Goals and motivation
guide
How to know what you really want
From career choices to new purchases, use René Girard’s mimetic theory to resist the herd and forge your own path in life
by Luke Burgis
Learning and education
guide
How to learn a language (and stick at it)
Forget about fluency and how languages are taught at school: as an adult learner you can take a whole new approach
by John Gallagher
Friendship
guide
How to make friends as an adult
Friendships give us so much. Be bold, take the initiative, and you’ll be surprised how many people are pleased to connect
by Marisa G Franco
Worry and rumination
guide
How to stop overthinking
Grappling with your thoughts will leave you even more entangled in worry. Use metacognitive strategies to break free
by Pia Callesen
Focus and attention
guide
How to be indistractable
Stop blaming technology – distraction starts within. Manage your inner triggers to enjoy greater focus and a fuller life
by Nir Eyal
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
Creativity
guide
How to be lucky
Most of us think that luck just happens (or doesn’t) but everyone can learn to look for the unexpected and find serendipity
by Christian Busch
Learning and education
guide
How to study effectively
Forget cramming, ditch the highlighter, and stop passively rereading. The psychology of learning offers better tactics
by Paul Penn
Emotion regulation
guide
How to take things less personally
Always blaming yourself or assuming others think ill of you? A CBT therapist shares ways to break these self-critical habits
by Joel Minden
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
Difficult emotions
guide
How to calm your inner storm
When your emotions become too painful and overwhelming, regain control using skills from dialectical behaviour therapy
by Sheri Van Dijk
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