X CLOSE
TherapeiaEudaimoniaPoiesis
AboutContact
Search
Menu
Psyche
DonateNewsletter
SIGN IN
Guides

Pleasures and pastimes

Disorders and difficultiesTherapies and practical advicePerspectives and controversies
Self-knowledge and personal growthRelationships, work and leisureValues and ethical living
Creativity and the artsSpirituality and transcendence
CaregivingCommunication and languageCommunityConflict and conflict resolutionCooperation and collaborationFood and drinkForgivenessFriendshipHomeLoveMoney and economicsParenting and familiesPlacePleasures and pastimesSports and gamesTechnology and mediaTravelWork and vocation
LatestPopular
Photo of a woman reading outside a café with menus on windows, chalkboard signs, and outdoor seating on a sunny day.

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

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

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

Photo of smiling people in festive nature-inspired costumes with leaves and flowers, outdoors against a stone building.

Joy

guide

How to start having more fun

Fun isn’t frivolous – it’s vital for your wellbeing. Here’s a step-by-step plan to bring more pleasure into your busy life

by Mike Rucker

Black and white photo of a man and woman sitting at a café table in conversation, looking thoughtfully to the side.

Film

guide

How to find great films to watch

Bored with Hollywood and Netflix? Becoming an adventurous and informed explorer of the cinema world is in everyone’s grasp

by Geoff Andrew

Cubist painting of fragmented books and a glass on a table with geometric shapes in blue, brown and grey tones.

Stories and literature

guide

How to gain more from your reading

There’s more to words than meets the eye. Deepen your appreciation of literature through the art of slow, attentive reading

by Robert DiYanni

Abstract illustration of a person enjoying a cup of tea with colourful fruits and plants emerging as steam from the cup.

Food and drink

guide

How to enjoy coffee

Smooth like chocolate or fruity like a berry, coffee has as many tastes as wine or beer – you just need to know your beans

by Jessica Easto

Drawing of a man in profile with a mustache sitting by a window resting his head on his hand, sketched in green and brown.

History of ideas

guide

How to read philosophy

The first thing to remember is that the great philosophers were only human. Then you can start disagreeing with them

by Charlie Huenemann

Painting of a woman in a yellow dress and hat sitting with a guitar against a green background.

Music

guide

How to start making music

It’s never too late to play an instrument or learn to sing. Take the leap from listener to maker in the way that suits you

by Gayla M Mills

Photo of wooden bookshelves filled with books, small decor items and framed pictures in a cosy room setting.

Stories and literature

guide

How to nurture a personal library

An escape, a sanctuary, a place of pleasure, a memoir. Take these steps to ensure your library is just what you want it to be

by Freya Howarth

Photo of a man skateboarding beside the ocean with an old car watching a woman in a swimsuit on a sunny day.

Virtues and vices

guide

How to think about pleasure

Weirdly hard to define, much less to feel OK about it, pleasure is a tricky creature. Can philosophy help us lighten up?

by Sam Dresser

Black and white photo of a person playing a piano with an ornate music stand.

Music

guide

How to listen to, and enjoy, classical music

Whether you’re a newbie or an aficionado, these ways to navigate and approach the genre will enrich your experience

by Lawrence Kramer

Photo of a single cherry with water droplets and a leaf on a dark background.

Meaning and the good life

guide

How to live like an Epicurean

Forget shallow hedonism. Follow this philosophy for wondrous, unexpected joys and resilience against inevitable misfortune

by Emily Austin