Sleeping Better, Eating Healthy(ish), and Other Fun Ways CR Staffers Are Kicking Off the New Year

For those who find themselves searching for a moment of Zen, sometimes, a little guided help can go a long way. “Every part of my life is infinitely better when I commit to meditating, but it’s also a habit that I’m not always great at keeping up,” says writer Lisa Fogarty. 

This Breathing Buddha is a favorite because it glows in multiple colors of light to guide users through the 4-7-8 breathing technique, which is when you inhale for four seconds, hold your breath for seven seconds, and then exhale for eight seconds. “Do this three or four times and you can feel your mind slowing down,” Fogarty says. “From there, it’s easier to continue meditating for 15 or 20 minutes. Plus, this little guy is so adorable and looks cute on my bookshelf.” 

“I’m trying to improve my posture and also work more effectively at home, and having a laptop stand has really kick-started a refresh of my living room desk setup,” says Mary Beth Quirk, Consumer Reports’ managing editor of shopping. She snagged this version on sale and likes it for its simple, sleek design as well as the fact that it’s available in multiple colors.

Senior writer Pang-Chieh Ho is also a fan of laptop stands and can’t advocate enough for the importance of a stand. “It’s helped me so much in terms of having a posture that doesn’t wreck my neck and back,” Ho says. “I’ve been using mine for five years now, and it’s a key part of my work routine. Everyone who’s a laptop user should have one, I think, if they want to be sitting right.”

Regardless of what your work-from-home setup may be, good lighting will undoubtedly make it a more productive workspace. “When my workspace looks good, it feels better to work there. Having a nice desk lamp can go a long way toward brightening up the area, and helps me stay alert and on task even when the sun goes down at 4:30,” Quirk says. “Although I own the mustard version, this simple black one will still lend a modern touch to your office area.”

“As someone who has a desk job and works from home, an ergonomic work setup has done wonders for my body,” Ho says. “I’ve been suffering from wrist and elbow pain on and off this year—I appear to have tennis elbow, which sounds cooler than ‘I have pain from typing all day long’—and so having an ergonomic mouse has helped a lot.” Ho, who uses this vertical mouse from Logitech, has found that it’s hard to go back to using one that’s not. 

“I never thought a bed could change my life, and then I got my Sleep Number,” says home editor Tanya Christian. The proof came in the form of a better sleep score from her fitness tracker. “I still have my off periods, but because the bed monitors my sleep, I’m better able to pinpoint issues and act accordingly. Beyond that, I can adjust my bed based on what my body needs and feels on a day-to-day basis.” 

For more options: Best Mattresses

If you’re dreaming of better sleep, a new duvet insert can be a welcome change. Soft. Super-cuddly. Warm. Christian has nothing but high praises for this Buffy Cloud comforter. What’s more? “It works to prevent night sweats,” Christian says, “something I am prone to when bedroom temperatures aren’t quite right.”

For more options: Best Duvets for Every Kind of Sleeper

If you’ve ever found yourself inclined to grow herbs at home, a countertop garden is a no-brainer. Quirk is a recent convert of the easy-to-use AeroGarden, which she scooped up on sale. “The starter kit includes one of four seed-pod kits: gourmet herbs, heirloom salad greens, red heirloom cherry tomatoes, and a grow-anything kit,” Quirk says. “I went with the gourmet herbs option, and I’ve loved having fresh aromatics on hand to make my food pop.” 

Arming yourself with a proper set of cooking gadgets is key to being better at making meals at home. For editor Paul Hope (CR’s resident chef and a classically trained one at that) a combination of measuring tools and a digital kitchen scale helps him stay mindful of portions. His favorites include this trio of angled liquid measuring cups, which are available in 1-, 2-, and 4-cup capacities.

“While I’m not suggesting anyone obsess over a few ounces of food here or there, I think it’s a good annual exercise to remind yourself what a 4-ounce portion of beef really looks like, or, what a 1½-ounce pour for a cocktail is,” Hope says.

Don’t underestimate the powers of well-fitted sneakers. After a trip to a JackRabbit store, Chen realized that her high arches did not work with the running shoes she had. Finding a pair that fit beyond her shoe size was a game-changer. “I didn’t feel as creaky anymore, and working out became a lot easier,” she says. “It’s really not about the sneaker. It’s about finding the right fit.”

Tobie Stanger, a CR senior editor, does arm exercises with this set of hand weights on her regular morning walks with a friend. “My doctor recommended working with weights to stave off osteoporosis,” Stanger says. “And there’s another benefit to this workout: I might be able to go sleeveless for my daughter’s wedding in May!”

For managing editor Ginger Cowles, the start of the year presents an opportunity to set new mantras with the focus of manifesting them and evolving herself. “A couple of years ago, my mantra was ‘Be consistent.’ That applied to anything—exercising, meditating, consistently validating my child’s feelings,” Cowles says. “I print the mantra on a sheet of paper and hang it on a wall where I feel it’s most helpful as a consistent reminder.”

If you’re looking for a slightly less permanent spot to jot down your goals, a journal can be a great way to keep track of mantras, resolutions, and more.

Health and science reporter Catherine Roberts forgoes resolutions in favor of a long-term quest for creativity. Her guiding source comes in the form of this book by writer, illustrator, and cartoonist Lynda Barry. “It’s not like any other book on writing or creativity that you’ve ever read,” Roberts says. “Every page is its own work of art, filled with illustrations and doodles and words in all directions, and just looking at it makes you itchy to start doodling yourself.” 

The goal of the book is to help readers reconnect with the uncomplicated joy of creating that one would experience when drawing as a child, Roberts adds. “Although the exercises are focused on writing, the lessons are meant to be applied widely to any medium. My goal is to practice Barry’s strategies more consistently to carry that weird, fun, nonlinear energy into 2024.”