Marissa Miller

Bio

Marissa is a lifestyle journalist covering all things health, tech and personal finance. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, Vogue, Wall Street Journal, GQ, Cosmopolitan, SELF, Women’s Health, The Daily Beast, The Huffington Post, BBC Travel, Allure and more. After earning her degree in journalism and creative writing from Concordia University in her hometown of Montreal, Quebec, she went on to cover everything from Kylie Jenner’s birthday party for Teen Vogue to a mass murder for The Washington Post. Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global named her one of the top female creatives of 2019 and an influential woman to watch in 2018. She is currently working on her first novel and represented by Howland Literary. When she’s not writing for Mic, she’s running long distances, inventing recipes, and vacuuming obsessively, because, you know, kittens. You can follow her on Twitter at @Marissa__Miller and on Instagram at @marissamiller__.
5 must-have travel apps that you can use with or without cellular data
By Marissa Miller
It’s often when we leave home that we need the help of apps most. But unfortunately, that can end up eating tons of our data, adding to the already exorbitant cost of travel. The good news is that your app store is filled with handy services that…
Why people follow, then unfollow, then follow you again on social media
By Marissa Miller
In fifth grade, I remember signing in and out of MSN Messenger so my crush would finally notice me when he got a notification. I’d sit there staring longingly at the green icon next to his screen name, wondering what he could possibly be doing that…
More students die while studying abroad than you realize. Two mothers are fighting for change.
By Marissa Miller
Each year, hundreds of thousands of college students embark on study abroad programs in the hopes of boosting their job prospects, making new memories, and gaining independence. But some of them don't make it back home. According to the Forum on…
How prisons profit from controlling incarcerated people's access to the outside world
By Marissa Miller
Zach Schmidkunz has never sent a text in his life. When he was first incarcerated at the North Dakota State Penitentiary in 2003, he had a brick-like phone that didn’t do much more than make and receive calls. And while he’ll have to enlist the help…
You don't have to get married to benefit financially as a couple
By Marissa Miller
Weddings and official announcements may not be for everyone, but the money-related perks of marriage — from joint income taxes to health insurance coverage — can often be what pushes some couples toward an official union. What many people don't…
9 job interview mistakes recruiters say are absolute deal-breakers
By Marissa Miller
Even the most seasoned candidates are bound to make a few job interview mistakes. And while certain faux pas might not be a deal breaker, others might end up costing you the job. "There are several reasons a candidate isn't selected for a job, and…
Buying a house isn't impossible — you just need a plan. 6 people share how they did it.
By Marissa Miller
Buying a home, while it was a regular part of adulting a few generations ago, is an alien concept to a lot of millennials. It's also one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make. Since the costs of owning a home can extend well beyond the…
These meal prep tips from chef Kevin Curry will change your relationship with food
By Marissa Miller
There’s no shortage of food and health influencers populating our Instagram Explore pages. But for meal prep novices and experts alike, Kevin Curry’s @fitmencook account manages to stand out. The chef, fitness expert, and author of Fit Men Cook…
This is what swallowing gum actually does to your body
By Marissa Miller
Let's be honest — at some point or another, you've swallowed your gum, whether on purpose or by accident. Some of you might've immediately panicked about how that piece of gum could somehow become a sticky, hard wad that'd rot in your gut and…
These cover letter mistakes could legitimately cost you a job
By Marissa Miller
Few aspects of the job application process are as awkward as writing a cover letter. You have to strike the perfect balance of talking yourself up while not seeming egotistical, all while capturing your wide breadth of talents and skills in an…
8 recycling mistakes you probably don't realize you're making
By Marissa Miller
Despite our good intentions to protect the environment, many of us are making matters worse by making a variety of recycling mistakes. But if you've ever stared down at your refuse bins wondering if there's too much grease on your pizza box, how to…
Why you need to take a real lunch break and stop worrying about what your co-workers think
By Marissa Miller
In grade school, we'd count down the moments until the lunch bell rang. As adults, we're happy to meet up with friends for meals on weekends. Yet at work, we rarely take actual lunch breaks, instead eating sandwiches at our desks without even…
How to network without coming off like a professional leech
By Marissa Miller
For both career veterans and those just starting out in the workforce, learning how to successfully network can be a daunting prospect. Not only do you have to manage to approach and, hopefully, impress complete strangers, but you also must find the…
6 people on how they asked for raises — and got them
By Marissa Miller
After the pains that are job hunting and interviewing, getting an offer can naturally feel like a major relief. Yet that's not actually the end of the process, as there's still the dreaded task of figuring out the best ways to negotiate for a higher…
Why having close friends at work can actually make you better at your job
By Marissa Miller
Getting close with your co-workers isn’t only beneficial on an emotional level, but on a professional one, too. Research has found that one of the biggest predictors of job satisfaction is having a best friend at work, and women who say they have…
If you're thinking of getting an IUD, read this first
By Marissa Miller
If you're someone who constantly forgets to take your birth control pill, the intrauterine device (IUD) might sound like a dream come true. But even if you're totally on-board with the device, it can be tough to figure out which type of IUD to get,…
8 essential questions to ask your financial advisor the first time you meet
By Marissa Miller
Making money is only half the battle — managing it is another. Using a financial advisor, however, can make tasks such as drafting a monthly budget, paying back your student loans, and navigating a major purchase like a home or a car considerably…
Are screens really that bad? Here's what happens to your eyes and brain when you scroll
By Marissa Miller
Whether you work a desk job or simply can’t peel yourself away from Netflix, many of us spend the majority of our waking hours looking at screen. But face it: few of us have little intention of changing our habits. Given what we know about how bad…
Is pet insurance worth it? An investigation
By Marissa Miller
Those with pets know that they're just like any member of the family. You want to protect them and keep them safe, no matter the cost. As such, buying a policy to cover any diseases or accidents that might potentially befall your animal might feel…
Over your job? Here's how to pull off a career pivot
By Marissa Miller
No matter how much you love your job, you’re bound to wake up some mornings wishing you suddenly came down with the flu so you wouldn’t have to go in. And while needing some extra TLC on a Monday morning is totally normal, dreading your job every…