Discrimination linked to weight can affect hiring, promotions and employees’ mental wellbeing. Why aren’t legal protections in place?. French President Emmanuel Macron took first place, ahead of far-right leader Marine Le Pen, in the first round of France’s presidential election on Sunday, but he is on course for a far closer second-round clash than five years ago.

While polling suggests Macron should retain the presidency in two weeks, first round results show the incumbent can’t rest on his laurels.

Le Pen will be able to count on voters from far-right TV-pundit-turned-politician Eric Zemmour, who called on his supporters to back her on April 24. Meanwhile, leftist firebrand Jean-Luc Mélenchon fared better than expected and brings a heavy dose of uncertainty to the mix as his voters are a diverse bunch. Many are likely to abstain in the second round, while others will divide up between the French president and Le Pen.

“Politics is war without bloodshed
while war is politics with bloodshed.”

France’s repeat of the 2017 runoff confirms Macron’s and Le Pen’s own political analysis: That the divide between the left and the right is no longer relevant in France and has been replaced by an opposition between a mainstream bloc that is pro-European and open to the outside world on one side, and nationalists on the other. Both candidates scored higher than five years ago, leaving the traditional right and left in an even more shambolic state than before. Macron went from 24 percent in 2017 in the first round to 27.6 percent Sunday and Le Pen went from 21.3 percent to 23.4 percent.

The gap between them is higher than last time around, showing that Macron has managed to drum up the most votes despite controversies in the campaign’s last mile, including over the state’s overuse of consulting firms. But the far-right bloc — Marine Le Pen, Eric Zemmour and nationalist Nicolas Dupont-Aignan combined — garnered than 30 percent of the total vote.

I describe the “fun” parts of Only Yesterday because they’re wonderful, but also to make a point about the origin story we’ve learned about the mood of the ’20s. Looking back at Allen’s work from the vantage point of 1986, historian David M. Kennedy argued that the biggest failing of the book was its lack of historical depth: “Rarely did Allen forge an explanatory chain whose links ran back more deeply into the past than 1917.” And indeed, Allen seemed to blame World War I for every ash-covered carpet and scarred dining table.

Allen is also really good at describing parties—or, at least, the ones the middle class and upper class attended. The historian wrote about how women taking up smoking had “strewed the dinner table with their ashes, snatched a puff between the acts, invaded the masculine sanctity of the club car, and forced department stores to place ornamental ash-trays between the chairs in their women’s shoe departments.” In what I think may be the best passage in the book, Allen described the way 1920s partygoers stepped all over every previous genteel convention:

Anyway, let’s get to that fun. A very joyful book to read about the decade is Frederick Lewis Allen’s Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s, which Allen—a blueblood journalist and editor at Harper’s—published in 1931. The book chronicles all of the movement and motion that makes the decade sexy, and doesn’t seem to miss a fad.

The property, complete with a 30-seat screening room, a 100-seat amphitheater and a swimming pond with sandy beach and outdoor shower, was asking about $40 million, but J. Lo managed to make it hers for $28 million. As the Bronx native acquires a new home in California, she is trying to sell a gated compound.

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Perhaps by remembering the twenties merely as an enchanting series of novelties or the crude afterthought of a simpler past, we preserve the illusion of our own simple innocence,” mused historian Paula Fass in the introduction to her book The Damned and the Beautiful: American Youth in the 1920s.

Whether that means there will be a longer-term far-right alliance is an open question. Nicolas Bay and Gilbert Collard — two MEPs who left Le Pen’s party to join Zemmour — didn’t endorse a possible alliance with Le Pen, in case she wins the second round.

Zemmour, a 63-year-old TV pundit-turned-politician, was once tipped to come second behind Macron, back in October. But he plummeted spectacularly in the polls after suffering from a perceived lack of credibility as the Ukraine war started and former comments praising Russian President Vladimir Putin resurfaced. He scored a measly 7 percent. Despite their bitter and unrelenting fighting throughout the campaign, he swiftly endorsed Marine Le Pen.

“I have disagreements with Marine Le Pen,” Zemmour said at his concession speech Sunday, “but there is a man facing Marine Le Pen who has let in 2 million immigrants … who would therefore do worse if he were reelected — it is for this reason that I call on my voters to vote for Marine Le Pen.”

Imagine this: You’ve had a tough day. Your inbox is overflowing, the traffic was a nightmare, and you just spilled coffee on your favorite shirt. You can feel that familiar tension building in your shoulders and a frazzled feeling taking over your mind. What do you do?

For many of us, the answer is to just push through it or get lost in mindless scrolling. But what if you had a dedicated set of tools ready to go—a personal first-aid kit for your emotions?

That’s exactly what a “Stress-Relief Toolkit” is. It’s not a physical box (though it can be!), but a pre-planned collection of simple, reliable strategies you can turn to when you feel overwhelmed. Instead of scrambling for a solution in the heat of the moment, you’ll have a go-to menu of options that work specifically for you.

Ready to build yours? Let’s get started.

Step 1: Understand Your Stress Triggers

Before you can pack your toolkit, you need to know what kind of “emergencies” you’re preparing for. Take a moment to think about what typically sends your stress levels soaring. Is it a looming deadline at work? A difficult conversation with a family member? Maybe it’s the noise and rush of your daily commute.

You don’t need a detailed analysis, just a general idea. Knowing your triggers helps you prepare and use your tools proactively, rather than waiting until you’re already in meltdown mode.

Step 2: Choose Your Tools (Mix and Match!)

The best toolkit is a varied one. You wouldn’t pack a first-aid kit with only bandages, right? You need different tools for different problems. The same goes for stress. A technique that works wonders when you’re feeling anxious might not be as helpful when you’re feeling angry or sad.

Here are some ideas, broken down by category. Pick a few that genuinely appeal to you.

1. Tools for a Quick Reset (1-5 Minutes)

These are your go-to items for immediate relief when you’re in the thick of it.

• Deep Belly Breathing: The classic for a reason. Inhale slowly for four counts, hold for four, and exhale for six. This simple act sends a direct signal to your brain’s alarm system to stand down.
• The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique: Pull yourself out of a thought spiral by engaging your senses. Name 5 things you can see, 4 you can feel, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell, and 1 you can taste.
• A Power Playlist: Create a mini-playlist with 1-3 songs that either instantly calm you down or boost your mood. Pop in your headphones and let the music shift your energy.
• Cold Water Splash: A splash of cold water on your face or running your wrists under a cold tap can shock your system just enough to break the stress cycle.

2. Tools for Releasing Physical Tension (10-20 Minutes)

Stress loves to live in our bodies—in our tight shoulders, clenched jaws, and aching backs. These tools help you physically let it go.

• A Brisk Walk: Getting outside and moving your body, even just for a 10-minute walk around the block, can work wonders. It helps burn off excess stress hormones like adrenaline.
• Stretching: You don’t need a full yoga routine. Simply reaching your arms overhead, rolling your neck and shoulders, or touching your toes can release a surprising amount of tension.
• Dancing It Out: Put on your favorite high-energy song and just move. It’s a fun, judgment-free way to shake off a bad mood.

3. Tools for Creative and Sensory Escape

Sometimes the best way to de-stress is to get out of your own head and into a focused, creative, or sensory activity.

• Doodling or Coloring: Grab a pen and paper and just let your hand move. An adult coloring book can be especially meditative.
• A Scent Anchor: Our sense of smell has a powerful connection to memory and emotion. Keep a small bottle of a calming essential oil (like lavender or chamomile) or a scented hand cream at your desk. Inhale the scent deeply when you need a moment of peace.
• The Perfect Cup of Tea: The ritual of brewing and slowly sipping a warm, non-caffeinated beverage like chamomile or peppermint tea can be incredibly soothing.

Step 3: Pack Your “Kit” and Make It Accessible

Now that you’ve chosen your tools, the final step is to make them easy to access. The last thing you want is to be searching for your “calm” playlist when you’re already stressed.

• Create a Digital Toolkit: Write a note on your phone titled “My Stress-Relief Tools.” List your chosen exercises, link to your playlists, and maybe even save a few calming images or guided meditation videos.
• Build a Physical Toolkit: If you prefer something tangible, create a small box or bag. You could include a stress ball, a small journal and pen, your favorite tea bags, a bottle of essential oil, and headphones. Keep it in a place you can easily get to, like your desk drawer or your car.

Building your stress-relief toolkit is an act of self-care. It’s you, looking out for your future self. The next time stress knocks on your door, you won’t have to panic. You’ll be ready to open your toolkit and find exactly what you need to reclaim your calm.

Does your mind ever feel like a web browser with way too many tabs open? You’re trying to focus, but a constant flood of worries, to-do lists, and random thoughts keeps pulling you in different directions. If that sounds familiar, you’re in the right place.

Many people hear the word “mindfulness” and picture an expert meditating silently on a mountaintop for hours. But you don’t need a mountain or hours of free time to feel the benefits. Think of mindfulness as a mental workout—a simple way to train your attention and get a little peace, right in the middle of a chaotic day.

Ready to give it a try? Let’s walk through five incredibly simple exercises designed to help you press pause, catch your breath, and find your footing.

1. The Anchor Breath: Your Instant Reset Button

Imagine you’re a boat tossed around on choppy waves. What do you need? An anchor. In mindfulness, your breath is your anchor, holding you steady in the present moment instead of being carried away by the storm in your mind.

How to do it:

• Sit or stand comfortably. You don’t need a special posture, just relax your shoulders.
• Close your eyes if you feel comfortable, or just lower your gaze.
• Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose, feeling your belly expand.
• Breathe out just as slowly through your mouth or nose, letting everything go.
• Just focus on that simple rhythm: in and out. If your mind wanders (and it will!), gently guide it back to your breath. Try it for just one minute.

2. The Grounding Technique: Get Out of Your Head and Into the Room

When you’re overwhelmed, your thoughts can feel like a powerful whirlpool, pulling you under. This exercise is a lifeline; it pulls you out of the whirlpool by plugging you into your immediate surroundings. It’s a direct highway out of your head and back to reality.

How to do it (The 5-4-3-2-1 Method): Wherever you are, take a moment to notice:

• 5 things you can see. (Your computer, a crack on the wall, a plant in the corner.)
• 4 things you can feel. (The texture of your desk, the fabric of your clothes, the cool air on your skin.)
• 3 things you can hear. (The hum of a fan, distant traffic, your own breathing.)
• 2 things you can smell. (Your coffee, a pen, the scent of the room.)
• 1 thing you can taste. (The lingering taste of mints, coffee, or just the neutral taste in your mouth.)

This simple act of noticing reconnects you with the present and quiets the noise inside.

3. The Body Scan: A Quick Tune-Up for Your System

Stress doesn’t just live in your head; it creates tension throughout your body—in your clenched jaw, your tight shoulders, your upset stomach. A quick body scan is like running a gentle diagnostic, allowing you to notice this tension without judging it.

How to do it:

• Get comfortable in your chair.
• Bring your attention to the soles of your feet. Just notice any sensations—warmth, pressure, tingling. No need to change anything.
• Slowly, as if you’re moving a gentle spotlight, move your attention up through your legs, your torso, your arms, and all the way to the top of your head.
• Just notice where you feel tight or tense. The simple act of noticing can often help those muscles begin to relax on their own.

4. Mindful Listening: Tune In to the Sounds of Now

We spend most of our day filtering sounds out. This exercise flips the script. Instead of ignoring the soundscape around you, you intentionally tune in. Think of your ears as giant microphones, simply recording the sounds of this exact moment.

How to do it:

• Close your eyes for a minute.
• Listen. What’s the furthest sound you can hear? What’s the closest?
• Try to hear each sound as a pure vibration, without immediately slapping a label on it (e.g., “annoying car horn,” “my boss talking”). Just let the sounds come and go.
• This teaches you to be an observer, not a reactor, which is a powerful skill in stressful situations.

5. The One-Minute Pause: Your Secret Weapon for a Hectic Day

This is the simplest and perhaps most powerful exercise of all. You can do it anywhere, anytime—in a long line, before a difficult meeting, or when you feel your temper rising. It’s your emergency brake for an overwhelmed mind.

How to do it:

• Stop: Whatever you are doing, just pause for a moment.
• Breathe: Take one conscious, deliberate breath. In and out.
• Observe: Ask yourself, “What am I feeling right now?” Name the emotion without judgment. “This is anxiety.” “This is frustration.”

That’s it. This tiny break disrupts the automatic pilot of stress and gives you back a moment of control.

Your Journey Starts with One Breath

Mindfulness isn’t about achieving a perfectly empty mind—that’s a near-impossible goal. It’s about learning to be a friend to your mind, even when it’s messy and chaotic. Don’t worry about doing these exercises perfectly. The goal is simply to do them.

Stick to the one that feels easiest for you and try it just once a day. You might be surprised at how much calmer your world can become, one simple breath at a time.