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Self-knowledge and personal growth

A young woman in cut-off jean shorts on a brown-and-white horse in a town street looking at her phone, with people and buildings behind her.

Focus and attention

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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

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

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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

A woman leans against a red column on a train platform, with a moving train blurred in the background.

Goals and motivation

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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 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

A person jogging on a path in an autumn park, surrounded by yellow and green trees and fallen leaves.

Mind and brain

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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

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

A painting of a man sitting at a table with his head resting on his hand, looking at a skull placed on books. A curtain is in the background.

Death and dying

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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

Illustration of an Oriental woman on a bench, gazing at a city skyline with a red sun above, framed by blooming branches and leaves.

Thinking and intelligence

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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

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