Guides

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

A blue bowl with quinoa, chickpeas, chopped onions, greens and a wooden spoon on a dark background.

How to adventure beyond the same old foods

Most of us develop comfort zones with food. Expand your palate and discover new flavours, techniques and connections

by Nina Mukerjee Furstenau

A woman inside wearing sunglasses, with a blurred reflection of people and a red bus moving outside the window.
ADHD

How to thrive as an adult with ADHD

Use ‘mindful self-coaching’ to help yourself overcome everyday ADHD challenges, from procrastination to feelings of overwhelm

by Lidia Zylowska & Joohee Seo

In depth

A woman and dog standing in a cobblestone street, by an outdoor travel advertisement showing a plane wing and sunset.

How to resist everyday temptations

Acting on impulse often feels good at first, but brings trouble later. Understanding these urges can help you control them

by Peggilee Wupperman

Black and white photo of a group of people dancing outdoors, with a man in a striped shirt in the foreground.

How to thrive as a highly sensitive person

In this noisy world, being highly sensitive is a challenge. But learn to manage overwhelm and you can reap the upsides too

by Jadzia Jagiellowicz

A person with long blonde hair in a beanie and coat, facing away from the camera, wearing a brown backpack in a blurred busy street.

How to anticipate and cope with mania

If you have bipolar disorder, you can learn to play an active role in managing your symptoms and live a fulfilling life

by Kim Pape & Sheri Johnson

A man with crossed arms and a serious expression wearing an apron stands in the doorway of a restaurant with checkered curtains and menu on display.

What to do when someone goes on the defensive

Our natural impulses often make matters worse. Here’s an approach that works, grounded in conflict resolution and psychology

by Adar Cohen & Nick Wignall

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

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 street with vintage cars, motel signs and a person leaning on a truck holding a broom under a blue sky.

How to alter the passage of time to feel fast or slow

Knowing the psychology behind why moments drag or whizz by can give you a degree of control over your experience of time

by Martin Wiener

Coloured electron microscope image of bacteria and fungi; round green/yellow cells and rod-shaped pink structures on a textured surface.

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

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

Black and white photo of a group of people dancing outdoors, with a man in a striped shirt in the foreground.

How to thrive as a highly sensitive person

In this noisy world, being highly sensitive is a challenge. But learn to manage overwhelm and you can reap the upsides too

by Jadzia Jagiellowicz

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

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

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

Popular

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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 street with vintage cars, motel signs and a person leaning on a truck holding a broom under a blue sky.

How to alter the passage of time to feel fast or slow

Knowing the psychology behind why moments drag or whizz by can give you a degree of control over your experience of time

by Martin Wiener

Coloured electron microscope image of bacteria and fungi; round green/yellow cells and rod-shaped pink structures on a textured surface.

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

A person in the air, mid-flip, on a grassy hill with distant hills in the background.

How to check if an argument is valid

In logic, validity is prime. If you want to make valid arguments, or sniff out invalid ones, here’s what you need to do

by Robert Trueman

Photo of two women in a kitchen, one peeling a potato while smiling the other focused on cooking, with a mortar in view.

We’re naturally bad at predicting what will make us happy. Here’s how to adjust

Video by The Well

A person in a green shirt and jeans sitting, focused on their hands which are clasped together, the right hand picking at the left hand’s thumbnail.
OCD

What to do if your picking or pulling get out of hand

Understanding the psychology behind excessive skin-picking and hair-pulling can help you resist the urges and begin to heal

by Suzanne Mouton-Odum

Tomato plants with red and green tomatoes in a garden setting against a blurred background of a building and grass.

How to start growing your own food

A vegetable garden is more than a source of sustenance – it’s a psychological sanctuary. Here’s how to create your own

by Gary Pilarchik

Digital artwork of a grey hand squeezing a yellow stress ball with a smiley face on a black background.

Cults needn’t fit stereotypes to be dangerous. Here’s how to identify a controlling social group

Video by BBC Ideas

Close-up photo of a hand carving a pencil with a small knife, focusing on the pencil’s tip and wood shavings.

There’s joy in doing a job right. Just ask this artisanal pencil-sharpener

Directed by Kenneth Price

Photo of a street with vintage cars, motel signs and a person leaning on a truck holding a broom under a blue sky.

How to alter the passage of time to feel fast or slow

Knowing the psychology behind why moments drag or whizz by can give you a degree of control over your experience of time

by Martin Wiener

A woman drawing on an easel in a courtyard with greenery and a modern glass building in the background.

To become more attuned to the world around you, try sketching outdoors

Video by The Museum of Modern Art

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

How to take the plunge – from cold showers to icy swims

There’s growing evidence for the psychological and health benefits of cold-water immersion. Here’s how to get started

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 chat with almost anyone

It can be awkward at first, but people are more open to conversation than you think – and it could lead to deeper connection

by Michael Yeomans

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