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Self-knowledge and personal growth

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

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 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 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 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 person jogging on a leaf-covered path flanked by trees with bright yellow autumn 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

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

Painting of a man seated at a table next to a skull on books, with a patterned curtain 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

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

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

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 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