Guides

Practical advice on managing your mental and physical health and living well

Four people swimming in a lake surrounded by foggy hills under a cloudy sky.

How to reap the emotional benefits of cold water

There’s growing evidence that cold-water immersion can support mental health. Follow these steps to take the plunge

by Jenny Favell

Photo of a waiting room with focus on a black hat. A woman reads papers and another looks at her phone in the background.

How to strike up a friendly conversation

It can be awkward at first, but there are specific methods you can use to spark an enjoyable chat with just about anyone

by Michael Yeomans

In depth

A person wearing a red jacket and a backpack walking on a winding path through lush green fields with hills and trees in the background.

How to plan a pilgrimage

Whether religious or not, you can undertake a special, meaningful kind of journey that could leave you changed forever

by Oliver Smith

Blurry monochrome photograph of two intertwined nude bodies in an ethereal style.

How to handle a mismatch in sexual desire

A difference in sexual appetite is a common source of tension for couples. Don’t ignore it – turn toward it with curiosity

by Ann O’Brien

A rugby player embracing one of his teammates.

How to be an emotional leader

In times of change and pressure, a set of skills known as ‘psychological flexibility’ can help you and your team to thrive

by Selda Koydemir

Photo of two smiling people in waterproof jackets on a rainy beach, grey skies in the background.

How to make someone feel seen and heard

Validation skills are not only useful for therapists. Learn them and you’ll improve your personal and work relationships

by Caroline Fleck

A waterfall under a stormy sky with mist and a building on the left cliff surrounded by trees in the background.

How to think about the sublime

An exquisite mix of fear and awe, pleasure and pain, the sublime stretches the imagination and reveals the limits of reason

by Nicole A Hall

An aeroplane seen in silhouette, flying against a dramatic sunset sky with clouds.
LOVE

How to make a long-distance relationship work

Whether an hour or an ocean apart, there will be challenges, but this therapist shows how to make the most of the upsides

by Charlie Huntington

A person watering plants in an urban garden with buildings in the background on a cloudy day.

How to make your life feel more meaningful

Existential psychology offers specific ways to find meaning, giving you a buffer against despair in these anxious times

by Steven Heine

Coloured microscopic image of pollen grains and plant fibres in close-up, showing vibrant round and elongated structures.

How to maintain a healthy gut

With a few lifestyle and dietary changes, you can protect your gut microbiome, boost your immunity and improve your mood

by Vincent Ho

Popular

Photo of two smiling people in waterproof jackets on a rainy beach, grey skies in the background.

How to make someone feel seen and heard

Validation skills are not only useful for therapists. Learn them and you’ll improve your personal and work relationships

by Caroline Fleck

Photo of a person lying in profile in a dark room with blue light, showing a calm expression and dim surroundings.

How to sleep when you’re a perfectionist

As a high achiever, your problem-solving skills can backfire at night. You need a different way to beat insomnia

by Nick Wignall

Photo of people viewing tall abstract sculptures in a dimly lit gallery with silhouetted artwork on the walls.

How to see the humanity in anyone

Practising a form of ‘deep curiosity’ can help you connect with yourself and others, even if they’re on the ‘other side’

by Scott Shigeoka

Coloured microscopic image of pollen grains and plant fibres in close-up, showing vibrant round and elongated structures.

How to maintain a healthy gut

With a few lifestyle and dietary changes, you can protect your gut microbiome, boost your immunity and improve your mood

by Vincent Ho

Black and white photo of a couple kissing in a car, focus on a hand wearing a ring and watch embracing the partner.
LOVE

How to think differently about love

Poets, philosophers and scientists all tell stories about the nature of romantic love. It can be liberating to critique them

by Arina Pismenny

Photo of nine matches in a row, progressing from unused to completely burnt.

How to recover from burnout

Feeling worn down, checked out, or bitter about work? The answer is not to ‘just work harder’. Try these steps instead

by Debbie Sorensen

Painting of a young woman in a black dress reclining on a red chair against a red wall holding a white handkerchief.

Avoiding sadness can backfire, here’s how to turn towards it

Everyone has stretches of sadness. Shifting how you think about and relate to sad feelings could help you through these times

by Beth Kurland

Photo of two men in dark clothing sitting and smiling at a round table in a dimly lit room with glasses.

How to tell a better story

Personal stories have the power to connect, entertain, persuade. Use a pro storyteller’s tips to pick and prepare a great one

by Micaela Blei

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Photo of two smiling people in waterproof jackets on a rainy beach, grey skies in the background.

How to make someone feel seen and heard

Validation skills are not only useful for therapists. Learn them and you’ll improve your personal and work relationships

by Caroline Fleck

Photo of a person lying in profile in a dark room with blue light, showing a calm expression and dim surroundings.

How to sleep when you’re a perfectionist

As a high achiever, your problem-solving skills can backfire at night. You need a different way to beat insomnia

by Nick Wignall

Photo of people viewing tall abstract sculptures in a dimly lit gallery with silhouetted artwork on the walls.

How to see the humanity in anyone

Practising a form of ‘deep curiosity’ can help you connect with yourself and others, even if they’re on the ‘other side’

by Scott Shigeoka

Illustration of two stylised people running on a boardwalk near the sea with telegraph poles and wires in the background.

How increasing short-term pleasure can help you achieve your long-term goals

Video by TED-Ed

Photo of a cupcake with white icing and orange sprinkles in a yellow wrapper against a bright yellow background.

How to enjoy food without feeling guilty about it

Through mindful eating and a shift in mindset, you can alleviate unwarranted negative feelings and embrace the joy of food

by Vivienne Lewis

A woman and a man converse while seated on chairs in a room with plants. A decorative table with glasses is between them.

The critic inside your head has something important to tell you. Here’s how to listen

Video by Esther Perel

People sitting around a table reading books with a tablet and mugs visible.

How to cultivate collective intellectual humility

Being smart is knowing what you don’t know. From work meetings to book clubs, use these tips to boost your group’s thinking

by Elizabeth Krumrei-Mancuso & Mark Alfano

Photo of a hand using a black marker to redact text on paper several words are boxed to be emphasised.
POETRY

Reignite your creative fire with blackout poetry – the art of framing what’s already there

Directed by Andrew Lavers

A person in a cap walking on a residential street with cars parked and bare trees in the background.

How to take control of your tics – or eliminate them altogether

Whether or not you have a diagnosis of Tourette Syndrome, a powerful self-help approach can make a difference within a week

by Paul DePompo

Image showing a black high heel, a red and blue ball and a grey ankle boot on a light blue background.

Small talk is an art, not a triviality. Here’s how you can master it

Video by the Harvard Business Review

A person in a blue jacket standing thoughtfully on a train platform next to the tracks.

How to respond to offensive comments in a thoughtful way

When someone insults you or people you care about, this advice can help you figure out whether to speak up and what to say

by Alicia del Prado

A rural road intersection with a stop sign, traffic light and highway signs under a blue sky with clouds.

To resist dogma and accept uncertainty, think like a pragmatist

Founded in 19th-century America, the philosophy of pragmatism promises imaginative ways of coping with our circumstances

by Michael Bacon

Photo of a cluttered room filled with scattered books, papers, boxes and household items on shelves and floor.

How to tell if someone is hoarding – and provide effective help

For many, letting go of possessions is intensely stressful, even when the clutter puts them at risk. Here’s what you can do

by Michael A Tompkins

Medieval painting of a woman at a desk writing with a quill by a window with a sea view and a sailing ship.

How to find inner peace like Saint Teresa of Ávila

The 16th-century ‘spiritual rock-star’ shows how seeing your soul as a castle can be a source of strength and consolation

by Skye C Cleary

Photo of a stormy sky over Sydney Opera House and city skyline with dark clouds and a sailboat on the water.

How to understand and cope with mood swings

Sudden mood changes can be unsettling, but getting to know them will help you regain balance and, if needed, find support

by Zindel Segal & Norman Farb

Ancient mosaic depicting a lounging skeleton with Greek text, an amphora, a loaf of bread and a platter on a dark background.

Reflections on mortality can help you live well now – here’s how

For me and many others, contemplating death has clarified what matters. These curiosity-based exercises will get you started

by Joanna Ebenstein

Photo of a woman in a floral blouse thinking deeply with her hands clasped near her face.

Instead of wrestling with self-defeating thoughts, try this

When your own thoughts discourage and undermine you, it’s easy to get tangled. A change of strategy could get you past it

by Joe Oliver & Kristy Potter

Photo of an athlete in a white jacket with a gold medal, smiling with hands on face against an Olympic rings backdrop.

Here’s how to use your imagination to prepare for any task

From sport to public speaking, the link between mental imagery and actual performance is undeniable – and you can harness it

by Jonathan Rhodes

Two people holding mugs of tea at a round wooden table, one wearing a scarf, blurred green background.

Think someone should see a therapist? Here’s how to bring it up

Your suggestion could be invaluable, and it doesn’t need to be perfect. These steps will help you get a caring message across

by Kathryn Gordon