It's Your Week. How are you feeling?
Last week, we asked what words best describe your mood for 2022. It's a whole gamut of emotions.
Some of you are heading into the new year boosted and determined. Others are apprehensive, nervous and cautious. It's been a long couple of years, and several are deflated – describing their mood going into 2022 as sobering and filled with despair.
No matter if you're excited for the year ahead or dreading it (and let's be honest, if you're like me, you're feeling all of the above) it's important to prioritize your personal health and wellness.
Why this matters: Nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought a rise in depression, anxiety, stress, addiction and other challenges, almost 9 in 10 registered voters say the nation is in the grips of a full-blown "mental health crisis," a Paste BN/Suffolk University poll found.
First things first: Stress isn't just a state of mind. Your body is trying to tell you something. And what is languishing? Alonely? A mental health glossary explains what you're feeling.
Though it may be rare to find such unanimity in a nation divided over so many issues, mental health experts said they’re not surprised.
So let's Keep It Together – together – with our biweekly newsletter that focuses on "wisdom and tips for mental health and whatever life throws at us."
In the latest edition, Paste BN's Sara Moniuszko asked her readers about their personal stories of finding joy in difficult times. We enjoyed reading them, and I hope you will, too.
It's Alex and Kristina, and Welcome to Your Week. Each week, we'll give you a peek inside the newsroom and a guide to must-read content.
Up next: For many, deciding (and finding) which coronavirus test to use has been a frustrating experience. It doesn't have to be.
Ranking at-home coronavirus tests
An independent patient safety group unveiled the first public ranking Monday of the most widely used, quick and cheap at-home tests based on how easy the products are for consumers to use.
ECRI, a nonprofit focused on health care quality and cost-effectiveness, evaluated seven no-prescription rapid antigen tests sold via Amazon and chain retailers. The over-the-counter tests were assessed on measures a consumer might find useful such as ease of handling, reading and following instructions and interpreting results.
Here's what it found:
Intrivo's On/Go antigen test garnered the top score of 82.9 on a 100-point scale; BD Veritor ranked the lowest at 51.8. The judges didn't find any test to be excellent or unacceptable.
CareStart and FlowFlex rapid antigen tests joined On/Go as top-tier kits for ease of use and handling. The nation's most widely used rapid antigen test, Abbott Laboratories' BinaxNow, ranked as a middle-tier test; Quidel's QuickVue and InteliSwab received similar scores.
- From vaccines to variants, information about the pandemic is constantly evolving. We’ve compiled a resource guide with everything we know about the coronavirus and the best practices for keeping you and your family safe and healthy.
Just the headlines
- This firm helps companies get rich with ‘questionable’ tax refunds. Critics say its tactics could shift that burden on to you.
- Marrying your best friend: These couples are in platonic life partnerships.
- Will there be a housing market correction in 2022 after two years of 'hyper-growth'?
- 600 miles on a single charge? Automakers race to beat Tesla on electric car battery range.
- 'Dad bods' have been accepted for years. Are mom bods next?
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As always, thank you for reading!
P.S. from Alex: This will be my last time writing for Your Week as we pass the newsletter on to Sallee Ann Harrison. It's been a pleasure, and I can't thank you all enough for subscribing to Paste BN. Thank you for believing in the power of journalism.