Chocolate biscuits, cosy bedding and moments of calm: a sideways look at self-care

This week: feel-good January fixes; interior designer-approved bed linen; and Grace Dent on the best extra-chocolatey biscuits

From stiff necks to ‘lazy glutes’: why these unloved muscles could prevent injury – and how to train yours

Never heard of your lower trapezius? Don’t know your rotator cuff from your neck flexor? To alleviate common injuries, it’s time to get to know them

Would you let AI choose your outfits?

Chloë Hamilton explores the possibilities, with surprising results…

‘Expect to see snake-like peeling’: 19 self-care treats for the perfect pick-me-up

From weighted blankets and de-puffing masks to sunrise alarm clocks, our self-care buys are sure to brighten your mood

‘The two of us book a karaoke room for an hour. It’s like tiramisu for the soul’ What’s on your dopamine menu?

From a ‘starter’ of dishing out compliments to a ‘dessert’ of smashing laptops in rage rooms, scientists and authors share 15 portion-sized ideas for a positivity boost

Hot flashes and mood swings: why perimenopausal symptoms get misdiagnosed – and how to treat them

Symptoms like insomnia, bloating and emotional shifts can occur before menopause begins, but they are often improperly addressed by doctors

Skin is in: as sales of thong bikinis rise, is body confidence also growing?

A Sydney council’s ban on ‘inappropriate’ swimwear stirs a wider debate over complex feelings about women’s bottoms

66 days to rediscover boredom: ‘The way I’d been thinking about time was wrong’

How long does it take to change a habit? It varies, but one paper suggests the average is 66 days. We asked writers to change one thing in their lives within that timeframe … and tell us if it works

The bedding buying guide: everything you need to know, from Egyptian cotton to thread count and washing rules

Is Egyptian cotton the holy grail? Should you be buying bamboo? Will silk save your hair? We asked the experts

Wake-up call: six ways to change your attitude to insomnia

Waking up at night is natural and even beneficial, so we should embrace insomnia and learn to enjoy it