‘At 98, I wouldn’t be so sharp without puzzles’: do crosswords and quizzes really boost your brain power?

We’re told that they give us a mental workout, but the evidence suggests it’s a bit more complicated …

Do you lavish attention on others but rarely receive it? It’s time to get in touch with your own needs

Protecting yourself from the feelings that drive you may give you a sense of control – but it comes at a cost. Working through them allows you to lower your defences

Consuming arts and culture is good for health and wellbeing, research finds

Engaging with arts improves quality of life, increases productivity and creates financial ‘dividend’

‘Just do something you enjoy!’ Have official targets made exercise a chore – and happiness more elusive?

We all know roughly how many minutes we should be spending getting sweaty every week, thanks to repeated messages from national governments and the World Health Organization. When it comes to mental health, the picture is a lot less clear

Readers reply: When is laughter the best medicine?

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts

Exercising for 30 minutes improves memory, study suggests

Research shows walk or cycle improves cognitive performance for day ahead – and day after

What does the tightness of our clothes say about our emotions? You’d be surprised

Desperate to be swaddled, embraced or comforted? You may find yourself reaching for a skintight T-shirt or some Kim Kardashian shapewear

What is ADHD, how do you get a diagnosis and can you only treat it with drugs? All your questions, answered by experts

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder affects about 2.6 million people in the UK, yet misinformation about the condition is rife. Here we separate scientific fact from TikTok-fuelled fiction

An Improbable Psychiatrist by Rebecca Lawrence review – doctor turned patient

A brave memoir from a psychiatrist with severe mental illness that describes a failing system from within

Health, happiness … and romance? How running could help you find love

It’s a well trodden fact that running with other people is good for camaraderie, safety and our physical and mental wellbeing – but now it seems it’s fertile ground for dating

‘Deep in my madness, witches gave me hope’: Elizabeth Sankey on motherhood, depression and witches

While battling through the darkness of severe postpartum anxiety, Elizabeth Sankey saw a light of solidarity in the stories of witchcraft

Now is the time to unplug and reset. Next year we enter a more dangerous world – but for now I need the silence of nature

The return of Trump demands extreme watchfulness. But effective vigilance also requires energy and strength, mental and emotional recharge and balance

‘My scars aren’t a finish line’: three trans and non-binary people on how top surgery changed their lives

The number of gender-affirming procedures rose in the US, followed by an onslaught of anti-trans laws. For many, the scars can be a symbol of pride and resilience

Are you tired all the time? Me too – but I think I’ve worked out why

Biting back anger, holding in tears: we use a huge amount of energy trying to avoid our emotions. And it’s exhausting

‘The fatigue is not only real, it is absolutely legitimate’: why are so many of us so tired right now?

There are reasons why in workplaces, homes, shops and schools there’s a sense that much of Australia is running on empty