Life Kit

NPR

Everyone needs a little help being a human. From sleep to saving money to parenting and more, host Marielle Segarra talks to experts to get the best advice out there. Life Kit is here to help you get it together. Want another life hack? Try Life Kit+. You'll support the show and unlock exclusive curated playlists and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/lifekit

  • 22 minutes 16 seconds
    A proven method to make a habit stick
    BJ Fogg, a behavior scientist at Stanford University and author of Tiny Habits, says you’ve got to start small if you want your habit to stick. He shares his research including the important role of positive emotion in habit formation and why you can work on a several habits at once.

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    13 January 2026, 8:00 am
  • 17 minutes 16 seconds
    Tips to save money across all parts of your life
    For a lot of us, this time of year often triggers a financial reckoning. As you recover from the holidays, here are 6 tips from past Life Kit experts on how to save money year-round.
     
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    12 January 2026, 8:05 am
  • 25 minutes 26 seconds
    Stressed about sleep? Don't make these mistakes
    Will I be able to show up for work? For my kid? For my partner? When you find yourself awake when you should be asleep, it’s easy to let those middle-of-the-night fears creep in. And failing to manage that anxiety can turn a few bad nights of sleep into a cycle of insomnia. Three sleep experts share strategies on minimizing sleep stress — from rethinking sleep trackers to ditching your bedtime.

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    8 January 2026, 8:05 am
  • 21 minutes 10 seconds
    How to build a village
    Many of us crave stronger community, especially in the areas we live. Imagine how nice it would be to know all of your neighbors, have third spaces you're a regular at and plan routine gatherings with a wide circle of friends. But how do you actually make this dream a reality? Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering, shares her best tips for building community at the local level.

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    6 January 2026, 8:00 am
  • 22 minutes 7 seconds
    The science of losing weight
    When it comes to weight loss, there are many misconceptions about what works. So if you want to lose weight this year, here's what the science says about the potential health benefits, GLP-1 drugs, exercise and more.

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    5 January 2026, 12:01 pm
  • 22 minutes 9 seconds
    How to set resolutions you'll actually keep
    Happy New Year! If you want to achieve a goal (big or small) this year, make sure it's specific, concrete and realistic. In this episode, writer Gretchen Rubin shares how to set and maintain resolutions, what to do when you fall away from them and other ways to look ahead to your 2026. Sign up for Life Kit's Guide to Building Strength here: npr.org/stronger


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    1 January 2026, 8:05 am
  • 16 minutes 23 seconds
    Get into strength training in 2026
    There are a lot of myths about strength training. But one thing is true: resistance training has massive benefits for your physical and mental health. NPR health correspondent Will Stone has the tips you need to get stronger in the New Year.

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    30 December 2025, 8:00 am
  • 20 minutes 49 seconds
    Avoid these common financial mistakes
    Personal finance can be a tricky subject to navigate. There's a lot of conflicting guidance on which savings account to use, how to budget properly and where to invest your money. And it's easy to make a mistake. This episode, financial educator Yanely Espinal shares the common financial mistakes she wish she knew about earlier. This episode originally published August 6, 2024.

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    29 December 2025, 8:05 am
  • 19 minutes 21 seconds
    Want to take a break from alcohol? Here's where to start
    Giving up alcohol for any amount of time can be challenging. Alcohol is embedded into countless norms and customs, from date nights to office happy hours. This episode, Casey Davidson, sobriety coach and host of the Hello Someday podcast, shares advice on taking an extended break from drinking: what to expect in the first few weeks, how to deal with social pressure and the many benefits of limiting your alcohol intake. This episode originally published December 26, 2024.

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    25 December 2025, 11:26 am
  • 16 minutes 13 seconds
    How to be a better gift giver
    Searching for the perfect gift for a loved one doesn't have to be stressful. With some clever thinking, buying a present can be even more fun than receiving one. Author Rachel Wilkerson Miller shares her best tips for the holidays, birthdays or any other occasion.

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    23 December 2025, 8:00 am
  • 25 minutes
    How to talk about death and dying
    Death can be an uncomfortable and scary topic. But J.S. Park, a hospital chaplain and author of As Long as You Need: Permission to Grieve, says talking about it can help us prepare for and process death — our own and those we love. On this episode of Life Kit, Park shares how to support someone who’s dying, what death can look like, and how to consider death without obsession or fear.

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    22 December 2025, 8:00 am
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