‘I organised my spices – and feel happy every time I cook!’ 12 readers on their most rewarding tiny accomplishments

Forget writing that novel: the most satisfying tasks are often the smallest. From batch cooking and bird feeding, to filling a kettle with meticulous precision, our readers reveal their favourites

I’m giving birth as a battle rages over maternity care in Ireland. We shouldn’t have to pay to feel safe

An unfair two-tier system is, at last, giving way to universal state care. But private interests and highly paid doctors are resisting, says journalist Caelainn Hogan

‘People should not feel guilty’: weekend lie-in may be good for you, experts say

Previous advice stressed risks of sleeping in but about 90 minutes extra could prevent high blood pressure

So you have diarrhea. Here’s what to do and when to seek care

The discussion about diarrhea has increased lately, especially with the rise of cyclosporiasis. Although unpleasant, it is manageable and can be treated at home

Clive Parkinson obituary

Other lives: One of the UK’s leading voices in arts and health who worked with an all-party parliamentary group on arts, health and wellbeing

From skipping ropes to Swiss balls: personal trainers on the best home gym kit

Exercise mats that don’t slip, easy-grip kettlebells and floor sliders … fitness experts share their best buys for staying active at home

I don’t get along with my sister-in-law. Should I try to address the dynamic?

There are two things to consider, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith. Are you hurt by the way she treats you or the way she sees you?

The best mattress for side sleepers – and how to choose one, according to doctors and osteopaths

Do you need a soft mattress if you sleep on your side, or are firm models better for your back? And what about pillows? Here’s what the experts say

Suri Pro 2.0 electric toothbrush review: does this sustainable brush live up to the hype?

Suri’s eco-friendly brush fixes several flaws in the first-generation model – here’s what it does better (and what still needs work)

Is a $1,000 pillow really better? The expensive pursuit of comfortable sleep

From ergonomic memory foam to luxury goose down, Australia’s options for where to lay your head are enough to make it spin. So how do you choose the perfect pillow?

Nectar Classic memory foam mattress review: an outstanding budget buy

With a genuinely impressive lifetime guarantee, Nectar’s mattress outperforms pricier rivals for comfort and motion isolation

The best mattresses in the UK: sleep better with our 18 rigorously tested picks

From luxury Simba and Otty mattresses to brilliant budget buys, here’s what we recommend – and how to know if you’ve found a good deal

People’s bodies are changing in the age of Ozempic. How are we meant to talk about it?

Discussing people’s bodies can be fraught. We asked eating disorder experts how to do so – or not – responsibly

Largest review of its kind confirms benefits of tai chi and other Chinese exercises

Analysis finds ‘high certainty evidence’ of their effectiveness for the 1.7bn people worldwide with musculoskeletal conditions

Walking the Peak District, I discovered a wonderful rejection of the right’s monotone vision of England

The landscape was striking, but so was the diversity of the hikers. We can make this the new normal – and we should, says Guardian columnist John Harris