The joy audit: how to have more fun in 2020

This is the year to start taking happiness seriously. But how – and where do you find the time? Here are the tips and advice you need for a pleasure-filled year

Michael Rosen: ‘Stories hung in the air about great-aunts and uncles who’d gone’

Searching for the missing pieces in his family brought poet and author Michael Rosen closer to the horror of war

Our first Christmas as empty nesters

The kids have left home, and we’re not really coping, so this seems like the perfect chance to lure them back

This is what it takes to be a gold medal sprinter

The attention after winning gold in Doha was amazing – but success really begins by staying focused

How can you conquer ordinary, everyday sadness? Think of it as a person

New research suggests anthropomorphising your emotions can help you control them. But how do you actually go about it?

We need to learn how to relax, without guilt

Being busy all the time is part of the way we live. But, whether gardening, reading or spacing out on the sofa, taking time to rest is just as important

‘Pilates-changed-my-life’ stories are annoying… but it did

Over three years the exercise regime took Rachel Cooke from terrible back pain to new levels of fitness. But it was a lot harder than she expected

Do you take hours to make a simple decision? You may have Fobo

Fear of missing out has a more anxious sibling, and could stop you going to social events – or buying your Christmas turkey. Here’s what is behind fear of better options

Being a good host is about more than just the food

Real hospitality is a life lesson in community living

Under pressure: how stress can change our lives for the better

Stress and emotional tension tends to be associated with distress – but a form called ‘eustress’ can be healthy and productive