Habits and routines

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

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Photo of a stack of six sugar cookies on a marble surface with two cookies lying flat beside them against a dark background.

Emotion regulation

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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

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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

A woman reading a book sitting outside a café with a drink, surrounded by menus, signs and a small table with bottles.

Habits and routines

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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

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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 two birds, with intricate detailing of her hair and clothing.

Habits and routines

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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

Photo of emotional protesters raising hands and holding Catalan flags in a crowd during a demonstration.

History of emotions

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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

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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 collage of a surreal bedroom scene from the perspective of a person in bed, featuring floating books, striped bedsheets, wall art, a window, and a bedside lamp.

Altered states

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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

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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

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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

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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 a neighbouring skyscraper with reflections.

Painting and sculpture

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

Directed by Angelo J Guglielmo Jr