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
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
Most hangover ‘cures’ have little evidence behind them, study finds
Of substances tested, strongest effects were seen for clove extract, though sample size was small
Healing myself the Pagan way: how witchcraft cast a spell on me
Witchcraft and its deep connection with nature restored my mental health
Walking is a glorious, primal pastime – and far more radical than you think
Despite its reputation as a bourgeois hobby, walking has been a lifeline for millions past and present, says Guardian columnist John Harris
Going vegan this year was one of the best decisions of my life
Having long Covid made me reassess my health and wellbeing, and the benefits have been profound, says journalist and councillor Shaista Aziz
Contact with nature in cities reduces loneliness, study shows
Loneliness is significant mental health concern and can raise risk of death by 45%, say scientists
I’m heartbroken to miss Christmas with my family – but want to inspire girls with this huge challenge
While my husband and two children celebrate Christmas without me, I will be rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic
I’m a long-distance dad so Covid was terrible – but it helped me let go of my guilt
I worried so much about not seeing my son, who lives in Canada, during Covid, but then I realised that he was fine – and being very well looked after
The inner lives of dogs: what our canine friends really think about love, lust and laughter
They make brilliant companions, but do dogs really feel empathy for humans - and what is going through their minds when they play, panic or attack?