• The US Surgeon General announced that alcohol causes cancer.
• The "1-2-3 rule" can help you cut down on drinking, especially in social settings.
• Limit yourself to 1-2 drinks a day, never exceeding three.

The US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a warning Friday, saying alcohol causes cancer and no amount of alcohol is safe.

Still, going fully sober doesn't always work for everyone.

Katherine Metzelaar, a registered dietitian, told Business Insider that, unless a client has experience of substance abuse, she usually recommends drinking in moderation over participating in events like Dry January.

"Cutting it out entirely often leads to the cycle of restricting alcohol and then binging alcohol," Metzelaar told Business Insider.

To make alcohol moderation less vague, some people follow the "1-2-3 rule," a rough guideline on how much to drink each day. According to the US Coast Guard, the 1-2-3 rule is:

• No more than one standard drink per hour
• No more than two standard drinks per occasion
• No more than three drinks a day (more than three constitutes binge drinking, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)

Metzelaar says there "isn't a one-size-fits-all answer" to alcohol consumption, but the 1-2-3 rule roughly falls in line with the CDC's advisory of no more than a drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.

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She said not a perfect rule, especially since drinking notoriously makes it tougher to control impulses or always keep track of drinks.

For some, it can be a helpful starting point for cutting down on alcohol, particularly in social settings.

Set an intention before drinking

Metzelaar said guidelines like the 1-2-3 rule can help some people stick to a plan. At the same time, drinking can make you lower your inhibitions and go for that third drink every time.

To make the most of the rule, she recommended setting an intention before a social event, such as only having one drink that evening, drinking water between each alcoholic beverage, or ordering mocktails all night.

Knowing your triggers

To really keep up the habit of alcohol moderation, Metzelaar suggests journaling how much you drink every day to "get a sense of what the patterns are."

Because the rule isn't foolproof, she said it's helpful to know the emotions behind wanting to drink more, such as social anxiety. "That's worth getting really curious about," she said.

Caroline Susie, a registered dietitian who primarily works with women, said her clients have tracked patterns like work stress or coping with childcare responsibilities. That can help them know when they're more tempted to go over the 1-2-3 rule.

You still shouldn't drink every day

Even if you follow the 1-2-3 rule each time you go out, you should also be mindful of how often you consume alcohol in general. Studies show that drinking 1-2 drinks a day is still linked to cancer.

Alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable cancer in the US, after smoking and obesity, according to the US Surgeon General's advisory.

To lower your intake, Metzelaar recommends going without alcohol for at least a few days a week. For example, you might abstain from drinking during the week and then have a glass of wine with friends over the weekend. Some people prefer being "dry by default," only drinking on rare occasions.

With the growth of the sober-curious movement, Susie said it's easier than ever to make alcohol swaps with N/A beers and sparkling water when you're socializing.

"There are just so many things that you can reach for that can still feel like a treat," she said.

• In 2024, Mark Zuckerberg was the ultimate wife guy.
• He doted on his wife, Priscilla Chan, with elaborate gifts like a statue of herself.
• A therapist explained why people become wife guys and how it can benefit one's public image.

2024 was a great year for Mark Zuckerberg — and it came with an image makeover. It's the year he became a "wife guy."

Zuckerberg gifted his wife, Priscilla Chan, a 7-foot statue of herself, a custom-made Porsche minivan, a recording of him singing their anniversary song (with T-Pain himself), and a disco party, just because "Disco queen wanted a party."

Wife guys have been the butts of jokes since 2017 when Instagram user Robbie Tripp went viral for praising his "curvy wife." In their spousal-championing, wife guys like Tripp have drawn praise and skepticism from onlookers.

Not so in 2024.

Zuckerberg's public tributes to his wife earned him some glowing headlines, even from his detractors, with people aspiring to form a similar relationship. Other prominent wife guys (or, in Travis Kelce's case, girlfriend guys) have garnered similar positive press. Jett Puckett, a social media influencer, is now one-half of "TikTok's favorite couple," gushing over his wife in their posts.

Isabelle Morley, a couples therapist, told Business Insider that wife guys are exciting because they represent greater equality in monogamous relationships. As women have become more independent over the past decades, "men are shifting into a role that was traditionally only for women, which is being a supportive partner," she said.

In 2024, we saw a swing toward more traditional relationships and a yearning for big romance — the desire for stronger, unambiguously loving partnerships. A 2024 Tinder report, for example, found that users are looking for more "cherry bombing," consistent gestures of affection. Instead of looking out for red flags, they wanted "white flags" to signal a higher form of love.

It's why Zuckerberg's public adoration of his wife is a boon for his marriage and reputation.

Being a wife guy is a PR power move

Zuckerberg, 40, and Chan, 39, met at Harvard and started dating in 2003 before getting married in 2012. While the couple, who have three children, have been in the public eye for many years, running a philanthropy organization together, the custom statues and cars are a seemingly new element in their relationship.

Morley has had clients who became more vocal wife guys later in their marriages. From her experience, these changes usually boil down to two reasons:

1. The marriage is on the brink of divorce, and it's a last-ditch effort to keep it together (and dispel any rumors of a split).
2. A husband may have gone to therapy and realized where he might be lacking as a partner. This realization can give them "a new sense of commitment and excitement to be the other person's champion," Morley said.

With public figures, it can also be a professional decision. "We could never weed out if there are ulterior motives for him doing that or if they've agreed that this is something that they want for their public image if they've got a whole PR team," she said.

Zuckerberg has had his share of controversies. Meta has been in hot water for showing political bias to both parties, how it collects user data, and being addictive to children. On a personal level, Zuckerberg's been known for his awkwardness and blunt delivery, particularly in the early years of his Facebook stardom.

His image revamp, complete with a style makeover and a more confident stage presence, helps soften the criticism — as does generously spending part of his $187 billion fortune on his wife.

Striking the right wife guy balance

Wife guys can be polarizing, and how they dote on their wives matters. Some, like I did in a 2017 tweet about Tripp, criticized the applause: was it really that groundbreaking to love an objectively beautiful woman? Tripp's positive attention curdled into backlash, and while his brand still revolves around loving his curvy wife, the reviews remain mixed.

The biggest critique of wife guys is that they're not actually devoted to their relationships. Some may "overcompensate by publicly acting as though there could be no doubts to their loyalty," Morley said, living a life very different from the facade they constructed.

One internet-famous example is Ned Fulmer, one of the four original Try Guys. Fulmer was known for frequently name-dropping Ariel, his wife with whom he seemed to have the ultimate marriage. Then, in 2022, Fulmer was caught cheating on her with a younger coworker, shattering his loving husband image. Another prominent wife guy, Adam Levine, had a similar marital scandal that same year.

Morley said there's no way to tell the authenticity of a wife guy. Some men are truly in awe of their partners, and overdoing it on social media isn't necessarily an indicator of nefariousness. One definite red flag is "stomping all over their wife's space and image and dominating it," where the wife becomes a clear accessory rather than her own person.

Zuckerberg's brand of wife guy has earned him praise. He usually refers to Priscilla by her first name, and their couple selfies break up his other content, like his jiu-jitsu snaps. It's part of his larger public persona pivot, not the feature, making the romance feel more legitimate.

A collective thirst for big romance

In a time of dating app hell, Zuckerberg, who boasts about being with the same woman since college and actively participates in his children's lives, offers an image that some might find more encouraging.

"It's showing that it's OK for men to view having a positive relationship as an accomplishment — it's not just career success," Morley said. Seeing an "alpha" like Zuckerberg gush about his wife shows men that "they're allowed to be in love, to be romantic — that's not 'being soft' or 'being whipped.'"

It also offers a more wholesome alternative to social media and online dating. Professionally, Zuckerberg is overseeing Meta's foray into the dating app world. Personally, he's logging off: staying fit, throwing parties, and listening to what his wife wants in a custom luxury car — the wife he met the old-fashioned way.

It's a vision that strikes the right chord today, Morley said.

"That wives aren't just the support person or best friend character, that they are an equal partner is a really good message for people to be taking."

• Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt in 2016.
• Jolie and Pitt finalized their divorce eight years later.
• Divorce lawyers say child custody and shared businesses can lengthen divorce proceedings.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's divorce took eight years, an unusually long amount of time.

Still, legal experts told Business Insider that some factors — such as child custody and shared businesses — naturally lengthen divorce proceedings, and hold lessons for all couples.

The two actors met on the set of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" in 2003, but they did not publicly date until after Pitt's first wife, Jennifer Aniston, filed for divorce from him in 2005. The couple, who became known as Brangelina, adopted three children and had three more before getting married in France in 2014.

Two years later, Jolie filed for divorce in 2016, citing irreconcilable differences.

James J. Sexton, a New York City divorce lawyer, told Business Insider previously that issues like child custody and closely held businesses can always complicate divorce proceedings. "There's almost no limit to how many things you can fight about," he said.

In addition to fighting over custody of their six children, Jolie and Pitt had to contend with a winery they co-owned and multiple shared homes. Here's why it took so long:

Becoming legally single before divorce

Before finalizing their divorce, Jolie and Pitt became legally single in 2019.

The move allowed Jolie to restore her name from "Jolie Pitt" and for both parties to date and even remarry if they wanted to. Other celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, have also opted to become legally single before finalizing their divorces.

While it has benefits, like letting couples move forward with their lives as they figure out their settlements, it can also incentivize couples to prolong proceedings.

Divvying assets can get contentious

Sexton previously told BI that vindictive behavior could make divorce a nightmare, particularly if clients are willing to fight over every asset.

Despite initially trying to keep proceedings private, Jolie and Pitt's divorce process became more public and turned contentious several times. In an August 2018 court filing, Jolie alleged that Pitt hadn't paid any "meaningful child support" over the span of two years. In response, Pitt said he had paid more than $1.3 million in child support and accused Jolie of wanting to "manipulate" the media.

Pitt also sued Jolie in 2022, accusing her of selling her shares in their winery, Château Miraval, to the Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler without telling him — his lawsuit said they'd agreed to avoid selling their stake in the company without the other's consent. Jolie filed a countersuit arguing there was no such agreement, The New York Times reported.

David Lister, a family lawyer for 37 years who is a senior partner at the law firm Vardags in London, told Business Insider that divorcing couples often want to sort out similar external factors, like shared businesses, before completing a divorce. He added that it's not always clear how smooth — or bumpy — each external case will be. Pitt and Jolie's winery case remains ongoing.

Investigations delayed the Jolie-Pitt divorce

A few legal proceedings also delayed the Jolie-Pitt divorce.

Outlets, including the BBC, reported that John Ouderkirk, the first judge presiding over their divorce, awarded Pitt more time with their children in May 2021. The decision was reversed a few months later.

Outlets reported that an appeals court deemed it an "ethical breach" because Ouderkirk had previously worked with Pitt's lawyers.

By 2022, Jolie filed court papers alleging that, shortly before she filed for divorce, Pitt verbally and physically abused one of their six children on their private jet.

The FBI investigated Pitt in 2016; he wasn't arrested or charged.

Jolie alleged that a federal agent who investigated the incident had concluded that the government "had probable cause" to charge Pitt over the incident.

Pitt's representatives denied the abuse occurred, telling CNN in 2022 that Jolie's story "continues to evolve each time she tells it," continuing: "Brad has accepted responsibility for what he did but will not for things he didn't do."

Correction: January 2, 2025 — Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this story misstated when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie finalized their divorce. It was December 30, not January 31.

• Before settling their divorce, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were legally single since 2019.
• Being legally single allows divorcing couples to change their names and remarry.
• It can give couples more freedom as they decide on custody but can also draw out divorces even more.

After eight years, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt reached a divorce settlement on Monday.

While their separation process was lengthy and complicated, their lives were made a little simpler years earlier when they were declared "legally single" in 2019. Through a bifurcated judgment — a case separated into multiple phases — Jolie could legally restore her last name to "Jolie" instead of "Jolie Pitt" before becoming officially divorced.

Jolie and Pitt aren't the only celebrities who've opted for legal singlehood before divorce. In 2022, Kim Kardashian became legally single before divorcing Kanye West later that year.

Nancy Chemtob, a New York City family law attorney, previously told Business Insider that bifurcated judgments allow couples to move forward with their single lives while sorting through the more complex details of their divorces, which can take years.

She said celebrities like Kardashian popularizing the term could lead to more people requesting to be legally single.

It grants couples more independence

Divorce can be a nightmare. In cases like Pitt and Jolie's, which involved splitting child custody and shared homes, the process can take years.

Being legally single doesn't give couples the ability to fully go their separate ways. In Jolie's case, she had to stay in Los Angeles because of her divorce proceedings, but it allows couples to change their names and legally remarry even if their divorce isn't settled yet.

It can draw out divorce even more

Most divorces don't involve bifurcation — it's granted on a case-by-case basis, and not all state laws permit it. Legal singlehood is often granted in California compared to other states, which require more specific reasons like complicated financial issues or infidelity.

The pros are clear: It gives spouses more autonomy in a process that isn't fully in their control. Kardashian asked to become legally single after West ignored her divorce requests.

While it can help couples emotionally move on faster, it has some drawbacks. It can provide incentives to delay custody or asset decisions, ultimately making the divorce more expensive. Jolie and Pitt didn't finalize their divorce until five years after becoming legally single.

• A new study found waves of brain aging occur at ages 57, 70, and 78.
• Some healthy habits can combat mental decline by improving memory and cognition.

Brain aging accelerates at three specific points in your life, according to a recent study.

The researchers looked at brain images of over 10,000 healthy adults, then tracked blood protein changes in half of them to look for "brain age gap" (BAG), a sign of cognitive aging.

Their findings, published in Nature, suggest that most people experienced peaks in brain aging at three ages: 57, 70, and 78.

At 57, there were protein changes related to wound healing and metabolism; at 70, with brain-cell function that could increase the risk of dementia; and at 78, with immunity and inflammation.

There are steps you can take to reduce your risks of mental decline.

Here are some science-backed habits that scientists believe have strong cognitive benefits, from improving memory to clearing out toxins from the brain.

Eat lots of protein and leafy greens

Eating enough protein, such as fatty fish or sardines, can boost memory and protect against cognitive decline. Nuts, beans, whole grains, and yogurt are also great sources of protein.

Leafy greens, such as spinach and kale, contain important nutrients like iron and magnesium that are vital for optimal brain health.

Other great foods to incorporate for cognitive health include berries, herbs, and tea.

Move often

The hippocampus and prefrontal cortex both deteriorate as we age, but regular movement can boost neuron growth and improve memory.

It doesn't mean you have to hit the gym every day, either: Even short bursts of exercise have loads of health benefits — just one minute of squats can improve concentration and decision-making.

The Blue Zones project reports that people who rely on walking as their main form of movement throughout the day live longer.

See your friends

Chronic loneliness affects your physical health in multiple ways, including your heart function and immune system. It can also impact your memory, even contributing to cognitive decline and dementia.

Joining groups is a great way to make new friends even in your 70s. It's also good to seek out deeper relationships to avoid feeling lonely in a crowd.

Get enough deep sleep

Quality sleep is crucial for brain health. Deep sleep, in which your brain wave frequencies slow down, is responsible for clearing toxins from your brain. It accounts for less than a quarter of your sleep cycle, so you should be getting between 55 to 97 minutes of deep sleep every night.

You can get more deep sleep by exercising enough during the day and reducing caffeine before bed, so that you can properly enter deep sleep.

Challenge yourself

Jason Shepherd, an associate professor of neurobiology at the University of Utah, previously told Business Insider that trying new things keeps the brain healthy. It can include traveling or taking up new hobbies.

"I think a lot of us get into routines and habits where we're doing the same old thing each day," he said. "But learning new things helps with brain plasticity."

As a parent, you want to do your best. You focus on your child, ensuring they're emotionally safe, properly socialized, and academically challenged — anything to set them up for success.

It's hard to fathom a dark outcome: that your child would grow up to assassinate someone, or be accused of doing so.

That's what Luigi Mangione's parents experienced last week, as the 26-year-old accused killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was charged with murder as an act of terrorism. And the parents of 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow, who killed two and injured six others at a Wisconsin school before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot, according to police.

Working with parents who've watched their kids sink into dangerous behavior, family therapist Rachel Goldberg said it's very hard for them to heal. She said parents must strive to find self-compassion and "separate their identity from their child's actions," no matter how challenging.

Parents of shooters experience remorse and confusion

In her 2016 memoir, "A Mother's Reckoning," Sue Klebold, the mother of Columbine shooter Dylan Klebold, wrote about struggling to call her son a "monster" after he killed 13 people in 1999. "When I hear about terrorists in the news, I think, 'That's somebody's kid,'" she wrote in the book.

Peter Rodger, the father of Isla Vista killer Elliot Rodger, wrestled with similar confusion and guilt. He remembers sitting in horror, watching his son's retribution video, which he posted on YouTube before stabbing, shooting, and using a car to hit bystanders in 2014. "Elliot was far from evil," Rodger told ABC that year. "Something happened to him. He was the most beautiful, kind, sweetheart of a boy."

Such an event "forces us as parents to contend with our worst fears," Annie Wright, another family therapist, told Business Insider. "The lack of control, at some level, over who they become."

Mangione's family is wealthy and well-known in their community as the owners of a golf club and philanthropists. He attended the Gilman School, a prestigious private school in Baltimore, where he graduated as valedictorian and was described by his peers as "very social" and "very into sports."

Goldberg said that a parent's imagined worst-case scenario is usually that their child would become a lonely, unemployed adult living in their basement. If a child does the unthinkable, recovering as a parent can feel impossible.

Limits to a parent's control

Kids don't need to be out of the house to be mysteries to their parents. In the wake of the Wisconsin shooting, authorities are combing through Rupnow's online activity in search of a motive, finding a version of her life seemingly concealed from others, like her fascination with the Columbine shooters.

Once a child is over 18 and financially independent, parents' control over their lives becomes even more tenuous. In the Mangiones' case, their son stopped responding to messages for months before he was arrested.

For parents watching their adult kids slip into alarming behavior, their options are legally limited, Goldberg said. Often, their best defense is talking to their kid, but "it really depends how much their adult child is willing to let them in."

Wright said that involving third parties can help. Parents can try family therapy or find licensed professionals who can help manage their child's physical or emotional pain. Parents can also call their local authorities in extreme cases, such as when their child is in immediate danger or endangering someone else.

Goldberg said the best thing parents can do is know their child as well as possible and act when something feels off. "Don't wait until it gets really bad if you can possibly intervene earlier," she said.

Even then, sometimes, intervention falls short.

Rodgers, the Isla Vista shooter, was in therapy from the age of 9. Peter Lanza, the father of Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza, said his son had been assessed by mental health professionals multiple times.

Pain a parent can't fix

Loneliness and isolation can often be red flags when analyzing a child's behavior. Still, Mangione, who started a gaming club in college and was part of a fraternity, appeared surrounded by people.

This made it harder for him to disappear fully: In July 2024, when he cut off contact with his family, cousins and friends reached out on social media. In November, his mother filed a missing person's report in San Francisco, where Mangione has some relatives.

Despite his seemingly solid network of friends and family, Mangione had spondylolisthesis, a painful spinal condition. He frequented Reddit communities related to back pain, describing his symptoms as "absolutely brutal" and "life-halting." That can be isolating, Goldberg said.

"It is a very lonely place to be in pain all the time because you can't really be present with people," he added.

In 2022, when Mangione lived in a Hawaiian surf community, he experienced sciatica, debilitating nerve pain, in his leg. R.J. Martin, who owned the co-living space, told The New York Times that Mangione "knew that dating and being physically intimate with his back condition wasn't possible."

While parents can do a lot to relate to a child's pain, such as listening and doing their best to understand the nuances of what their child is going through, "empathy alone can't bridge every gap," Wright said.

Parents can still protect themselves

Goldberg's clients, particularly parents of kids with substance abuse issues, struggle to move past their guilt. Acceptance can take a lifetime.

"They live in fear of getting a phone call from the police or hospital; they question everything they have done," she said. "They often feel incredibly helpless and stuck."

Wright said the resulting grief from something like this can be "extraordinarily complex" and "often includes sorrow, not only for the victims and their families but for the loss of the child they thought they knew."

She suggested therapy and, for those with religious affiliations, seeking spiritual leaders they trust. Parents can feel so many conflicting emotions, and it's important to "allow these emotions to coexist without rushing to tidy them up," she said.

This is especially hard for the parents who felt they tried their best.

Upon learning of Mangione's arrest, his family released a statement contrary to the manifesto found with their son during his arrest. "We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson, and we ask people to pray for all involved," they said. "We are devastated by this news."

Some parents try to find meaning in the tragedy. Klebold wrote her memoir and participated in press interviews. Chin Rodger, mother of Elliot, started speaking at threat assessment trainings. She hopes that people will get better at identifying the red flags of someone going through a mental crisis.

Still, some just wish it never happened. Adam Lanza's father blames himself for overlooking the warning signs. "You can't get any more evil," Lanza told the New Yorker in 2014. "How much do I beat up on myself about the fact that he's my son? A lot."

• In a personal essay, Lilly Jay, Ethan Slater's ex-wife, opened up about their divorce.
• In 2023, news broke that Slater was dating his "Wicked" costar, Ariana Grande.
• Jay said the movie's recent premiere reminds her of the saddest time of her life.

Lilly Jay, a perinatal psychologist and ex-wife of Wicked star Ethan Slater, has spoken for the first time about their break-up and being thrust into the spotlight.

In July 2023, rumors circulated that Slater was dating Ariana Grande, his "Wicked" costar, leading to Jay and Slater separating (though one source told People that Jay and Slater were already separated when the relationship began).

Jay published an essay in The Cut on Thursday, describing her experience in the aftermath of their divorce, which became official in September. She wonders whether it impacted her career, after she was passed over for a job and canceled on by a client.

Jay and Slater, who met in high school and started dating as college sophomores in 2012, had a son in August 2022. After the news broke of Slater and Grande's relationship, Jay told Page Six that Grande is "not a girl's girl" and that her family was "collateral damage." Since then, she refrained from divulging many details, including in her recent essay.

In her new essay, Jay did not speak directly about the details of Slater and Grande's relationship, including the exact timeline. Instead, she broke down how their very public divorce affected her, and the peace she's had to make with her life being less private since.

Grande and Slater did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comments.

She moved to the UK for Slater's career

Because "Wicked" was shot in the UK, Jay said that she moved to London with Slater when their son was two months old.

She said that she knew all about how vulnerable marriages are in the early stages of parenthood but still "confidently" moved for Slater's career.

"Consumed by the magic and mundanity of new motherhood, I didn't understand the growing distance between us," Jay wrote.

She feared experiencing postpartum depression and a general loss of control. Then "one day in London, I looked up and found that they had both arrived," she said, brought on by the "sudden public downfall" of her marriage.

The "Wicked" premiere was tough to deal with

The success of "Wicked," which premiered in November, makes it hard to avoid, Jay said. As does the extensive press around it, including a long list of brand collaborations.

Jay said that she still struggles with the reminders. "Days with my son are sunny," she said. "Days when I can't escape the promotion of a movie associated with the saddest days of my life are darker."

Grande has also spoken out about the relationship, referencing Slater in her last album. "It definitely doesn't get any easier," Grande told Vanity Fair in reference to dealing with tabloid rumors. Kristin Chenoweth, who originated Grande's "Wicked" role on Broadway and appeared in the film, also defended Grande. "Nobody ever knows what's going on for real," Chenoweth said.

She said Slater is a present father

Jay and Slater are now co-parenting their son, something Slater described as "an interesting thing to navigate."

Jay said they are both fully committed to being there for their child. "While our partnership has changed, our parenthood has not," she said. "Both of us fiercely love our son 100 percent of the time, regardless of how our parenting time is divided."

Despite her unique challenges in early motherhood, Jay said she is optimistic about her future with her son. "Slowly but surely, I have come to believe that in the absence of the life I planned with my high-school sweetheart, a lifetime of sweetness is waiting for me and my child," she said.

• Durelle and Samantha Bailey reframed how they set their New Year's resolutions.
• They hold an annual end-of-year meeting to workshop their goals together.
• They add them to a spreadsheet with deadlines and check in every week.

Durelle and Samantha Bailey used to struggle with accomplishing their New Year's resolutions.

Durelle, 30, told Business Insider that the married couple's goals felt too broad and left room for procrastination. Plus, having separate goals sometimes meant they weren't on the same page. While Durelle identifies as a saver, Samantha prioritizes spending money on travel.

Their careers inspired them to rethink how they set goals. Durelle, who is in the US Air Force, and Samantha, 30, who works as a recruitment marketing manager, saw how bigger organizations planned ahead with consistent cross-team meetings.

They realized that just like a corporation has multiple departments, their lives were also divided into categories like finance, travel, home, and professional advancement.

They held their first annual meeting in 2019, and have been hosting them every December since.

Durelle described it as a "game-changer." This year, they were able to hit their financial goal of collectively saving six figures. They also traveled more than they originally budgeted for, taking their dream trips to Greece, Switzerland, Italy, Nova Scotia, and Mexico while squeezing in smaller vacations.

They credit their end-of-year meetings. "Over the years, we've learned how to do them better," Durelle said.

They book a meeting room

The Baileys, who live in Washington, DC, always book a meeting room in a coworking space. It helps them get away from distractions at home, like their dogs. "It really locks us into what we're doing," Durelle said.

They each think of their goals a few weeks prior to the meeting. "We'll both take time to individually reflect on, 'Ok, what held us back this year? Were there some goals we didn't accomplish, and why?'" Samantha said.

Then they use the whiteboard to "brain dump everything we want out of the year ahead," she said, splitting the board into columns for different themes like "home" and "finance."

They bounce ideas off each other

As they share their ideas, they discuss them with each other before committing to real goals. Some goals need to be more specific, and others might not be feasible for the year ahead.

Because they know each other so well, they can tell when the other person is setting a benchmark that's too high. Samantha gave the example of Durelle aspiring to read three times as many books as he had the past year. "We've learned to be realistic so that you don't set yourself up to be discouraged," she said.

It also helps them work through goals that might clash, like simultaneously saving money and spending it on travel.

Sitting down and looking at the bigger picture helps them prioritize where their money goes, allowing them to strike a balance.

Once they've decided on their goals, they transfer them to a shared spreadsheet with deadlines (such as a month or within a quarter) per goal. They also include drop-down options for status updates, like "in progress" and "completed." It helps them stay accountable.

The couple blocks off dates and locations they want to travel to in advance, so they can budget and properly schedule time off for vacations.

"Being more specific about it has helped make them a reality," Durelle said.

They check in throughout the year

In addition to the spreadsheet, the couple hosts "life meetings" every week in their home to check in on their progress. They use the time to update the spreadsheet and talk through any obstacles. They also hold larger monthly meetings "just to kind of continue strategizing and making sure we're on track," Samantha said.

While it requires effort and consistency, the couple enjoys the sessions. "Just have fun with it — it's not meant to be stressful," Durelle said. The point is to find more direction for the year.

The couple says the routine meetings have helped them grow in their marriage. The Baileys were married at 22 and lived "paycheck to paycheck," Samantha said.

"This has really taught us to be intentional about our lives," she said. "When you have a plan and you're realistic about your goals, you can achieve them."

• Like regular body language, digital body language refers to what's unspoken in texts.
• It includes how often a person texts as well as how even a conversation feels.
• A dating expert shared the digital body language signs someone is interested in you.

Conversations on dating apps can be tricky to navigate.

Is it a red flag if a new connection takes three days to respond? Is a text paragraph vulnerable, or self-centered? Does replying with a lone "k" really mean someone hates you?

Logan Ury, the director of relationship science at Hinge, told Business Insider that this is what's known as digital body language (DBL), and it isn't much different from in-person body language, conveying what is unsaid.

Ury said DBL includes "how long somebody waits to respond, whether or not they double-text, what punctuation they use, and if they use emojis."

From her internal research at Hinge, she's learned that users — particularly Gen Zers — rely heavily on DBL to quickly gauge a match's interest in them. Among those daters, there are some widely agreed-upon indicators that a person isn't actually into you, even if they technically always respond to your texts.

To prevent wasting your time on a confusing situationship, "you want to be good at deciphering somebody's DBL," Ury said. She added that it's important to be aware of how you come off when you do like someone, so that they're "not misinterpreting how you feel about them."

She shared some digital body language signs that someone's not really interested in you.

They always respond, but never consistently

Healthy relationships are built on trust and communication. Naturally, daters look for signs of it from the very first message.

According to a 2024 Hinge report surveying 15,000 Gen Z users, Ury said users have a 44% higher chance of getting responses when they answer messages within 24 hours. Their matches sense more seriousness.

This goes beyond the first few messages. She said 76% of users also look for message consistency. Someone who texts for hours one day but then is MIA for three is widely considered as disinterested.

Because of that, she discourages matches from "playing it cool" or delaying responses when they really like someone. "It's much better to just not play games and respond quickly because those people are more likely to get onto dates and into relationships," she said.

Your text bubbles are imbalanced

Deep relationships require reciprocity and a sense of evenness. Beyond timing, Ury said the flow of conversation is a big sign of how interested someone is in you.

But it's about more than just taking turns hitting each other up, Ury said. "For iPhone users, there needs to be that mix between blue and gray" text bubbles, she said. That includes the match "leading with a question and then offering answers that build conversation," she said.

If they write you walls of text without asking anything back, it doesn't indicate that they're interested in knowing who you are. Ury has a term for these people: "ZQ," or "zero questions." ZQs indicate a lack of genuine curiosity to learn more about you, she said.

They're 'bad' at texting, but don't connect in other ways

Not everyone loves texting a lot — plenty of people prefer calls or simply can't be on their phones during the work day.

Ury said that if they're interested, they should be communicating with you about how they want to stay in touch. If they're offline during the workday, they should be transparent about that — and find other ways to share that they're thinking of you, such sending voice notes, memes, or photos of their day.

But if they don't make an effort to be clear about liking you, it comes off like they're not that interested in you.

It's why Ury emphasizes meeting in real life quickly if you hit it off with someone: digital body language isn't a science, and sometimes it's worth having conversations around communication differences.

Plus, the better way to confirm if someone likes you is to meet them in person.

"You need to get to the date as soon as possible," she said. "You don't know if somebody's in-person vibes will match their digital body language."

• When Victoria Lamson's son was 10 months old, she took him on a trip to Ireland, the UK, and France.
• She and her husband planned ahead, investing in a sturdy stroller and calling hotels in advance.
• For the most part, they felt Europe was more child-friendly than the US.

When my husband and I first announced that we were bringing our 10-month-old son with us on a two-week European vacation, we got very mixed reviews.

Some friends and family said our timing was perfect: Deacon wasn't walking or talking yet, so it'd be easier to travel with him. Others thought it was a big mistake. Lugging around a stroller and dealing with tantrums — all while navigating unfamiliar cities — seemed miserable to them. Plus, they told us, Deacon would be too young to remember any of it. What was the point?

But even before I became pregnant, Mike and I agreed that we didn't want to isolate ourselves like so many newborn parents do. While we didn't know what to expect with our first child, we wanted to include him in our normal travel plans rather than living a strictly child-focused lifestyle.

We started small. One of our first excursions was a road trip from our home in San Francisco to visit family in LA when Deacon was two months old. As he got a little older, we saw that Deacon is a very chill individual. He rarely fussed and easily napped in his stroller.

So in 2019, we planned a trip to Ireland, the UK, and France. While it required a little more planning and was slower-paced than vacations before parenthood, it became one of our favorite ones.

A little prep made the trip smoother

When we went on our LA road trip, we invested in a Babyzen Yoyo stroller, made by a French brand. While it cost around $450, which is on the pricey end, it was worth it: it smoothly rolls over cobblestone streets and easily fits into an overhead bin. Six years later, we still use it with our second baby.

To set us up for success, I called some services in advance. Most long-haul flights offer limited bassinets for babies in rows with extra space, but those seats usually need to be reserved ahead of time. I also reached out to our hotels to make sure they had cribs they could bring out, and a car service in Dublin — our first destination — provided us with a car seat suitable for an infant.

The only unexpected snag was using my breast pump abroad. Because Deacon was older and already eating solid foods, my milk supply was lower and I didn't really need the pump as much. Still, as a first-time mom, I brought it because it's recommended by pediatricians to continue pumping for a full year and I wanted to do everything right.

I had a European outlet adapter, but I forgot about the wattage differences. When I plugged the pump in, it got completely fried. Luckily, I had Deacon with me for those few weeks and could make more stops to breastfeed him.

Europe was more child-friendly than home

Overall, Europe was very kid-friendly. London was easy to stroll through and full of parks we could stop at with Deacon.

We also didn't feel out of place bringing a baby to an Irish pub, even on St. Patrick's Day. Culturally, it's more of a norm to bring kids to bars and other "adult" spaces in Europe than it is in the US.

Out of everywhere we went, Paris was the hardest place to navigate; due to the city's style of architecture, we had to climb spiral staircases in bistros and brasseries when changing diapers. Still, the culture made us feel welcome. Our hotel surprised us with a beautiful crib and a teddy bear for Deacon.

It was such a stark difference from San Francisco. More often than not, there isn't a changing table in the bathroom. And when you can find one, it's only in the women's restroom, as if it's not also a father's responsibility to care for his child.

In contrast, we went to a very old restaurant in a small Irish seaside town. When I walked into the tiny bathroom, I was surprised to find fold-away changing tables in all the stalls.

Europe's positive attitude toward children and families is such a big draw. Even slight accommodations make such a huge difference when we travel.

We did everything we wanted

The experience taught us that we don't have to put our lives on hold with kids. When Deacon got sleepy on the trip, we just bundled him up in his stroller and used the opportunity to relax at a cafe.

After Europe, we went to a family timeshare in Tulum, Mexico at the end of 2019 — another wonderful vacation. In 2022, we took Deacon with us on a road trip around Atlanta, Savannah, and Charleston.

While it's tougher to travel with two kids now — our 17-month-old daughter is less easygoing than Deacon was at that age — we still take staycations and go out with our children.

Looking back, going to Europe was more fun because Deacon was with us, not in spite of it. It felt so special to have him with us, and we'll always hold on to those memories of early parenthood very fondly.

• Luigi Mangione, charged with killing the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, had a lower back condition.
• Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra in your spine slips out of alignment.
• Mangione seemingly frequented a subreddit for the condition and wrote about symptoms.

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, suffered from a spinal condition.

Mangione's social media accounts included several references to back pain. On X, Mangione's banner included an X-ray image of a spine after a spinal fusion.

On his Reddit account, he posted in a subreddit for spondylolisthesis, a lower back condition most often caused by joint deterioration. Mangione also mentioned he had spondylolisthesis in handwritten notes from 2019 reviewed by Business Insider.

Spondylolisthesis can cause pain and stiffness

According to Cleveland Clinic, spondylolisthesis is usually caused by aging (as the discs holding the vertebrae weaken) or injuries.

It is a condition when one of the bones in the spine falls out of alignment and "presses down" on the vertebra below it. That pressure on nearby nerves can cause lower back pain.

Other symptoms include sciatica (nerve pain that runs down from the lower back to the legs), back stiffness, numbness, and difficulty walking.

Not everyone needs spinal fusion surgery to realign their vertebrae; depending on the severity of the symptoms, rest, physical therapy, and wearing a brace can help reduce pain, as can taking over-the-counter medications when symptoms flare up.

Mangione had sciatica, a common symptom

In 2022, Mangione moved to a co-living space in Honolulu called Surfbreak. According to a Reddit post, he experienced sciatica, nerve pain that runs down from the lower back to the legs, for the first time after a surf session. "A few weeks later I slipped on a piece of paper and my right glute locked and right leg shut down for a week," he wrote in 2022. "Couldn't support any weight on it."

Prior to his back surgery in 2023, Mangione also described having "near-constant burning/twitching in both ankles/calves" and "back and genital pain" on Reddit — symptoms of sciatica.

R.J. Martin, who owns Surfbreak, told the New York Times that shortly after moving in, Mangione experienced such debilitating pain from a group surfing lesson that he needed Martin to switch out his mattress.

Mangione also told Martin that his condition prevented him from being in a romantic relationship.

"He knew that dating and being physically intimate with his back condition wasn't possible," Martin said. "I remember him telling me that, and my heart just breaks."

At first, the back surgery seemed to improve Mangione's symptoms — he posted in 2023 that it was a "success." But by June 2024, he started criticizing doctors online and eventually lost touch with friends and family.

According to Mayo Clinic, spinal fusion surgeries for spondylolisthesis "can have very good outcomes when performed well and for the right reasons."

• Lindsey C. Gibson, a psychologist, coined the term "emotionally immature parents."
• She said there are 4 types, from reactive and critical to passive and emotionally absent.
• Most parents fall into one type, and all types can negatively impact kids in the long term.

Relationships with parents or caregivers can be strained for many reasons. If you feel like you can't connect with your parent or like you're walking on eggshells around them, it's possible they're emotionally immature.

Dr. Lindsay C. Gibson, a clinical psychologist, coined the term in her bestselling book, "Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents."

While these parents are sometimes labeled as "narcissists," Gibson previously told Business Insider that she finds the label too broad and unhelpful.

Instead, she told BI that emotionally immature parents generally "show problems with being egocentric" and deal with conflict by "denying, dismissing, or distorting anything they find unpleasant." They also struggle with self-reflection and empathy, which makes it hard for them to really bond with their kids.

These relationships can be confusing because these parents are often not all bad, she said. They can meet your physical needs, such as taking care of you when you're sick or offering lots of financial support. But emotionally, they fall short.

Gibson said there are four types of emotionally immature parents. While a parent can be more than one type, she said that most tend to fall into one category. She defines each type by the parent's "unique methods of coping with emotion and stress."

She shared the four types as well as the effects emotionally immature parents have on their kids.

1. Reactive parents

Reactive parents struggle to regulate their emotions. They can appear volatile and erratic, getting angry or upset over issues you wouldn't expect them to. Gibson refers to reactive parents as "emotional parents" because they behave like they're ruled by their feelings.

"They make life so unpleasant when they get upset that people start involuntarily automatically thinking twice before they speak or do something," Gibson said.

Kids of parents like these often grow up to be people-pleasers, always on the lookout for potential conflict that they might need to stamp out. They may also have a hard time setting boundaries or even disentangling their feelings from their parents'.

2. Highly critical parents

Highly critical parents are perfectionists who nitpick at everything their child does. Gibson also calls them "driven" parents, because "they're always going after something."

In childhood, they may pick apart your grades or gymnastics performance. In adulthood, it can evolve into judging your job, lifestyle, or appearance.

"They can be very pushy and very controlling," Gibson said, not caring about the impact their words have on you. "It's coming from a belief that in order to be anybody or accomplish anything, you've got to really have that drive and keep on trying to be perfect, otherwise you're likely to be a total failure."

Kids of these parents can end up burning out or choosing careers they don't like, simply because their parents would disapprove of their passions.

3. Passive parents

Passive parents are often the more "fun" parents. In fact, they tend to be the most emotionally present out of all four types, Gibson said. They're at their best when they're playing a game with you or taking you to an amusement park.

"The problem is that they are just kind of passive in their role as a parent," Gibson said. When faced with more challenging aspects of parenthood, like pushing back if their spouse screams at their child, they step back. They might literally leave the room as abuse happens.

"They don't seem to feel that protective need to step in to help the child," Gibson said.

When their child exhibits any uncomfortable emotions, such as anger or fear, the passive parent doesn't comfort or even acknowledge them. They might even deny a child's abuse allegations because it would complicate the family dynamic to confront the other parent or another relative.

It makes it hard for their kids to have healthy relationships later in life. They learn to hide their feelings and receive no guidance on how to resolve conflict effectively, Gibson said.

4. Emotionally absent parents

Emotionally absent parents act like their child doesn't exist. Gibson calls them "rejecting" parents because they're unable to respond to their child's emotional needs or bids for attention.

"That child feels not important enough to command the parent's attention," she said. It can cause issues in a child's self-esteem.

Because these children are so frequently ignored, she said they can later date narcissistic people who finally give them the focus they've always craved. They're so used to accepting the bare minimum from people that they might not have high standards for their partners or friends.

Dealing with emotionally immature parents

If you recognize your parent in any of these, there are a few things you can do to become less enmeshed.

You can set boundaries with a parent by slowing down your speech and calmly restating your needs. If you have the kind of parent who always criticizes you, you can practice the "gray rock method," giving unemotional, neutral responses to keep drama at bay.

If those tactics are too challenging or you feel unsafe around your parent, you can consider lowering your contact or completely cutting ties.

Even if it's tough at first, it's always possible to break the cycle by standing your ground and focusing on healthier relationships in your life.

• In 2000, Tommy Caldwell and three other climbers were kidnapped in Kyrgyzstan.
• They escaped after Caldwell pushed a guard off a cliff.
• Caldwell said that his long climbing career prepared him for high-stress situations.

In "The Devil's Climb," a National Geographic documentary, famed rock climbers Tommy Caldwell and Alex Honnold ("Free Solo") break a world record by climbing a treacherous Alaskan mountain in under 12 hours. At one point in the film, Caldwell talked about how dealing with past adversity helped him persevere through an Achilles injury.

One incident in particular came to mind: the time he and three other climbers were kidnapped in Kyrgyzstan and held hostage for six days.

At age 21, it was his first big international trip as a climber — one cut short when a small war broke out between armed rebels and the Kyrgyz government.

Caldwell said his group went without food or water for the entire time. They also witnessed murder.

Then, he saw an opportunity for escape: the kidnappers split up, with one assigned to guide the four climbers to a new location. Caldwell pushed him off a cliff.

"He fell 20 or 30 feet, bounced off a ledge, and then we just saw him disappear into the blackness," Caldwell said in the film. "I figured in that moment that I just killed someone." (In 2003, Outside reported that the man survived the fall).

The group ran to a nearby military base, where they were rescued and sent home. Caldwell told Business Insider that he "just didn't experience trauma the way that a lot of people would expect" from the kidnapping.

He told BI that he's learned two major things about trauma and high-stress situations since that day 24 years ago.

Climbing prepared him for high-stress situations

Looking back, Caldwell believes his childhood eventually set him up to handle difficult situations like the kidnapping more calmly — specifically by managing his emotions and making quick decisions in high-stress situations.

Caldwell's father, Mike Caldwell, was a bodybuilder, mountain guide, and rock climber. Caldwell said his father took him climbing from a young age, which introduced him to hazardous situations early in life. The experience instilled in Caldwell that "adversity brings out the best in us."

He likened training resilience to building muscles: it requires consistent practice. "You just expose yourself to minorly traumatizing things at a slightly increased dosage over time," he told BI. "That gets you used to it."

Making a hard decision gave him control

Caldwell still wonders why his kidnapping experience hasn't negatively impacted him more. After reading "Waking the Tiger," a 1997 book by psychotherapist Peter Levine, he found one possible explanation.

One of Caldwell's big takeaways was that people who cope with trauma the best are the ones who find ways to regain control in a dangerous situation.

"In Kyrgyzstan, I was the one who made the hard decision," he said. "I was the one that decided to get us out of there by pushing this guy off a cliff."

Even though he believed he killed a person at the time, Caldwell said that making the choice also "psychologically added power."

The experience boosted Caldwell's belief in himself. "Now I know if I'm in a hard situation, I can do the right things to get out of it," he said.

• Hannah Neeleman, known as Ballerina Farm online, recently bought land with her husband.
• The couple got 14 acres in Kamas City, Utah, with plans to turn it into an "educational center."
• They hope to build a farm, garden, creamery, cafe, and event space.

Hannah Neeleman, famously known on social media as Ballerina Farm, has popularized the trad-wife lifestyle by documenting her family of 10 in rural Utah online.

According to the New York Times, she has more than 22 million across social media platforms, surpassing other homemaking personalities like Martha Stewart and Joanna Gaines.

Soon, fans who watch her homesteading ways on their phones will be invited to experience it in real life.

Neeleman and her husband, Daniel Neeleman (the son of JetBlue founder David Neeleman) plan to expand Ballerina Farm — beyond the screen.

The Times reported that the Neelemans bought 14 acres of land in Kamas City, Utah, which they plan to turn into "an educational farm complete with animals, a visitor center, a restaurant, and an event space to attract day-trippers."

Their center will be part of a 129-acre land annexation in Kamas.

The region is hoping to attract more tourists

Located near Park City and Salt Lake City, Kamas City has long been seen as a rural "supply station." According to KPCW, a local news outlet in Park City, the Neeleman proposal "could be the most visible example of 'agricultural tourism' in the valley, where farms generate income with visitors."

The Neelemans plan to include livestock pastures, chicken coops, orchards, gardens, a creamery, a farm store, and an event space. At the center, visitors will be able to buy meat, butter, and ice cream produced on the farm.

As more millennials are drawn to homesteading, the center is expected to attract tourists, particularly those who follow the Neelemans online.

• A study found older couples living apart experienced more mental-health benefits than single people.
• A dating expert said older people tend to be more independent and set in their ways.
• Being open to living apart also widens the dating pool, particularly for older women, she said.

Moving in together is one of the biggest relationship milestones. How well you blend into one unit often precludes other big changes, including getting married or raising kids.

But for older couples, there's another appealing relationship setup: living apart, together — also known as LAT.

A new study found that couples living apart experienced more mental-health benefits than single people. The study examined data gathered on over 15,000 British people between 60 and 85 years old and found that while LAT relationships didn't confer more mental-health benefits than being married, people who exited LAT relationships had fewer negative mental-health consequences than couples who divorced or left a shared home.

Ury, the director of relationship science at Hinge and an on-air expert in Netflix's "The Later Daters," told Business Insider that she's been seeing this trend thrive.

"They're like, 'I have my house set up the way I want. You have your house set up the way you want,'" Ury said. "'Why don't we be in a long-term relationship, but we don't need to live together?'"

It's not just logistical. Ury said living apart, together has a ton of perks — particularly for older daters.

It widens your dating pool

If you're comfortable living in separate homes, it can broaden your dating options. You can manage differences in social lives or hobbies more easily by living independently than by trying to find someone who matches your lifestyle.

Ury said this is appealing to older daters. When you're younger and looking to start a family, "you want someone maybe with the same religion, the same lifestyle, the same education," she said.

But for older daters who aren't looking to raise kids together, ticking off all those boxes is often less important. Living apart allows each person to live in their own world — and that could be a boon for some relationships.

You don't have to compromise as much

LAT gives couples the opportunity to keep living how they want, with the benefit of romantic companionship.

The study's authors concluded older women would likely benefit the most from the arrangement. Women often take on more domestic labor in marriage or cohabitation, so they "may have more to gain than older men from LAT" by having more autonomy, they wrote.

Ury said it makes sense that older women are drawn to LAT. Her research shows older daters typically have a "stronger sense of self" than younger people. She added that older people have reported having more satisfying sex because they know their bodies better and are more capable of asking for what they want.

Knowing yourself also makes it harder to compromise, whether it comes to sharing a bedroom or eating the same meals. "People are stuck in their ways, Ury said. "They're less flexible and they have their ways of doing things."

Ury said younger couples are like startups that grow together, whereas couples are more like mergers. "Mergers are notoriously hard because each one has their own HR department, their own CEO," she said. "It can be hard to blend those things."

• Tommy Caldwell, a world-famous climber, injured his Achilles tendon in 2022.
• It took him two years to fully recover, which involved taking a break from climbing.
• He eventually bounced back and broke another climbing record with climber Alex Honnold.

In 2022, world-famous climber Tommy Caldwell was feeling great on a climb in Yosemite National Park. When he fell and popped his Achilles tendon, he wasn't too worried.

"At first, I didn't understand the severity of the injury," Caldwell, 46, told Business Insider. "I've always been a fast healer."

This wasn't the first setback of Caldwell's career. In his 20s, in 2001, he accidentally sawed off part of his left index finger when building a platform. Still, he rose to fame breaking multiple free climbing records. He told BI the comeback was one of "the more uplifting experiences" of his life.

But this time was different.

It was a longer recovery process, one that took two years to fully heal and involved taking breaks from his usual 12-hours-a-day climbing routine, which impacted his muscle mass.

"I was a little bit worried that I was losing my fitness," Caldwell said.

Within a year, he healed enough to climb again — and break another record. In the National Geographic documentary "The Devil's Climb," Caldwell and "Free Solo" star Alex Honnold were the first climbers to ascend all five peaks of The Devil's Thumb, a hazardous mountain range in Alaska, in one day.

He shared some tips for bouncing back, from doing more cross-training to eating more protein.

He cross-trains with biking and light weights

Due to his age, Caldwell believes "strength training is a little bit more important" to build muscle mass.

Climbing naturally strengthens muscles, such as using hang boards during training. Additionally, Caldwell lifts "relatively light weights" to prevent injury and works with a physical therapist to address issues like lower back pain.

He also loves biking: in "The Devil's Thumb," he and Honnold biked from Colorado to Canada to take a boat to Alaska before the big climb. Caldwell said this was an important part of his recovery process leading up to the endeavor, because "I knew that to make my tendons truly healthy, pumping a lot of blood through my body."

He usually does an hour of cardio (like biking) before his daily climb. He said that frequent movement helps him feel his best, especially when he's outdoors for most of the day.

"That's the main lifestyle habit that seems to keep me feeling youthful and energetic and strong," he said. "Just getting up and doing it."

He eats more protein than he used to

Caldwell used to be a vegetarian but said it "didn't work great" for him in terms of getting enough protein.

"Now I'm in a phase where I'm relatively protein-heavy," he said. He starts mornings off with oatmeal and flax seeds, as well as eggs. Because his kids love meat, he has it for dinner about 3 to 4 times a week. He also eats mostly minimally processed foods, including a lot of vegetables.

He said eating more protein and whole foods has helped with even small climbing issues, like the skin on his fingertips healing faster.

"Nutrition can affect that a lot," he said. "Eating fish oils and leafy greens and just drinking enough water is a pretty big deal."

He said he takes supplements like creatine, which helps build muscle. "I've never been hugely scientific about that stuff, I'm always sort of dabbling," he said. Caldwell also has a partnership with Elo, a personalized nutrition brand. Using blood work and data tracking, he said Elo makes him custom vitamins and protein supplements.

He prioritizes life outside of climbing

Caldwell said that the most important thing he could do for this injury was "to just chill out."

Normally, he would deal with climbing injuries by going to a lot of physical therapy. But in this case, it was counterproductive. An Achilles tendon injury required rest, and "I tried to actively heal it, which led to more ruptures," he said.

To climb well again, he had to put it on hold. "Overall, I was surprised my morale didn't suffer more," he said.

A huge part of his emotional recovery was finding joy outside of climbing, such as spending more time with his family. "It was the first time in my life that I realized that I love climbing, but I don't need it for my happiness," he said.

• The FDA said organic eggs sold in some Costcos are being recalled for Salmonella concerns.
• Handsome Brook Farms found that eggs not intended for distribution were packaged and sold.
• No illnesses have been reported so far. Salmonella can cause hospitalization.

It's time to check your fridge if you picked up organic eggs during your last Costco run.

Due to Salmonella concerns, organic eggs sold at Costco are being recalled in five states.

On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration announced that 10,800 retail units of 24-count organic eggs sold under Costco's Kirkland brand are being recalled.

The announcement came after Handsome Brook Farms, based in New York, determined that eggs "not intended for retail distribution" were packaged and sold in 25 Costco stores starting on November 22.

The recall specifically applies to Costco organic eggs with the Julian code 327 and a "Use By" date of Jan 5, 2025. The eggs were recalled from Costcos in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

So far, the FDA said there are no illness complaints. Salmonella symptoms usually include diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever and some past Salmonella outbreaks led to hospitalizations.

The FDA said that in rare cases, Salmonella can be fatal in very young children, older people, and those with weakened immune systems.

• Billboard used a clip from Ye's 2016 music video "Famous" to recap Taylor Swift's career.
• The clip featured a nude wax figure of Swift lying in bed with Ye and other celebrities.
• After backlash from fans, Billboard apologized for including it.

Over the past few months, Billboard has revealed its rankings for the best pop artists of the 21st century. On Wednesday, Billboard announced that the No. 2 spot belongs to Taylor Swift and published an Instagram video recapping her career.

While some Swifties were disappointed to see her in second place, the real backlash against Billboard involved a short clip within the video.

Referencing a yearslong feud between Swift, Ye (formerly known as Kanye West), and Kim Kardashian, the clip featured the infamous wax figure of Swift in Ye's 2016 music video "Famous." In it, Swift's figure is nude and lying in bed next to Ye and other celebrities.

The backlash from fans prompted Billboard to remove the clip from its video and apologize to Swift on Wednesday.

The inclusion of the clip, which critics have described as "revenge porn," prompted fierce criticism on social media. On X, Swifties started the hashtag #BillboardIsOverParty, a nod to #TaylorSwiftIsOverParty in 2016 (also connected to "Famous.")

'Famous' ignited Swift and Ye's ongoing feud

In 2016, Ye released "Famous," which featured the lyric, "I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that bitch famous." The lyric referenced the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards when Ye stormed the stage and said Beyoncé should have won the Best Female Video award instead of Swift. The "Famous" music video included the naked figure of Swift.

After Swift disputed Ye's claim that she approved the lyric, Kardashian (at the time married to Ye) posted short clips of a phone call between Swift and Ye, showing Swift approving of the line "I feel like Taylor Swift might owe me sex."

Swift was called a snake on social media, and the incident partly inspired her 2017 album, "Reputation."

The feud was reignited a few times: first in 2020 when a longer clip of the phone call revealed Swift being opposed to Ye using the word "bitch." The next time was in 2024 when Swift released several tracks about Ye and Kardashian in "The Tortured Poets Department."

Swifties united with other fans

Many Swifties were angered by Billboard using the clip. X user @ryoqko referred to the move as "Just nasty, disrespectful and unprofessional."

Fans of other top artists, such as Ariana Grande, Britney Spears, and Nicki Minaj, also tweeted at and about Billboard.

Swift's fan base has a history of banding together for a cause. When Ye surpassed Swift as Spotify's top global artist, Swifties collectively streamed Beyoncé's "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" to push Ye out of the No. 1 spot.

• Many parents struggle with putting their smartphones down and paying full attention to their kids.
• Glassdoor CEO Christian Sutherland-Wong told CNBC that he stays offline around his children.
• He only works in his home office, going in there for emergency calls or after his kids go to bed.

Teens aren't the only ones who are heavily enticed by smartphones; plenty of parents struggle to put their devices down, too.

A 2024 Pew Research Center report found that 46% of teens said their parents are "at least sometimes distracted by their phone" when they try to talk to them.

That's why Glassdoor CEO Christian Sutherland-Wong has a simple rule at home: he doesn't answer texts or emails in front of his kids.

"I want to lead by not having digital products all around," Sutherland-Wong, 44, said in a CNBC interview. He said he doesn't want to be "distracted by my email and text messages all the time" and gives his kids his undivided attention.

He stays offline when he's around his kids

Smartphones aren't just magnetizing because of work emails and apps like Slack; parents often use phones for everything from scheduling playdates to managing extracurriculars.

To reduce his chances of getting sucked into his phone, Sutherland-Wong gets fully offline when he spends time with his kids. He works remotely from his home office, which makes it easier to pick up on work once the kids are asleep.

Otherwise, he makes it a point "to be there when my kids come home from school, to be able to get offline, spend quality time with them, put them to bed, and then get back online."

He models clear boundaries around work

Not all work emergencies happen between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. To create "space" between his role as a father and as a CEO, Sutherland-Wong returns to his home office when an urgent work task arises.

He feels his kids "pick up on" how he takes work calls. Privately firing off emails not only helps him maintain a work-life balance as a father but also models healthier habits around technology for his kids.

• It's normal to experience ups and downs with a friend.
• But if you often feel tense or anxious around a friend, it's probably a red flag.
• Friends who don't respect boundaries or don't reciprocate care might not be worth keeping.

All long-term friendships come with highs and lows. Navigating conflict together (instead of quiet-quitting) is a necessary part of growing closer.

Sometimes, though, the tension doesn't disappear after the fight. Or, worse: you don't know how to solve fundamental differences, like a friendship feeling too one-sided or a BFF being actively jealous of you.

Miriam Kirmayer, a clinical psychologist, told Business Insider that having strong connections is crucial to your health. Relationships that make you feel invisible or emotionally unsafe do more harm than good.

Still, it can be hard to face the truth, especially if you have history with a friend. "Generally, this is one of those questions that we don't take the time to ask ourselves," Kirmayer said, even though the answer is usually "very telling."

She shared some signs a friend is just not treating you right, whether they disrespect your boundaries or never reciprocate how much you put into the relationship.

1. They take much more than they give back

One of the most important parts of any friendship is feeling balanced, Kirmayer said. You should feel like equals without "scorekeeping or counting the minutes."

Your friend's communication style might be more talkative than yours. But they should also find time to ask you questions, share bids for attention, and be actively interested in your life.

Otherwise, listening to a friend's vents or monologues feels like a draining relationship with an energy vampire.

2. They criticize you under the guise of 'brutal honesty'

Sometimes, a great friend will tell you what you don't want to hear, like that your ex is treating you poorly.

But it's another thing to use "I'm just being honest!" or "it's just a joke!" as a cover for insulting your looks or life choices, Kirmayer said.

"We feel the truest sense of belonging and connection when we feel seen, heard, and appreciated for who we actually are," Kirmayer said. If you constantly get told you're doing something "wrong," "it can end up feeling like that friendship is conditional on our willingness or ability to mold ourselves into who they want us to be."

Whether they're taking jabs out of potential jealousy or sending you long therapy-speak texts about your faults, they're not helping you grow — they're cutting you down.

3. They don't respond well to feedback

If they can dole out lots of feedback but can't take any themselves, that's a sign of an uneven friendship.

One good way to gauge this is by watching how they respond when you bring up an issue, Kirmayer said. "Are they willing to take accountability or just hear you out in a way that allows for constructive conversations?"

If your friend is reactive to feedback no matter how politely and diplomatically you present it, it's a sign that you might be people-pleasing in the relationship to avoid explosive conflict.

4. They almost never initiate communication

Sometimes, friends go through big life changes: one might enter a new relationship, get a stressful new job, or have a baby. In those times, how often you communicate might change.

Still, Kirmayer said it's important for close friends to feel like they take turns initiating plans, rather than everything falling to one person.

"That consistency is important for keeping our friendships thriving," she said. Otherwise, it can build resentment and distrust over time if one friend is always the one reaching out.

5. They don't take 'no' for an answer

Friends respect your boundaries, Kirmayer said. If you say no to talking about a vulnerable topic, do they step back or keep prodding? If you don't want to go out on a weeknight, do they listen or start shaming you?

She said someone not respecting the word "no" is a huge red flag in all relationships — and, ironically, can push you away from a friend even more.

6. They gossip to tear people down

Not all gossip is bad, and it doesn't always mean someone who talks about others will talk about you.

"Sometimes, our friends are gossiping as a need to secure support or to set out our perspectives and experiences," Kirmayer said. It can be a way to work through a problem or grow closer via shared values.

But there's a difference between healthy gossip and a friend frequently putting other friends down to make themselves feel better. In general, she said a solid friendship should present other ways of connecting besides what you don't like about other people.

But if you get a pit in your stomach about all the small things your friend rips other people apart over, it might be a sign that they'd speak just as badly about you, too.

7. They're not interested in your growth

If you've known each other for a while, you'll inevitably experience some changes in your careers, interests, relationships, health, or general outlooks on life.

That's why Kirmayer said it's a great sign if your friend wants to keep learning about you. You should welcome new life updates and support each other through big milestones, not "only repeating the same conversations that you've had for years on end."

If a friend is only invested in a past version of you — and actively rejects the newer updates in your life — it can be a sign that you're outgrowing your friendship.