Instead of sitting there thinking about how much you need to pee, focus on your breathing, or the feel of the sun on your face or the ground beneath your feet. Direct your mind toward the sound of the children playing in the next room, or the sight and sound of bees buzzing among the spring flowers.   Meditate, repeat a mantra, or try deep breathing exercises. Some people benefit from mindfully focusing on the feeling of squeezing the muscles that surround their urethra—the opening through which urine exits your body. For others, this type of mindfulness might backfire! Do whatever it takes to clear your mind of thoughts of peeing or visiting the bathroom! Simple and even silly distractions may do the trick. Try things like:  Counting backwards from 99 repeatedly. Reciting poems and song lyrics you’ve known since you were a kid. Reciting the full names of all the people you know in the room, and making up names for those you don’t know. Giving directions to yourself on getting to your home, to the office, to the grocery store, etc. These aren’t good choices for distractions when you need to go! Unless you’re very skilled at keeping your mind completely focused on something like a dripping faucet, you’ll inevitably find your mind wandering to how much you’d like to empty your bladder. Your friends may think it's hilarious to describe waterfalls, rivers, and flushing toilets when they know you need to go. Try saying, “OK guys, very funny. I get the point,” and then change the subject. If they continue, calmly remove yourself from the area. Laughing might cause you to further contract your muscles and put more pressure on your bladder. Alternatively, laughter may cause you to loosen your muscle tension and release urine.  Avoid friends and situations that may cause you to laugh. Watch a heavy drama instead of a riotous comedy on TV! If you frequently release some urine when you laugh, even when your bladder isn’t full, talk to your doctor. You may have a condition that’s sometimes referred to as “giggle incontinence.”

Summary: Practice mindfulness by focusing on other aspects of the present. Distract yourself by thinking of things unrelated to urination. Avoid thinking of water, waterfalls, or rain. Don't think about funny things that will make you laugh.


Low tops look good with a wide range of outfits, so you’ll get the most mileage out of them. Their versatility makes them more appropriate than high tops in many situations and settings. You also won’t have to deal with your pants bunching up at the ankles when wearing low tops.  Go with a pair of classic trainers if you wear jeans and t-shirts often. They also look great with chinos. For something edgier, try a pair of low top skate shoes like Converse or Vans. Wear canvas low tops without socks for a laidback summertime look. High tops are known for creating cool, casual looks with a street-ready flair. Pair white high tops with wide-leg, cropped trousers so that your awesome shoes are fully visible. Throw on a white t-shirt and a rolled-up beanie to create a classically cool vibe. For a sporty vibe, wear a hoodie or light jacket.  Avoid jeans with skinny fits and tapered legs with high tops. They will bunch up at the ankle and make your legs look tiny in comparison to the large shoes.  Pair white high top sneakers with straight leg jeans for a classic and casual look. Boat shoes are a must-have for summer. Try a white pair of Sperry’s if you want a stylish pair of boat shoes with a modern design. For a laidback look, wear chinos and a white t-shirt with your boat shoes. Take it up a notch by swapping the t-shirt for a crisp white button-down. Birkenstock sandals are a great summer shoe with boho flair. You can wear them with denim shorts and a t-shirt for a relaxed look. They work great with swimsuits and wide-brimmed sun hats as pool or beach shoes. Pair them with skinny jeans and a short sleeve button up for a slightly more polished look. They pair particularly well with denim and khaki materials, so try wearing them with a pair of denim shorts or a khaki skirt for a cute and casual look. To spice things up a bit, wear fun accessories like beaded drop earrings, stackable bangles, and a boho necklace. Top it off with a quirky or boho-inspired bag for a great summer look.

Summary: Choose low top over high top white sneakers for versatility. Wear white high top sneakers to create sporty and casual looks. Opt for white boat shoes to create a relaxed summertime look. Try white Birkenstock sandals for a laidback vintage vibe. Create a wide variety of casual looks with white flats.


First, remove any of the bear’s clothing that can be washed separately so you can clean the bear itself thoroughly. Then mix a dash of soap with warm water in a sink or large bowl. Submerge the bear.  To prevent the bear from becoming overly logged with water, only submerge the first part (head, limbs, back side, front side, etc) that you intend to clean. Use a high-efficiency (HE) dish or laundry detergent that produces few suds in order to make rinsing easier. Use your fingers to softly knead and massage any dirt, grime, or stains that come off easily. For tougher spots, use a sponge, face flannel, or towel. Gently rub the dirty areas until the dirt dislodges. For particularly tough spots, be sure to go soft and easy, regardless of the time it takes, to avoid pulling the fur out by its roots. Make sure to clean behind its ears, along its neck, and any other areas where seams create crevices and extra dirt might collect. Empty the sink or bowl of soapy warm. Fill it again with only water. Submerge the bear again. Gently massage it to release soapy residue. Drain the sink or bowl and repeat as needed until all soap has been removed. Again, to keep the bear from becoming excessively waterlogged, only rinse off one part at a time before submerging the next.

Summary: Bathe your bear in soapy water. Wash the bear. Rinse.


Any type of chewing gum or bubblegum should work. Chew a wad of gum until all of it is soft and flexible. Sugared gum and sugarless gum have different consistencies, so you might want to try both kinds to see which is easier to snap. Press it against the roof of your mouth with your tongue until it forms a flat, unbroken disc or rectangle. There are a couple different ways you can flatten the gum. Any method you use for blowing a bubble should work, but stop before the gum is fully stretched out. Use your tongue to push the gum up behind your upper lip, in front of your upper front teeth. Wedge one end of the gum firmly in that area. Push the other end of the gum behind your lower teeth, on the inside of your mouth. The gum should still be all in one piece, without any tears. Some people put the lower end in front of the bottom teeth instead, or in the center of the mouth. Part your lips slightly, so there's a gap between them. Suck a short burst of air in quickly, and some of the gum should snap back into your mouth, making noise. You might need to practice for a while before you can get this. Even once you learn it, it might not happen every time.
Summary: Chew gum for a minute or two. Flatten the gum in your mouth. Stretch the gum between your upper lip and the back of your lower teeth. Suck in air.