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Relationships, work and leisure

Photo of two people in a pool, wearing floral swim caps using inflatable pink flamingo rings, with bunting overhead.

Friendship

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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 showing a seaside scene with sunbathers and swimmers on Antibes beach.

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

Photo of two women in front of a wall mural showing 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

Photo of a woman reading outside a café with menus on windows, chalkboard signs, and outdoor seating on a sunny day.

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

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

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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 painting with colourful overlapping straight and curved lines on a light 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

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

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

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

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 kneeling on sand examining a map with visible tracks in a vast desert landscape.

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

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

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 people sitting at a table with blurred green foliage in the background, one person resting their head.

Friendship

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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

Photo of two smiling people in waterproof jackets on a rainy beach, grey skies in the background.

Compassion and empathy

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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