Let your mind wander, don’t retire and stop worrying: surprising ways to help save your brain from the cognitive cliff

In his new book The Brain Cliff, Dr Norman Swan outlines the science of brain ageing and strategies for staving off cognitive decline

The sleeping x eating secret: 15 ways to better rest, a healthier diet – and a happier life

We all know tiredness can lead to hunger, and vice versa. But there are so many other ways our habits in these areas are linked. Here are some easy tweaks to help us feel properly refreshed

Chat to strangers and let your kids be bored: how to embrace a ‘slow September’ – and enjoy life more

The pressure to self-optimise at the start of the new school year can lead to disappointment and burnout. Instead, here are seven ways to slow things down and reap the benefits

The best backpacks in the UK for work, travel and wild adventure – tested

Whether you want a smart-but-stylish commuter rucksack or a hike-friendly pack, our writer lugged 16 over hundreds of miles to find the best bags for your buck

Experience: I didn’t know I was pregnant until I gave birth

There’d been no morning sickness, cravings or tiredness. My mum didn’t believe I’d had a baby – even after seeing her on FaceTime

The September reset is real. I’m about to become a better person, flaxseed by flaxseed

Small changes are what I’m aiming for – 10-minute workouts, cleaning out my handbag. Then I’m less likely to have failed come October, says Guardian columnist Emma Brockes

The best portable neck and handheld fans in the UK to keep you cool, tested

The seasons might be changing, but the muggy weather remains, and heatwaves are on the rise. Stay comfortable on the move with our tried and tested portable neck and handheld fans

Forget T-maxxing – the manosphere’s obsession with testosterone is just fear-maxxing

Testosterone replacement therapy comes with serious and potentially irreversible health risks including infertility and early heart disease

‘I organised my spices – and feel happy every time I cook!’ 12 readers on their most rewarding tiny accomplishments

Forget writing that novel: the most satisfying tasks are often the smallest. From batch cooking and bird feeding, to filling a kettle with meticulous precision, our readers reveal their favourites

I’m giving birth as a battle rages over maternity care in Ireland. We shouldn’t have to pay to feel safe

An unfair two-tier system is, at last, giving way to universal state care. But private interests and highly paid doctors are resisting, says journalist Caelainn Hogan