I’m 53 and want to be able to say I love my life. How do I begin, starting from here?

In midlife and mid-pandemic, our connective ties can feel loose, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith. Rebinding them requires commitment

Country diary: The hair-trigger pigeons are up again, more dance than flight

Brighton, East Sussex: How many times a day do they do this? How do they decide who goes first?

Go on, I dare you: Philippa Perry’s advice for a fulfilling new year

Philippa Perry tackles readers’ personal problems every week as our agony aunt. Her tip for an amazing 2022? Get out there and find a new passion

Pick the habit: the best podcasts to get you into a new hobby

Want to learn a language, start gardening, read more, or make running and meditation a habit for the new year? There’s a podcast for that …

On the right track: how walking connects me to the land and its people

From the Himalayas to Palestine and north London to south Devon, hiking gives a sense of belonging

Run that marathon! Write that novel! How to make 2022 the year you finally smash your goals

Every year millions of us resolve to learn a new language, get super fit or master a new skill ... then never start. How can we make it happen? Experts explain all

A beginner’s guide to snorkelling: ‘Slow down … you see the most amazing stuff’

An easy entry into adventure, it does not cost much to get started with snorkelling – all you need is a decent mask, a wetsuit and the right place to go

Walking is a glorious, primal pastime – and far more radical than you think

Despite its reputation as a bourgeois hobby, walking has been a lifeline for millions past and present, says Guardian columnist John Harris

Rambling with Dolly Parton and meditative strolls: the best podcasts for walks

From a trip down memory lane with celebs to adventures in remote Scotland: if you’re looking for company on your next walk, there’s a podcast for that

Emma Beddington tries … being a mermaid: ‘I’m more beached seal than beguiling siren’

Being a beautiful watery creature is a challenge if you have no technique or breath control – and can’t hear a word beneath your floral swimming cap