‘I could barely think because it was so bad’: how pain changes us

After living with chronic pain, Darcey Steinke wanted to know how it affected others. Her memoir, This Is the Door, explores both isolation and freedom

‘It works for me and it’s free!’: 18 tried-and-tested tips for better sleep

Struggling to nod off? From magnesium flakes to mental maths, knee pillows to boring podcasts, here are the things you – and we – swear by for a peaceful slumber

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 best padel rackets in the UK for every player, from beginner to pro

The sport is booming, but which racket will boost your game? Our expert enlisted the help of a padel coach to round up the aces

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

Promotion burnout: why women are quitting the race to be boss

In a survey of 1,000 professional women, more than half said they felt less motivated to progress in their jobs than they did two years ago

The best mattress toppers for a more comfortable night’s sleep, tested

Whether you’re looking for memory foam, wool, cooling or firm, we reveal the toppers we rate – and whether they can really rescue a bad mattress

A moment that changed me: I was planning to be a musician – then I had my ears syringed

Until that point, all my life’s dreams revolved around becoming a saxophonist. But with sudden and significant hearing loss, I had to face up to a new reality

My mother’s best advice: learn to raise one eyebrow at the world

It took almost a year of practice and then I was too embarrassed to show off my talent. But finally, during a stage performance, I elevated a solitary brow and the crowd went wild

My ‘difficult’ patient made my heart sink. But what happens when doctors are part of the problem?

One in six patients is deemed to be dissatisfied and demanding. But to prevent difficult medical problems from being redefined as difficult patients, doctors need help