‘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
Take on the new year with a motivational reboot … or hibernate. We can help with both
Are you easing into 2026 by resting and restoring? Or hitting it at 100mph? Either way, we have tips, tech and ideas for you. Plus, low- and no-alcohol drinks and cold weather essentials
My local pool feels like a cultural refuge – a small, steamy world where accents mingle and minds reset
There’s a quiet magic in shared spaces where stories drift across cultures and generations – and no one checks their phone