Flotation therapy — which involves floating in a tank of warm, salt-saturated water — is a popular and often expensive form of relaxation. Now, a small but growing body of research suggests it may also reduce symptoms of a variety of mental health conditions. Most float tank sessions last about an hour. During a typical experience, a person disrobes in a private room and enters the pod, which may resemble an oversize hot tub. The pod is filled with shallow, body-temperature water that is saturated with Epsom salts to buoy your body. You can leave the pod open or close the lid to be cocooned in an environment devoid of light and sound. Experts say float therapy seems to work on several levels, heightening the senses, aiding relaxation and soothing the body and mind.

Sometimes trying to be healthy feels like just another item on your endless, exhausting to-do list. Here on NPR’s health team, we don’t want to add to anyone’s stress. The good news is that it doesn’t take great feats of fitness or a heroic commitment to good habits to stay well. Often small changes can make a significant difference.

Wearable healthcare technology has grown in popularity over the last few years. With advancements in biosensor technology and accuracy, smaller battery sizes, and increased performance, wearable medical technology can provide users with accurate healthcare data that keeps them in charge of their own healthcare.