Natalia Lusinski

Writer & Editor: Lifestyle (Travel, Wellness, Dating, Personal Finance/Careers, & Personal Essay)

United States

Hello! Below, you'll find a small sampling of my work, organized by category.
I’m a writer and editor specializing in travel, wellness, personal finance, dating, personal essay, and lifestyle topics.

WRITING:

I freelance regularly for various outlets, such as Business Insider and Lonely Planet, and worked as a lifestyle writer for Bustle for almost five years, until November 2019. From October 2021 to February 2023, I worked for another BDG Media outlet, The Zoe Report, as their head wellness writer, covering topics such as mental health, health, relationships, and travel. Sometimes, I'd interview celebrities about their wellness routines, too, including Kate Hudson, Mandy Moore, and Mayim Bialik.

Some of my work highlights include:

—Both of these Business Insider pieces have received more than 1.1 million views: “12 clever ways to save money every day, according to financial experts” & “7 signs someone is in love with you — even if it doesn’t seem like it”

—My Business Insider article, “I’ve flown at least once a month for the last year — here are 17 things I never travel without,” has received about 550,000 views.

—In May 2019, Arianna Huffington shared one of my Business Insider articles on LinkedIn about how I deleted 45 apps from my phone.

—In May 2019, Amtrak shared one of my Bustle pieces on Facebook about how taking Amtrak keeps me connected to my deceased grandmother.

—In January 2018, the TODAY show referenced my Bustle article, “The Best Conversation Starters To Use On Dating Apps In 2018, According To An Expert,” on the air.

My writing has also appeared in places such as Forbes, Yahoo, MSN, INSIDER, Inc., Thrive Global, Insight Timer, Grow (Acorns + CNBC), Lonely Planet, Culture Trip, The Independent, Betterment, Health, xoJane, Marie Claire UK, Scary Mommy, Elite Daily, The Daily Dot, Purple Clover, HelloGiggles, Mic, Simplemost, LearnVest, Financial Review, Pillar (student loan app acquired by Acorns), and the SFGATE, L.A. Times, and Chicago Tribune's RedEye.

I’ve had feel-good nonfiction stories published in several Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies, too.

EDITING:

Editing-wise, I freelance and help people shape their personal essays, which have gotten into publications like Salon and Cosmo.

For nearly four years, until March 2024, I worked as the Associate/Managing Editor of HighlySensitiveRefuge.com and IntrovertDear.com. In that time, I edited more than 1,000 personal essays and listicles on all kinds of topics, from relationships to self-development. I also created a roster of 75+ contributing writers and managed them — I took their pitches, assigned pieces and helped structure them, did developmental and line editing, and tracked deadlines. I helped manage the editorial calendar and readied posts for both search and social optimization, too, and prepped headlines and sourced images. In addition, I worked as the Submissions Editor and selected pieces for publication from freelance writers, as well as ongoing ones. I then helped them finesse their pieces so they'd be the best they could be! : )

KEEP IN TOUCH:

You can contact me at [email protected] regarding work-related topics — or just to say hi. : )

P.S. As an on-again/off-again digital nomad, I sometimes blog about my travels at NomadicNatalia.com, too (see link below).

See you online — or on the road!

Portfolio

Travel

Bustle
06/27/2019
How I Visited Iceland Like A Local For Under $400

The temperature of the beach water felt like a lukewarm hot tub around my feet, far warmer than the 50-degree Fahrenheit temperature permeating the air around me. It was a comforting feeling; I never wanted to leave. Unlike many beaches in Iceland -...

Culture Trip
08/31/2020
Outdoor Adventures in Dubrovnik, Croatia

A good way to get familiar with a new city is by taking a walking tour. Luckily, Dubrovnik has many options. Free Dubrovnik Tours has both an Old Town and Game of Thrones one. Even though they are of no cost, tipping your guide is encouraged.

Mic
04/24/2019
How to figure out if you're a group travel tour person

Let's say you want to take a trip to Spain this summer. Your best friend was going to go with you, but now can't. You can go alone... or you can look into going with a group travel company. Of course, there are pros and cons to both scenarios. I'm...

Personal Finance & Career

The Zoe Report
02/12/2022
It's Essential That You & Your Partner Are Compatible In This Way

You're in an amazing relationship - you and your significant other have a lot in common, similar values, and they do the sweetest things (like leave you notes wishing you luck with a work meeting). But there's one compatibility factor you and your partner need to have...

Business Insider
11/21/2019
11 traits you need to be an effective remote worker

"Good remote workers understand the importance of communicating clearly with their team in any medium they're using," Greg Caplan, CEO and cofounder of Remote Year, told Business Insider in an email. "It's much harder to swing by a coworker's desk to ask any questions they have about a request, so they make sure to include any relevant details and context along with any communications they send."

Business Insider
07/21/2018
12 clever ways to save money every day, according to financial experts

Money-saving tactics can often be unrealistic or forced. There are easy ways to spend and save money every day, like removing stored credit card numbers, implementing a 48-hour rule for spending, and tracking every expense. Here are 12 unusual ways you can save money every day.

Bustle
07/31/2017
9 Investing Apps & Resources That Are Worth Investing In

Money is a feminist issue - and yet, women are still reluctant to talk about it. According to a recent Bustle survey of more than 1,000 Millennial women, more than 50 percent of people said they never discuss personal finances with friends, even...

Business Insider
01/14/2019
7 lessons I never forgot from the best bosses I ever had

A good boss shows you the ropes of your industry and guides you in achieving your long-term goals. Though you may have had both good and bad bosses, you've most likely walked away with valuable lessons that have stuck with you from a memorable boss.

Yahoo
03/26/2017
Lin-Manuel Miranda didn't get his first credit card until he was 28

Lin-Manuel Miranda is a superstar to us, but we just learned something surprising about the actor/composer: Lin-Manuel Miranda didn't get his first credit card until he was 28 (!), reported The Washington Post. Riiiight?! "There is so much I wish I knew about money when I was first starting out my adult life, but in particular, the importance of building good credit," Miranda told Morgan Stanley.

Dating, Relationships, & Sex

The Zoe Report
06/14/2022
The Word You Should Never Say To Your Partner

In romantic relationships, or any relationship for that matter, there are certain words you should avoid using at all costs. Some would say phrases like "You always do this," or "You never do that" are big no-nos. But there's one specific word that trumps them all: "should."

Business Insider
02/15/2019
21 people reveal why they don't use dating apps - and how they meet people instead

Dating apps are now a common way to meet people, though there are many who prefer not to use them. People have various reasons for not using them, from saying they're a waste of time to preferring natural, in-person chemistry. Here, 21 people reveal why they don't use dating apps- and how they meet people instead.

Business Insider
05/25/2018
9 terms that define modern dating

Dating these days comes with its own unique terminology. Ghosting, breadcrumbing, and gaslighting are all relationship phenomena people could run into when trying to find their next partner. Here are nine terms, from a relationship expert, that define modern dating.

Marie Claire
09/18/2017
Demi Lovato Shared Why She Doesn't Talk About Her Sexuality

Words by Natalia Lusinski From the editors of HelloGiggles Demi Lovato has been in the news a lot lately. She keeps releasing new songs, and we cannot get enough of them. Now, however, Demi Lovato shared why she doesn't talk about her sexuality in interviews, reports Teen Vogue.

Business Insider
05/29/2018
7 signs someone is in love with you - even if it doesn't seem like it

Sometimes, it's tough to tell if someone is in love with you. However, some relationship experts believe that there are ways to tell if someone has stronger feelings than you may realize. With a bit of detective work, you can look for behaviors that indicate that a person secretly loves you.

Bustle
12/01/2017
What Sex And Dating Is Really Like For Women With HPV

You may think you're immune to HPV - however, if you've ever had sex, even just once, you're a candidate for it. And, it's a lot more common than you think. If there were an STI popularity contest, it would win - it's the most common STI in the Unite...

The Daily Dot
03/27/2015
Why I don't Google-stalk my dates | The Daily Dot

In this cyberstalkable age, I don't Google stalk my dates in advance. Whether I met the guy through friends, at a party, or online, I prefer getting to know him as the actual person sitting across from me versus whom I read about on my laptop via an Internet search.

Personal Essay

Bustle
12/12/2018
How I Cope With Grief Over The Holidays After My Grandma's Death

"Nat, if you run down the hall, you can still catch him," my 93-year-old grandma said to me from her hospital bed. "Who?" I asked. "My new doctor," she said. "He's a very good-looking young man. He reminds me of my George Clooney." She had a thing...

Elite Daily
07/27/2016
How A Coldplay Concert Gave Me The Courage To Begin The Grieving Process

I've always loved Coldplay, but during this week's concert in Chicago, I became an even bigger fan. They were able to do for me what no one else has been able to do thus far: Help me grieve and mourn the loss of my best friend, my grandma. Her death happened suddenly.

Purple Clover
05/06/2017
The Breakup Date

One of the best dates I had with my boyfriend, Matt, was our last. We called it our "Breakup Date" and went to see Paul McCartney at Dodger Stadium in LA. We laughed one second, cried the next-like a very long therapy session.

Elephant Journal
08/15/2016
How Nightly Walks Help Me Grieve.

“How will you ever find a boyfriend wearing that?” my 93-year-old grandma asked me as I stood before her in the nursing home.

HelloGiggles
09/27/2014
What I Learned From Writing Other People's Online Dating Profiles

Most of us online date-but many of us don't know how to market ourselves. After a while, all the profiles sound the same, full of similar clichés and adjectives. "Looking for a partner in crime," "Are you my other half?" and, my favorite, "I like candlelit dinners, sunsets and walks on the beach" (yes, people still say that!).

Elite Daily
02/26/2015
Don't Kiss And Tell: 12 Pieces Of Dating Advice From My Grandma

Growing up, my grandma was never short of advice for me, especially about dating. And, as much as I refused to listen, she ended up being right. Since she dated a lot before she got married - "Many men tried to court me before your grandpa caught me" - and stayed married for almost 40 years, I figured her tips had merit.

HelloGiggles
10/20/2014
How I quit texting (and became a better friend)

When people find out I don't text, they look at me with a mixture of shock and pity like something's wrong with me, as though I live in a land foreign to them. The thing is, I used to text. A lot.

Scary Mommy
05/26/2015
The Time I Was An Online Dating Coach ... For My Mom

"Nat, it's an emergency," my 66-year-old mother's voice said as I listened to her phone message outside of my office. After she called five times in a row, I figured it was important and snuck out of work to hear it. I feared her next sentence.

Mental Health & Wellness

Bustle
03/15/2019
Mandy Moore's Self-Care Routine Is Incredibly Relatable

Wellness seems to be at the forefront of many people's minds these days, whether that means practicing more self-care or creating healthier habits. Mandy Moore is no stranger to this, so she partnered with supplements brand Nature's Way for the brand's 50th anniversary to help spread the message of wellness at their event Anaheim, CA.

The Zoe Report
05/11/2022
The Major Morning Beauty Rule Kate Hudson Openly Breaks

Although you know her from the big screen, starring in fan-favorite movies like Almost Famous and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Kate Hudson also does a lot offscreen. In addition to having co-founded athletic clothing brand, Fabletics and INBLOOM, a wellness brand that creates plant-based supplement powders, she also recently teamed up with Juice Beauty, renowned for its organic beauty products.

Insight Timer Blog
How to Multitask Mindfulness at Work - Insight Timer Blog

The work day is full of potential stressors: we may misinterpret a message from our boss, have to juggle multiple deadlines or lose our WiFi connection mid-Zoom meeting. Remaining calm rather than reactionary at these moments is a skill, and meditation is the practice.

The Zoe Report
10/22/2021
How To Curb Your Morning Anxiety With This 5-Second Trick

You may think that the first thing you should do in the morning is grab your phone, right? Same here. After all, one minute, you're turning off your alarm; the next, you're checking work emails and texts and Insta Stories - and, suddenly, an hour's gone by and you haven't even had your coffee yet.

The Zoe Report
02/23/2022
Feeling Anxious? Do This For Instant Relief

Whether it's an overall feeling of fear or full-blown panic attacks, anxiety can come in a multitude of forms. And while things like therapy, exercise, and meditation can all help you get rid of anxiety for the longterm, what about combatting it in real time?

Bustle
10/12/2015
What Dating Is Like When You Have OCD

I'm on a date, and we're sharing some homemade potato chips at a cool new cafe in town. He drops a chip on the table and then EATS IT. I watch this in slow motion, repulsed and trying not to make a disgusted face.

Culture Trip
06/23/2020
Hiking, Biking and Lavender: A Wellness Guide to Hvar, Croatia

Surrounded by the Adriatic Sea - a symbol of vitality in and of itself - the island of Hvar is full of wellness options, from remote beaches to hikes with breathtaking views. Whether you're seeking a serene spa, yoga class or taking in natural aromatherapy via Hvar's renowned lavender fields, you'll find the perfect wellness activity to soothe your body and soul.

HelloGiggles
06/08/2017
15 wellness experts tell us their favorite daily habit

Of course, there are all kinds of ways to help make a habit stick. You can use the buddy system or you can hang up a calendar so you can make a big "X" through the day once your daily mission is accomplished.

Simplemost
09/23/2015
Simple Ways To Fight Common Anxiety Without Medication

Stress and anxiety. Who doesn't have them, right? It seems that the older we get, the more there is to worry about. Paying rent turns into paying a mortgage, getting engaged turns into planning a wedding, and changing jobs turns into way more responsibility.

Feel-Good

HelloGiggles
11/08/2015
These nurses sing 'Frozen' to their brave little patient, make our lives

Grab some Kleenex, because this is going to make you cry. We already know nurses are remarkable human beings, and this group of them only proves our point when they sang "Let It Go" to three-year-old Millie McColl, who was diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastom (a nerve cell cancer) this past June.

The Delite
02/06/2017
Need Advice? This 12-Year-Old May Have Your Answer

We could all use some therapeutic advice now and then, right? We may be depressed or need help with an issue we're struggling with. Maybe we get that advice from family and friends, maybe from a therapist or-in one unique case- maybe from a tween on a subway station. That's

Lifestyle

Business Insider
06/07/2018
12 ways your smartphone is making your life worse

The smartphone has changed our lives for the better in some ways, but it definitely has its drawbacks, too. Smartphone use could be negatively impacting your sleep, relationships, and productivity. Here, a clinical psychologist weighs in about the many negative impact smartphones have on our lives.

Yahoo
01/06/2018
Betty White's secrets for a long life are vodka and hot dogs

ICYMI, Betty White will turn 96 on January 17th. She never fails to give us #lifegoals. Now, we just heard the most amazing fact about the actress extraordinaire. According to Vulture, Betty White thanks vodka and hot dogs for keeping her young. Yup, she's ~definitely~ our kind of girl!

MSN
03/04/2017
Here's how often you should ACTUALLY wash your jeans

If you're like us, jeans are one of those clothing items we should wash more, but often don't. But here's how often you should actually wash your jeans, according to Business Insider. But before we get to the news, any guesses? Weekly? Monthly? Whenever you remember to or feel like it?

Yahoo
12/17/2017
This woman finished her final exams while in labor, and she deserves an A+

A lot of us probably remember our final exams from college - all the late nights studying, hoping we'll remember everything we learned for the day of the big test. So. Much. Pressure. Now, imagine that pressure at nine months pregnant. This woman is going viral for finishing her finals while in labor.

Yahoo
08/28/2016
We love everything about this cake that features a Ken doll in a dress

Most people have had the pleasure of trying out a Barbie doll cake, either at their own birthday or at a friend's party. But few people have ever had a Ken doll cake... until now. Recently, Sacramento-based Freeport Bakery just made such a cake - and it's was so unique we can't take our eyes off of it.

Bustle
01/20/2017
13 Women's Equality Quotes For Your Women's March Sign

'Tis the season, and night, to make a sign for the Women's March on Washington on Saturday. After all, there's still time to take a stand for what you believe in and put pen to poster board. There are several women's equality quotes for your Women's

Pop Culture

Yahoo
09/03/2017
Justin Bieber just made a big cash donation to Hurricane Harvey relief

Not only does Justin Bieber's music capture our hearts, but so do his charitable acts. This weekend, for instance, Justin Bieber made a big donation to Hurricane Harvey relief. Bieber posted about it on Instagram, and said he's doing the Kevin Hart challenge for celebrities to donate to the cause after all the catastrophic flooding.

Yahoo
02/05/2017
Fans of "Star Wars" should get ready to LOL at this new comedy

ICYMI, Star Wars fans are some of the most dedicated - if not the most dedicated - fans around. Now, fans of Star Wars should get ready to LOL at this new comedy, which is being made all about them, reported CinemaBlend. The comedy? A new film, The Line Kings, that'll start shooting in L.A.

Yahoo
08/07/2016
Did Leonardo DiCaprio just win a medal at the Olympics??

Leonardo DiCaprio Brady Ellison won a silver medal for Team USA in archery on August 6. Yep, at first glance, Ellison could be mistaken for none other than Leonardo DiCaprio, and Twitter definitely noticed: The two men do have a few things in common. "I'm excited, I'm happy," Ellison said.

Yahoo
02/18/2017
Here's Demi Lovato doing jiu-jitsu, because this chick can literally do anything

Just when we thought Demi Lovato couldn't top her Grammy Awards performance from last week, she did. Below, here's Demi Lovato doing jiu-jitsu, reported People, because this chick can literally do anything. ICYMI, Lovato's been open about mental illness, as well as about overcoming eating disorders, and she proves again and again that's she's a fighter.

Animals

Yahoo
09/18/2016
Cats are now into cosplay because the world needs some extra amazingness

We all know there's a ton of Insta and Snapchat filters out there for people, and cosplay (aka costume play) is ever popular. But now your cat can join in on all the fun, too. After all, why should they be left out? With @ValiantComics and @Cat_Cosplay, cats will take on a whole new persona.

Yahoo
01/22/2017
This man looks and dresses like his dog, and is our hero

We can all use some light and fluffy news rn, right? This man looks and dresses like his dog, Cosmopolitan.com reported, and he's our new hero. So if you need some cheering up, you ~have to~ take a look. But what, what, whaaaaat?! Why is he twinning with his dog?

The Delite
03/14/2016
This Penguin Swims 5,000 Miles Every Year To See The Man Who Saved His Life

Love stories aren't just limited to people-sometimes, they involve a person and a penguin. If you ever doubted that animals form an undeniable bond with humans, this story will make you a believer. Since 2011, a South American Magellanic penguin has swam approximately 5,000 miles a year to see Joao

Simplemost
04/22/2016
This Is The Cutest Pig-Dog Friendship, Ever

Some say that dogs are a man's best friend, but when you see the pictures below, you will soon be convinced than dogs are a pig's best friend, too-at least, if you're a pig named Olive (aka Oliveira Buttercup) in Glenorie, Australia.

Simplemost
02/24/2017
Alaskan Fisherman Feeding Bald Eagles Is Giving Us Serious Life Goals

There's been a video circulating online recently of an Alaskan fisherman feeds a bunch of bald eagles, and it's giving us serious life goals. In case you missed it, Jessie Peck posted the video back in 2013 with the caption "Just another day in Alaska," and it shows the fisherman

Simplemost
01/25/2017
22 Way-Too-Cute Photos Of Cats Hanging Out With Dogs

We all know dogs are cuddly, so who wouldn't want to sleep on or next to them? Apparently, cats and kittens agree, as you'll soon see. Get ready for cuteness overload. Who says cats and dogs don't get along? These 22 adorable partnerships definitely prove that theory wrong. 1.