‘Without strength training I wouldn’t survive’: the woman who joined a CrossFit gym in her 80s

At 81, Jean Stewart was frustrated by her growing frailty, so she decided to get active. Now 96, push-ups, kettlebell squats and pushing a weight-loaded sledge keep her strong

‘It took time to love my soft, larger shape’: the body-positive writer who recovered from an eating disorder

Megan Jayne Crabbe was diagnosed with anorexia at 14. When she hit her ‘goal weight’ and still didn’t feel happy, a supportive online community showed her a new way to live

‘Read this and you will be happier’: experts pick the self-help books that really work

From finding love to becoming a better parent … Philippa Perry, Paul Dolan, Orna Guralnik and others reveal the books that will change your life

Can the tiniest of changes to sleep, diet and exercise help me live longer?

A study found small changes to key behaviours can have significant benefits, and I’m all for barely perceptible adjustments

We tested 20 hot-water bottles – these are the best in the UK for comfort and cosiness

From traditional to microwavable, wearable to extra-fleecy, here are our favourite hot-water bottles for winter

I see time as a grid in my mind. I remember the birthdays of friends I haven’t seen for 65 years

Judy Stokes, a retired GP, shares her experience of spatial-sequence synaesthesia

My rookie era: peer pressure brought me to bouldering, then I found calm in ‘the way of the wall’

My friends were already experienced climbers, while I was starting at zero. My first day brought many hard lessons

‘I’ve never felt such a skin-zinging feeling of being alive’: my year of swimming in Nordic seas

Dipping in the freezing waters of Scandinavia, Greenland and Finland was life-changing – and full of warmth thanks to saunas, hot springs and like-minded people

Five minutes more exercise and 30 minutes less sitting could help millions live longer

Research finds minor changes in physical activity could hugely reduce number of premature deaths

How to make a habit actually stick: the small changes that worked for you

Most resolutions don’t survive past January, so how do you make a change that lasts? Readers share their top tips, from habit stacking to drinking their second coffee outdoors