How to stop catastrophising – an expert’s guide

A clinical psychologist suggests a three-pronged plan for tackling anxiety and approaching each day logically and positively

Why Christmas is for everyone

An atheist’s Christmas celebrates hospitality and generosity – just like a Christian’s, says Julian Baggini

Creation history: brilliant ideas build on the past

Creativity doesn’t come out of the blue, it starts by remodelling the past, say David Eagleman and Anthony Brandt

How do you know if you’re a jerk?

I’m sure you don’t feel like a jerk. Nobody does. Few of us like to believe anything negative about ourselves

Struggling to express your feelings? Get an imaginary friend

Comedian and author David Walliams recently revealed he has clung on to the friends he invented as a child – something that can help even adults make sense of emotions, says psychotherapist Philippa Perry

Bring back conversation… by shutting up and listening

Face-to-face conversation reaps rich rewards, but it’s a dying art, says Celeste Headlee. Here’s how to revive it

Age old problem: how to stay clever for longer

There are ways to ward off dementia and the ill effects of brain ageing, say Alexis Willett and Jennifer Barnett

How architecture shapes our cities – and our lives

Communities which design their own buildings are more likely to be happy and healthy, says Lily Bernheimer

The spray’s the thing: how actors use perfumes to get into character

Playing Thatcher? Dab on Bluebell. Got a part in Hairspray? Reach for the Madame Rochas. We lift the lid on how actors use smells – from the finest fragrances to cheap tinned mackerel – to nail a role

Why do analysts use the couch?

Reclining in order to talk to a therapist is a powerful experience, says Nathan Kravis. But the reasons remain unclear