The Finns hold the secret of happiness – and it is not what you might expect

Finland’s tourist board is running a competition to win a happiness masterclass. Sadly, the prize doesn’t involve drinking in your underwear, writes Emma Beddington

‘Excellent evidence that this works’: how mind experts protect their brains

While sleep and exercise are top priorities, strict diets and supplements aren’t essential in most academics’ routines

Perfect skin is a myth. Knowing this won’t cure my eczema, but it relieves the stress

When her eczema worsened, celebrities and Reddit forums did more than steroid creams or serums to help Rachel Signer feel better in her skin

Winning the lottery sends women rushing off to the divorce court. Men stay married

Small grants give expectant families a boost, but the impact of larger sums depends a lot on the recipient’s gender

My mother-in-law is so possessive about our unborn baby. What can I do?

Set boundaries about contact you’ll have with your in-laws – and don’t put your husband in the position of defending his family

The secret of happiness? Embrace the boring, lay claim to the mundane and rejoice in repetition

In everything from family life to careers, it doesn’t pay to constantly seek the next exciting thing, writes Adrian Chiles

One minute, I was in the sauna – the next, I was in a steamy panic

Sweating profusely has improved my life, with the heat wringing all the worry out of me. But an unexpected conversation sent me spiralling, writes Arwa Mahdawi

A winter of the mind: how to escape survival mode

For many of us, it has been a cold and traumatic year. But, as one reader found, difficult times can lead to new and revolutionary ways of thinking

Covid has not affected people’s happiness around world, study reveals

World Happiness Report finds higher levels of benevolence in all global regions than before the pandemic

Why you should make the most of the extra daylight when the clocks change

Daylight helps to regulate hormones and the immune system. It’s good for sleep and can help with depression. So be glad of the extra daylight when it comes