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 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

The 10 best US products to battle seasonal affective disorder, according to experts

Therapy lights, sunrise alarm clocks and infrared saunas can all help shake the winter blues as the weather drops

The spikiness secret: can acupressure mats help with pain, stress and insomnia?

Used in healing practices for centuries, modern versions of these spiky mats are increasingly popular, and many people find them invaluable. Here’s what the science says

‘We cut through the online ocean of advice’: the rise of adult sleep coaching

As sleep hygiene becomes received wisdom, growing numbers turning to one-to-one consultants for support

‘I was probably just as lost as my callers’: my six months as a telephone psychic

I sat there in my pyjamas, headset against my ear, and knew I was not doing the right thing