‘I’d like to explain why I was such a monster back then’: six writers on the apologies they wish they’d made

From making life hell for a young teacher to doubting the motives of a caring foster mother, Olivia Petter, Derek Owusu, Annie Lord and other writers repent for past bad behaviour

‘They accepted the money but didn’t take care of my child’: what Luna Wong’s death reveals about the treatment of international students in the UK

When her parents waved her off to study in England they hoped it would be a fresh start the 16-year-old needed after struggling with her mental health in Hong Kong. Instead, 10 months later, she was dead. What went so wrong?

Experience: a brain surgeon dropped part of my skull on the floor

I was a healthy 34-year-old when a mass of blood vessels ruptured in my brain. It took three neurosurgeons and a risky 16-hour operation to fix me

I love my life and my cup is full but I’m drowning in shame for things left undone. How can I balance it all?

You are not the only one, advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith writes. It will help to ask whether you have a time problem or a bandwidth problem

The best earplugs in the US, for concerts, power tools or just sleeping better – tested

From inexpensive foam options to silicone models with customizable filters for concerts, we found the best earplugs for every ear and situation

Something in your eye? Here’s how to get it out – without making it worse

It’s natural to want to soothe eye irritation, but mishandling could lead to more problems, experts warn. We asked them for advice on how to deal with it properly

Sleep payments: could they lead to better rest – and better health?

We all need a good night’s rest, but regular, sufficient sleep is hard for many of us to come by. Students in Pittsburgh have been offered a novel incentive

‘My body is on fire!’: my perilous, painful, perfect month of pilates

A growing number of men, including singers Shaggy and Harry Styles, are taking up pilates. When I realised I could no longer touch my toes, I decided to try it out

Why you should quit and not look back: ‘Saying yes to everything is saying no to what matters’

In her new book, The Case for Quitting: The Surprising Benefits of Opting Out, Lindsay Crouse discusses the costs and traps of never giving up – and how she set herself free

The viral Hyrox horror: is the ‘go hard or go home’ attitude to exercise finally over?

When an athlete soiled herself at a hybrid fitness event, it sparked a debate about a culture that pushes people to ignore their body’s signals at real cost