Hands down, our hands are taking a beating. Normal activities are bad enough, but throw in the obsessive hand-washing and hand-sanitizing that most of us are engaging in and, well, things are rough.

Regular moisturizers and creams can’t handle this level of raw, dry, cracked-ness. That’s where Gloves In a Bottle waves in.
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This is a shielding lotion that bonds to the skin to create a protective layer that lasts through four hours of washing and sanitizing until it needs to be re-applied. Its unique formula helps rebuild skin so it can hold its own natural oils and moisture again while reducing skin irritation from over-washing.
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It's a miracle!

​The gym may be closed to the public for now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t work out—even if your space is small.
If your place is too tight to do a routine via stream, that’s fine. You’ve got your body. Use it.
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​Heather Gunn Rivera, co-founder of Grassroots Fitness Project, says drop to the floor and do these:

1. Pushups (15)
2. Squats and Single Leg Squats (15)
3. Plank Scaption (10)
4. Lunges (20 - 10 each side)
5. Plank (1 minute)
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*Repeat 3-5 times

Look at you, all fit and fab. No #Quarantine15 for you!

We live in strange times, united by a bitch named COVID-19. Remember those times you’d lament about only wanting some time to lie around on your couch and do nothing? Now that a lot of nothing is happening, a lot of crazy is setting in--stir crazy, that is.

Author Kay Hutchison of My Life in 37 Therapies has five therapies that begin with “S” to help with our cabin fever.

SLOW DOWN
You now have a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to slow everything down. The strictures are gone, just let it all go. Take time over the simple things in life. Eating, walking, cooking, and sleeping. Perhaps turn off all the notifications on your devices and just check in with things a few times during the day.

SORT YOUR DAY
Even if you aren’t working and having to look after children it’s worth trying to have a degree of routine, a schedule. Nothing too rigid but it’s worthwhile to set out rough times for Working – Eating – Sleeping – Exercising – Relaxing – and having Fun.

SILENCE
Be willing to welcome silence into your day, and even being completely alone. We’ve become used to incessant noise, music, traffic, phone conversations, but it’s not a natural way of being. If you are self-isolating, try to find joy in being on your own. Many people who live alone are probably at an advantage at this time as they are naturally used to being self-sufficient and enjoying their own company. 

SLEEP
As the pressures of society are changing it’s a great opportunity to make time for a good night’s sleep.  You’ve possibly always thought taking a slow, relaxed approach to going to bed was a good idea but never quite managed it. Now might be the time to try. Put down the digital devices in the early evening, ignore the news headlines, take a bath, go to bed with some light reading, perhaps even listening to a guided meditation or some soothing music. 

SELF-HEALING
There’s one simple, no-cost, practice we can do which will help us and our bodies through this time. Slow and gentle breathing. In for a count of 6, hold it for 2, then breathe out for 6. Notice the cool, clean air as you breathe in, the warmer air as you breathe out.

Crack Wise-dom: These are helpful tips. Because we can’t kick COVID-19 in the crotch like we want to…

Let’s set the scene:

You’re strongly urged to stay inside so that nasty COVID-19 won’t get you. You don’t have any kids. You have a lot of wine and free time. Put on some saxy music, drop them pants, and get on the Love Train…

Perhaps your love life could use some help. That’s where the Lovers app slides in, so to speak. 
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Dr. Britney Blair is the founder of the largest sex therapy clinic in Northern California and is a behavioral medicine faculty member at Stanford. She desired to create an app that’s personalized, accessible, and science-based.

Lover is your toolkit for more pleasure in bed.

Oooh la la!

While coronavirus has our attention, you are aware that we are surrounded by germs 24/7? Perhaps we need to be a bit more vigilant/borderline Howard Hughes and protect ourselves.

Did you know that our feet, palms, and forearms are where germs like to congregate the most? We know. Gag.

That's where NakeFit steps in. These revolutionary adhesive pads protect your feet from dirt and germs-- from your yoga class, to the gym's showers-- while still allowing for that feeling of being barefoot. 
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Kinda cool. Plus, it'll cut down on us having a Crack Wise intern carry us around all the time so we won't get foot germs... JK. That would be so Mariah. 

You’re a filthy liar. And we might be, too. We fib in school. We fib to our partners. We fib to our doctors.

We may be grown, but we don’t want to hear nothing from our doctor about how we’re doin’ life. TermLife2Go did a little survey, and found that we lie about our habits to our docs. 

​The older we get, the more likely we are to lie. Patients 35 and older were more likely to lie about their exercise habits than younger patients. Guess younger people don’t care, or they think they can make up for bad habits later. (You can’t. It all comes back to haunt you!)
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So, basically, stop lying. We never want scolded, but we need to be honest when it comes to our health. So we can live longer to lie more. What?

Nobody wants to talk about the... butt scope. But since butt issues aren't just an old person's thing anymore, let's get down to business. Colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, and has a 90% five-year survival rate when found in its early stages.

MDsave doesn't want to hear your excuses. They have #truth all day long.
 
Six Colonoscopy Myths, Dubunked

Excuse #1: I heard colonoscopies are painful.
The Truth: Today, most colonoscopies are performed under sedation, and most of the time, you won’t even remember the procedure.
Crack Wise-dom: It's not any worse than the reaming you get at work, no?

Excuse #2: I don’t know if I can handle the prep.
The Truth: The bowel cleanse to prepare for a colonoscopy is easier now than it’s ever been. Instead of drinking a gallon of prep in one go, there are now half-gallon options. Some doctors will also order a split dose, so you can drink half the night before your procedure and half in the morning.
Crack Wise-dom: When you say you "give a shit", you'll actually mean it. A lot.

Excuse #3: I don’t have a family history of colon cancer, so I’m not at risk.
The Truth: 1 in 18 Americans are diagnosed with colon cancer. Some risk factors mean you should talk to your doctor about getting screened sooner, including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (e.g., Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative Colitis) or Lynch Syndrome.
Crack Wise-dom: Don't be stupid.

Excuse #4: I’m too young to get colon cancer.
The Truth: While rates of colon cancer are falling in the 50+ crowd, they’re on the rise in young adults. Researchers speculate that higher rates of obesity may be a factor. To reduce your risk, keep your weight in a healthy range and ask about any colon cancer or other risk factors in your family. Talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms: Rectal bleeding, changes in stool color or size, change in bowel habits, colon or rectal pain.
Crack Wise-dom: You're never too young to be stupid.

Excuse #5: I can’t afford a colonoscopy.
The Truth: There are solutions out there like MDsave.  Their pre-negotiated rates are about 40-60% lower than the national average cost, with trusted local doctors across the country. A colonoscopy National Average Price: $3,772. MDsave Average Price: $1,647.
Crack Wise-dom: You can't afford groceries and gas, either, so...

Excuse #6: It’s easier to just send my stool in the mail
The Truth: Agreeing to that cheaper, easier DNA screening for colorectal cancer can cost consumers much more in the end. Because if that test comes back positive, some insurers and Medicare stop coverage as a preventive service towards a colonoscopy that your doctor will inevitably order next.
Crack Wise-dom: This is not what "What can brown do for you?" means.

While we’ve made a lot of progress, there is still some stigma surrounding anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD and more. So, let’s make this new year one of a new outlook.

Dr. Vinay Saranga is a psychiatrist and founder of Saranga Comprehensive Psychiatry. He says there are nine myths surrounding mental issues:

Mental illness isn’t real: According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.—43.8 million, or 18.5%—experiences mental illness in a given year. Mental illness is very real and is accompanied by many uncomfortable and debilitating symptoms.

Mental illness only occurs in weak people: Mental illness can happen to anyone. It’s not about how smart or strong you are. It’s usually a result of an imbalance of certain brain chemicals, is hereditary, due to your environment or in response to specific life events and circumstances.

You can ‘just get over it:’ Telling someone with anxiety or depression to “snap out of it” or “just get over it” is one of the worst things you can say. It diminishes the severity and seriousness of the condition, makes it sound like you don’t believe what they are going through, and knocks down their self-esteem.

Anxiety is just nerves: Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric conditions and include OCD, panic disorder, PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder. Sometimes anxiety is in response to a specific set of circumstances that are quickly addressed and resolved. Other times, anxiety can become a real psychiatric condition that must be addressed for a lifetime.

Depression is just a bad case of the blues: Depression involves much more than just feeling sad. It’s a serious psychiatric condition that leaves the sufferer feeling tired, hopeless, at a higher risk of suicide, problems with appetite, feeling guilty, loss of self-worth and aches and pain.

Stress is not a big deal: Life is chaotic and all the craziness usually manifests itself as stress. Unfortunately, many people play this off as nothing to worry about. Stress is a very big deal and can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure and more. Learning to deal with stress is important for your mental and physical health

Antidepressants and antianxiety meds are handed out like candy: The truth is, many general practitioners and family doctors write too many prescriptions for psychiatric medications instead of referring their patients to a psychiatrist. Nonetheless, these medications are a lifesaver for people who are truly suffering from anxiety and depression.

My ADHD is kicking in: Joking about ADHD is not funny. We’ve seen a spike in the diagnoses of ADHD in recent times, many times an incorrect diagnosis at that. ADHD is a real neurodevelopmental disorder that occurs in children, young adults and can go on into adulthood.

My OCD is kicking in: OCD is often used to describe someone who is super organized, a neat freak or checks things over and over again. The truth is, OCD is a real anxiety disorder that severely interrupts a person’s ability to function unless certain rituals or sequences are followed.
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​So… let’s stop judging each other, and instead support each other. Who couldn’t use a friend?

Some people like to get out and enjoy nature while on vacation: hiking, kayaking, exploring. Others like to do nothing: sun, swim, read, beverage… repeat.

One billion travelers are expected to make wellness-inspired trips this year. If healing natural springs, therapeutic baths, and lots of Oceanside relaxation sounds like your way to unwind—think Jamaica, mon!

Here are some places you might want to consider:

Wash Away the Stress at Milk River Bath
On the South Coast of the island in the town of Milk River, travelers can experience one of the best mineral baths in the world. Milk River Bath contains high levels of magnesium, calcium, sulfate and natural chloride, averaging consistent temperatures of 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. Its waters have been found to be remarkably radioactive, more so than those of leading European spas, (54 times the strength of the minerals at the luxurious Baden Spa in Switzerland). The mineral waters are especially recommended as a treatment for those suffering from rheumatism, arthritis, sciatica and nerve conditions as well as liver disorders. The Milk River Hotel & Spa offers absolute peace and serenity among the lush landscape of rural Jamaica with access to Milk River Bath. As part of its spa experience, the hotel allows visitors to privately enjoy the therapeutic virtues of the bath, in exclusively assigned bath houses.

Crack Wise-dom: Now we want Oreos…

Refresh with a Traditional Jamaican Bush Bath
A traditional form of healing ailments in Jamaican culture, a bush bath is a must-try treatment for wellness-driven travelers. Often prepared outdoors, a bush bath can utilize a variety of fresh herbs, roots, leaves and fruits, steeped in a running bath to treat stress, common colds, skin conditions and more. Visitors can experience this homeopathic therapy at various spas throughout the island including Fern Tree Spa at Half Moon or FieldSpa at Golden Eye, which offers four different Healing Waters Bush Baths.

Crack Wise-dom: Not without buying us dinner first…

Check-in for an Oceanfront Wellness Retreat
On Negril’s west end, Jackie’s On The Reef provides a wellness retreat dedicated to nurturing the mind, body and soul. The whimsical waterfront property offers guests endless opportunities to connect with the sea including yoga, meditation, and spa treatments. One of its most notable offerings, the Watsu treatment, combines the use of water with the principles of shiatsu to create a nurturing form of bodywork. Guided by a specialized therapist, the treatment takes place in warm, waist-deep water to take weight off the vertebrae, allowing the spine to twist and stretch – ultimately relieving pressure off the nerves and organs. Watsu can be a profound treatment believed to treat the mind and renew a person’s sense of connection and oneness with others.

Crack Wise-dom: All we can think of is Waygu. Do they serve steak here?