When my daughter’s pregnancy was on the line, it felt like history was repeating itself…
Joanna Moorhead recalls her daughter’s difficult birth as she watches her go through the same thing 32 years later
Seeking Zen at a silent Buddhist retreat comes with its own challenges
It was supposed to be a quiet and peaceful weekend, but it left one writer lost for words
How writing about female cannibals changed my relationship with food
Describing issues of autonomy, femgore, worth and hunger all had an impact on what I wrote and how I felt about myself, says Lucy Rose
The Big Idea: looking for a better life? Follow your nose
Smell has an outsize effect on our thoughts and moods, so it’s worth paying more attention to it
Would you let AI choose your outfits?
Chloë Hamilton explores the possibilities, with surprising results…
‘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
As an agony aunt, I know the biggest cause of unhappiness: other people. Here’s the secret to better relationships
Looking back through her post bag, Observer Magazine’s Philippa Perry answers her readers most commonly asked question: why are other people so awful?
Music As Medicine by Daniel Levitin review – musician, heal thyself
In this fascinating book, the neuroscientist makes a strong case for the therapeutic force of music, describing ways in which it can be a beneficial part of recovery for patients
How to optimise the cognitive benefits of dreams and sleep
Dreaming is vital to our mental health – and it is possible to use them for our own good
The anxiety secret: how the world’s leading life coach stopped living in fear
Famous for her work with Oprah Winfrey, Martha Beck is a bestselling author and self-help superstar. But for 60 years she was anxious and terrified - until she found a simple, uplifting answer