‘The two of us book a karaoke room for an hour. It’s like tiramisu for the soul’ What’s on your dopamine menu?

From a ‘starter’ of dishing out compliments to a ‘dessert’ of smashing laptops in rage rooms, scientists and authors share 15 portion-sized ideas for a positivity boost

As an agony aunt, I know the biggest cause of unhappiness: other people. Here’s the secret to better relationships

Looking back through her post bag, Observer Magazine’s Philippa Perry answers her readers most commonly asked question: why are other people so awful?

Music As Medicine by Daniel Levitin review – musician, heal thyself

In this fascinating book, the neuroscientist makes a strong case for the therapeutic force of music, describing ways in which it can be a beneficial part of recovery for patients

How to optimise the cognitive benefits of dreams and sleep

Dreaming is vital to our mental health – and it is possible to use them for our own good

The anxiety secret: how the world’s leading life coach stopped living in fear

Famous for her work with Oprah Winfrey, Martha Beck is a bestselling author and self-help superstar. But for 60 years she was anxious and terrified - until she found a simple, uplifting answer

We need to liberate sex from shame and fear

By being true to ourselves we can find greater enjoyment and a deeper connection

Make a much shorter to-do list! 15 quick, simple ways to avoid overwhelm

From weightlifting to woodland walks, Guardian readers and health experts share their tried-and-tested ways to keep burnout at bay

How owls helped me conquer my fear of the dark

With the aid of the birds I was able to learn to love the night

Paul Gordon obituary

Other lives: Psychotherapist, author and campaigner determined to improve people’s lives

The joy of trivia: ‘We wrote our book together to intrigue each other’

After midlife burnout came a rediscovered curiosity for two friends and writers

Uncertainty is part of being human, so how can we learn to live with it?

A professor of statistics explains that living is about taking risks and not knowing the outcome, and why it’s important to accept and embrace that

Misrule and martyrs: 10 dark midwinter traditions

This year, why not welcome the shadowy side of winter with an ancient ritual or two?

‘I felt like a bystander in my own internal recovery’: one woman’s battle for health after a life-changing diagnosis

Facing an enormous decision about her health filled Kat Lister with wonder at her body’s ability to fight for her

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

I’ve written a diary every day since I was 14. What does that say about me?

Reading four decades of entries, I realise ego can take precedence over world events, life is never too dull to record – and I’ve learned not to take myself so seriously