INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If stress or anxiety is at the root of your skin-picking habit, try doing more soothing activities during your leisure time. When you feel stressed, practice deep breathing, yoga, or meditation. You might also carve out "me time" to do things like polish your nails, apply nourishing masks or lotions to your face (instead of harming it), soaking in the tub with bath salts, or reading a book. Does your tendency to pick at your face point to a bigger issue? For some people, skin-picking is a minor thing that doesn't interfere with their lives. For others, it's a serious condition that requires professional attention. See if any of the following apply to you: Picking at your skin causes you significant distress--either you avoid others because of how your facial skin looks or you spend inordinate amounts of time dedicated to picking. Picking happens nearly all the time, even when you're not conscious of it Picking at your skin has resulted in injury, infection, or serious scarring Compulsive picking can be a difficult habit to overcome alone. If you're having trouble, consider seeing a mental health professional who specializes in body-focused repetitive behaviors at https://www.bfrb.org/. A psychiatrist or psychologist can help treat your picking disorder and offer much-needed encouragement, too. If you have compulsive skin-picking disorder, you might benefit from proven treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy or a class of antidepressant medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Therapy can help examine and change the underlying thought problems that contribute to skin-picking, such as thinking "My skin needs to be perfect." Medications can help ease obsessive thoughts that tempt you to pick.

SUMMARY: Create a self-care routine. Recognize when skin-picking becomes a problem. Get help if you can't stop picking on your own.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Add cup (118 ml) of witch hazel, cup (85 g) of aloe vera gel, teaspoon (1.75 g) of baking soda, and 10 drops of clary sage essential oil to a small glass spray bottle. It's best to pour the witch hazel in first to make it easier for the thicker ingredients to mix with the liquid. You can substitute aloe vera juice for the gel if you prefer. While clary sage essential oil is an extremely effective deodorizing oil, you should avoid if you're pregnant because it may induce contractions. Instead, substitute lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, or bergamot essential oil. It's best to ask your doctor to ensure that the oil is safe, though. Once all of the ingredients are in the bottle, gently shake it to combine the mixture fully. You'll need to shake the deodorant spray before each use because the ingredients may separate. Make sure that you've securely attached the spray nozzle to the bottle before you shake it to avoid spilling any of the mixture. When you're ready to use the deodorant, lightly mist each underarm area with the spray before putting on your shirt. Allow it to air dry before you finish dressing. If you want to help the deodorant spray dry more quickly, stand in front of a fan with your arms raised or lightly pat your underarms with a towel.

SUMMARY: Combine all of the ingredients into a spray bottle. Mix the ingredients. Spray the deodorant under your arms.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Most women find sleeping on their back to be the most comfortable. This helps them keep all pressure off of their incision site. Many women use pillows to take pressure off their hips, knees, and lower back when sleeping this way. Some women find sleeping on their side to be comforting than sleeping on their back. Placing pillows around the hips and stomach can help side-sleepers avoid rolling over toward their incision. Find the sleeping position that is most comfortable for you, taking care to not put pressure on your incision. Avoid sleeping on your stomach until your c-section scar has healed completely and all stitches have been safely removed. Stomach sleeping can put pressure on the incision, causing irritation around your scar. It can also increase the risk of popping stitches. Obstructive sleep apnea impacts many pregnant and postpartum women. Use pillows to elevate your head and shoulders above your torso and keep your airways open while you sleep. This can help you sleep deeper and longer if you are having problems staying asleep after your c-section. After giving birth, tasks like feeding and changing your baby regularly interrupt your sleep schedule. To give your body the rest it needs to recover completely, try to sleep whenever your baby sleeps, even during the day. Ask your partner, family, and friends to help care for things like household chores, and take the time you need to recover properly. Belly wraps are commonly used to help support the back, manage back pain, and increase comfort while moving after giving birth. Belly wraps are often worn during the day, but can also provide additional comfort at night if you are struggling to sleep. Try a few different belly wraps and look for one that does not stick, itch, or dig into your skin. You may want to wear different wraps during the day and at night. A firmer wrap may offer support for moving throughout the day, while a looser wrap can give you support at night without feeling restrictive.

SUMMARY: Sleep on your back to avoid putting pressure on the incision. Sleep on your side if you don't like sleeping on your back. Avoid sleeping on your stomach to prevent irritating your incision. Sleep propped up to help manage sleep apnea. Sleep when your baby sleeps. Use a postpartum belly wrap to support your abdomen while you sleep.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Saving tends to be easier when you know what you're saving for. Try to set a goal, such as building an emergency fund, saving for a down payment, saving for a major household purchase, or building a retirement fund. If your bank will let you, you can even give your account a nickname such as "Vacation Fund" to help remind you of what you're working toward. A savings account is generally the easiest place to put your savings if you are just starting out. If you already have a solid emergency fund and have a reasonable amount to invest, such as $1,000, you may consider something like a certificate of deposit (CD). CDs make your money much harder to get to for a fixed period of time but tend to pay you a higher interest rate. Keeping your savings separate from your checking account will make it less likely that you'll spend your savings. Savings accounts also tend to pay a slightly higher interest rate than checking accounts. Many banks will allow you to set up an automatic transfer between your checking and savings accounts. Set up a monthly transfer from your checking to your savings, even if it's just for a small amount. That's a relatively painless way to build your savings. If you get a raise, a bonus, a tax refund, or an unexpected windfall, put it in your savings or, if you have one, your retirement account. This is an easy way to help boost your account without compromising your current budget. If you get a raise, invest the difference between your budgeted salary and your new salary directly into your savings. Since you already have a plan to live off your old salary, you can use the new influx of cash to build your savings. If you work a side gig, build a budget based on your primary source of income, and dedicate your other earnings to your savings or retirement account. This will help grow your savings faster while making your budget more comfortable.

SUMMARY:
Pick a savings goal. Keep your savings in a separate account. Invest raises and bonuses. Dedicate any additional income to your savings.