Smile: The Story of a Face by Sarah Ruhl review – a bruising battle with Bell’s palsy

The playwright’s fascinating book shows how a decade-long struggle with the condition profoundly affected her sense of self

Can a sick note make you better? Dr Gavin Francis on the power of convalescence

After serious illness, busy lives mean a proper convalescence is now a rarity. But a full and proper recovery takes time. GP and writer Gavin Francis reveals why a sick note can be a ‘powerful prescription’

Easy wins: better than a warm cup of milk, read for six minutes before bed for good sleep

Committing to six minutes of reading a night before bed sounds easy – and it is. Not only can it improve sleep and reduce stress, but you’ll be better read too

Recovery: The Lost Art of Convalescence by Dr Gavin Francis review – the art of getting better

This helpful history and guide reveals that the sometimes difficult healing process is part of what makes us human

Smile by Sarah Ruhl review – what if you could no longer look happy?

Robbed of her smile by Bell’s palsy, the playwright is forced to confront difficult truths in this moving and subtle memoir

A moment that changed me: I was crippled by negative thoughts – then I bought a silver bracelet

My self-esteem was at rock bottom, but on a break from my academic job I found myself in Paris. As I wandered through the city, an impulse buy gave me hope I could value myself again

Pick the habit: the best podcasts to get you into a new hobby

Want to learn a language, start gardening, read more, or make running and meditation a habit for the new year? There’s a podcast for that …

Messy? Unproductive? Need to dismantle your privilege? There’s a guided journal for that

From tough love titles to budgeting manuals, guided journals are no longer the domain of niche and self help publishers. Jenny Valentish puts some to the test

The big idea: should we eat like our ancestors?

Are eating plans like the paleo diet really healthier - or more ethical - than the way we eat now?

We often fail to keep resolutions – but writing in a notebook brings great rewards

Scribbling down our thoughts is a great way to make sense of things, says Cathy Rentzenbrink