Your guide to a happy and healthy November: What to know about Mercury in retrograde — and why you should be eating kimchi

Welcome to November. If you’re starting the month feeling a little out of sorts thanks to a big Halloween candy-eating session (and honestly, who can blame you?), drinking plenty of water, exercising and eating a healthy snack like hummus and baby carrots should get you back on track. You’ll need that energy, as there’s a lot going on this month, from a time change and Election Day to Thanksgiving and other hectic holiday happenings that make the end of the year feel like a mad dash to the finish line. So let’s hop to it, shall we?

Here’s your guide to living your best life this month.

🌠 Watch out for Mercury in retrograde. If you're into astrology, brace yourself: Mercury in retrograde begins Nov. 25, Because the astrological phenomenon is associated with chaos, it's become a scapegoat for anything going wrong (your flight got canceled, you spilled coffee over your laptop). But is it legit? Here's what experts say about the psychology behind Mercury in retrograde.

🫙 Try kimchi. If you’ve never tried kimchi, Nov. 22 — aka National Kimchi Day — is the perfect time to give the fermented cabbage dish a spin. The Korean staple packs a punch both in terms of flavor — thanks to a tangy, spicy blend featuring fish sauce and gochugaru chili flakes — and nutritionally. Dietitians tell Yahoo Life the side dish — often added to soups or heaped onto stir-fries, Asian salad bowls or even grilled cheese sandwiches — is great for gut health, could help lower obesity risk and is high in vitamins A, B6, B12, C and K, calcium, iron, phosphorus and magnesium.

☕ Do your Starbucks research. Cue the Sabrina Carpenter: Nov. 23 is National Espresso Day. Before you head to Starbucks to get your fix, consult our guide to the coffee chain’s seasonal offerings to get the lowdown on what’s healthiest. (You can also learn more about the health benefits of drinking coffee here.)

😡 Avoid the turkey day drama. Ah, a holiday gathering right after a very fraught election cycle. While we don’t know what will happen on Nov. 5, we do suspect that not everyone sitting around your Thanksgiving dinner table will see eye to eye on the results. And that’s OK! But it’s also OK to protect your peace and opt out of gatherings you think might get too heated. Or you can focus on defusing the tension by following these holiday conversation tips, including listening with an open mind, changing the subject tactfully and having a support person to vent to.

🍗 And don’t let your turkey feast send you to the ER. Cooking and carving injuries are no joke, which is why doctors advise taking your time in the kitchen rather than rushing to get food on the table and slicing your hand or starting a kitchen fire. Another pro tip: Sharpen carving knives beforehand and make sure you’re using a safe technique that won’t leave you in tatters.

🚽 Be kind to your bladder. It’s Bladder Health Awareness Month. To avoid issues such as incontinence, infections or a constant or urgent need to urinate, experts recommend staying hydrated, limiting caffeine and alcohol and having a high-fiber diet that reduces the risk of constipation, which can put pressure on the bladder. Your bathroom habits also matter, pelvic floor therapist Sara Reardon tells Yahoo Life. Read about what mistakes you might be making, like pushing when you pee, not using a stool and more.

🌲 Check out your family tree. If you remember Grandma’s pumpkin pie recipe by heart but have no clue what she died of, it’s time to start asking (and what better time than those Thanksgiving catch-ups?). Family Health History Month highlights the importance of knowing what conditions might be running through your family tree and what that means for your own health. If a grandparent died of colon cancer, for example, your doctor may advise earlier screenings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a handy guide to what to ask and what to do with the information.

🥬 Make a vegan swap. Consider this compromise for World Vegan Month: Instead of radically overhauling your diet (or canceling your Cheese of the Month Club membership), try a vegan spin on one of your favorite dishes. Mixing cashews and plant-based milk can mimic the creaminess of your standard fettuccine Alfredo sauce, while vegan three-bean chili topped with avocado is just as hearty as the beefy versions. Or take this as an excuse to finally check out that new vegan bakery or cheese shop in your neighborhood; you might be pleasantly surprised!

🤒 Prep your “sick day kit.” We really hope you dodge all those seasonal illnesses swirling around. But on the off chance you don’t, you’ll be better off if you’ve prepared a sick day kit and stocked up on medications and other health essentials (thermometer, cans of soup) that will make your convalescence less miserable. (Not included: your favorite blankie and a Great British Baking Show binge-watch.)

🥒 Have a pickle. Bread and butter, dill, a Picklewich, perhaps? In addition to being tangy and satisfyingly crunchy, pickles offer some sweet nutritional benefits, so long as you don’t load up on sodium. Take this as your cue to grab a spear on National Pickle Day (Nov. 14).

😟 Tackle stress. Nov. 6 is National Stress Awareness Day. So, how are you feeling? If you answered “stressed out,” look to these expert tips for calming down quickly. You might also consider hope-scrolling — aka filling your social media feed with more positive content — or trying exercise habits that put you in a better mood.

🎄 Go ahead and put up your holiday decorations. If you’re one of those folks who blast “Jingle Bells” on Nov. 1, well, you might be onto something. Mental health experts say embracing the festive spirit early on can be a mood lifter for many people. Take that as your cue to watch Home Alone, put up decorations and fire up your favorite carols.

⏰ Fall back. Daylight saving time officially ends at 2 a.m. on Nov. 3, which means you get an extra hour of sleep (and, unfortunately, the annoyance of having to update all the clocks in your home and never feeling 100% sure you’ve got the right time). Here’s a guide to how the seasonal shift might affect your health and how to best prepare.

🥡 Clean out your fridge. It sounds like something your spouse made up to get you to do chores, but National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day is an actual “holiday,” and it’s happening on Nov. 15. Think of it as a way to free up space for the Thanksgiving turkey you’ll soon be squeezing inside — and a reminder to finally toss those fuzzy leftovers, old takeout containers and condiments you bought before the pandemic. Read up on keeping your still-good food fresh while you empty the fridge, and see what supplies will help you get the job done.

🧴 Show your skin some TLC. National Healthy Skin Month calls for making sure you have had your annual full-body skin check with the dermatologist (or more frequently if you’re at a higher risk for skin cancer); are wearing sunscreen daily (yes, every day); and have a consistent skin care routine. Hey, if the New York Mets can get excited about vitamin C serums, so can you.

To do this month:

Eat: cranberries. Whether or not turkey (or tofurkey) is on the menu this month is up to you, but allow us to make a case for having some sort of cranberry dish in the mix. The tart fruit contains vitamins C, E and K1, copper, manganese and fiber (though it’s worth noting that cranberry juice has no fiber), plus a number of antioxidants credited with reducing the risk of urinary tract infections, supporting heart health and preventing stomach cancer. In honor of Eat a Cranberry Day on Nov. 23, try adding some fresh or dried berries to your morning oatmeal or lunchtime salad, or whip up a homemade cranberry chutney to rival the sugary, jiggly canned version that always comes out on Thanksgiving.

Get: a safer, less stressful holiday travel plan. Long lines, overbooking and traffic can compound your holiday stress. If you have a little flexibility, consider avoiding the airport on the busiest travel days (flying out on the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and home on Sunday). Instead, look at flights on Thanksgiving itself (so long as you don’t miss that turkey dinner) and the following Monday. If you’re driving, know that Wednesday and Sunday are typically the days with the most traffic. Travel experts advise heading out in the morning or after 6 p.m. to avoid gridlock.

Visit: the voting booth. In addition to supporting the democratic process, casting a vote on Election Day can be a boon for your health. Mental health experts say it can offer a sense of empowerment and control and make you feel like your voice is being heard. Research has also found that civic engagement is linked to our overall well-being — including giving us a say in health policies big and small, which can, in turn, impact our future health.

Updated, Nov. 22: This article was originally published on Nov. 1.