Embrace the imperfect and don’t try to keep everyone happy: readers share their tips on doing less in 2026

From sending fewer text messages to being selective with your gardening, this is how Guardian Australia readers are making life a little easier

The potato bed: is this the ultimate sleep solution?

It requires copious pillows and duvets, and has gone viral on social media. Will this elaborate new sleeping set-up give you a cosy night’s rest – or just exacerbate your back pain?

The best electric toothbrushes: prioritise your pearly whites with our expert-tested picks, from Oral-B to Philips

Electric toothbrushes promise healthier teeth and gums and can transform your oral hygiene. We put more than 20 models to the test to reveal the best for every budget

Rejection spreadsheets: would 1,000 knockbacks make you a better person?

Online, people are documenting their attempts to clock up as many ‘nos’ as they can this year. Is this actually the best possible route to more ‘yeses’ than you’re used to?

‘Australia’s beach culture is very fatphobic’: the summertime rise in body dissatisfaction

The idea that thinner or more muscular bodies are healthier remains deeply engrained in Australia, experts say. But there are ways to feel good in your body at the beach

The best mattresses in 2026: sleep better with our 12 rigorously tested picks

From luxury Simba and Otty mattresses to brilliant budget buys, here’s what we recommend – and how to know if you’ve found a good deal

The winter sleep secret I wish I’d known years ago

Hunkering down in January; hiking boots for outdoor adventures; and cold-weather beauty essentials

Young, lost and unemployed, I misread all the signs without realising the value in mistakes

I wasn’t able to reach the exact future I had dreamed of as a child, but I know now the hardships and failures on the way all counted

Strong v swole: the surprising truth about building muscle

Traditional bodybuilding advice has been to push workouts to the point of failure, and that soreness is an indicator of effectiveness. But recent studies show there’s another way

A new start after 60: I jumped in the sea for the first time, and finally began to heal

Despite living on an island, David Warr avoided the water for five decades – until a swimming teacher made the link between his fear and a childhood trauma