Popular Guides

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

A woman using a phone stands beside a painting of a girl reading by candlelight.
FOCUS AND ATTENTION

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

Painting of a person sitting indoors looking out at a garden with flying birds, framed by large windows.
WORRY AND RUMINATION

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

Photo of a woman leaning on a red pillar in a subway station as a train speeds by in a blur.
GOALS AND MOTIVATION

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

Vintage poster by Roger Broders showing a seaside scene with sunbathers and swimmers on Antibes beach.
LEARNING AND EDUCATION

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

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FRIENDSHIP

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

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HABITS AND ROUTINES

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

Painting of a man seated at a table next to a skull on books, with a patterned curtain in the background.
DEATH AND DYING

How to not fear your death

You exist, but one day you won’t. An Epicurean perspective can help you feel less afraid, and even grateful for life’s finitude

by Sam Dresser

Photo of a person jogging on a leaf-covered path flanked by trees with bright yellow autumn leaves.
MIND AND BRAIN

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

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COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE

How to have more meaningful conversations

Be brave enough to share, kind enough to listen, and you can escape the shallows of small talk to dive deep with another

by Lucy Foulkes

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CREATIVITY

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

Photo of a person in a red hat and glasses sitting thoughtfully in a cafe with a coffee and a phone on the table.
EMOTION REGULATION

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

Illustration of a woman on a bench by a cityscape with a red sun and blooming branches, conveying serenity and nature.
THINKING AND INTELLIGENCE

How to foster ‘shoshin’

It’s easy for the mind to become closed to new ideas. Cultivating a beginner’s mind helps us rediscover the joy of learning

by Christian Jarrett

Silhouette of a person looking at a pop art painting of a crying woman.
EMOTION REGULATION

How to ease the pain of heartache

You’re experiencing a profound form of grief that can make you physically ill. These steps will give you a chance to heal

by Ziella Bryars

Painting of a person sleeping in a bed with yellow bedding and a red blanket in a warm-toned room.
PLEASURES AND PASTIMES

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

Photo of a pier with large crashing waves and mist, a person on the pier and a bird flying above in the stormy sky.
DIFFICULT EMOTIONS

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

Photo of a person in a yellow onesie sitting at a desk using a laptop, with headphones on and a cluttered background.
LEARNING AND EDUCATION

How to study effectively

Forget cramming, ditch the highlighter, and stop passively rereading. The psychology of learning offers better tactics

by Paul Penn