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Relationships, work and leisure

Photo of two smiling women in a pool wearing floral swim caps and sunglasses using pink flamingo inflatables, with bunting flags in the background.

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

Vintage poster by Roger Broders depicting Antibes beach with swimmers, umbrellas, and two women in the foreground.

Learning and education

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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

A woman reading a book sitting outside a café with a drink, surrounded by menus, signs and a small table with bottles.

Habits and routines

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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

Two women talking in front of a poster depicting men reading newspapers, with a construction worker nearby.

Communication and language

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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

Woman with glasses and red beanie sits in café, contemplating with hand on chin, a cappuccino and phone on the table. Background is softly blurred.

Emotion regulation

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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

Abstract line drawing with intersecting lines and shapes in various colours on a light beige background.

Creativity

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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

Painting of a woman in black sleeping on a wood-frame bed, on a yellow textured coverlet and with her feet under an orange blanket.

Pleasures and pastimes

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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

Black-and-white photo of two people examining a map on the desert sand, with tyre tracks leading into the distance behind them under a clear sky.

Decision-making

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How to make a difficult decision

It’s tempting but unwise to delay important choices. Grasp the nettle by using both systematic checklists and gut instinct

by Joseph Bikart

Pop art painting of a teary-eyed blonde woman with red lips. A person with dark hair is observing the artwork closely.

Emotion regulation

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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

A group of people in vibrant green and floral costumes, laughing and celebrating with flowers and horns, next to a stone wall and window.

Joy

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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

Painting of two women at a table; one looks down and the other glances sideways, holding a small red object.

Friendship

guide

How to support a struggling friend

Sometimes it’s hard to know what to say or do. Use these five strategies for providing effective emotional support

by Elise Kalokerinos

Abstract painting with concentric circles and colourful segments in red, blue, green, yellow and pink, creating a visually dynamic composition.

Work and vocation

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How to craft a harmonious life

Forget the ideal of work/life balance – your needs and interests are much richer than that, and your life can be too

by Jessica de Bloom & Merly Kosenkranius