Socialising, work, exercise: what makes a good day and is there a ‘formula’ for making it better?

Researchers have figured out which activities, and in what volume, are linked to people reporting having a good day. We challenge three writers to follow the blueprint for improving their daily grind

The unlikely appeal of barefoot hiking: ‘It makes you feel quite primal’

From clay trails in Seoul to remote Australian coastlines, a small but growing number of hikers are hitting the trail unshod. But what happens when you feel the ground beneath your feet?

As a furniture removalist I learned all mattresses are stained, and that’s fine

You’ll never catch me owning a glass dining table now I’ve moved so many. But it was the people I worked alongside who made the job what it was

Self-test health kits promise quick results. But what do doctors think of them?

Australian pharmacies now offer rapid tests for perimenopause, iron, vitamin D levels and more. Experts weigh in on whether they’re worth using

Why did my GP just use Google? What I’ve learned about the health system, as a doctor and a patient

From the importance of looking up ailments to the comfort and cleanliness of hospitals, Roland Bull has experienced both sides of the bed as a patient-turned-doctor

My rookie era: after my panic attacks, woodworking became the one good thing I could count on

Limb-severing machinery and loud noises awaited my frayed nerves – yet the workshop became my safe space

My depression felt creatively expansive. Now I’ve overcome it, how do I keep the meaningful parts?

Darkness can present itself as truth, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith. But love, joy and awe are far richer experiences

My rookie era: in a period of heartbreak, learning to pole dance gave me structure

I disliked my first encounter with pole, but two years later my experience with the sport has made me appreciate my body and my self-determination

Canine carer: how guide dog school dropout Marcus came to comfort cancer patients for a living

Once assessed as ‘a sloth with a low drive to work’, the polite and affectionate black labrador enjoys a successful new career as a therapy dog

I’m panicking about my new relationship. After my husband’s affair, how can I commit again?

It is reasonable to avoid hurt after such a big betrayal, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith, but don’t mistake isolation for safety