The Daily Check-In 11.6

Look for the USDA Organic or the Certified Humane seal, which both set very specific requirements around the living standards for animals, says Joe Dickson, co-founder and head of quality standards and policy for Merryfield Collective. “Without one of those two certs, it’s hard to know how free-range or what the cage-free living conditions are for those birds.”

“Cage-free” just means that hens are not in cages, but they may be in an indoor environment and it may be pretty crowded, Dickson explains. Free-range means they have some freedom and access to outdoors, and pasture-raised typically means the animals spend most of their time outdoors but those claims are still not very well-defined, he adds.

Seeking sunshine in the morning can help you feel calmer, happier, and sleep better at night, according to a study in Sleep Health. Researchers looked at 109 people who worked normal office hours over one week. They found that those who were exposed to more daylight or electric blue light between 8 a.m. and noon fell asleep quicker and slept more soundly at night compared to those who obtained little light in the morning.

“Light during the day is like a cup of coffee,” says lead study author Mariana Figueiro, Ph.D. Conversely, a ton of light late in the evening will delay your clock and keep you from feeling tired, she adds. That’s why using tablets and smartphones (which emit blue light) right before bed disrupts your sleep.

If you already know what you want from your partner, tell them in clear terms, says Laurie Mintz, Ph.D., author of Becoming Cliterate. Often, people are less direct, phrasing their desire as a question (i.e. “Do you want to have sex?”).

This can be confusing to your partner, who may assume you are actually asking them what they want (and could give you the “wrong” answer). Instead, own how you feel and express yourself plainly. (“I’m really in the mood tonight.”)