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In today's Birdie: How to stay sane when uncertainty hits (even therapists struggle!), why your pre-summer skin check can't wait, and proof that Gen Z might actually save us all with hammers and tiny houses. Plus, wireless bionic hands, the scientific patterns of happiness, and why "Maycember" is making parents everywhere lose their minds. 🗓️

COFFEE AND LINKS

🧓 Your knees might creak, but these 7 signs mean you're winning the aging game (hint: it's not about wrinkles)

🌽 Veggies that tan better than you do: Your grill wants these colorful summer all-stars.

☕ Drinking coffee at this magic 2-hour window turns your daily brew into a health elixir

⚽ Think you're not "that soccer parent"? Why a little self-reflection might prove otherwise.

💼 Stuck in job purgatory? These sanity-saving moves beat "quiet quitting" when you can't walk away.

🍟 Drive-thru hacks that won't wreck your health goals (or make your kids stage a french fry rebellion).

💛 Butter yellow is having a moment, and these 17 pieces prove "mellow yellow" is anything but.

HEALTH

Anchors for uncertain times.

Let's be real: Even therapists struggle when life tosses curveballs. Whether you're navigating post-kid household silence or wondering if that retirement plan will actually work, here's how the pros keep it together:

The uncertainty toolkit (no assembly required):

• Control what you can — When worries take over, acknowledge them (yes, actually sit with them) then focus on what's actually in your power. Can't control your daughter's grad school applications? You can control how often you check in without becoming "that mom."

• Walk it out — Ditch the AirPods and just walk. No music, no podcasts, just you putting one foot in front of the other while processing thoughts that aren't filtered through someone else's voice.

• Sleep like it's your job — Because it kind of is. Research shows even losing an hour of sleep can tank your mood and spike anxiety. Find your wind-down ritual and stick to it religiously.

• Find your anchors — When everything feels shaky, grab onto what's consistent: relationships, core values, or that Sunday call with your college freshman (even if they only talk for five minutes).

• Squeeze joy into the cracks — Keep a sticky note with five activities that make you feel good. Even 10 minutes of audiobook time while prepping dinner counts.

• Embrace boring routines — That morning coffee ritual or bedtime face routine isn't just about caffeine or skincare — it's giving your brain predictability when everything else feels like chaos.

Bottom line: Uncertainty is like that neighbor who drops by unannounced — annoying but inevitable. The trick isn't avoiding it but making space for it without letting it raid your emotional fridge.

SKINCARE

Summer skin check.

Why dermatologists want you on their calendar this month

Before you dust off those gardening gloves or book that beach getaway, your skin deserves some professional attention. Here's why a pre-summer skin check should top your to-do list:

The skinny on skin checks:

• Think of it as seasonal maintenance — Just like you wouldn't road trip without an oil change, don't summer without a skin check. Sun damage accumulates over time (yes, even through those cloudy winter dog walks).

• No current concerns? Go anyway — Establishing a baseline helps your doctor spot changes next time. Consider it the "before" picture in your skin's journey.

• Who needs this most? Fair-skinned folks, freckle-havers, redheads, previous sunburn survivors (so...probably you), tanning bed users, outdoor workers, and anyone with a family history of skin cancer.

DIY between appointments with the ABCDE method:

• Asymmetry: One half doesn't match the other

• Border: Jagged or blurry edges = red flag

• Color: Multiple shades in one spot needs attention

• Diameter: Larger than a pencil eraser (¼ inch)

• Evolving: Changing size, color, or starting to itch/bleed

Why now matters: If something's changed since last summer, better to catch it before those UV rays have a chance to accelerate growth. Bonus: appointment slots are easier to snag before everyone panics about swimsuit season.

Bottom line: Monthly self-checks take 10 minutes in good lighting, and professional screenings are quick and potentially life-saving. The most treatable cancer is the one caught early — which beats finding suspicious spots while you're halfway through that cruise with the kids.

TRENDING

SNIPPETS

You’re doing breakfast wrong

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Find your fuel

San Diego teens are swapping homework for hammers, building tiny houses that get homeless veterans off the streets through the Warrior Village Project. What started as one man's vision in 2019 has transformed into construction classes at three high schools, with four miniature homes currently underway. The ultimate goal? A village of twelve tiny houses plus a community center, proving these Gen Z builders might just nail the housing crisis that adults couldn't fix.

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