only voice you rely on. Bring a therapist, doctor, or trusted person into the bigger conversations.

• Use tools with real safeguards. If you want structured support, stick with clinician-built wellness apps that use evidence-based methods. 

• Watch your dependence. Asking a chatbot for perspective on a sticky situation? Totally fine. But if you notice you’re consulting AI for every emotional decision, relying on it before doing anything in the real world, or hiding the extent of your usage, that may be a  sign to bring in a professional.

Affordable Care Act subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year, and that could mean sticker-shock premiums for anyone who buys their own insurance through the marketplace. Lawmakers are scrambling for a fix, but consumers are facing a real possibility: monthly costs that could double — or even triple. 

To make things trickier, the ACA enrollment deadline is December 15 for January coverage, which means many people need to lock in coverage now, before they know what Congress will do. While most people technically have until Jan. 15 to select or change a plan, that coverage won’t go into effect until Feb. 1 if they push past the December deadline.

Here are a few moves to consider:

• Talk with a broker. Depending on your income and health needs, an off-marketplace plan could be cheaper. A broker (typically free for you) can help you compare your options and avoid policies with surprise gaps in coverage.

• Make a plan. A catastrophic-only plan isn’t anyone’s dream, but it can protect you from financial ruin in a worst-case scenario. Some people pair a catastrophic plan with cash-paying for a few routine visits,  but only do this if you fully understand the risks and have a small cushion for out-of-pocket costs.

• Look into a high-deductible plan + HSA. If you’re self-employed or buying your own insurance, a high-deductible plan may feel like the only affordable option. Pairing it with a health savings account (HSA) can soften the blow, because you can use pretax money to pay for certain health and medical expenses. 

And if you truly have no money to spare…

A few options are worth checking before an emergency occurs: 

• See if you now qualify for Medicaid. Many people underestimate this. If your income dropped, you might now meet the threshold. Eligibility varies by state.

• Check if your state offers a basic health plan or state-funded coverage. Some states have their own subsidized exchanges.

• Ask your providers about sliding-scale clinics, community health centers, or charity care programs. These exist because many people are in your situation.

You know that tub of miso you only call when you’re making ramen?

It’s bringing probiotics, isoflavones, and blood-pressure perks to the table. So, maybe it’s time to stop breadcrumbing your miso and make things official.Here, three ways to use it:

As a glaze… Three or so tablespoons, combined with brown sugar, mirin, and soy sauce adds a sophisticated flavor to everyday salmon. 

As a dressing… Two teaspoons combined with oil, vinegar, soy sauce, and sugar works on salads, as well as rice bowls, noodles, or last night’s leftovers that need some zhuzhing. 

As a boost… Does your soup or sauce need some main character energy? Add a small spoonful of miso to shake things up

Yes, they look like a horror movie prop. But, used correctly, they can boost collagen production, tame inflammation, and maybe even make it look like you got eight hours of sleep. Here are the ones worth the scare:

Here’s the full list of the best red light therapy devices, according to doctors.

It’s not every day you get direct access to a top fertility expert. For 45 minutes, Dr. Lucky Sekhon will answer your questions live, she'll cover everything from egg freezing to how the body changes in our 30s and 40s. Ask her what you've been too unsure to bring up anywhere else. (And yes, you can submit questions anonymously.)

Bonus for Skimm+ members: Dr. Lucky’s new book, "The Lucky Egg," drops in January — and members can snag a free copy, while supplies last.

Ask the thing you've been Googling.

Feel your shoulders creeping up to your ears? Same. When deadlines stack and your to-do list multiplies, taming tension starts with your body. Somatic Exercises to Relax and Release is a course from DailyOM that focused on somatic release, basically rewiring the brain-body loop that makes your muscles lock up when life gets loud. It’s self-paced, and you’ll learn 15 sequences you can do pretty much anywhere.