Pleasures and pastimes
![A woman jogging along a paved riverside path with modern buildings and a cloudy sky in the background. She is wearing a grey hoodie, black leggings, and trainers while listening to music on earphones.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/51425f57-c314-4e0e-a4f5-caf8303c232d/rt-final-gettyimages-1194895586.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Goals and motivation
idea
So-called ‘SMART goals’ are a case of style over substance
From fitness to finance, the SMART goal-setting method is ubiquitous, but often detrimental. There are better approaches
by Christian Swann
![A black-and-white photo of a man in a suit and tie smiling while a woman in a glittery dress and gloves laughs beside him. They are at a social gathering.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/5bf783f7-f0d5-4cdb-a63b-8accc1082861/rt-gettyimages-685911586.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Sex and sexuality
idea
Everything I know about flirting, I learned from the Cold War
The rewards of flirtation go beyond sex or romance. But, as in other exchanges, you have to know where the red line is
by Youngbin Yoon
![Shelves filled with numerous vinyl records, aligned vertically and tightly packed together, showing varied colours of spines.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/4de08fc8-3180-40e9-aa24-6366a146f0e3/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Music
guide
How to discover new music
In a musical rut? Whatever your age or existing tastes, you can find surprise and enjoyment beyond the streaming algorithms
by James Hadfield
![A large flock of birds fills the sky at dusk over a car park, where people with binoculars observe them from beside their vehicles.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/71bda118-3d89-40ba-8542-709add946b2e/exit-238.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Place
film
A makeshift community of people and migratory birds converge on a strip mall
Directed by Henry Davis
![A woman sits at a cafe at night with a beer and a cigarette](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/990f443d-9d27-45c0-be5e-b2a381419dd5/rt-final-mg192958.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Addiction
idea
You can want things you don’t like and like things you don’t want
The distinct neurochemistry of wanting and liking is helping to make sense of addiction – and more everyday behaviours
by Shayla Love
![A person in a yellow jacket skipping stones at the beach during sunset, with calm water and rock formations in the distance.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/41852790-bbb6-4e99-a12e-039348ead0cb/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Play
idea
All you need to know to start skipping stones like a pro
With the right attitude, stone skipping is a rebellious act that will leave you feeling like you have glitter in your veins
by Julie Benda
![A group of people in vibrant green and floral costumes, laughing and celebrating with flowers and horns, next to a stone wall and window.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/335838fe-6120-4a59-8718-c57fd366b1a5/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Joy
guide
How to start having more fun
Fun isn’t frivolous – it’s vital for your wellbeing. Here’s a step-by-step plan to bring more pleasure into your busy life
by Mike Rucker
![A knitted grey toy mouse holds a needle and repairs its own dress. Three balls of yarn lie nearby, alongside a small blue open book.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/3c1bf35e-c897-4ab4-9833-fcb77a47c43d/visible-mending-landscape-1.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Pleasures and pastimes
film
A whimsical ode to the reparative power of knitting, rendered in wool
Directed by Samantha Moore
![Black-and-white photo of three men smiling and holding a large inflatable globe in a small room with shelves.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/501316c6-7891-4cc2-94bc-ada2ccb1e87c/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Creativity
idea
A life of splendid uselessness is a life well lived
Like the fertile soil of a well-kept garden, a life of splendid, utter uselessness yields abundance beyond our immediate aims
by Joseph M Keegin
![People using virtual reality headsets and controllers in an immersive gaming setup, with others in the background also engaged with VR devices.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/f26c45f6-dddc-4e89-b155-750132ea4377/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Play
idea
A game is not a game without a special kind of conflict
From 5,000-year-old boardgames to last year’s video-game blockbusters, all games feature a kind of collaborative conflict
by Eric Zimmerman
![Black-and-white image of a person playing a Chickering piano with an ornate music stand. The person’s profile is visible in the foreground.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/cf4048e1-7f93-4bb1-8fa4-fc48e25243ad/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Music
guide
How to listen to, and enjoy, classical music
Whether you’re a newbie or an aficionado, these ways to navigate and approach the genre will enrich your experience
by Lawrence Kramer
![A woman with grey curly hair is sorting plant materials on an outdoor table in a garden, with various green and flowering plants in the background.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/392fb7ad-5d61-4fbc-8c58-bf5674cb93b9/original.jpg?width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Nature and the environment
film
From freeze to bloom – the rhythms and splendour of life on a flower farm
Directed by Oriel Danielson