‘The room started to spin, my breath grew short’: could I conquer my fear of public speaking?

For years, speaking in public has triggered panic attacks. So to overcome them, I road-tested some popular methods, from psychotherapy to virtual reality

Julie was smart and competent, yet her less qualified colleagues surpassed her. Imposter syndrome held her back

By not seeking promotion, Julie never risked failure. Viewing her chronic self-doubt as a defence mechanism helped her challenge it

Becoming a paramedic changed me. But not in the ways I expected

From trampolines to smartwatches, the job has changed how I see everyday life. It’s a kind of hyper-awareness that doesn’t switch off

Vacation hoarding: why you should never forfeit your annual leave

Only 35% of British workers took all their allocated holiday last year – and US workers are just as bad. It’s a one-way ticket to burnout and poor mental health, not to mention low productivity ...

Alex felt demoralised by the suggestion he should ‘be more resilient’. He learned that it is an ongoing process

Hardship is inevitable, but being resilient doesn’t mean we are invincible. It means we can draw on our coping strategies to manage setbacks

‘Talk about it, focus on your values and … stay stoic’: how to cope with rejection

From the workplace to romance to friends, everything you need to know about rejection – and how to move on from it

Crap jobs, fewer homes, less money, toxic politics. And peak happiness eludes the young: who knew?

Given recent history and the state of the world now, perhaps the thing that makes older people happiest is not being under 45, says Guardian columnist Zoe Williams

Mental health crisis ‘means youth is no longer one of happiest times of life’

UN-commissioned study in UK, US, Ireland, Australia, Canada and New Zealand finds satisfaction rises with age

Micro-retirement: has gen Z found a brilliant fix for burnout?

Why wait until you’re in your 60s or 70s to enjoy yourself? Some young people are opting for short periods off throughout their working lives

‘Betrayed by the system’: Chappell Roan sparks debate over pay and healthcare in pop

The singer castigated record labels in her Grammys speech – but, as music industry insiders explain, issues around artist health and support run even deeper