Laken Howard
Bustle
New York, United States
Contact Laken
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
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Past articles by Laken:
What To Do If You're Having A Hard Time Being Vulnerable In A Relationship
At the beginning of a new relationship, you and your partner will have so much to learn about each other. Although it's easy to open up about the fun, lighthearted stuff — like your go-to guilty pleasure movie or your most embarrassing childhood… → Read More
Luke & Hannah’s ‘Bachelorette’ Relationship Is Toxic — But Experts Say There Are Pros & Cons To Seeing It On TV
If you’ve been watching The Bachelorette this season, you’re probably all too familiar with the tumultuous relationship between Bachelorette Hannah Brown and the season’s “villain,” Luke Parker (referred to on the show and hereafter as Luke P.). The… → Read More
Why It's Problematic — Not Romantic — When Men Steal The Spotlight From Women With Grand Gestures
If you've seen even a single rom-com in your lifetime, you're likely well aware of the trope of the grand romantic gesture. It usually goes something like this: a man and woman are happily in love, the man inevitably screws things up, but then right… → Read More
9 Things Therapists Want You To Know If You’ve Only Been In One Serious Relationship
When you go through your first real breakup, it will probably be like nothing you expected. But you may learn something really important: even though it can feel like a "failure" in the moment, having your first serious relationship come to an end… → Read More
How To Get On The Same Page As Your Partner About Holiday Gift-Giving
Whether you're ready to admit it publicly or not, everyone can at least privately agree that getting and giving gifts is one of the best parts of the holiday season. But even though shopping for someone like your best friend or mom (or yourself)… → Read More
How The Culture Surrounding Condoms Is Changing — Thanks To Women
Although condoms have certainly already come a long way from their earliest iterations (linen sheath condom, anyone?), there's still plenty of room left for innovation in the condom industry. As our sexual culture evolves, so do our needs when it… → Read More
Why Is Sexual Health A Woman’s Responsibility? Gender Bias Affects STI & Pregnancy Prevention, Too
When you think about what it means to take care of your sexual health, a few images probably come to mind — remembering to take your birth control pill, always insisting on using protection, or going in for a routine STI screening. But as great as… → Read More
How Trauma-Informed Yoga Can Be Healing For Survivors Of Domestic & Sexual Violence
When you picture a typical yoga class, you probably envision a room full of flexible folks being taught and having their form corrected by a very hands-on instructor while some ambient music plays in the background... but at an Exhale to Inhale yoga… → Read More
7 Dates To Take Yourself On This Summer
While most people probably hear the word "date" and immediately picture an amorous, candlelit outing between two people, a romantic date isn't the only kind of date you can go on. Going on dates by yourself is a great way to practice self-care: you… → Read More
What You Need To Know About A Good First Date, According To A Dating Coach
Even if you're pretty sure you're hitting it off with someone, the signs of a good first date aren't always easy to recognize (especially when nerves are involved). But while most people probably define a "good" date as one that leads to more dates —… → Read More
The Reason I'm Choosing To Move 700 Miles Away From My Partner
I moved to New York City for the first time in college, to begin a much-anticipated internship at Cosmopolitan, a magazine I'd long regarded as my own personal bible. Predictably, I immediately fell in love with the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple… → Read More
9 Tips For Dating Again After A Bad Breakup, According To Experts
There are few things in life worse than getting your heart broken. Not only is it a supremely sad experience, there are all kinds of other emotions — anger, regret, bitterness, even happiness in some cases — that can be super confusing to sort throug… → Read More
Are Proposals During Mercury Retrograde A Bad Idea? Astrologers Say You May Want To Wait Until It's Over To Get Engaged
If you set store by the stars, you're likely already well aware of how Mercury retrograde can affect your love life — which means you can probably imagine why proposing during Mercury retrograde might not be the best move. When you're in a long-term … → Read More
13 "Better Yourself In 3 Words" Tweets That Will Inspire You
The older you get and the more people you meet, the more you start to realize that tween paragon of wisdom Hannah Montana was right all along: nobody's perfect. Part of ~adulting~ means finding new ways to improve yourself all the time — because self… → Read More
13 People On The Biggest Issue They Disagree On With Their Partner, According To Reddit
Hypothetically, happy couples would never fight or argue; they'd simply coexist in harmony, forever infatuated with one another. In reality, having a disagreement with your partner is something that's inevitable, even in healthy, happy relationships.… → Read More
13 "I Like Me Because" Tweets That Show The Importance Of Loving Yourself
Love is great in all its forms — but if you ask me, there's no better form of love than self-love. It's not always an easy journey, but it's so important to learn how to have a healthy relationship with yourself. Of course, it's always nice to feel l… → Read More
How Long It Takes To Develop Emotional Intimacy In A New Relationship
The early stages of a new relationship — when you're still getting to know each other and relishing every moment you spend together — can be some of the most exciting, romantic times you share with your partner. You're discovering new facets of each … → Read More
11 Cheap Valentine's Day Date Ideas That Won't Break The Bank
These inexpensive Valentine's Day date ideas prove that it really is the thought that counts. → Read More
How To Improve Your Relationship During Mercury Retrograde 2017
Anytime you hear or read about Mercury Retrograde, it seems like the focus is always on one thing: its potential to unleash chaos and have a whole slew of negative effects on your life — and that includes your love life, too. But exactly how can Merc… → Read More
How Much Sex Should You Be Having In A Long-Term Relationship? 15 People On How Often They're Getting It On
When you've been dating someone for a long time, you might eventually start to wonder how much sex is "normal" in a long-term relationship, and whether or not your sex life "measures up." The truth? Every couple is different, and it's normal to exper… → Read More