Habits and routines

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

LatestPopular

Emotion regulation

idea

The best way to exercise self-control is not to exercise it at all

Accept it: your self-control is weak. You’re more likely to reach long-term goals if you find ways to avoid temptation

by Laverl Z Williamson

Bronze bust of a bearded man with curly hair, showing detailed facial features, on a black background.

Thinking and intelligence

idea

Lost perspective? Try this linguistic trick to reset your view

By using ‘distanced self-talk’, you can leverage the structure of language to take a step back and see the bigger picture

by Ariana Orvell

Habits and routines

guide

How to read more books

Modern life can feel too frantic for books. Use these habit-building strategies to carve out time for the joy of reading

by Christian Jarrett

Black-and-white image of people walking in a busy station corridor with an arched bridge above them.

Travel

film

Crowded spaces, complete strangers – meditations on the urban commute

Directed by Jimmy Ferguson and Catherine Gubernick

Ancient marble relief sculpture of a young girl holding a bird close to her face, with intricate detailing of her hair and clothing.

Habits and routines

idea

Sprinkle a little ancient philosophy into your daily routines

Long before the psychology research was in, ancient philosophers knew the importance of spiritual exercise for wellbeing

by Joel Owen

History of emotions

idea

Neuroscience has much to learn from Hume’s philosophy of emotions

According to philosopher David Hume, it takes a lifetime to get our emotions right. Neuroscience has much to learn from him

by Richard C Sha

A person jogging on a path in an autumn park, surrounded by yellow and green trees and fallen leaves.

Mind and brain

guide

How to maintain a healthy brain

Adopt these lifestyle changes and you will not only sharpen your mind today but also reduce your risk of dementia later on

by Kailas Roberts

Photo of a surreal bedroom scene with floating books, a person in bed with striped sheets, wall art, a window, and a bedside lamp.

Altered states

film

A surreal ode to the wee hours when daily anxieties meet sleepless dreams

Directed by Christine Hooper

Photo of a man sitting on a porch playing a guitar. He is wearing jeans and a blue shirt. There is a small table with a plant nearby.

Compassion and empathy

idea

Self-compassion is not self-indulgence: here’s how to try it

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not self-indulgent to practise self-compassion. In fact, it helps you to care for others

by Christina Chwyl

Black-and-white photo of a woman with a bob haircut holding a pen, sitting at a desk with a typewriter and a telephone.

Personality

idea

Assertiveness is a virtue that anyone can develop with practice

You can’t stop people making demands on your time and energy, but you can develop assertiveness skills to protect yourself

by Rebecca Roache

Painting of a woman in black sleeping on a wood-frame bed, on a yellow textured coverlet and with her feet under an orange blanket.

Pleasures and pastimes

guide

How to rest well

Taking a break isn’t lazy – learning to recharge is a skill that will allow you to enjoy a more creative, sustainable life

by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang

Painting of a building under construction with workers in yellow jackets, blue and red backgrounds, and neighbouring skyscraper reflections.

Painting and sculpture

film

What will an artist paint when a new high-rise blocks her view of New York?

Directed by Angelo J Guglielmo Jr