If youre reading this, you probably know theres no shortage of advice good, bad, middling in our digital landscape. Influencers are always peddling one weird trick to help you hack your health; many people on the internet wont bat an eye before telling you to divorce him, and Reddit has become the de facto destination to tell you whether youre being an asshole (and for actually honest reviews). Of course, if youre a regular Vox reader, you mightve noticed our practical guidance on topics ranging from personal finance to friendship to health and wellness.As we close the book on 2024, I combed through some of the best tips and tricks experts gave to Even Better this year. From small tweaks to major reevaluations, therapists, researchers, dating coaches, and more have shared their insights with us all year. Heres a cheat sheet for all the best advice we learned and will be taking with us into 2025.Get out of your chair once an hourIf you, like me, have a job that requires you to sit for many hours on end, Keith Diaz, an associate professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, says daily exercise isnt enough to offset the negative effects of prolonged sitting. (Those negative effects include higher risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even early death.) Experts say you should be getting out of your chair at least once an hour. To help remind you, Diaz suggests using natural break points in your day as a way to get movement. Have an hour-long meeting? Go for a short walk after. Have to refill your water bottle? Take the long route to the kitchen.RelatedHow to microdose movementUse past regret to inform your futureRegret, at some point in life, comes for us all. Instead of getting stuck amid the what ifs, regret can actually teach you about how to move forward in life. In her reporting, contributor Charley Locke found it helpful to place your choices in context. Why did you make the choices you did? What pressures or constraints influenced your decisions? Ask yourself what you can learn from regret: What do you wish youd done differently and how can you make those past dreams a reality now?Make a specific observation to kick-start a conversationThere are few things more awkward than attending a party where you dont know many people. Who do you talk to? What do you say? What should you do with your hands? Well, I have some advice that can help: Make an observation or pay a compliment. Talk to a stranger about the hosts immaculate design choices or approach the person with a Phillies hat and chat about baseball you have that much in common. As for what to do with your hands, Im still figuring that out, too. Dont be afraid to let your kids feel a full range of emotionsParents are rightfully protective of their children its their role to try to shield them from lifes misfortunes, after all. But parenting experts caution against being too quick to problem-solve when your child experiences emotional pain, social conflict, and even boredom. Give kids space to process their emotions on their own terms, says Dorsa Amir, an assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University who studies kids and culture. Boys, especially, hear messaging reinforcing the importance of toughness and anger. But part of being a full human is being able to access and express a fuller range of emotions, Christopher Pepper, author of the forthcoming book Talk to Your Boys, told my colleague Keren Landman. So for adults, its important to ensure its safe for boys to do that, that youre not criticizing them or judging them for it.RelatedMost people would probably say theyd like to earn and save more money. But are they totally honest with themselves about why? Advice columnist Nicole Dieker Finley suggests setting specific and realistic financial goals. Think more granularly than Id like to be saving more. Even more specific than Id like to save more so I dont have to worry about losing my job. Get as nitty-gritty as Id like to save more because I want a financial cushion so I can start my own business. Once you get specific, you can start making an actionable plan, Dieker Finley writes. Not that anyone plans on getting into an argument, but if you do, keep this tip in your back pocket. Underneath seemingly petty disagreements over who takes out the trash are deeper issues at play. Influential couples counselors John and Julie Gottman call this the dreams within conflict. To get to the root of an argument, they suggest asking the person youre clashing with questions like, Tell me why this is so important to you, or, Is there a story behind this for you? Hear them out and then answer these questions for yourself, too.RelatedHow to fight without ruining a relationshipDont believe every health hack you see onlineTikTok is rife with tricks and hacks meant to improve your health. Some of it is wacky and others might be downright harmful. Voxs Keren Landman an actual medical doctor has some sage words for the health content consumers among us: If a wild health claim is too good to be true, it probably is. Is the person sharing the information trying to sell you something by making a health claim? If so, thats a concerning sign, and you should be especially careful to further check the accuracy of what theyre saying. Be on guard and dont believe everything you hear.To meet potential romantic interests IRL, take romance off the table (at first)Many singles, exasperated by dating apps, are taking a tried-and-true approach to dating: meeting potential romantic interests in the wild. But theres a lot of ambiguity in the real world unlike on dating apps, its unclear whether that person across the yoga studio is into you, or is even single in the first place. To take some of the pressure off, relationship expert Susan Winter says to avoid flirting from the jump and to simply enjoy pleasant conversation with new people. If you get boxed up, forget that they are a romantic prospect, Winter says. Actually tell yourself they are a human being and your task is to engage with this human being.As with any personal or health relationship, fit is everything. A therapist could be exceptional, but if you dont jibe with their style or personality, then theyre not the right mental health professional for you. Jeff Ashby, a psychologist and professor at Georgia State University, says you shouldnt be afraid to shop around for a therapist. After trying on a mental health professional for a bit, you can decide to move on to another one. Youre still absolutely within your rights and not in violation of any norms to move on to someone whos a better fit, my colleague Keren Landman writes.Dont go looking for news that makes you enragedCable news, X, that one Facebook group that drives you insane: There are plenty of sources of maddening information. You probably dont need me to tell you how harmful it is to live in a perpetual state of anger. But part of breaking that cycle involves avoiding seeking out news or posts that get your blood boiling. Consume just enough where you feel informed and avoid falling prey to rage bait on social media. Im going to choose not to go looking for things that make me mad, says psychologist Ryan Martin, author of How to Deal With Angry People and Why We Get Mad: How to Use Your Anger for Positive Change. Its not that different, honestly, from choosing not to see scary movies.Keeping your phone out of sight will help you embrace small moments of connectionEven the smallest, most mundane forms of social interaction have the ability to brighten your mood and make you feel more connected: a quick hello to a neighbor, a brief exchange in an elevator. Its hard to engage in these moments of humanity when youre staring at a phone. Nicholas Epley, a professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, says we should be more intentional to live in a way that promotes sociality and that might mean removing your phone as a distraction. I, for instance, dont keep my phone in my pocket ever unless Im supposed to talk to somebody, Epley says. I have it in my backpack. That just makes it easier for me to engage with other people when theyre around.Be skeptical of products making big health claimsWhether it be full-body deodorant, energy drinks, or the burgeoning number of functional beverages now available in grocery stores, its good practice to be cautious when a new category of products is making big health promises and have an awareness of possible harms they may cause. Its also wise to think about whether the product is just a solution looking for a problem. As Sarah Everts, author of The Joy of Sweat, told Keren Landman about the glut of full-body deodorants that were introduced this year: Nobodys being fooled into thinking that youre a citrus fruit.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More: