The big idea: should you blame yourself for your bad habits?

Our ability to resist temptation is increasingly shaped by forces beyond our control

When my youngest child died, I had to find a way to move forward

Somehow I had felt a tragic sense of foreboding, but nothing could prepare me for the loss of Raphaël when it came. By Liz Jensen

I saw my therapist weekly for two years. Then he let slip he’d been watching me. Had he crossed a line?

He said it lightly, but I was unsettled. The trust had curdled

Start with flattery, maintain eye contact and never lie: how to win people over

The secrets of highly persuasive people, from a hostage negotiator to a TV producer

Play outside and sing together: what living in Denmark taught me about raising ‘Viking’ children

Nordic children are out in nature for hours a day – and they top rankings in both education and happiness. So here are seven parenting tips I’ve picked up along the way…

The big idea: this simple behavioural trick can help you get more out of life

Habituation is a key component of human nature, and knowing how to manipulate it can make the things you enjoy even better

I’ve always loved new hobbies and horses – then, two years ago, my equine dream came true

My obsession with trying new activities finally led me to my greatest passion – horse riding – when the last lockdown lifted

I felt lost in early adulthood, so coined the term ‘quarterlife’ as a focus for study

Adrift after leaving university, Satya Doyle Byock turned to psychology to bridge the journey to adulthood

The big idea: is compassion fatigue real?

Can we really maintain our levels of empathy in the face of an increasingly brutal news cycle?

Loss of confidence at work can be debilitating but it doesn’t have to be a life sentence

Switching off at home, mastering hobbies and greater control over workload can all help improve self-doubt at work

‘Gloom is good’: after my wife died I found solace in poetry and music

You can’t fight death, sickness, ageing and life’s various indignities, but you can play very loud rock’n’roll

How We Break by Vincent Deary review – look after yourself

A psychologist offers practical advice for dealing with life’s ups and downs

My path to inner peace, via ‘Dalifornia’ in southwest China

How leaving Beijing for Dali, home of China’s urban escapees, was a step on my route to finding serenity

‘Don’t do’ lists and a protein hit: 20 ways to become a morning person and feel like a winner

Early risers know only too well the smug satisfaction of getting up and getting going. But what if you’re more of an owl than a lark? Here’s how to change your body clock and seize the day

Is this the year of meong – a wellbeing trend I can actually master?

I recently stumbled upon a South Korean practice I’ve been doing for years. In 2024, it could be exactly what we need, writes Emma Beddington