We follow these 9 websites that are as resourceful as they are empowering and uplifting—covering everything from personal finance to mindful meditation.

Check out our favorite newsletters for women as well!

1. The Cut

Our Go-To For | News & politics
Topics | Style, self, culture, and power
A Feature We Love | 180 Female Execs Launch Time’s Up Advertising

When The Cut was launched years ago, it was an online publication for women with style and self in mind. Today, they’ve grown to be a leading resource for politics, current events, and the honest, challenging conversations we’re having with one another. Content some days will talk about Danity Kane and ‘Vanderpump Rules,’ while others revolve around March for Our Lives, career advice, and breastfeeding at work. Because what it means to be a successful woman can include style, self, and discussion around current events.

2. Salty

Our Go-To For | Body positivity
Topics | LGBTQIA+ lifestyle, sex & body, relationships, parenthood
A Feature We Love | How I Finally Liberated My Black Fat Femme Body

Unapologetic and intersectional, Salty is not here for censorship or the corporate brand of feminism. This volunteer-run, independent website is dedicated to amplifying the voices of women, trans, and nonbinary people on topics others may otherwise shy away from. Their perspectives around #MeToo, sex work, and body positivity are refreshing and insightful, and we’d all benefit from taking some time to dig in and read. With core tenets such as inclusivity, community, fun, and respect, their content celebrates and uplifts authenticity and living the most truthful lives we can. 

3. The Good Trade

Our Go-To For | Ethical & sustainable living
Topics | Lifestyle, fashion, beauty, self, home, culture
A Feature We Love | The 9 Best Meditation & Breathing Apps to Reduce Anxiety

Over the last seven years, The Good Trade has covered content around sustainable living and investing with socially conscious brands, knowing that we often vote for the world we want with our dollars. Today, it has grown to reach millions of readers with engaging content ranging from mindful living to personal finance to seasonal fashion. If you’re interested in fair trade fashion picks, local and sustainable spots to check out, or inspiring curated reads from across the Internet, you’ll especially love The Daily Good, a 30-second read sent each morning full of the team’s personalized recommendations.

4. Blood + Milk

Our Go-To For | Empowering wellness information and stories
Topics | Sex, body, menstruation, mental health, motherhood
A Feature We Love | Sacral Healing + The Importance Womb Healing 

Blood + Milk is more than an online publication or website for leisurely reading. It’s a community resource; a call for awakening; a collective cry for gender rights and the end of oppression for women. The editorial branch of organic tampon brand Cora, Blood + Milk is our favorite site for longer editorials, empowering stories, and inclusive advice about sex, body, menstruation, and more. For the kind of articles you’ll be forwarding to all your friends, add this site to your bookmarks. 

5. Darling Magazine

Our Go-To For | Inspiration
Topics | Culture, relationships, travel, style, creativity
A Feature We Love | The Habits of Highly Successful Women Condensed in One Infographic

Darling Magazine was born as a print mag to redefine the art of being a woman: all images they use are untouched and their content is written to empower readers. But today, Darling has evolved to so much more than just a print magazine—it’s the ideal resource whenever you need inspiration and motivation. And if you’re not sure where to start, they’ve handpicked choices for you when you’re feeling ambitious, overwhelmed, or adventurous. With powerful features from the likes of Meghan Markle, Joanna Gaines, and Rupi Kaur, Darling is media that makes us feel loved, not less.

6. Autostraddle

Our Go-To For | LGBTQ+ lifestyle
Topics | Arts & pop culture, sex & dating, community, identities
A Feature We Love | How Queer and Trans Women Are Healing Each Other After Hurricane Harvey

A past winner of the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Blog, Autostraddle has transformed the lives of lesbian, bisexual, and queer women (as well as non-binary people) for nearly 10 years. They offer a fresh voice and empowered perspective to make all women feel like they’re valuable, equal, and noticed, so it’s no wonder that they’re the number one lesbian lifestyle website worldwide. And what we love most are the values they apply to all of their content: never critical or teasing of women’s physical appearances, quality over quantity with a point, and diversity and inclusion with both imagery and written content. The Autostraddle team is also more than just online: they host worldwide meet-ups, sell merch, and arranged getaways, because their ultimate goal is to create a community wherever they reach.

7. Career Contessa

Our Go-To For | Career advice
Topics | Career tips, interviews, jobs, coaching & webinars
A Feature We Love | Empathy At Work—And Why It (Really) Matters

Whether you’re beginning your career, navigating a transition at work, or negotiating your next raise, Career Contessa has the resources you need to make the most of it. We love that they have resources for women in a wide array of industries, and their library of downloads, courses, and podcasts is unlike any other. Kickstart the career of your dreams with their guided 28-day plans for finding a new job, making more money, or learning new skills—or just browse their archives for plenty of valuable career content.

8. Create & Cultivate

Our Go-To For | Entrepreneurship
Topics | Career advice, women leaders, digital & tech
A Feature We Love | 3 Entrepreneurs Share Their Secrets On Building A Smart Brand

Create & Cultivate’s mission is to support women looking to create & cultivate the career of their dreams, and they follow through. The ladies behind Create & Cultivate are chock full of sage advice and resources for both budding and established entrepreneurs, from year-one tips to starting a business to handling an especially slow day at work. And they’ve taken their content on the road too, with their beautifully-branded conferences and pop-ups so you can engage with them online or IRL.

9. them

Our Go-To For | LGBTQ+ culture & essays
Topics | Pop culture, style, politics, news
A Feature We Love | Inqueery: Indigenous Identity and the Significance of the Term “Two-Spirit”

For our weekly dose of pop culture, style, politics, and news, you can find us reading them, a proclaimed next-generation community platform chronicling and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to sharing excellent and informative content (we love both the written articles and videos) them also sends out a newsletter for anyone who “wants the best of what’s queer” delivered right to your inbox.

The post 9 Lifestyle Websites For Women That We’re Obsessed With appeared first on The Good Trade.

With everything happening in the world, many of us find ourselves more stressed than ever and in need of support—we’ll be the first to admit we often feel this way. That’s why we’re huge fans of online therapy and virtual counseling to get the help we need, especially when face-to-face sessions aren’t always possible.

Online therapy is not only more affordable, but it’s an accessible and convenient service that provides high-quality support with trained therapists, anytime and anywhere. Many even have chat therapy options if you find yourself needing to talk to someone right away.

“Virtual therapy is an accessible, convenient, and adaptable option.”

Remember: There is no shame in therapy, whether you simply need to talk with someone or are interested in exploring treatment and prescription medication for mental health. From anxiety to OCD to marital challenges, these therapy websites and apps can set you up with a preferred counselor directly from your home (or car—because, well, sometimes it’s the only quiet space, right?).

Also, if you’re in the United States and looking to have your counseling sessions covered, here’s a great guide on finding online therapy that works with your insurance. (And for those in the UK: My Therapist Online is a great option!)

Whether you’re interested in phone, text, or video options, we hope these resources will guide you in finding the support you need. 💛 And if you’re looking for therapy options for you and your partner, we love these online couples therapy platforms.

Best Overall  |  Best For Couples | Best For Teens

1. BetterHelp

Best For | Individuals, couples, or teens
Notable Features | Bilingual options, 20K+ licensed therapists, financial assistance available, monthly subscription service
Price Range | $60–$90 per week (billed every four weeks)

For tailored, flexible online counseling—including unlimited access—check out BetterHelp. Start with a personalized survey to find the best-trained counselors for your unique circumstances, then message them anytime, anywhere. You can even schedule a live therapy session over phone, tablet, or computer, giving you a range of communication options. We’ve used BetterHelp, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown, to help support us through anxiety, depression, and family issues—we especially recommend it as a bridge service into working directly with a psychiatrist or therapist IRL. (Signing up for therapy is hard! Betterhelp is a great first step to get a therapist on your side). BetterHelp uses a secure system to protect your information and adhere to patient data privacy laws.

Review | “[My BetterHelp therapist] is a great listener and has very insightful knowledge to every situation I have. I love her approach and questions she asks. I leave each session feeling like I am growing in a positive direction.” – N.I.

2. ReGain

Best For | Relationship therapy
Notable Features | Options for individual or couples
Price Range | $60–$90 per week (billed every four weeks)

If you’re looking to regain companionship or affection, or need to address some tough relationship issues, ReGain is our suggested platform for online relational therapy. You can choose to participate as an individual or as a couple, and after taking a questionnaire to identify your shared goals, you’ll be paired with a licensed counselor. Done primarily through video sessions (and via messages anytime), it’s a private, flexible, virtual option that will help you tackle challenges straight on. ReGain takes your privacy seriously (read more here) and uses encryption to keep your sessions confidential and secure.

Review | “[Our therapist] is very knowledgeable and intuitive about the issues we’ve shared, and has created an open space for us to have important conversations we haven’t been able to navigate so far on our own. She is excellent at making us both feel heard, and at identifying the most useful direction for us to go in.” – L.I.

3. Pride Counseling

Best For | LGBTQ+
Notable Features | All identities welcomed
Price Range | $60–$90 per week (billed every four weeks)

For inclusive, accepting, and accommodating online therapy, Pride Counseling may be for you. Since the LGBTQ+ community can experience mental health concerns at disproportionately high rates, all the trained counselors are familiar with LGBTQ+ support and all identities are welcome. Whether you need to message your licensed therapist back and forth or want to schedule virtual sessions, you can do so in a discreet and affordable way. Because they don’t work with insurance companies, your information is not shared at any point, and all of their databases are encrypted and scrambled to keep your data secure.

Review | “So thankful I tried this. I was paired with the perfect counselor for me, and I already feel so much more clarity and much less alone. I wish I would have tried Pride Counseling earlier.” – Alexandria V.

4. Teen Counseling

Best For | Teens
Notable Features | Therapists who specialize with teens, app-based communication
Price Range | $60–$90 per session (billed every four weeks)

Teen Counseling offers support to teens ages 13 through 19 looking for professional help. Using an app, teens can communicate with licensed and trained therapists via text, live chat, and video—with flexibility around scheduling. Counseling is confidential but rest assured that the therapist will alert a parent if an intervention or serious action is required. If your teen is struggling—with bullying, self-esteem, an eating disorder, or anything else— there is help available.

Review | “We are still in the early stages of working with [our therapist] and using this platform, but so far I am incredibly pleased and think my daughter has been matched up with someone exceptionally qualified to help her. It’s been extremely evident since day one, starting with the first conversation […], how much she cares and wants to help.” – E.D.

5. Virtual Tia Clinic

Best For | Women (trans & non-binary individuals welcomed & celebrated)
Notable Features | Women’s health focus, $1 trial option, accepts select insurances
Price Range | $80–$130 per session; $15/mo for Tia membership

Tia is a modern medical platform offering healthcare to treat all of you, from your primary health needs to gynecological care. In addition to in-person services in NY, CA, and AZ, Tia also has virtual mental health services through the Virtual Tia Clinic. Tia accepts select insurance plans from the likes of Aetna, United HealthCare, and Anthem BCBS–depending on your insurance plan, you may be fully or partially covered. Paying out-of-pocket for therapy? An intro online counseling session is $80 with regular sessions at $130. The $15 monthly fee gets you access to an esteemed list of practitioners, participation in community events, and unlimited messaging with your integrative care team. They take your privacy seriously and practice a number of secure data protocols to keep your information confidential.

Review | “Joining Tia was the best decision I’ve made for my physical and mental well-being in a while. They’ve got you covered from GYN visits, to acupuncture (my personal fave), to therapy as well as community events. It’s a network of professional practitioners that’s enriched my life in countless ways.” – Dominika

6. Faithful Counseling

Best For | Christians
Notable Features | Unlimited messaging with your therapist, monthly subscription service
Price Range | $60–$90 per week (billed every four weeks)

If living a faith-based lifestyle is important to you, a therapist who is able to blend Christian principles with best clinical practices is going to offer the mental and spiritual support you’re looking for. Faithful Counseling offers a monthly subscription service to connect you with a Christian practitioner, allowing access to services at an affordable monthly rate. A branch of the BetterHelp platform, Faithful Counseling is a network of seasoned Christian professionals serving those looking for biblically-based mental health services. Read their Statement of Faith here.

Review | “[Faithful Counseling Therapist] is always patient, supportive, and quick to respond! She meets my situation with Biblical wisdom and clinical expertise, and I never feel like a burden.” – A.L

7. Talkspace

Best For | Individuals, couples, & psychiatric needs
Notable Features | Employee assistance programs available, resource library, psychiatry options, accepts select insurances
Price Range | $276–$516 per month (without insurance)

With over a million users, Talkspace is one of the most accessible virtual therapy programs around. The subscription-based service accepts select insurance and works with a number of employee assistance programs and schools. Start messaging with your suggested therapist right away through its encrypted platform or schedule a live counseling session via video. Talkspace also offers free mental health tests and resources, discounted subscriptions, and specialty services for veterans and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Check out their privacy policy to learn about how they are protecting your data and information.

Review | “I have an infant so the idea of actually going out to therapy was daunting. This is much lower stress for me and I can check-in whenever works for me.” – Niva

8. Open Path Collective

Best For | Low-cost sessions; family or group sessions
Notable Features | Sliding scale, bilingual options, wellness courses available
Price Range | $30–$80 per session; $59 lifetime membership fee

Open Path Collective, a nonprofit, supports clients who lack health insurance or cannot afford typical pricing for therapy sessions. For a lifetime membership fee, you can find affordable therapists in your area who may offer online therapy in addition to IRL counseling. Open Path welcomes all identities, backgrounds, bodies, and orientations. Pro tip: If you’re looking for family, group, or couples therapy, you can usually share one membership fee.

Review | “I am so very grateful for this service. Without it, I would not be able to afford the very much-needed therapy for my daughters. Simply put, Open Path has saved my life and the lives of my family.” – Tom

9. Inclusive Therapists

Best For | BIPOC, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergent & Disabled communities
Notable Features | Bilingual options, centered on marginalized identities, reduced fee virtual teletherapy
Price Range | Varies; sliding scale available

Inclusive Therapists is a wonderful directory focused on celebrating all identities and abilities. This online platform centers BIPOC, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergent, and Disabled communities with a specific focus on social justice, liberation, and decolonization. That means every therapist here has been carefully verified to meet the needs of these communities, and you can expect culturally responsive and supportive feedback with every counseling session.

Review | “What don’t I love about Inclusive Therapists!? […] Use their database to search for therapists by the usual stuff (location, training, sliding scale rates, accepting new clients) AND by the therapist’s identity, cultural or spiritual knowledge, languages spoken, areas of focus…aka search filters that help you find someone who won’t gaslight you and will prioritize social justice.” – Alexis Rockley

The post 9 Online Therapy Sites For Affordable Counseling appeared first on The Good Trade.

Deep breathing and mindfulness have long been considered solutions to stress; the focus on inhales and exhales centers us in the present moment and helps to keep us grounded. It’s no surprise, then, that meditation and breathing apps are so helpful to combat anxiety and depression, as well as life’s everyday challenges.

These specific apps focus on meditation, deep breathing, and sleep sounds. Many include daily push reminders, guided lessons, calming music, and nature sounds to round out the experience. No matter what you may need, the right breathing exercise can help you keep calm and carry on.

If you want to get your kids involved, here are the best mindfulness apps for youngsters! And if you’re seeking out one-to-one support, we have online therapy options that are both affordable and accessible.

3. Othership

Best For | Music-driven breathwork
Cost | Free for basic features, $17.99/monthly or $129.99/annually for a premium membership; scholarships available
Features | Five rotating free sessions, 500+ guided sessions, sound healing, hypnosis, somatic release therapy, vocal toning, self-massage, mindful walking + working, movement + dance

An app that skillfully combines breathwork and meditation, immersed in music, with sessions ranging from 60 seconds to 60 minutes? We’re in! Othership makes choosing easy, with sessions that energize (“Up”) or calm down (“Down”), as well as all around options meant to support your brain, body, and what they call Big Lung Energy. Guided by psychotherapists, wellness practitioners, hypnotherapists, artists, DJ’s, spiritual teachers, and life coaches, these sessions are anything but boring, and are sure to help you develop a strong, meaningful mindfulness practice you’ll be sure to stick to!

4. Simply Being

Best For | Affordable meditation
Cost | Free for basic features, $7.99/monthly, $49.99/annually
Features | Five meditation time-lengths up to 30 minutes, additional music/nature sounds

Launched by the Maddux duo (they have more than 40 years of meditation training and are most known for their popular Meditative Oasis podcast and apps), Simply Being offers you peace during the most stressful moments of the day. With five time-lengths and an intuitive user experience, you’ll find yourself immersed in soothing music and gentle instructions. For just $1.99, you can unlock everything within the app, including optional nature sounds and 30-minute voice-guided meditation.

5. iBreathe

Best For | Breathing & anxiety
Cost | Free for basic features, $2.99 to remove ads & other in-app purchases to customize options
Features | Pre-defined presets, customizable reminders, can send breathing exercises to others

If ease of use is the name of the game, then iBreathe is right up your alley. This uber-simple, beautifully designed app reduces clutter to ensure a mindful and centered experience. Whether you’re battling anxiety or insomnia, iBreathe offers deep breathing exercises for relief. Best of all, the app pushes reminders to your phone, so you can take some time out of your busy day to be fully present. Plus, you can send breathing exercises to friends and go through them together for shared moments of zen.

The post The 5 Best Meditation & Breathing Apps To Reduce Anxiety appeared first on The Good Trade.

During the height of the pandemic lockdowns, I deactivated or privatized all my social accounts. It was for my own good—numbing my big feelings with memes and escaping into lives I was envious of had become toxic for me. The idea of having a “good” online presence in 2020 was just too much for me to handle, while we were already coping with so much.

The only thing that remained was my work, which I fed daily from a desk tucked into the corner of my living room. Day in, and day out, I existed online only through my job and amongst strangers in anonymous video game voice chats.

But now things are starting to change; I’m out in the world again after a long hibernation, meeting humans and making IRL friends for the first time in years.

So I logged back in and dug through my accounts, like an identity archaeologist, to see what my online presence had been before the upheaval. I discovered my old Instagram posts and website no longer matched the person I was becoming. I needed to update…well, everything.

I reached out to my peers, career coaches, and recruitment experts to learn more about building an online presence that works for you instead of against you. Here’s what I’ve learned.

First, do you need an online presence?

You don’t need an online presence to be valued socially or professionally if it doesn’t align with your goals. You, as a person, remain as brilliant and delightful whether you have an Instagram or not.

However, it can be a valuable tool for meeting people, cultivating friendships, and finding new opportunities—sharing a website or TikTok page can serve the same purpose as handing over a business card. But it doesn’t need to be highly curated or have thousands of followers or subscribers to be effective!

If you choose to have an online presence and want to start using it to present yourself in the world, welcome aboard. But how do you balance intention and authenticity in a world of curated posts and deceiving filters?

“How do you balance intention and authenticity in a world of curated posts and deceiving filters?”

Get clear on your goals

Start by learning whether you’re an online person or not. Dayana Cadet, a Clarity Coach and founder of I See You, Sis, recommends asking yourself: “Who are you trying to connect with, and where do they hang out?” Maybe it’s in-person community events or online on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Discord, or Slack.

Instead of looking at the numbers, consider who you want to speak to and why. What next actions do you want friends, followers, or subscribers to take after they come across your online self? Do you want them to be inspired by you? To hire you? To challenge you? Or to feel empowered, or joyful?

Perhaps you don’t want them to take any action at all and just prefer to keep your online presence as a one-way portfolio showcase. That’s okay!

Some goals you might consider here:

• Showcasing your hobbies like design, art, writing, etc.
• Sharing your social media as a calling card after networking events
• Connecting with your friends and family only
• Building a portfolio for new work or freelance opportunities
• Giving and receiving validation from friends + strangers
• Connecting with folks outside of your friends and family who have similar life experiences
• Making people laugh
• Remaining an anonymous lurker (no harm in that! Just don’t be creepy)

Then, do a quick facelift

If your brain works like mine does, it’s easy to get caught up in all-or-nothing thinking that says everything must be done right now. (Get a professional headshot, a new URL, all the corresponding social media handles, take over the world, etc.) You don’t have to do it this way. Trust me, you’ll feel healthier and more grounded if you take this one step at a time.

Here’s a quick checklist for updating your online presence, whether it’s for work or play:

1. Update your profile picture to reflect what you currently look like. This is especially helpful if you’ve dyed or cut your hair (🙋‍♀️) or have other appearance changes you want to convey.
2. Revisit your bio! Who are you at work, outside of work, what do you like, or what do you post about most frequently? Here is a bundle of bio ideas if you’re feeling uninspired.
3. Archive photos, posts, or blog entries that don’t feel aligned with who you are now. Keep them if you’re comfortable with it!
4. Highlight your most authentic self by pinning your favorite photos, updating the date on your most well-loved blog post, or creating new content that reflects your current goals and lifestyle. (I like to think of it like this—what three things do I want folks to understand about me when they stumble across my online persona?)
5. Review your LinkedIn presence to see if it’s relevant to your goals. Especially if you’re job searching or in a people-facing job (as many of us are), at least ensure your job title, history, and profile picture are up to date.
6. Update your personal website with color schemes and copy that conveys who you are currently. If you don’t have a personal website, don’t rush it. Start with the online presence you already have, and don’t force the time and financial investment until you feel ready to do so.
7. Look over everything for red flags, especially if you’re on the job hunt. “Avoid being eye-catching in the wrong ways,” says Matt Erhard of Summit Search Group, a recruiting firm in Canada. Small or inconsistent online presences aren’t a turn-off for recruiters, but Erhard notes hiring managers may think twice “if your online content makes you seem toxic, untrustworthy, or like you’d be a liability for the company if hired.” (The same applies if you’re looking for friends or romantic partners!) 

Fit your online life into your routine, not the other way around

If you often find yourself stopping important life events or ignoring momentous occasions in favor of posting to “the ‘gram,” it might be worth examining. Are you sharing things you genuinely enjoy and believe others will too, or are you posting solely for the algorithm to do its magic work and make you look wealthier, or smarter, or sexier? (It’s okay, we’ve all done it).

To help with this, you might create a mini set of guidelines or principles for posting to social media if you have a hard time knowing what’s authentic. I’m finding words I can recite when I wonder if something is an aligned post—is this content crafty, silly, cute, joyful, or honest? If not, then maybe I can share it to my disappearing stories, or forgo a share entirely. Knowing your own guidelines can also be helpful for you when navigating what to share in moments of victory, tragedy, or other historic importance.

Ultimately, you don’t have to be an influencer or entrepreneur to curate your online presence effectively, because it’s about recognition more than growth. “It’s not about how much or how often to show up on social media,” notes Rachel Stiles, founder of Stage Creative Network (an online membership site for folks working in the theater space). Instead, it’s about “how to show up in a way that [you] actually enjoy creating a presence.” Ironically, Stiles notes, it’s this type of authenticity that the algorithms are learning to reward with better distribution.

And that visibility for who you are, my friends, is what leveling up is all about.

Emily Torres is the Editorial Director at The Good Trade. Born and raised in Indiana, she studied Creative Writing and Business at Indiana University. You can usually find her in her colorful Los Angeles apartment journaling, caring for her rabbits and cat, or gaming.

The post How To Level Up Your Online Presence (And Why You Should) appeared first on The Good Trade.

That said, there are a few wonderful writing books out there that I swear by for my own practice. While this list isn’t comprehensive, it includes a few gems I believe are fresh, unique, and short or small enough to carry with you. Most importantly, these books are more concerned with examining the writer’s life than the writing itself (something I’ve come to learn must be figured out at the individual level). Hopefully they offer you a bit of wisdom as well.

For more writing recommendations, check out these 99 creative writing prompts and these writing classes you can take online.

1. The Writing Life by Annie Dillard

This is one of my all-time favorite essay collections for creative inspiration or for whenever I feel like I’m in a writing rut. I first read it during grad school in a single afternoon (it’s only 111 pages) and was captivated by Dillard’s ability to articulate the joys and pains of life as a working writer. Each micro essay includes metaphors, anecdotes from her experiences, and probing questions for the reader to examine their own writing life. It’s a quick and breathless read, but one that stays with you forever. Here is one of my favorite passages:

“Who will teach me to write? A reader wanted to know.

The page, the page, the eternal blankness, the blankness of eternity which you cover slowly, affirming time’s scrawl as a right and your daring as necessity; the page, which you cover woodenly, ruining it, but asserting your freedom and power to act, acknowledging that you ruin everything you touch but nevertheless, because acting is better than being here in mere opacity…” (Dillard, 58-59)

Read The Writing Life

2. My Trade Is Mystery by Carl Phillips

This little writing book is such a gem! I first started reading it this past winter and had to force myself to slow down so that I could savor every single word from the accomplished writer, poet, and teacher Carl Phillips. The book jacket describes this as the “ultimate companion for writers at every stage of their journey,” and it truly is such. It’s also a fresh take on writing advice in a market saturated by how-to writing books and instruction manuals. Here is a passage I continue to revisit:

“To write poems that make a meaningful difference, that do the transformative work of showing readers (and myself as the writer) the world in a new way—this is difficult, yes. But the chance for surprise makes the work inviting. Difficulty, surprise—maybe that’s all a career comes down to. Difficulty meets surprise, and—without having thought to choose to—they mate for life.” (Phillips, 27)

Read My Trade Is Mystery

3. Body Work by Melissa Febos

Melissa Febos has long been one of my favorite authors and essayists. Her work is raw and profoundly human. When I learned she was publishing her own book on writing, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it, knowing it would offer a fresh and intimate take on personal narrative. It has, of course, exceeded my expectations and become a regular companion to my own writing practice. In a little more than 150 pages, Febos transforms the way writers consider the page and how we use it to explore our truest and most personal stories—which often include desires and physical bodies. Author Alexander Chee calls it “one of the most liberating books on the subject of writing.” I suggest every writer snag a copy to keep on their desk.

Read Body WORK

4. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Is a writing book roundup complete if it doesn’t include Bird by Bird? While an older book on the market (first published in 1994), there’s a reason Anne Lamott’s work continues to be praised and quoted by writers everywhere—my own copy is dog-eared, weathered, and hardly decipherable from highlighter and margin notes.

Lamott has long been known for her honest writing and ability to put things plainly for readers, and she does just that in this instruction manual, too. If I’ve taken anything from my reading (and re-readings) of her words, it’s that there is nothing more sacred than finding your inner voice and allowing it to live on the page. “Train yourself to hear that small inner voice,” she writes. (113, Lamott)

Read BIrd By Bird

5. Before and After the Book Deal by Courtney Maum

If you’re writing a book (or want to), this is essentially the bible you’ll want to memorize and reference again and again. Courtney Maum offers insider advice from the book publishing world, whether you’re trying to finish your novel, find an agent, or navigate the terrifying waters—and jargon—of the pub industry. I reference my copy weekly, if not more, and recommend it to anyone who tells me they are writing a book. You can also subscribe to Maum’s substack newsletter for regular writing advice delivered to your inbox.

Read Before And After The Book Deal

Forthcoming: How We Do It by Jericho Brown and Darlene Taylor

This one isn’t out in the world until summer, so while I can’t give my personal recommendation just yet, I can say I think it’s going to be very, very good. It includes experiences and expertise from more than 30 acclaimed writers and celebrates the Black creative spirit. Preorders are super important for authors and the success of books, so consider ordering a copy before pub date to express your interest. (Plus, it’s always fun to get a book in the mail that you purchased months ago!)

Read How We Do It

Kayti Christian (she/her) is the Managing Editor at The Good Trade. She has a Master’s in Nonfiction Writing from the University of London and is the creator of Feelings Not Aside, a newsletter for sensitive people.

The post The Best Books On Writing—From A Writer appeared first on The Good Trade.

Can you remember what it felt like to sit without judgment, crayons in hand, and let your creativity take the lead? As adults, we often forget the child-like wonder of coloring and how it can foster our imagination. When we allow for it, coloring can be a powerful mindfulness practice for finding peace and healing.

Of course, structure is helpful—after all, a blank canvas can feel intimidating. Rather than starting from scratch, we love how coloring books can guide us in our creative endeavors. 

The below list includes a few of our favorite coloring books and coloring pages for adults—many of which invite us to experience armchair travel or immerse ourselves in nature. Pair them with a craft kit for a playful and creative summer!

1. Healthy Earth Coloring Workbook

Illustrator | Ivelina Vasileva
Best For | Learning about sustainability
Number of Pages | 60
Price | $15

Combine art and play with this coloring book that not only has the cutest animated illustrations, but also empowers you to become your own environmental hero! With over 60+ sustainability tips and easy to color custom designs, this workbook provides helpful knowledge about sustainability without channelling eco-anxiety.

2. Healing Botanicals Adult Coloring Book

Illustrator | Molly Suzanne
Best For | Learning about botany
Number of Pages | 30
Price | $25

This adult coloring book is perfect for aspiring herbalists. Part-coloring pages, part-field guide, it’s a wonderful introduction to the healing power of botany. And we love that we get to learn about different herbs’ colors and shapes!

3. A Cozy Coloring Cookbook

Illustrator | Amber Day
Best For | Food illustrations, recipes
Number of Pages | 40
Price | $15.99

We don’t often think about colors when cooking our food, which is why we love this unique coloring book by home cook and food blogger Adrianna Adarme. It includes 40 “happy, cozy, and tasty recipes” so that you can eat and play all at once!

4. Sanctuary: Living Spaces Coloring Book 

Illustrator | Amber Day
Best For | Interior design
Number of Pages | 24
Price | $7.99

Also illustrated by Amber Day, this adult coloring book is ideal for interior design enthusiasts. It shows us how to connect color and patterns in our homes and—most importantly—how to make a space feel like our own. Color now, re-decorate later! 

5. The Flower Year

Illustrator | Leila Duly
Best For | English-inspired landscapes
Number of Pages | 104
Price | $14.99

We imagine this is what it feels like to live in a Victorian painting. This coloring book transports us into the natural world—more specifically, the English countryside. Leila Duly’s illustrations offer a creative escape, and each page is filled with whimsical depictions of flowers, plants, and insects. 

6. We Travel In COLOR

Illustrator | Patricia Keller
Best For | Armchair travel
Number of Pages | 25
Price | $13.99

Having wanderlust this summer? Us too. And this coloring book allows us to have a new adventure—right at home! The first Black adult travel coloring book, each illustration captures our beautiful world and its many cultures. Take your own trip via the pages—from Morocco to Paris! 

7. Slow Down: A Minimalist Coloring Book

Illustrator | Todd Webb
Best For | Minimalist designs
Number of Pages | 80
Price | $10

While we love all of the adult coloring books on the market, sometimes the intricate and complex designs can feel overwhelming. Enter Todd Webb’s handmade coloring book. These pages are simple and minimalistic while equally charming. And we especially appreciate the life suggestions and affirmations sprinkled throughout. 

The post Slow Down With These 7 Coloring Books For Adults appeared first on The Good Trade.

Mood boards—“a physical or digital collage of ideas,” according to Canva—help to capture my vision and drive motivation for each project. Like when I created a few Pinterest boards for my work-in-progress novel. Mood boards are a way to take all my ideas and put them into one place, arranging everything in a way that makes sense and feels cohesive.  

Mood boards help create a story, according to The Design Society, establishing “visual connotations.” In other words, they can help us visualize and communicate ideas by putting them onto the (physical or digital) page. 

“It’s a process,” says Emily Fishman, the knitwear design manager at Everlane. She uses mood boards throughout the design process when creating new pieces. 

“[Mood boards] can be malleable and kind of move with you as you continue on your creative journey,” she says, suggesting using them as a reminder of your initial inspiration. “I just can get so deep in my head that it’s nice to have that reminder of what was inspiring [me] to begin with.” 

So, whether you’re working on a project at work or developing your own creative goals, here’s how you can make a mood board that will guide you along the way. 

Find Your Inspiration

Mood boards start with inspiration. I pull creative inspiration from everywhere. Walking to my local library the other day, I impulsively snapped a photo of a street corner with a color-coordinating mural, bike, and store sign. Flipping through a magazine, I often take in the fonts, the images, the layouts, and anything else that intrigues me. Scrolling through Instagram, I generously hoard photos in my “saves” folder. 

Fishman agrees, saying she’s always looking online, in the real world, and everywhere in between for things that inspire her. She recommends varying your sources (i.e., beyond Pinterest and Instagram) when looking. 

“Go to books, go to old magazines, go to movies, take screenshots, people you see on the street… vary up where you’re getting your inspiration, so it doesn’t become just a derivative of everyone else’s,” she says. 

Research

What do you need to include in your mood board? Are there any specifics that are required for the goal? If it’s for your own goal, is there something specific you’re trying to communicate? If it’s a project for a client, are there needs that must be met? 

Tiffany Howell, principal designer and founder at Night Palm Interior Design Studio, tells the Design Time podcast that she likes to create playlists before making a mood board for her clients to get a sense of how they want to feel in a space. 

“We kind of start with the metaphors and then we go to the literal stuff,” she says.   

Put Your Mood Board Together

If you’re crafting the mood board physically, grab some paper or paperboard. If you’re creating one digitally, Canva or another digital collage platform is a great place to start. Gather your inspiration—photos, magazine clippings, fabric swatches, fonts, jewelry, flowers, or whatever else you found—and start putting it all on the board. 

You get to decide how you want to physically structure the mood board. You may want to organize it as a collage, or you may prefer a more structured look. Let this step be a creative process in and of itself.

Display Your Mood Board

Once you have a mood board that captures your goal, keep it on hand. If it’s a physical board, put it somewhere you can easily reference it. If it’s digital, have the file open when you’re working, or consider setting it as your computer or tablet background. As Fishman said, you can go to it when you feel like you’ve lost your way or feel overwhelmed as you get to the harder parts of the project. It will help ground you and reset your focus on why you felt inspired in the first place. 

Ultimately, your mood board should feel personal to your creative goals. Trust that you know what you are going for with it, stick to it but let it be flexible, and remember to enjoy the process.

Brianna Schubert is a writer and editor living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When she’s not writing about books, lifestyle, and culture, you can find her cooking up a new recipe, reading and recommending books, or finding hidden gems at vintage and thrift stores. Say hi on Instagram!

The post How to Capture Your Creative Goals in a Mood Board appeared first on The Good Trade.

Cell phones were designed to be almost addictive, so it’s not a personal character flaw if you find yourself anxious to be without your phone or you have trouble controlling your phone usage. But we’re not totally powerless—the more you get off your phone, the easier it is to stay off, so here are dozens of things you can do instead of reaching for your phone.

If any of these activities spark your interest, see if you can train yourself to reach for something else instead of mindlessly going for the phone. Some are fun, phoneless solitary activities, some involve chores, some involve getting some physical activity, and some help you get social without social media. 

Creative Things to Do Instead of Reaching for Your Phone

1. Paint or draw a picture.
2. Write a poem.
3. Knit (or learn how to). 🧶
4. Or learn to crochet.
5. Or pick up embroidery or cross stitching.
6. Start a simple DIY project like painting a dresser or table.
7. Sing a song.
8. Write a journal entry, even if it’s only a couple of sentences about what you did today.
9. Pick up an instrument, if you play.
10. Choreograph a dance.
11. Scrapbook.
12. Make your own candles.
13. Color in an adult coloring book.
14. Learn some simple origami.

Activities to Do at Home Rather Than Scroll

15. Do (or start) a puzzle.
16. Read a newspaper or magazine article (keep them lying around to encourage casual reading instead of phone scrolling!).
17. Read a book.
18. Listen to a podcast.
19. Play solitaire.
20. Do a crossword.
21. Do a Sudoku.
22. Play with your dog, cat, or other pet.
23. Play a video game. 🎮
24. Bake something.
25. Learn or practice a second language. Here are some apps to help.
26. Make a music playlist.
27. Watch a show or movie, and stay engaged with it.
28. Write up a bucket list.
29. Find a pen pal.
30. Browse job openings. (It never hurts to keep an eye out!).

Activities to Do Outside the House

31. Go on a short walk. 
32. Or a long walk!
33. Go thrifting.
34. Window shop.
35. Go to the farmers’ market.
36. Volunteer.
37. Run an errand.
38. Pop outside for some fresh air.
39. Go on a bike ride. 🚲
40. Go to the gym.
41. Go hiking.
42. Go to a workout class.

Chores to Complete Instead of Going on Your Phone

43. Set a timer and tidy for five minutes.
44. Empty the dishwasher.
45. Make the bed.
46. Water the plants (or just check them if they don’t need water). 🪴
47. Vacuum.
48. Write a grocery list.
49. Cook a nice meal.
50. Meal prep ingredients you like to use—cook rice, chop up broccoli, or cook dried beans.
51. Make quick pickled vegetables.
52. Go through your closet and choose items to donate.
53. Organize your closet by color.
54. Mend clothing that has a hole in it. 🪡
55. Clean your desk/workspace.
56. Change your bedsheets.
57. Clean the shower.
58. Clean out your purse or wallet.
59. Make a weekly or monthly to-do list.
60. Dust the shelves.
61. Clean out the fridge.
62. Clean the kitchen sink.

Physical Activities to Do Instead of Scrolling

63. Stretch or practice yoga.
64. Do ten push-ups.
65. Or crunches, pullups, etc.
66. Go on the treadmill/elliptical/stationary bike if you have one.
67. Head outside and draw some hopscotch.
68. Hula hoop.
69. Play catch.
70. Lift weights if you have some. 
71. Dance to your favorite song. 💃
72. Jump rope.
73. Roller skate or rollerblade.

Self-Care Activities to Do Instead of Reaching for Your Phone

74. Do a face mask.
75. Meditate.
76. Cut or file your nails.
77. Paint your nails.
78. Take a bath.
79. Apply body lotion all over.
80. Sunbathe outside. 🕶
81. Take a nap!
82. Foam roll tired muscles.
83. Make a vision board or a mood board.
84. Watch a YouTube video to learn something new.
85. Diffuse essential oils or light some incense.
86. Draw a tarot card or spread.
87. Make a cup of tea (and don’t scroll while the water’s boiling).
88. Do your makeup just for fun.

Social Activities to Stay Connected Without Your Phone

89. Strike up a conversation with your partner/roommate/parents if you live with others.
90. Write a letter or note to a loved one. 💌
91. Host a game night with friends.
92. Grab coffee with a friend.
93. Have a conversation with a barista at your local coffee shop.
94. Bake something and bring it to a neighbor or friend.
95. Go to the park and people-watch.
96. Have a phone-free date with your partner.
97. Go on a hike or walk with a friend or family member.
98. Try out a new restaurant with a loved one.
99. Have a manicure/pedicure date.

Natalie Gale is a Boston-based freelance journalist. When she’s not writing about art, food, or sustainability, you can find her biking to the farmers’ market, baking, sewing, or planning her next Halloween costume. Say hi on Instagram!

The post 99 Things To Do Instead Of Reaching For Your Phone appeared first on The Good Trade.

One of our favorite ways to start our work day is to set aside 10-15 minutes as we settle in to our desks to read a handful of daily newsletters with informative, insightful, and encouraging content.

We’ve asked our readers {and each other!} what is missing when it comes to conscious content that inspires and informs us in our everyday lives. Not surprisingly, we’ve found women resonate with bite-sized, actionable content that is consciously aligned and aesthetically beautiful.  

Created especially for women, here are our favorite regular newsletters to read each morning for news, politics and inspiration. For more inspiration, head here for our favorite websites—and happy scrolling!

1. The Daily Good

We may be biased, but we are big fans of our daily newsletter, The Daily Good, a 30-second newsletter delivered to your inbox daily with soothing playlists, sustainable recipes and DIYs, inspiring articles, and more. Curated with love by The Good Trade team, we hope all our readers will add The Daily Good to their list of morning newsletters.

Subscribe to The Daily Good

2. The Assist

Your work BFF in newsletter form, The Assist arrives in your inbox four times a week and makes becoming a better professional actually enjoyable. We love that this newsletter doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still offers extremely actionable advice we love sharing with our peers and colleagues. The Assist is always fresh, and there’s something to love in each edition (see what we mean and check out their archive of excellent newsletter sends).

Subscribe to The Assist

3. The GIST

For a refreshing female voice and perspective on sports, we adore The GIST. This free newsletter written and led by women gives you, yes, “the gist” on what is happening in the sports world in four sends a week. You can expect to be entertained, informed, and all caught up on what’s happening in the world of sports with editions on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday!

Subscribe to The GIST

4. DailySkimm

The DailySkimm is one of our favorite morning digests for breaking news and to learn about what’s happening in the world. Launched by media company theSkimm and targeted toward women millennials, a single edition of the newsletter can cover Moderna’s vaccine, hate crimes in the US, and Cinnabon frosting. Plus, it’s nabbed an interview with Kamala Harris, so you know you’re in good company.

Subscribe to The DailySkimm

5. The Morning

If you want to start your day feeling informed and engaged, subscribe to the The Morning—a daily newsletter from The New York Times that aims to “make sense of the day’s news and ideas.” Written by David Leonhardt and other Times journalists, the newsletter will guide you through what’s happening and why it matters. Past editions have included deep dives into the Latino gender gap, books of the year, and polling problems.

Subscribe to The Morning

6. The Broadsheet

Learn about and celebrate the world’s most powerful women with Fortune’s The Broadsheet. A daily newsletter curated by Kristen Bellstrom and for a ‘broad’ audience (because women’s issues are not just women’s issues), The Broadsheet is for readers who want to read stories about all the incredible women who are shattering glass ceilings around the globe. We love the breadth of content—from research, to opinion pieces, to book and biography recommendations that will keep your reading list full.

Subscribe to The Broadsheet

7. Girls’ Night In

Girls’ Night In is a weekly newsletter for women who’d rather stay in on Friday and Saturday night. Sent to over 100,000 subscribers on Friday morning, this cozy email is brimming with the best self-care tips, relaxation ideas, and advice for a restful evening in your pajamas. Founded on the principle that it’s essential to our mental health and wellbeing to chill out when life gets busy, Girls’ Night In is everything we need and more after a long week at the office.

Subscribe to Girls’ Night In

8. Ann Friedman Weekly

Ann Friedman is a writer, journalist, podcast host, and forthcoming author. She’s also a newsletter curator, and we’re obsessed with her email, the Ann Friedman Weekly. Containing the best book and media suggestions, as well as GIFs and other digital treats, this newsletter is delivered on Fridays at what always seems to be the perfect time—because who doesn’t love to get a jumpstart on the weekend? With a free and paid version ($5 a year for extra goodies), this newsletter is one you’ll want to subscribe to asap.

Subscribe to Ann Friedman Weekly

9. Lit Hub Daily

A bullet-list newsletter of the best-written stories on the web? Yes, please! Well-read women will love receiving the Lit Hub Daily newsletter for a roundup of the most acclaimed online literature and recently released essays. Every newsletter also includes a historical photo and fact about a celebrated author, poet, or journalist.

Subscribe to Lit Hub Daily

10. Poem-A-Day

Do you ever need to pause and reset during your day? Maybe you need to take a few breaths or read your favorite poem to help rejuvenate your soul? Indulge in Poem-A-Day, a daily send that shares previously unpublished poems from today’s talented poets during the week and classic poems on the weekends. Each poem is accompanied by exclusive audio and commentary by the poets, so we can connect with our inner artist and creative spirit throughout the work week.

Subscribe to Poem-A-Day

11. Hung Up

When Hunter Harris was an entertainment writer for Vulture, she spent her days hilariously and honestly writing about movies, music, pop culture, and her own personal obsessions. The latter is what has since inspired her weekly newsletter Hung Up. Its title refers to those “preoccupations we just can’t seem to get out from under” (you know, our hang-ups). Launched in November 2020, Hung Up will be filled with essays, interviews, recommendations, reviews, and more.

Subscribe to Hung Up

The post 11 Inspiring Daily Newsletters For The Well-Read Woman appeared first on The Good Trade.

The Black Lives Matter movement urged an acceleration of anti-racism work, and the action and education continues today. That’s because anti-racism education and awareness is not a trend, nor was it resolved during the protests in 2020; activists have been speaking out against systemic racism for years, and will continue to do so.

Below, you’ll find a list of Black educators, activists, and organizations who are advocating for the end of state and societal violence against Black communities. Match the work of these activists with your own introspection, action, and contribution to their teaching—from financial to sharing via word of mouth.

But buying a book and following a handful of new accounts on Instagram is only surface level—the real effort can feel confronting. And it should. It takes courage to speak up in spaces and systems that are not welcome to all—to ensure that every voice is equal, protected, and accounted for. Start here, and grow.

To even further your education, here is a list of anti-racism books to add to your reading list.

Rachel Cargle

Rachel Cargle is a public academic, arts advocate, and founder of The Loveland Foundation, a platform offering free therapy for Black women and girls. Cargle’s Patreon, The Great Unlearn, is a structured space for folks who want more resources and discourse surrounding what many broken systems have taught us for years.

Website | Instagram | Patreon | Books

Ijeoma Oluo

Ijeoma Oluo is the New York Times bestselling author of So You Want To Talk About Race and Mediocre, whose work focuses on the intersections between race and identity, feminism, history, mental health, and more. You can read more from Oluo on her Substack, Behind The Book, and connect directly with her community via chat and exclusive-to-subscribers content.

Website | Instagram | Substack | Books

Blair Imani

Historian and advocate Blair Imani’s work centers women and girls, global Black communities, and the LGBTQ community. She’s written three books, the latest of which is an extension of her educational series, Smarter In Seconds, that she launched on Instagram. There, you’ll learn about intersectionality, race, sexuality, and more.

Website | Instagram | Books

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi is a 2021 MacArthur Fellow and #1 New York Times bestselling author whose works include The Black Campus Movement, Stamped From The Beginning, and How To Be An Antiracist. He is also a CBS News Racial Justice Contributor and the Founding Director of The Antiracist Research & Policy Center; if you haven’t yet learned something from Dr. Kendi, 2023 is the year.

Website | Instagram | Books

The Conscious Kid

If you’re wondering how to talk to your children or students about race and racism, The Conscious Kid offers book lists, resources, and tips for hosting the conversations. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit also goes further on its Patreon, where you can become a monthly contributor for $5 or $10. (If you have limited resources, there is a more accessible pricing tier.)

Website | Instagram | Patreon

Brittany Packnett Cunningham

Brittany Packnett Cunningham has done it all—a founder, TED speaker, podcaster, executive, writer, and correspondent—and she’s still going. Keep an eye out for her upcoming 2025 book We Are Like Those Who Dream, which deep dives into historic speeches by Black women. And as former co-host of Pod Save The People, you can hear Packnett Cunningham’s more recent podcast work at UNDISTRACTED—where she explores news with an intersectional lens.

Website | Instagram | Books

Layla F. Saad

After Layla F. Saad led the Me and White Supremacy challenge on Instagram, she turned her work into a bestselling book by the same name. Saad’s work is dedicated to becoming a good ancestor for the generations to come—join the community for workshops, book clubs, and additional resources for building a legacy of healing and liberation.

Website | Instagram | Community

Ericka Hart

Ericka Hart, who has a Master’s of Education in Human Sexuality, is an educator who challenges anti-Blackness wherever it shows up (from medicine, to academia, fashion, and more). You can learn directly from Hart through their gender and racial and social justice courses—or, listen to archived episodes of their podcast, Hoodrat to Headwrap.

Website | Instagram | Courses

Rachel Ricketts

Rachel Ricketts is a racial justice educator, lawyer, healer, speaker, and author. She offers online courses on spiritual activism, resources on grief and anti-racism, and monthly newsletters. While you’re learning, be sure to check out Ricketts’s book, Do Better, for more inspiration on spiritual activism.

Website | Instagram | Patreon | Books

No White Saviors

To understand that anti-racism work is essential worldwide, No White Saviors is a platform based in Uganda that challenges the White Savior Complex (WSC) and centers and uplifts African people. It identifies and provides critical feedback around the WSC and dismantles harmful systems through public and legal action. You can support the work on Patreon.

Instagram | Patreon

Austin Channing Brown

Austin Channing Brown, the author of I’m Still Here, is a multi-hyphenate creative (aka she can do it all!) who combines racial justice, faith, and Black womanhood in her work. Channing Brown is the CEO of Herself Media, where you can hear directly from her on Full Reset, a podcast on the journey towards adulthood. (Check out her series The Next Question, too!)

Website | Instagram | Books

RELATED READING

The post 11 Anti-Racism Educators & Activists To Follow And Support Online appeared first on The Good Trade.