The big idea: should we go to more parties?

Talking to strangers can be intimidating, but the social whirl has science on its side

‘A pile of dirt makes me drool’: why some people crave and eat inedible things

From chalk to rubbers and clay, there are a variety of reasons why those with pica syndrome yearn to eat non-foodstuffs. But is this dangerous?

My youth has all but faded. But my three-quarter-life crisis is filled with fascinating revelations and boundless joys

As someone fortunate to be on the cusp of a seventh decade, it’s not often I sense the icy spectre of mortality. But posterity, familial and cultural, really matters now

Punch a pillow, hug your pet, write to your MP: 22 ways to deal with your anger

From simmering frustration at minor annoyances to boiling rage at the state of the world, many of us are angry at the moment. Experts offer tips and techniques on how to manage it

The sauna secret: why Finland is the happiest country in the world

Steamy, spiritual and stress-busting, there are more than 3m saunas in Finland. Not only are they skin tingling, they help people explore what it is to be human

‘Good morning!’: how two words could transform your life

Scared of talking to strangers? Think again. It could vastly increase your sense of satisfaction

From camping to yoga to dining, these leaders connect marginalized communities

Four Black founders of healing communities in LA have a common goal: ‘so all of us can have access’

The truth about secrets: why it pays to keep your positive news private

We have always been told that keeping things to yourself is bad for you. But the opposite may be true when it comes to good news

‘Any embarrassment is in your head!’: How hearing aids boost your health and happiness

There is still a stigma around hearing tests and hearing loss – even though excellent help is now at hand. It could just change your life

My grandmother’s support – and Creole cooking – helped me to love myself when I didn’t know how

When I felt lonely growing up, my grandmother’s company and cuisine were a soothing balm

The big idea: why we should spend more time talking to strangers

We focus on friendships, but encounters with those we hardly know are vital too

‘I’d be a wreck without it’: the floating daycare centre where Parisians paint, dance and heal

Director Nicolas Philibert had an unexpected triumph with On the Adamant, his film about a haven for people with mental health problems, named after the British pop star. We go aboard

Our world is in chaos. Here are six ways to take care of yourself (and others)

Disastrous events affect us all – some directly, others through exposure – and can make preserving mental health difficult

Bereaved parents say review into student suicides in England is ‘slap in the face’

Parents say government’s planned review has too short a timeframe and will not be sufficiently rigorous

‘I watch the sun rise from a hammock in the garden’ – 15 ways to start your day well now the clocks have gone back

From yoga in bed to a bracing cold shower, readers share how they brighten up their mornings as the seasons change and winter approaches