Anxiety Rings That Will Keep You From Biting Your Nails

Intentional Thoughts

I'm someone who has a hard time letting things go; I can agonize over one thought or situation for days! Because of this, I focus a lot on taking thoughts captive, which just means pinpointing anxious thoughts and replacing them with what I know is true.

When I have an anxious thought, I do a creative visualization exercise in which I imagine it's inside a bubble floating over my head. Then I slam an imaginary door over the memory and lock it. Then the bubble explodes and the thought doesn't exist anymore. It's not necessarily pretending like it never happened, but it does allow me to exercise some control over what I allow myself to spend time and energy thinking about.

—Choe Williams, Entertainment Editor

Breathing Techniques

My mom is a Pre-K teacher and suggested I try the breathing exercises she does with her kids who are just four years old (I'm 31 for context). The first is called Mountain Breathing, which entails holding up your hand and tracing the outline of your fingers. As you climb up the mountain (or your finger), inhale, and as you trace down into the valley between your fingers, exhale. Another breathing visualization she recommends is as you inhale, imagine yourself breathing in to smell the flowers, and exhale to blow out a candle. These little imaginative scenarios help me get out of my head and focus on my breathing when I need a little reset throughout the day.

Hammock Swinging

Whenever I'm feeling super stressed, I head for the hammock I setup in my front yard. Just as rocking can soothe babies, swinging in a hammock is a powerful soother for adults too! I feel super chilled afterwards and am usually getting some Vitamin D while I'm at it for a win-win.

Painting

During the pandemic, I revisited arts and crafts with soft pastels. I started mixing the colors and doing gradient shadings on card stock with my hands, and it proved to be a super meditative way to decompress. The end result is DIY art you can share or pin on your fridge or wall.

—Alison Ives, Head Of Content

Breathing Techniques

Nothing calms me down quite like alternate-nostril breathing. I first learned about this technique in my yoga classes, but the practice (called Nadi Shodhana in Sanskrit) dates back to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which was thought to be written sometime between 200 BC and 200 CE. Put simply, you sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and cover one nostril while you breathe in through the other. Then, you switch which nostril you're holding closed, and breathe out. In modern times, the connection between vagal nerve tone (which is correlated with anxiety and emotional regulation) and alternate-nostril breathing is becoming more and more mainstream, which may eventually help us better understand why this practice is so naturally calming.

Tarot Reading

Tarot can mean a lot of different things to different people. For me, I use tarot cards as a method to help me understand what lessons I'm learning at any given time. This has allowed me to view stressors in my life as learning experiences, which has helped me stay calm in numerous crises. I personally like to light some incense or a scented candle, sit quietly, and pull a card to see what resonates. That said, tarot and its associated images and meanings can be scary or triggering if you don't have a deep and gentle understanding of what the cards mean. I recommend Lindsay Mack's classes and podcasts for anyone who wants to learn about tarot in a non-judgemental, non-predictive, trauma-informed way.

—Maggie McCracken, Former Senior Editor

Sensory Accessories

My recent ways of coping/de-stressing have primarily been spiky sensory finger rings, which are a huge help when I need to get something done and can't stop my day to destress. I grab one of these guys which I have all over the place (most of my jacket pockets + purses), and it helps to calm me down and reset my focus.

Meditation On The Move

Another thing I do that I am trying to integrate into my daily routine is guided meditation walks. As someone who hasn't mastered sitting meditation I've found some on Headspace that I'm enjoying that are specifically for going on a walk through a city.

—Claire Shadomy, Former Graphic Designer

Baths...

In times of high stress, or after a long day, my go-to is always a candle-lit bath soak. I put a large scoop of Epsom salts in the tub with a few drops of my favorite essential oil and place tea lights all around the tub. It’s like my secret getaway from the rest of the world. I always make a point to leave my phone in the other room too so I utilize the time to just relax in silence. Water triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's “rest and digest” response. It always gets my heart rate and blood pressure down.

...And Sound Baths

Sound baths are a meditative experience where you’re “bathed” in sound waves. I love to watch them online but you can also create your own experience. I find meditating with a singing bowl so relaxing. It can take a little practice, but once you’ve nailed the hand movement, it’s an interactive way to ease stress and channel your focus elsewhere.

—Allison Cimo, Former Social Media Manager

Take A Hike

Pretty much every day in 2020 I walked the trails near my house and I started to pick up a small rock each time. I'd fidget with it while I cleared my mind and let nature calm my nerves. I would throw the rock back into nature after my hike and it felt like a release for all of my worries.

Bedtime Music

My daughter and I listen to Doze sleep music on Headspace before we go to bed. It calms her late-night zoomies (and mine) and gets her to sleep in minutes!

—Theresa Gonzalez, Branded Content Editor

Journaling

What I use for my anxiety is the Intelligent Change Five Minute Journal. I have a safe word in place for when I feel myself spiraling or I'm not able to control my thoughts and breathing.

—Brittney Davis, Account Manager

Fall Jewelry

Nordstrom Cord Pendant Necklace

A statement necklace will take any simple outfit and instantly give it some character and class. This one here is what all the cool girls are wearing this fall — cord pendant necklaces! They're very reminiscent of the '90s, but they're back and better than ever this fall!

Heaven Mayhem Icon Watch

Heaven Mayhem quickly solidified itself as an iconic and classic brand. They recently delved into the world of watches, they've already graced thousands of "It" Girl wrists with their timeless styles. Keep an eye out for this brand, because they're not going anywhere!

Heaven Mayhem Gigi Earrings

Statement earrings are another Heaven Mayhem staple! In my opinion, these instantly make your look way more chic! I love some good statement earrings to make a simple sweater, boots, and jeans outfit appear more put together and classy. These pearl ones are great because they'll compliment any look you decide to wear this fall!

Anthropologie Pearl Bag Charm

The Jane Birkin-ifying your bags continues! Remember when you used to decorate your crocs with pins? This is the adult version of that! You can take fun charms like this one, and completely personalize all of your purses this fall! I love this trend, and definitely think it will be here to stay!

Fall Belts

Madewell Leather Belt

A good quality, leather belt is an essential in every wardrobe, especially for the fall and winter months. This will immediately make your outfit look more polished and tailored — plus, you can take everything to the next level when paired with matching shoes or a bag! I definitely plan on purchasing this belt from Madewell — it's only $58! This one is a classic accessory that will last you for multiple seasons!

Treasure And Bond Oversize Buckle Leather Belt

Boho chic is one of the top fall trends this year, and an essential component of that? Western wear. It's not quite a full yeehaw-core, but more of a subtle hint of cowboy mixed with more modern styles. This belt is perfect for that, giving you a sleek black leather paired with silver and teal accents.

Banana Republic Factory Leather Corset Whipstitch Belt

Another more modern take on western wear, this corset belt is incredibly chic! We've seen a lot of corsetry over the last few years, but this is a simple — and likely less restrictive — take on that. I could see this over a crisp white button down and some dark wide legged jeans to accentuate your style.

Anthropologie Buckle Belt

Everyone needs an accessory that gives them that pop of color to make their outfit go from "cute" to "CUTE!" This is that accessory for me. It has a unique shape so bonus point there, AND it also comes in this gorgeous, bright red — which is one of our fall trending colors this year!

Fall Bags

Anthropologie Fiona Beaded Bag

A statement bag is another "must" on our list for fall 2024, and this beaded option from Anthro definitely fits the bill. It's a simple black bag, but the studded, gold heart detailing gives it a little character — which I love to add to my outfits! It's a fun way to inject some personality into your daily 'fits!

Anthropologie Horsebit Bag

Gucci, who? Anthropologie has entered the convo, and at a much, much cheaper price point. This horse-bit bag is all I can think about with its combination of perfectly vintage, and perfectly trending shape! It's truly the ideal statement piece to up the ante on any outfit! Obsessed!

Free People Bobbi Slouch Suede Tote

Slouchy bags are back and they're better than ever, TBH. This suede tote from Free People is one of my favorites this season, and it would go perfectly with the charms I talked about earlier! Grab this bag for that effortless je ne sais quoi!

Quince Italian Leather Trapeze Crossbody

This Polène dupe is honestly everything — and so much cheaper! You can get this TikTok-loved style for about 80% less, and it's genuine Italian leather. Plus, you can never have too many solid brown bags for the fall, if you ask me!

Fall Shoes

J.Crew Logan Mary Janes

These bright red shoes will make the perfect statement to accessorize your outfit with! The pop of red is my favorite way to add flair to my outfits this fall. You simply take an otherwise neutral or simple outfit, add these red shoes, and voila — instantly more fashionable. These satin mary janes will definitely help you to stay on trend.

Mango Cow Print Shoes

Cow print is my favorite up-and-coming trend this fall, and I know we'll be seeing more and more of it! If this animal print seems to be too much for you, then opt for these shoes that have a more mild cow-print on them. This lets you test the trend without it being too out of your comfort zone!

Target Lonnie Kitten Heel Stretch Ankle Boots

Boots are always a nice touch to a fall 'fit, but these pointed toe kitten heels take it to the next level. Their sleek profile can go with just about any look, giving a more demure and mature touch to your style. Plus, who doesn't love an excuse to get more Target shoes?

Tecovas The Annie Boots

And for the final cherry on top of your fall accessories, these Tecovas boots are everything. Like I said before, western wear is the moment this year, and a classy pair of cowboy boots are a great way to take on the trend. This shade of "sequoia" brown is rich and luxurious, but just subtle enough to go with about anything.

Talking to Vanity Fair for her newest film Lee, Kate Winslet revealed one project she wishes fans asked about more is Iris. The 2001 film stars Kate as a young Iris Murdoch against Judi Dench's older counterpart. And for Kate, nothing was more terrifying than working with such a wonderful actress.

"People don’t really ask me about Iris. It’s such a delicate film," she says. "It was the first thing I had done after having my daughter. Going to work with a baby, I’m playing Iris Murdoch, looking to Judi Dench’s older Iris Murdoch — I was sh—ting myself."

Considering how nervous I get when I meet my heroes, I can only imagine what it was like to meet Dame Judi Dench. Talk about a dream! Another film Kate loves is Revolutionary Road, and not just because she got to reunite with Leonardo DiCaprio.

"The thing that people say is, 'You got to work with Leo again.' Then they go off on the whole Leo tangent, which I totally understand," she says of the film, which follows an ambitious couple who find themselves trapped in the reality of 1950s suburbia. "But Revolutionary Road — f—king hell, it just knocked us all sideways. Unbelievably difficult material. I was very proud of that film and what Leo and I were able to create as Frank and April. It was so brutal."

The process for getting Lee into the world sounds equally brutal, considering Kate started working on it over a decade ago. As producer, Kate tells Vanity Fair she doesn't mind the fact she's done more for the film than if she only had an acting credit. "That has felt very necessary for this film. But it’s also just really important to me," she says. "It’s important to me that people know that it’s out there and might feel compelled to go and see it."

Because it turns out, commercial success or stardom on its own doesn't actually help your movie get made! "It doesn’t matter who you are," she says. "No one’s going to go, 'Oh, I’ll just back that pony because she was in Titanic.' It doesn’t happen that way, and I never expected that. That’s really important to say."

"I've gotten older and I’ve learned more and felt more confident in myself about whether or not I could actually do it," she adds. "It’s not something I would’ve done had I not felt so passionately about the subject, and Lee was just—she wouldn’t let me go."