Latest news with #citylife
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
We moved from Chicago to Ohio after getting pregnant. We moved back a year later.
We moved from Chicago to Ohio because we thought that was the natural order of life. You go from the city to the suburbs to raise your family and live happily ever after. However, in making this decision, we'd ignored what made us happy and ended up returning to Chicago. We thought we were doing the right thing when we left Chicago for a small town in Ohio. I was pregnant with our first child, and Ohio offered more space, a lower cost of living, and most importantly, being closer to family. What I hadn't accounted for, though, was how deeply I'd miss our support system, our city life, and the community that helped me feel grounded in a season of so much personal change. We didn't last long in Ohio. I hated Chicago at first To be frank, Chicago was never part of my life plan. However, after two years of long-distance dating, I moved from my hometown in Maryland to Chicago in the summer of 2013 for a new job and to be closer to my now-husband, Jeff. At first, I hated Chicago because I missed home, my family and friends, crab cakes, and getting peanuts from Lexington Market before Orioles games. A year later, however, Jeff and I got married and, to my surprise, I'd fallen in love with the city. Through various networking events, I'd found a group of like-minded, ambitious millennial women. Plus, there was no shortage of date nights—a Black futurism-inspired event at the city's planetarium; Adult Nights' Out at Lincoln Park Zoo; and, of course, gallivanting from festival to festival in the summer. Then the time came for us to consider having kids. We moved to Ohio because we thought it was the right thing to do Without either of our families nearby, we just assumed we'd need to move closer to either Ohio, where Jeff was from, or Maryland once we started our own family. After all, we figured this was the natural order of life—go from the city to the 'burbs to raise your family and live happily ever after. Two egg retrievals and four embryo transfers later, we finally got pregnant in February 2021, which kicked our plan to move to Ohio into high gear. That May, we visited to scope out some Columbus neighborhoods. I was starting to have some second thoughts about moving, especially given the political climate at the time, but figured it was too late to say anything. All of the wheels were already in motion: our Chicago condo was going on the market, and contracts had been signed. The day we packed up the U-Haul and started toward Ohio, I could feel the regret creeping up, but there was no going back. We moved in with my in-laws We moved into my in-laws' house in Northeast Ohio while we searched for a home in Columbus. When we first arrived, we hit the ground running, making the hourlong trek from his parents' house to Columbus every weekend for open houses and showings. Columbus seemed more suburban than I'd initially expected. While living in Chicago, I'd grown accustomed to the city's walkability. However, the more walkable neighborhoods near Columbus, such as Westerville and Worthington, were out of our price range, and each showing left me feeling more jaded than the last. With a rapidly approaching C-section scheduled for mid-October, we made the difficult decision to halt our home search after Labor Day. It wasn't what I'd envisioned: bringing our newborn to my husband's childhood home. Yet, there we were. I regretted moving to Ohio Afterward, I would come to refer to this season of my life as a three-layer depression cake: Depression over leaving Chicago. Prenatal depression, which would eventually segue into postpartum depression. Seasonal depression as the autumn days turned into winter, and Northeast Ohio seemed to be under a permanent overcast sky. Thankfully, Jeff had four months of parental leave, but once that time was up, he had to commute to Columbus three days a week. I felt trapped. The sidewalks in my in-laws' neighborhood were limited, so taking the baby for a walk longer than 10 minutes was out of the question. We only had one car, so I couldn't drive to a park when my husband was working in the office, and I felt anxious about driving anywhere alone with the new baby anyway. I was sleep-deprived, could barely distinguish one day from the next, and no longer felt like myself. Once, during a 2 a.m. feeding session, I seriously considered getting in the car and driving to either Maryland or Chicago after I placed the baby back in her bassinet. (I didn't go through with it.) After about five months of living in Ohio and several arguments later, I finally admitted to Jeff that I had regretted moving and put the prospect of returning to Chicago on the table. He agreed, and in March 2022, we packed our things and returned to the city. Chicago is where we belong for now We found a condo in Evanston, just north of our old neighborhood of Rogers Park. Because we were already familiar with the area, we knew it was a good place to raise a family. It offered the best of both worlds—big city amenities with a small town vibe and proximity to downtown Chicago. I could finally take the baby for walks around the neighborhood (yay, sidewalks) and we were within walking distance to several coffee shops and yoga studios. Would I have undergone prenatal or postpartum depression if we'd stayed in Chicago? Who's to say for sure? We've also contemplated if we'd need to move closer to family once we have another kid. That said, I'm done plotting out five-year plans and putting the cart before the proverbial horse. For the time being, we're happy here in Evanston. Not only are we back with the friends we'd made before, but now we've managed to build community with other young Black families. Only time will tell where life leads us, but if we end up settling down here in Evanston, I'm absolutely fine with that. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
Independent Singapore
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Independent Singapore
'Singaporeans, what did you sacrifice or upgrade to keep up with today's lifestyle?'
A woman who appears happy and independent (for illustration purposes only) SINGAPORE: In an active city known for its breakneck productivity and high standards, some Singaporeans are gently redrafting the rubrics of how to live well. A recent Reddit thread asked a simple question: 'Singaporeans, what have you given up or improved to adjust your lifestyle?' The responses and reactions depicted an unexpectedly consistent picture, that of people stepping off the treadmill of conventional success, and instead, seeking balance, happiness, and purposeful living. One netizen's story encapsulated the spirit of the shift: 'I have given up chasing my career and now lie flat to enjoy exercising. I travel to participate in several races now.' That disposition greatly reverberated with others. 'Are you me?' another reacted. 'I almost don't care what happens at work anymore as long as I'm paid my fair wages and get to fly off to race.' It's not lethargy or indifference — far from it. It's a mindful 're-prioritisation.' Gone were the days when one lived to work. Now, it's about working to live, and living well. Another Redditor put it concisely: 'Chasing promotions. I'd rather just do my job, go home, and live life outside of it. I'm trying to work on not making my job my whole identity.' See also BLACKPINK's Lisa tops most beautiful list This change isn't just about career preferences. It's an overhaul of one's full existence, beginning with everyday habits. One netizen shared, 'I stopped binge-drinking to not only save money but improve my quality of life.' Others echoed parallel alterations — choosing healthier food options, ditching coffee and sugary drinks for water, and working out in the park instead of paying for the gymnasium. The trend towards practicality also spreads to how people use entertainment. 'No paid TV services, not even Netflix,' one Redditor commented. 'Just WiFi access and more time spent offline.' However, the most compelling reflections were internal — and emotional. One netizen wrote: 'Internally, it has been rewarding to just forgive people, be it family, friends, or any past issues. Being kinder to myself has also been very helpful.' Their everyday life now consists of reading, activities with friends and other like-minded individuals, and spending valuable time with loved ones. 'I also like to smile more and laugh more at things that happen in life. Why so serious?' See also Tech jobs no longer lead the Best Jobs list in Singapore This new mindset isn't about renouncing ambition, but about redefining it. Success and achievements are no longer gauged solely by job designations or bank account balances. For many Singaporeans, it's now about peace of mind, good health, more profound relationships, and the choice and liberty to enjoy life. In a society usually associated with go-getting, high productivity, and structure, this silent revolution feels excitingly courageous. () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Our family of 4 shares a 900-square-foot apartment. The benefits outweigh the negatives.
I thought I would be raising my kids in a suburban house with a backyard. Instead, our family of four lives in a one-bedroom apartment with a study in an urban area. Living in an apartment was hard when our kids were babies, but now it's working for us. I never imagined I would be raising my kids in a 900-square-foot apartment. My husband and I had planned to move to a house in the suburbs just before our first baby was born. But then the pandemic struck, and real estate prices went up. Five years later, we still live in the same apartment, and now there are four of us. For a while, I felt inadequate about our living situation because we didn't live in a house with a backyard for our kids to run around and play in. Now I've realized that there are benefits to living in an urban apartment for our family, especially once the baby phase was behind us. There were things I really didn't like about living in an apartment when my kids were babies. For starters, it was hard to find room for all of the baby stuff. Some baby items just wouldn't fit neatly anywhere, such as the double stroller and the travel crib. It also seemed like the noises were amplified in our apartment, so our babies' cries felt louder than they really were. I was constantly worried that we were disturbing our neighbors' sleep. With only one bedroom and a study, I felt frustrated because I couldn't take a proper break from the demands of motherhood unless I left the apartment. That push to get out of the apartment for more space hasn't been all bad, though. It has led to more socializing with other families who live in our neighborhood. Our family spends a lot of time at the local parks, playgrounds, and playgroups. In doing so, we've connected with many other families, who have become our broader support network. Meeting other families who live in apartments has also helped to normalize our own living situation. It shows me that there's nothing wrong with raising kids in an apartment. With nearly everything we need at our doorstep, walking everywhere keeps us active and allows us to live an almost car-free lifestyle. We hardly ever have to wrestle our kids into car seats, worry about parking a car, or fill up the gas tank. When we don't even want to leave our apartment building, we use the shared communal space, which is equipped with a landscaped garden and grassy lawn—kind of like having a backyard. We work together to keep our apartment organized and functional, and try to limit how much stuff we own. We gift each other experiences and prefer to borrow toys and books instead of buying them. The smaller space strengthens our family's bond and fosters many shared experiences with each other. We intentionally gather together to do things as a family, yet we also feel comfortable doing independent activities side-by-side. While things didn't turn out quite as I had expected, I think we're making the most of our living situation. Read the original article on Business Insider
UAE Moments
15-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- UAE Moments
10 Slow-Living Productivity Hacks for Millennials in 2025
City life moves fast—but slow living offers a counterbalance that helps with focus and mental health. Instead of juggling 50 tabs, slow living encourages us to prioritize what matters, reducing stress. Studies show simple habits like taking intentional breaks or unplugging from screens ease burnout and boost productivity. For Millennial professionals, this means redefining success: not by how much you do, but by how well you do it. Slow living nudges you to cultivate clarity, to make decisions aligned with your priorities, and to enjoy your city's energy—even amid the bustle. The result? Greater mental space and creative flow. This article sets the stage for practical hacks that aren't about doing more—they're about doing better. Hack #1: Start with a Slow Morning Routine How you start your day matters. Instead of jumping out of bed and scrolling on your phone, create a slow living morning routine city, taking 10–15 minutes for gentle habits. Think: hydrate, stretch, and set intentions —no phone allowed. Data shows even short morning rituals boost emotional resilience by 15%. Try steps like brewing coffee while breathing deeply, journaling 3 things you're grateful for, or enjoying soft music. This gentle start primes clarity and focus before the city's chaos kicks in. What's unique? Mix in urban sensory awareness —listen to street sounds, feel the sunlight through the window. This blends mindfulness with city life, rooting you in the present before work mode begins. Hack #2: Declutter Digital and Physical Spaces Clutter steals mental energy. Minimalism isn't just aesthetic—it's mind space for millennials who crave calm amidst hustle. Studies show decluttering improves productivity and attention. Start by tackling your phone: uninstall unused apps, clear your home screen, and batch‑process notifications. Then, clean your desk—go for one-minute tidy sessions after each work block. Digital and physical declutter = less friction for flow. Unique angle? Use the 'one-inch rule': if you can't hold a clear space on your desk, your mind is cluttered too. So integrate bi-weekly digital detox sessions —turn off the internet for an hour and enjoy analog reading or journaling. Hack #3: Block Scheduling for Deep Work Ditch constant multitasking. Instead, set a deep work block—60–90 minutes dedicated to a single task without interruptions. Cal Newport endorses this method for slow productivity. Use calendar slots labeled 'deep focus' and protect them. During these times, say no to meetings and mute all notifications. Top performers find this slot-based method beats to-do lists for true progress. Unique city twist? Block walking meetings —take deep work outside by monitoring ideas on a walk, then record insights later. You get two gains in one: fresh air and creative thinking. Hack #4: Micro‑efficiencies Throughout the Day Micro‑efficiencies are small habit tweaks that save seconds but add up massively. Things like boiling two kettles at once, prepping outfits, or storing essentials at key spots. Try this: prep your coffee the night before and keep a flask handy. Or place phone chargers and water bottles in routines zones—desk, nightstand, bag. These hacks free up brain power for meaningful tasks. Fresh insight: focus micro-efficiencies around your energy peaks. For example, prep your lunch during your mid‑afternoon slump. You reduce decision fatigue and reclaim cognitive bandwidth for peak work hours. Stepping away from screens isn't lazy—it's essential. Slow living calls for intentional breaks —a 5‑minute walk, deep breathing, or watching birds from a balcony. Idea: take 'park bench breaks' during lunch—no phones—just nature and air. Another? Do a breathing ritual before reading emails: inhale for 4 seconds, hold, then exhale. Unique tip? Sync the break with public transit: walk an extra stop, then use the added commute for mindful reflection. These mini-reset moments rescue you from burnout and anchor you in the city's pace. Hack #6: Prioritize Fewer Tasks for Quality In the fast-paced city grind, doing less can help you achieve more. Embrace the Pareto Principle —focus on the 20% of tasks that produce 80% of results. Keep your daily to-do list to 3–5 high-impact tasks, and allocate blocks of time focused solely on these priorities. Cutting out low-value work and distractions gives your top tasks the attention they deserve. Research supports this: slow productivity thrives when you trade quantity for quality and build in purposeful pauses. Real-tip twist: Set a timer for each big task—60 minutes max—then take a mindful break. You'll stay fresh, focused, and burnout-proof. Hack #7: Create a Home Sanctuary Zone Your apartment should feel like a recharge station, not just a crash pad. Choose a cozy corner as your home sanctuary —think soft lighting, houseplants, and no screens allowed. Experts tie this to improved mental health and productivity for urban dwellers. Urban twist: Add 30-minute buffers between meetings for walking, regrouping, or breathing. Those mini buffers keep your day fluid and your energy intact. Hack #8: Use Mindfulness Tools and Journaling Mindfulness isn't just for retreats—it's a daily anchor. Keep a bullet journal or simple notebook to track your mood, tasks, and reflections. A regular journaling habit has been shown to lower stress, boost gratitude, and improve clarity among millennials. Start with 3–5 minute 'energy check-ins' —write what drained you, what energized you, and set one daily intention. Over time, you'll notice patterns: maybe afternoon breaks work better than early morning, or music helps focus. This builds a feedback loop where you design your day around your rhythm, not someone else's. Unique insight: Try analog minimalism: one pen, one page, one prompt—no stickers or tabs. Keep it so simple that it becomes non-negotiable. That tiny frame frames your whole day with intention—something digital apps just can't match. Hack #9: Practice Saying No and Setting Boundaries Growing up in grind culture, saying no can feel risky—but it's essential. Every unchecked conference call or social invite chips away at your slow-living flow. Millennials face burnout because they struggle to set limits. Create 'do-not-disturb' zones: blocks of time in your calendar marked for focus, or steps away from work emails after 7 pm. Use prompts like 'I'd love to help, but I'm fully booked today' or set up automated email replies during off-hours. It's not rude—it's self-respect. Pro tip: Use the '30-minute rule' —delay responses or social commitments by 30 minutes. If it still feels right, say yes—but if it feels like autopilot? You're learning to tune into your real needs, not what others expect. Hack #10: Schedule Slow Seasons & Rest Days Slow living isn't just a daily practice—it's a seasonal one. Plan for quarterly slow seasons like a weekend unplugged or a mid-year staycation. Purposeful downtime isn't indulgence—it protects your creativity and sanity, especially in busy city lives. Bonus tip: Use your staycation to explore a less-familiar neighborhood or spend a day in nature right outside your city, phone-free and aimless. Quick Takeaways Slow living helps reduce burnout and improves focus. Start your day mindfully with a phone-free morning routine. Declutter both your digital and physical spaces to protect mental energy. Use deep work blocks to tackle important tasks without distraction. Add micro-efficiencies to save time and brainpower. Take intentional walking or breathing breaks to reconnect and recharge. Small routine changes add up big in urban productivity. In a city that never stops, slowing down might sound counterintuitive—but it's exactly what you need to feel more, not less. By shifting from hustle culture's speed to slow living's depth, you open space for focus, creativity, and calm—without losing momentum. Starting your day with a slow morning routine anchors you. Cleaning your desk and phone keeps your mind sharp. Scheduling deep work blocks helps you execute important tasks with intent, and tiny micro-efficiencies cut decision fatigue. Add walking or breathing breaks to stay grounded in your city, and feel refreshed—not depleted. These aren't just trendy tips—they're science-backed practices that champion quality over quantity. What's unique here: tying the practices into your urban lifestyle, whether that's mindful transit, urban breaks, or sensing the city's rhythm. Try one hack at a time. Begin tomorrow morning by turning off your phone for 10 minutes. See how it shifts your mood—and let that momentum cascade into the rest of your day. Over time, slow living becomes your new hustle: confident, purposeful, and truly productive. You're not opting out—you're paying in: in clarity, energy, and mental wellness.
Reuters
12-07-2025
- Reuters
Karachi like a local
People often say Karachi is too big, too crowded, too messy — and they're not wrong. With 20 million people and a pace that rarely slows, Pakistan's largest city often feels like it's on the verge of boiling over, especially in summer. Most visitors will only see Karachi through the lens of elite hospitality (with its air-conditioned cars, rooftop dinners and guarded gates) or via the headlines (which tend to focus on crime, politics and power cuts). But get to know the city, and you'll discover a different Karachi — one where strangers help change your flat tire, where chai is served at midnight, and where allowing women to cut the line is an unspoken rule. I was born and bred in this chaos and now cover Pakistan and its economy for Reuters from here. While Karachi may no longer be the capital, it remains the country's economic engine, cultural pulse and most unfiltered mirror. It's a microcosm of Pakistan itself: volatile, welcoming and, if you know it well enough, quietly wonderful. Here's my guide to exploring this gem of a city like a local: Getting around: Three-wheeled rickshaws are still your best bet for short distances — cheap, breezy and easy to hail off the street. For something quicker in traffic, hop on a motorcycle using ride-hailing apps like Yango or inDrive. They are fast, affordable and offer a front-row seat to Karachi's traffic ballet. While public buses decorated with truck art still rumble through the city's major arteries, the newer Peoples' Bus Service offers a cleaner, more structured way to get across longer distances, albeit with limited routes. What to eat: Karachi, like much of Pakistan, has been shaped by waves of migration, and nowhere is this more evident than in its food. Biryani, a spiced rice dish layered with meat and potatoes (a uniquely Karachi touch) is the city's most beloved meal. Most locals eat it at least once a week on Fridays, as is tradition. You can find it everywhere, from not-so-fancy sit-down spots like Ghousia and Student to roadside joints where it's scooped fresh from massive metal pots known as deghs. A hearty meal with raita (herby yoghurt dip) costs around 350 Pakistani rupees ($1.20). For more Karachi eats, visit Burns Road Food Street, the city's most iconic culinary strip. Dating back to before partition and recently pedestrianized, it's a living museum of local flavours. Try Karachi-style pani puri, made of crispy hollow shells filled with tangy chutney and mashed potatoes or chickpeas, before finishing with gulab jamun (milky dough balls soaked in sweet syrup) and falooda (a fragrant, creamy dessert drink made with ice cream, dried fruits, jelly and vermicelli noodles). For a different vibe, head to Hussainabad Food Street, a lively, no-frills spot famous for grilled meats, spicy snacks and a buzzing late-night crowd of families and night owls alike. And always end your meal the Karachi way, with paan, a betel leaf filled with sweet preserves and spices. The city's red-stained sidewalks and walls are proof: Karachi runs on paan. Late-night chai: Rather than bars, chai dhabas form the city's social hubs, buzzing late into the night. Menus mostly feature doodh patti (milk tea) and stuffed parathas (fried flatbreads), but vibes vary: While original dhabas are no-frills with plastic chairs and kettles set on coal-fired stoves, newer spots have playlists, fairy lights, and younger crowds. Most are open-air, letting you catch Karachi's salty evening breeze while you talk politics and try to solve the world's problems drinking cup after cup after cup. What to buy: Lawn cloth, Karachi's go-to summer fabric, makes for a perfect souvenir. Grab an unstitched set sold in rolls of cloth from a local bazaar or mall, get it stitched by a tailor in days, or pick a ready-made outfit from brands like Khaadi or Sapphire. Add an ajrak scarf for a bold, local touch. For something more personal, artists like YouAreFlover can hand-paint designs inspired by truck art on your shoes or suitcase. An ideal day: Spend a Sunday morning at the Frere Hall book bazaar, browsing second-hand titles and new poetry under sprawling banyan trees. Nearby, admire the surreal ceiling murals by the late Pakistani artist and calligrapher Sadequain, whose sweeping works turn the historic hall into a gallery. From there, dive into the chaos of Empress Market, a 19th-century relic selling fresh produce, dried fruit, and herbs that is full of colour and colonial history. Take a peaceful stroll through Mohatta Palace, where larger-than-life portraits tell Pakistan's founding story. If your Urdu is up to it, catch a theatre play or comedy show at the Arts Council, hosting everything from traditional mushairas (poem recitals) to sharp modern satire. End your day at Clifton Beach — not for swimming, but for camel rides, masala corn on the cob and the cooling sea breeze. For a dose of Karachi's creative pulse, gallery-hop between Canvas and VM Art Gallery, or drop in on a poetry slam, pop-up gig or film screening at T2F or District 19. Getting away: For an escape from the city, drive two hours west to Mubarak Village or Charna Island for turquoise water, coral patches and quiet fishing villages. Or stay closer at Turtle Beach, where locals surf and friends gather for overnight barbecues in rented private huts that go for as low as 10,000 Pakistani rupees ($35). Biggest misconception: As with most global cities, it's important to keep your wits about you. Muggings are not uncommon, so keep your phone tucked away and avoid wearing flashy jewellery. But don't keep your guard up too high, either. You never know when you'll be handed a free meal or a friendly smile from a stranger. This city isn't for the faint-hearted, but it's full of wonderful surprises, too. Faux pas: Don't expect to tap your card everywhere — cash is king in Karachi. Avoid handing over large notes at stalls; vendors rarely have change and might just give it to you for free if you look like a tourist. And always take your shoes off before entering mosques or shrines — no exceptions. CITY MEMO DATA POINTS Population: 20 million Price of a chai: 100 Pakistani rupees ($0.35) from a roadside dhaba and 200 Pakistani rupees ($0.70) from a place like Chotu Chaiwala. Price of an ice cream: 200 Pakistani rupees ($0.70) for a generous scoop of crunch (caramel swirls) or Peshawari (a dense, milky vanilla-style flavour enriched with clotted cream) from one of the many Peshawari ice cream outlets across Karachi. Great place to see a sunset: Clifton Beach near Nishan-e-Pakistan promises a sunset with the sea breeze and camel silhouettes. Kidney Hill Park gives a quieter, elevated view of the skyline and a distant view of the port. Or head to Do Darya, where grilled seafood pairs perfectly with the sun sinking into the waves. Popular influencer: A doctor by training and a storyteller by instinct, Bilal Hassan (known by his Instagram handle @Mystapaki) documents Karachi in all its raw, beautiful chaos — from rain-drenched alleys and traffic standstills to quiet moments of daily life. His posts aren't filtered for perfection; they're grounded, human and often laced with humour. It's Karachi, as lived and felt. Largest university: Karachi University, 41,000 students om and the App!
