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

A psychedelic retreat proves a healing trip

Exploring the therapeutic benefits of magic mushrooms at a ceremony in Amsterdam

When my cousin was dying of a brain tumour in her 20s I promised I’d look out for her son

Over the past decade I’ve watched a young boy grow up and become a daily reminder to me of just how proud his mother would have been

Faking it: could I go from being an introvert to an extrovert in one week?

New research has found that being an extrovert makes you happier. So I spent a week attending social events to see if I could trick myself into being more naturally outgoing

Fashion addiction: expensive clothes hid my loneliness – then I gave 90% of them away

Grief and pain lay behind my obsession with buying new clothes. Moving in with my fiance forced me to shed the material burden, and the persona I had been hiding behind