Easy wins: better than a warm cup of milk, read for six minutes before bed for good sleep

Committing to six minutes of reading a night before bed sounds easy – and it is. Not only can it improve sleep and reduce stress, but you’ll be better read too

How weekly bike rides with a group of supportive women showed me a route to joy

When Tanya Frank joined a group of ‘joyriders’, she rediscovered her love of cycling and found a caring community

‘Don’t plan it, just go!’: how to be spontaneous – and grab some unexpected fun

The pandemic has left our best-laid plans in disarray, but we can still have spur-of-the-moment adventures

It’s simple and takes 20 minutes… But learning to meditate could unlock your inner calm

Amid a hectic life, meditation can help make you happier and healthier

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

Are you having a laugh? Why NHS doctors will soon be prescribing a dose of comedy

They say laughter is the best medicine – and trauma patients in Bristol are about to put the theory to the test

Five great reads: medical mysteries, stolen attention and easy-to-keep resolutions

Guardian Australia’s summertime round-up of written interest and joy selected by Alyx Gorman

When grit isn’t great: letting go rather than pushing through can help our wellbeing

People with high levels of perseverance often persist with difficult tasks to their own detriment. There is value in knowing when to quit

We often fail to keep resolutions – but writing in a notebook brings great rewards

Scribbling down our thoughts is a great way to make sense of things, says Cathy Rentzenbrink

New year, same old you! The secret to self-improvement is embracing your messy, imperfect life

It’s only when you learn to accept who you are, flaws and all, that you can make real, worthwhile change