5 Things You Need to Know to Become a Morning Person

We can all rejoice in the fact that studies say sleeping in on the weekend is a good thing, but if you want to avoid napping at work, taking steps to become an early bird can help make your weekday extra productive. When hitting the snooze button (over and over) is easier than waking up for an a.m. HIIT workout, where do you start? We called up Denise Limongello, a licensed psychotherapist and wellness expert, to help get you out of bed and on your feet before your alarm goes off for the third (or fourth or fifth) time. Night owls, it’s as easy as the five steps below.

1. Make breakfast bigger than lunch. Studies show that people who say it’s difficult to wake up in the morning often skip breakfast and have a large lunch as their first meal of the day. Well, turns out that’s not a great order of events. Denise says, “Reversing the order and making breakfast your larger meal can have health benefits, as well as help you get into the routine of waking up earlier. Prepping food the night before will make it easy and enticing to start nibbling right when you wake up.” You’ll definitely want to get out of bed for these make-ahead breakfasts.

2. Reward yourself. “Choosing a reward for yourself in advance to treat yourself with after you’ve succeeded at waking up earlier can actually help you to succeed as you’re trying to create this new habit,” says Denise. “Rewards can also lead to elevated mood and increased productivity,” she says. Bonus. We’re thinking a glass of wine at the end of the day, a pedicure or a nice long bubble bath sound like pretty good rewards to us.

3. Pump up the jams. Throwing on some tunes can get you through the toughest workouts and the latest Saturday nights. And it turns out that music is also a great way to get yourself up and moving in the a.m. too. Denise adds, “Music can have tremendous value for improving mood and increasing energy. Cuing up your alarm clock to blast your favorite tunes may help you to get out of bed earlier. Prepare a playlist of songs that you particularly associate with good times to help with the chore of pulling yourself out of bed early.”

4. Eat more salmon. “Salmon, according to research, might be an excellent idea for gaining energy quickly in the morning. Salmon is high in essential omega-3 fatty acids, which are often associated with increased brain activity and improved circulation,” notes Denise. Try swapping out your cereal for a salmon omelet or adding lox and bagels to your morning menu.

5. Embrace your guilty pleasures. Research shows that many people often enjoy the rituals associated with a guilty pleasure, such as a favorite TV show at night (looking at you Bachelor empire). Denise suggests using that feeling to your advantage. “Moving your enjoyed ritual to the morning, instead of at night, can be a great incentive to try to wake up earlier and make your mornings last longer. Who says your indulgences have to happen at the end of the day? Moving your personal routines to the morning may be enormously valuable for getting you up earlier and making your days more productive.”

Tweet us your tips for becoming a morning person @BritandCo!

(Photos via Getty)

If you've been struggling to get enough sleep, new TikTok viral wellness trend — 'sleepmaxxing' — wants to help. We'd give anything to stop dealing with insomnia, middle-of-the-night wakeup calls, and overall sleep anxiety. But does this trend work? And more importantly, are all these social media tips safe for you to try?

Dr. Ankur Bindal, MD, MPH, FAPA, FAASM can tell you better than we can given his board certification in psychiatry, from American Board of Psychiatry & neurology. In addition to being the founder of the KAB Medical Group Inc. in San Diego, he's also a board certified sleep medicine practitioner who's seen firsthand how a lack of rest can affect our overall wellbeing.

TL;DR

  • Sleepmaxxing is a TikTok trend that's focused on setting yourself up for the best night of sleep possible.
  • While sleep masks and other tangible efforts to get comfortable in bed are great, you mainly want to make sure you're making healthy choices before bed like avoiding your phone.
  • Adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
  • Eliminate too much light in your bedroom, avoid screen time, and establish consistent sleeping and waking times.

What is sleepmaxxing?

KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA

If you're confused about sleepmaxxing, you're not alone — it's really not a straightforward term. It reminds us of what Will Ferrell said in Blades of Glory: "No one knows what it means but it's provocative...gets the people going." However, it actually has a meaning, and Dr. Bindal succinctly breaks it down. "Sleepmaxxing is the art and science of optimizing one's sleep and achieving the best possible quality & quantity of sleep by addressing every factor that can disrupt sleep," he says. This can look like using ear plugs, sleep masks, establishing specific sleep rituals, or anything else that is soothing and helpful.

Mainly, if you actually want to maximize your sleep, then you need to focus on what you do before you go to bed. Unbeknownst to us at times, our bedtime habits can affect the kind of rest we get (or not) at night. Dr. Bindal says, "Optimal Sleep hygiene methodologies including limiting light and sound exposure to using the latest sleep gadgets so sleepmaxxing aims to enhance sleep quality to the fullest." Unfortunately this means our habit of binge watching shows or scrolling mindlessly on TikTok at night aren't helping us.

I mean, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 35% of those surveyed have their sleep interrupted by lights inside of their homes. That's just lights, sans repetitious social media sounds and compelling television plots. When you add those on top of it all...let's just say we really are not doing ourselves any favors.

How does getting the proper amount of rest aid in our overall wellbeing?

Ahmed ツ

Now that you have a better idea of what sleepmaxxing is, we have to talk about why it matters. Dr. Bindal says getting the "proper amount of sleep" helps support" the following "various bodily functions" including, but not limited to:

  • Brain health — Enhanced cognition in domains of learning, concentration and consolidating memory by promoting phenomenon of hippocampal plasticity
  • Immune system function — A production of essential immune cells, better equipped to fighting off infections
  • Hormone regulation — A regulation of mood and reduced stress and physical repair that promotes muscle recovery, tissue repair, and overall physical development

He further explains that hormone regulation eventually leads to "improved mood, concentration, energy levels, and reduced risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes."

Basically, the health benefits of slowing down and going to sleep outweigh what society often pushes — staying up later, longer and hustling at all hours of the day and night.

On average, how many hours of sleep are recommended?

Kaboompics.com

How much rest are you truly getting at night? If you ask America's Health Rankings, 35% of adults are getting less than seven hours of sleep. Dr. Bindal says that while adults should sleep between seven and nine hours every night, and there are health risks for those who don't. "Research corroborates that adults who sleep less than seven hours a night may have more health issues than those who do," he explains. Johns Hopkins Medicinefound that sleep deprivation can lead to a "36% increased risk for colorectal cancer," propensity for developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and an overall lower immune system.

Saying "I'll sleep when I'm dead," may sound like a joke, but there's nothing funny about not letting your body get the rest it needs to function.

Should people with sleep difficulties try sleepmaxxing?

Marcus Aurelius

There are several reasons why your sleep could be negatively impacted right now. You may be dealing with insomnia due to stress, depression, or being a new parent. According to the American Psychological Association, 43% of people believe being stressed contributes to their lack of sleep. Furthermore, these same people have noticed their mood has shifted. The same reports shows that 45% of people who are getting less than the recommended hours of sleep have shared they feel on edge more than others while 52% have noticed they've been taking their frustrations out on those in their household.

Dr. Bindal agrees that sleepmaxxing can greatly benefit you if you're struggling because it can "enhance sleep quality to the fullest and emphasizes the importance of optimal sleep health."

How does sleepmaxxing benefit us?

Pavel Danilyuk

Clearly, you need a certain amount of sleep to function properly and achieve all those goals you've so intentionally set recently (hello, October Theory!). That's where sleepmaxxing can come in. Dr. Bindal says, "Improved sleep quality can lead to enhanced mental clarity and emotional stability, making it easier to navigate daily challenges."

If you're planning to change a few habits, you're going to need all the strength and focus you can access because change isn't always easy — even if you welcome it! So when you're implementing these new nighttime routines, be sure to stick to them. Turn your phone on Do Not Disturb, avoid the itch to scroll socials, and make sure you're able to properly relax. It can make all the difference in the world!

How can we incorporate sleepmaxxing in our bedtime routines?

KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA

If you don't know how to make sleepmaxxing work for you, Dr. Bindal has great suggestions! "Key techniques include optimizing your sleep environment, establishing a consistent sleep schedule, and managing stress and anxiety," he suggests.

One of the key ways you can make sure your room will promote a good night's sleep is by "adjusting the temperature" or "practicing a relaxation exercises before bed," he says. While meditation and mindfulness may be relaxation exercises that take practice over time, choosing the correct temperature is an easy way to set yourself up for success. Everyone's different, but he truly believes your room should be between 65 and 69 degrees Fahrenheit, too.

As Dr. Bindal mentioned before, eliminating sources of light can also aid in the rest you get. Personally, I can't sleep with the TV or lights on anymore because I just know it interrupts my sleep. My room is usually pitch black when it's time to go to sleep — to the point my three-year-old knows what it means when I turn everything off.

Besides these things, Dr. Bindal encourages you to maintain "consistent sleep and wake times" along with a "balanced diet and regular physical activity." Whether that means you start making your own Cava bowls inspired by the blue zone diet or doing workouts at home, they can aid in helping your body repair itself which then promotes the sleep you need.

Can we become too hyper-focused on our quality of sleep?

Kevin Malik

As with anything, too much of something can have adverse affects which rules out any benefits. Though sleepmaxxing can be a good thing for you, becoming fixated on it is likely going to make you even more stressed. "One of the primary concerns with sleepmaxxing is the development of orthosomnia, a condition caused by an obsession with tracking sleep metrics, with devices or apps, which increases anxiety and can further disrupt sleep, called paradoxical insomnia," Dr. Bindal warns.

If you become too obsessed with tracking every little thing, he says all this will do is "disrupt sleep cycles and limit the efficacy of insomnia treatments." But, he has an idea of what you can do to lessen the chance that'll happen. "Instead of over-analyzing how much sleep you’re getting, it’s important to understand that insomnia is a common and treatable condition, by incorporating healthy sleep hygiene routines organically and focusing on addressing the root causes of insomnia symptoms," he shares.

How can we optimize our sleep without getting sucked into wellness trends?

Niels from Slaapwijsheid.nl

Whether you want to call it sleepmaxxing or not, all you have to do is normalize the tips Dr. Bindal mentioned above. "Some of the ways can include established a consistent sleep schedule, creating a relaxing bedtime routine, managing light exposure, and limiting screen time before you want to go to sleep," he reiterates. Social media isn't going anywhere so don't let your FOMO convince you that potential scandals or tutorials are more important than getting seven to nine hours of sleep.

Also, don't forget to "maintain a comfortable sleep environment" while being aware of your "caffeine and alcohol intake throughout the day," Dr. Bindal points out. Something tells us that we're going to have to be intentional about breaking up with our daily coffee runs and desires to unwind with a nice glass of wine. But if it means we'll sleep better, we'll add that to our list of habits to change!

Need an extra dose of positivity in your life? We have even more lifestyle tips to share to help you end the year on a healthy and wholesome note!

I can totally understand falling for a costar. One scene gazing into each other's eyes, and (as the kids say), I'd be asking, "What are we?" Zendaya & Tom Holland and Ashley Park & Paul Forman both met on the sets of their most famous projects (Spider-Man and Emily in Paris, in case you were wondering), and this year's biggest movie event also features a brand new celebrity couple: Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater.

The co-stars made headlines when they ended their respective marriages and started dating each other, and Ethan Slater finally spoke out on the response to their relationship. Here's what he had to say, and the latest news on this couple.

Keep reading for the latest news on Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater's relationship.

  • Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater met on the set of Wicked, in theaters November 22.
  • The couple made headlines when they started dating the same month they separated from their respective spouses.
  • In a recent interview, Ethan Slater reveals the reaction to their relationship was "really hard."

Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater's Full Relationship Timeline

Jerod Harris/Getty Images for CinemaCon

Late 2022 — Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater Meet While Filming Wicked

After Ariana and Ethan were both cast in Jon M. Chu's Wicked, the movie began filming in early December. Ariana Grande was cast as Glinda, while Ethan Slater got the role of Boq, one of Glinda's Shiz University classmates.

March 27, 2023 — Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater Were "All Over Each Other"

Ariana and Ethan reportedly could get enough of each other at Michelle Yeoh's Oscars party. A source told The Daily Mail later that summer that "They were seen making out at a pub in Hampstead, and they were all over each other at Michelle Yeoh's Oscar party."

Aliah Anderson/Getty Images

July 2023 — Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater Split From Their Partners And Start Dating

News of Ariana's split from her then-husband Dalton Gomez broke on July 17, while TMZ also reported Ethan filed for divorce from his wife at the time, Lilly Jay, on July 26. (Ariana and Dalton ended up filing for divorce in September).

After People reported Ariana and Ethan were now in a relationship of their own, Lilly told Page Six that “[Ariana’s] the story, really. Not a girl’s girl. My family is just collateral damage.” However, other sources claim Lilly and Ethan had been separated for a couple months before his relationship with Ariana started.

August 2, 2023 — Ethan Slater & Ariana Grande Are Moving Fast

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater reportedly fell head over heels so quickly, their friends were telling them to pump the breaks. “Ariana’s been told it’s too soon to go public with him and to take things slower,” said an Us Weekly insider at the time. “She’s very aware of how she’s perceived by her fans, and she’s trying to be mature. [But] if it were up to her, she’d be seen with him tomorrow.”

Elsa/Getty Images

September 4, 2023 — Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater Are Learning How To Balance Their Relationship

Sources told People at the beginning of September that the costars and couple are trying to figure out how to balance their relationship with their celebrity.

“While this entire situation has been blown out of proportion, it’s much different than what has been portrayed in public,” a friend of the couple says. “They are just trying to navigate their new relationship in private."

Another reemphasizes that Ariana and Ethan only started dating after they were separated from their spouses, while a third adds, “They are doing their best to balance the fact that they are in the public eye with the desire to be respectful to all parties involved.”

September 2023 — Ethan Slater & Ariana Grande Go To Disney World

Surrounded by their friends and family, the Wicked movie stars headed for a day at the happiest place on earth. "They went with a big group of friends as well her mom and brother," a source told People. The source also said they're "really happy and really good for each other. All of her friends love him."

Cindy Ord/Getty Images

October 31, 2023 — Ariana Grande Supports Ethan Slater's Spamalot

Ariana Grande showed up to support her boyfriend for Spamalot's opening night at Broadway's St. James Theater.

December 23, 2023 — Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater Grab Dinner In New York City

To celebrate the holidays, Ariana and Ethan headed out to a nice Italian dinner, reportedly with Ari's dad Ed Butera. "They love to support each other in their work," a source told People. "When she’s done with work, Ariana loves going to the theater when she can."

Considering she's a musical girlie, and has been on Broadway herself, I totally believe Ariana heads to the theatre whenever she gets a chance!

December 28, 2023 — Ariana Grande Says She Feels "Deeply Misunderstood"

“I’ve never felt more at the mercy of and in acceptance of what life was screaming to teach me,” Ariana Grande said in an Instagram story. “I have never felt more pride or joy or love while simultaneously feeling so deeply misunderstood by people who don’t know me, who piece whispers together and make what they want out of me and their assumptions of my life.”

A source also told People that the popstar is “serious with Ethan. She loves being with him."

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

January 12, 2024 — Ariana Grande Releases "Yes, And?"

In a line heard 'round the world, Ariana Grande's "Yes, And?" (the lead single from her Eternal Sunshine album) begs the question, "Why do you care so much whose d—k I ride?" The song doesn't mention Ethan by name, but there's a lot of room to infer.Although, when the album releases in March, Ariana also talks about a new "interaction" on “Intro (End of the World)," and wonders "if he’s judgin’ me like I am right now."

September 30, 2024 — Ariana Grande Defends Ethan Slater

In a Vanity Fair cover story, Ariana opened up about the reaction to her relationship with Ethan Slater, revealing that “the most disappointing part was to see so many people believe the worst version of [the story]."

“There couldn’t be a less accurate depiction of a human being than the one that the tabloids spread about him,” she says. “No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about. There is no one on this earth with a better heart...I’m 31 years old and I’m not a perfect person, but I am definitely deeply good, and I’m proud of who I’m becoming. I will never let disreputable evil tabloids ruin my life or my perception of what is real and good.”

Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Lucille Lortel Theatre

October 30, 2024 — Ethan Slater Finally Speaks Out About His Relationship With Ariana Grande

Almost two years after meeting Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater finally opened up about their relationship in a new interview with GQ. “Obviously, it was a really super big year and I think there was something that was really difficult about things in your private life being commented on and looked at by the public," he says. "There were a lot of big changes in private lives that were really happening, so it’s really hard to see people who don’t know anything about what’s happening commenting on it and speculating, and then getting things wrong about the people you love. So just to address that part of it, that feels really hard."

But the clouds also came with silver linings. “Of course, it was an amazing year and a really beautiful thing, and I’m just really excited," he continues. "I’m just really, really proud of Ari and the work she’s done on this. She’s poured herself into it. I’m really proud that I got to be there for that part of it, and I’m really excited to be there for this next step of it when the world gets to see the amazing thing that she did.”

Instagram/arianagrande

November 3, 2024 — Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater Go Instagram Official

These two took their relationship to the next level in the modern dating age — they put it on the grid. Well, not exactly. In Instagram posts celebrating the Australian premiere of Wicked, Ariana and Ethan both shared a picture of themselves. Is it blurry? Sure. Are their faces in it? No. But does this still count as an Instagram hard launch? Absolutely.

November 5, 2024 — Ethan Slater & Ariana Grande Pack On the PDA During Wicked

And after taking photos for the new Wicked movie in Sydney, Australia, Ethan and Ariana were more than happy, walking with their arms around each other and big smiles on their faces! And during the LA premiere of the film, Ariana was seen fixing Ethan Slater's bow tie.

“He’s always that adorable and he’s so amazing in this film. He’s such an amazing person,” she said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “I’m so happy people are getting to know him. My heart is very happy.”

November 11, 2024 — Ethan Slater Praises Ariana Grande's Comedy Acting Chops

In an exclusive interview with Brit + Co, Ethan Slater couldn't stop hyping up Ari's humor. And if you saw her hosting SNL, then you definitely understand. "I cannot wait for like the roll out of everything that Bowen said that isn't in the movie, or Ari, honestly, said that isn't in the movie. Just take after take," he says. "The moments where somebody broke, it was always great. There's one that's seared into my memory of, in Doctor Dillamond's classroom, I don't remember what Ari said but she got Cynthia [Erivo] and it's just the two of them across the way and they're staring at each other and she got her so good. There's something really wonderful about breaking. It's delightful."

He also praised Ariana and Cynthia for how they welcomed the rest of the cast their first days on set. "[They] would hug everyone who came in," he continues. "This huge movie is something that we've been waiting for for 20 years on a big scale with the biggest stars in the world, it could have felt really intimidating and it felt really familial immediately."

Check back here for the latest news on this Ariana Grande & Ethan Slater's relationship! Read up on Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce while you're at it ;).

This post has been updated.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are the first to admit how difficult parenting can be. The parents of four (James, Inez, Betty, and Olin) have talked about how "chaotic" their home is. "Our kids can’t even go to sleep unless they’re in our bed,” Reynolds told Amanda Hirsch during the July 30 episode of the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast. “As much as I’d say I’d love to spread out and fall asleep normally," he adds, "I withhold that.”

Brit + Co

Co-sleeping, or sharing a bed with your kids, might be the talk of the town right now, but it's actually been around for centuries. "Families choose to [co-sleep] for multiple reasons, sometimes simply because they may only have one bed or one bedroom," says Dr. Chafen Hart, a fellowship-trained pediatric sleep specialist at National Jewish Health. "I think while co-sleeping has enjoyed increased discussion, which is important, it is likely the frequency of co-sleeping is the same as ever."

Co-sleeping is most common with younger children (which makes sense considering how strong separation anxiety is for children between 18 months and 3 years), and generally peters out as a child gets older. While some parents choose not to co-sleep because of the risk of SUIDs (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death, which is more common in infants who share a bed with their parents), children can actually sleep better if they do so independently.

Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels

"The parent provides a sleep association which prevents a younger child from effectively napping at daycare or an older child from attending camp or going to a sleepover," Dr. Hart says. "When the child wakes in the middle of the night, they require the parent nearby and touching them to fall back asleep because they have a strong sleep association with co-sleeping."

However, your sleeping arrangements will likely look different from your best friends' or your extended family's because all of your children are different — as are their needs. Sleep issues or significant health issues are just two instances where co-sleeping can actually be beneficial for a child. And if co-sleeping doesn't affect your child at all? Dr. Hart recommends just enjoying the snuggles.

"For families who are content with their arrangement and the child is doing well during the day and has managed to learn the skill of falling asleep independently, I absolutely think they should continue to co-sleep," she says.

Leah Newhouse/Pexels

If you're worried your child has become too dependent on co-sleeping as they've aged, or if they can't sleep in their own bed at all, Dr. Hart recommends visiting a sleep doctor, therapist, or psychologist.

"In general, treatment should be personalized for the family and my recommendations change based on the age of the child," she says. "For older children who are neurodevelopmentally typical, rewards and gradual extinction of parental presence can work. For younger children, we employ additional strategies like delayed bedtimes [and] sibling co-sleeping."

I slept in the same bed as my sister growing up, and I remember our late night conversations so fondly. Getting to know each other's personalities, fears, and senses of humor at such a young age only ended up strengthening our relationship!

William Fortunato/Pexels

Teaching your child to sleep well is vital for their brain and bodily health, but it's also important for parents to get sleep too! And if you're feeling overwhelmed and under-rested, know you're not alone. "Parents should know they are not alone and that co-sleeping should be a part of the conversation with their doctors," Dr. Hart says. "Pediatricians have heard it all! And some children naturally have a MUCH harder time than others learning the skill of sleeping."

Reynardo Etenia Wongso/Unsplash

Setting expectations, habits, and boundaries early (should you choose to do so) will take time and commitment on your part, but it'll teach your kids "the serious skill of falling asleep with confidence."

"Long term good sleep habits and skills mean the school-aged child will be confident, traveling without anxiety around sleep, falling asleep without serious power struggles which stress the whole family and allowing the parents much needed rest time as well," Dr. Hart says. All this talk is making me sleepy — I gotta try our 5 Best Ways To Beat Fatigue!

Read up on 14 Hilarious And True Quotes About Parenting Teens for some laughs.

Read the AAP's 2022 Updated Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment for more.

Lead image via Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

It's official: John Krasinski is now PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive for 2024. If you ask us, John Krasinski will always be Jim from The Office, but I think this new distinction will do just fine, too. Last year Patrick Dempsey won the top spot, giving us silver fox sex appeal, and we love that PEOPLE went in a different direction with our favorite actor-director this time. Here's everything to know about this fine gentleman — including what his wife, Emily Blunt, has to say about it all.

Scroll to learn about PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive for 2024!

John Krasinski shares his thoughts on being PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

No one knows how to do dead-pan humor like John Krasinski (unless your name is Ryan Reynolds, of course 😉). His response to winning was, "Just immediate blackout, actually. Zero thoughts," (via PEOPLE). He followed up with, "That's not how I wake up, thinking, ‘Is this the day that I'll be asked to be Sexiest Man Alive?’ And yet it was the day you guys did it. You guys have really raised the bar for me."

Of course Emily Blunt couldn't resist making a little joke...

We know Emily Blunt has a great sense of humor too, so it comes as no surprise that she had a little something to say to John about his new title. Besides being "very excited" about his win, she apparently told him she'd willingly plaster his face all over their home, wallpaper-style (via PEOPLE). The Jack Ryan actor said, "My children will love that, it won’t be weird at all."

TODAY also reports the actor revealed Emily may pile on the housework given all this newfound attention. "I think it's going to make me do more household chores. After this comes out, she'll be like, ‘All right, that means you’re going to really earn it here at home.'" We don't see a problem with that!

Here's everything Sexiest Man Alive, John Krasinski is working on right now:

Jonny Cournoyer/Prime Video

He recently wrote, directed, and starred in this year's IF — a film Ryan Reynolds also appears in — which follows a young girl's introduction to a vast world of imaginary friends. It almost feels like the heartwarming TV show Foster's Home of Imaginary Friends, albeit the young girl is dealing with possibly losing her only living parent.

Next up, fans will get to see John star in Fountain of Youth alongside Natalie Portman, according to Deadline. They'll star as a brother and sister who are determined to claim the actual Fountain of Youth for themselves.

Deadline also reports that he'll take the lead role in the upcoming Jack Ryan film. A premiere date hasn't been announced yet, but we do know Amazon MGM Studios is behind it!

Watch John Krasinski's full reaction to being PEOPLE'S Sexiest Man Alive

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

How do you feel about John Krasinski being PEOPLE'S Sexiest Man Alive? Share your thoughts on Facebook!

HBO Max renewedEuphoria for a third season back in 2022, but we sadly haven't seen any progress on the show in the way of filming. Though details surrounding the plot for Euphoria season 3 haven't been revealed, we are awaiting the TV show with excitement!

Euphoria has inspired our coolest makeup looks and on-point Halloween costumes, so we can’t wait to see what the next season of this neon-lighted, drama-filled story holds. Here’s what we know about season 3, thus far. Stay tuned for more updates!

Everything we know about Euphoria season 3.

  • Euphoria season 3 is officially moving forward, and will start filming in 2025.
  • Cast members like Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, and Hunter Schafer are returning.
  • Despite the fact creator Sam Levinson suggest Zendaya's schedule caused Euphoria production delays, the actress said she's "just waiting" to return to the show.

Why is Euphoria season 3 delayed?

Eddy Chen / HBO

We've been waiting for Euphoria season 3 for about two years, but there's a very good reason for the delay. After a source told THR Zendaya was to blame, the actress reportedly laughed at the idea. “I will say, I have been off for a couple years, so not delayed because of my [schedule]…I’ve been open, just waiting,” the actress told Vanity Fair. "I haven’t read anything yet, but I’m excited to see what everyone has been working on, and what the future looks like for Euphoria...My most important thing is to do justice by the people who love and care about Rue, and make sure that she’s looked after as a character. I think that’s my number one duty."

Actor Colman Domingo has another explanation for the delay: “[Sam Levinson is] a person who writes and rewrites and writes and rewrites again, because I think he's wrestling with what's important,” he tells GQ. “He's responding immediately to what the ills of the world are. I know that the one thing I can tell you is that he's very much interested in the existential question of who we are right now. Our souls. That's what he wants to figure out with season three.”

“HBO and Sam Levinson remain committed to making an exceptional third season,” HBO says in a statement to Deadlineabout the show's official, if temporary, pause. “In the interim, we are allowing our in-demand cast to pursue other opportunities.”

So much has happened in the real world since the end of Euphoria season 2 that could have an impact on the new installment, and I can't wait to see what that looks like!

Who's in the Euphoria season 3 cast?

Eddy Chen / HBO

Euphoria season 3 will feature the entire main cast, including Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, and Hunter Schafer, according to Variety. However, we also know that Barbie Ferreira (Kat) won’t be returning for season 3, due to butting heads one too many times with the show’s creator, Sam Levinson.

At the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, Dominic Fike (who played Elliot in Euphoria season 2) told Variety it “would be dope” to come back for Euphoria season 3, but that “I don’t really talk to them anymore.” And after Angus Cloud's (Fez) tragic passing, some fans were calling for HBO Max to cancel the series.

But when we finally do see the series again, we’ll see more of the main cast: Zendaya (Rue), Sydney Sweeney (Cassie), Hunter Schafer (Jules), Alexa Demie (Maddy), Jacob Elordi (Nate), Maude Apatow (Lexi), and more – but who knows? The production team may surprise us with new additions, like they did with Dominic Fike’s Elliot.

And the cast is even more excited for the show to return than we are! While Sydney Sweeney says she "honestly" doesn't “know anything about it,” (although she's hoping for "Crazy Cassie": "The crazier, the better for me."), Sweeney can't wait to reunite with Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, and everyone else from the show.

“They were the crew and the cast that were there at the beginning of my career,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter. “We all came up from different places but came together and were navigating so much at the same time, so it’s really nice having that core group. They’re experiencing a similarity to what I’m going through. It’s nice to have that community.”

When will Euphoria season 3 start filming?

Eddy Chen / HBO

Euphoria season 3 will begin filming in January 2025. “We are shooting Euphoria,” HBO's Casey Bloys said at an HBO/Max press event on November 12. "I think we have a start date, mid to late January. Nothing’s changed...We are shooting the season. I have read the scripts. We’re happy. We’re moving ahead. All of the actors are in the show.”

The Euphoria season 3 delay comes down to significant script rewrites (not to mention how busy the cast is!). According to Variety, the original plan was for the Euphoria cast to work on other projects throughout 2024, and that filming the new season could take at least 25 weeks. However, it looks like that plan could change at any time.

In a March 2024 interview with Who What Wear, Sydney Sweeney shared her excitement to return. "It’s going to be very, very wild,” she says. And regarding the time gap between seasons 2 and 3, Sydney “actually [likes] it because there’s so much room for growth for both me as a person and also Cassie as a character."

Storm Reid, who plays Rue's (Zendaya) little sister Gia in the series, expressed her hope (and a bit of hesitance) in for Euphoria season 3 in talks with E! News at the Challengerspremiere in April 2024. "We're on pause right now, but we're anxious to get back," she said. "If it's meant to be, we'll be back soon and we'll give the audience what they want and deserve. Hopefully, we will be back."

On the other hand, according to an article published by Vanity Fair, another cast member (who wished to remain anonymous) says, “I just don’t think it will happen.”

The anonymous actor also shed some light on the show's delay. “Since January of 2022, we have had a start date of March that turned into June, that turned into January,” they say. “And then they kept pushing every month from then on. It was two full years of HBO telling all the actors we were going back soon, so we couldn’t take some jobs.”

Now that Euphoria season 3 is officially on hiatus, the cast members aren't barred from taking further jobs, they say: “Before last week I couldn’t take any TV jobs. Since they have put it on hiatus, I can now take any job. But what sucks is that we all had more momentum right when the show came out but now it’s been 2 years of waiting.”

Eddy Chen / HBO

Hunter Schafer, who plays Jules in the series, joined the Call Her Daddy podcast podcast in August 2024, discussing everything from relationships to fame. The topic of whether or not Euphoria season 3 is going to happen came up – as it's pretty hard to ignore at this point – and Schafer immediately got emotional.

Alex Cooper, the host of the podcast asked, "Is season 3 happening? What are we doing?"

"I think everyone feels a certain sense of anticipation for, like, if we are supposed to do a season 3," Schafer said between tears. "Obviously, I'm still coming to qualms with what's happened, and losing people that we really loved and were a part of this family and everything," she said, referring to the passings of co-star Angus Cloud and screenwriter Kevin Turen.

"If we do go back, that's going to be tough," Schafer said. "I think there's a world in which we can channel that into making it a beautiful season 3."

When is the Euphoria season 3 release date?

Eddy Chen / HBO

Now that the filming date has been pushed back to 2025, we’re expecting the beloved show to return sometime in early 2026. Luckily, fans are familiar with waiting a long time for new releases (remember that 2 ½-year wait for Euphoria season 2?), and hopefully the pent-up hype will be worth it when the show finally comes to streaming.

Will there be a time jump in Euphoria season 3?

Eddy Chen / HBO

Multiple stakeholders in the Euphoria-verse expressed their interest in seeing the characters out of high school. When asked about season 3 in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Zendaya expressed her eagerness to see what post-East Highland will look like for the cast:

“I think it’ll be exciting to explore the characters out of high school,” said Zendaya. “I want to see what Rue looks like in her sobriety journey, how chaotic that might look. But also with all the characters, in the sense where they’re trying to figure out what to do with their lives when high school is over and what kind of people they want to be.”

Heidi Bivens, the HBO show’s costume designer, hinted further at a time jump between seasons 2 and 3 when talking with Vogue: “There is talk of [season 3] being approximately five years in the future, and that they’re not in high school anymore. Dorothy’s not in Kansas anymore.”

What's going to happen in Euphoria season 3?

Eddy Chen / HBO

Season 2 of Euphoria left us with a lot to unpack: Rue’s (potential) sobriety, Lexi’s chaotic play, Fez and Ash’s shootings, Cal’s insane sexual spiral, and of course, the glorious girl fight between Maddy and Cassie. The third season has some loose ends to tie up, and we can’t wait to see how it’s done.

Sam Levinson tells EllethatEuphoria season 3 is more of a “film noir,” and that Rue's plot line will “explore what it means to be an individual with principles in a corrupt world.”

Originally, Sam showed multiple story ideas to both Zendaya and HBO (and although Z doesn't have total creative control, as an executive producer, she does get a say in where her story goes). The show will feature a time jump, bringing the characters closer to the actors' ages. According to Variety, the first draft of the script gave the "meaty" storyline to Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi, and featured Zendaya's Rue as a private detective in more of a background role. More recent rewrites incorporated Z's idea of making Rue, who would now be sober, a pregnancy surrogate. Unfortunately, "the new scripts simply didn’t feel like the show tonally."

HBO chairman & CEO Casey Bloys told Variety that Sam Levinson is furiously working on the scripts. "One of the issues I think that Sam is thinking about is that he doesn’t want to have it in high school anymore. That’s where it was set and what made sense then," he says. "So when you take it out of that, there’s a lot of back and forth about where to set it and how far in the future to set it and all that stuff. But I think he’s got a take that he’s excited about, and he’s busy writing."

How many Euphoria seasons are there?

Eddy Chen / HBO

There are currently two seasons of Euphoria — both of which you can stream on HBO Max now. And it sounds like Euphoria season 3 will be the final installment. The Euphoria cast is contracted for the junior season, and according to a Variety source, they're all committed to seeing the story "through to the end with a third season."

Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on all things Euphoria season 3 — plus all the new TV shows coming your way, like Stranger Things 5 and The Last of Us season 2!

This post has been updated.