Pleasures and pastimes

Self-knowledge and personal growth Relationships, work and leisure Values and ethical living

Animals Caregiving Communication and language Community Conflict and conflict resolution Cooperation and collaboration Food and drink Forgiveness Friendship Home Love Money and economics Parenting and families Place Pleasures and pastimes Sports and games Technology and media Travel Work and vocation

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Technology and media

idea

Why teenagers are deliberately seeking brain rot on TikTok

Talking to teens reveals a hidden sophistication to their media use. Rather than policing it, maybe we could learn from it

by Emilie Owens

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.

Goals and motivation

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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

Shelves filled with numerous vinyl records, aligned vertically and tightly packed together, showing varied colours of spines.

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.

Place

film

A makeshift community of people and migratory birds converge on a strip mall

Directed by Henry Davis

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.

Sex and sexuality

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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

A woman sits at a cafe at night with a beer and a cigarette

Addiction

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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 group of people in vibrant green and floral costumes, laughing and celebrating with flowers and horns, next to a stone wall and window.

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.

Pleasures and pastimes

film

A whimsical ode to the reparative power of knitting, rendered in wool

Directed by Samantha Moore

A person in a yellow jacket skipping stones at the beach during sunset, with calm water and rock formations in the distance.

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

Black-and-white photo of three men smiling and holding a large inflatable globe in a small room with shelves.

Creativity

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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

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.

Nature and the environment

film

From freeze to bloom – the rhythms and splendour of life on a flower farm

Directed by Oriel Danielson