When the morning comes, the first thing many people do is reach for their phone. But there’s another way. You could start your day by opening the curtains and making your room as bright as possible – keep your windows clean, roll up blinds, make sure any bushes or trees outside that block the light …
You may have heard the saying ‘the early bird gets the worm’, but actually, night owls deserve more credit. Recent research found that night owls scored better on cognitive tests, which relates to the brain’s ability to think, learn and remember. So, could being a night owl be a secret superpower? Evening energy One of …
If you’ve ever heard a friend or social media influencer saying ‘that’s my love language’, you may have wondered what they mean. Love languages are a way of understanding how different people show appreciation for each other. Perhaps you have a friend who always greets you with a warm hug, or a family member who …
Have you ever felt more relaxed just by watching the waves, listening to rain or dipping your toes in a stream? That’s the magic of water in its ability to help us feel more calm. Science shows us that being near water helps our bodies and minds unwind – whether it’s a walk by a …
Have you ever been told you grind your teeth in your sleep? Maybe a friend has noticed it at a sleepover, or you’ve woken with an aching jaw. Or perhaps you’ve caught yourself clenching your jaw and gritting your teeth during exams or stressful conversations. When it comes to teeth grinding, sometimes the person doing …
Have you ever had a silly argument with your best friend? One of those simple misunderstandings that blows up into a huge deal. Did you end up feeling tense and stressed even after you’d made up? It doesn’t have to be an argument. It could be any situation where you felt stressed long after the …
It’s just for you When you first start writing, you might feel a bit self-conscious or think that what you’ve written is silly or embarrassing. You might want to write brilliantly, or only include things that make you sound good – in case someone in the future reads it. Or you might want to emulate …
Have you ever considered when you get your best ideas? Or what you’re doing when the solution to a problem pops into your head? It might be sitting at your desk in school, or working at a computer, but it could also be doing something unconnected such as taking a shower or washing the dishes. …
The blahs – you’ve maybe been there. It’s that listless feeling of boredom, like nothing excites or satisfies. The French have a different word for it, ‘ennui’, which loosely translates as a weary dissatisfaction with life. You might also recognise the term from the recent film Inside Out 2, where the emotion is illustrated as …
Lazy days in the sun, having picnics, sitting outside with friends all evening – these summer pursuits sound very enjoyable and relaxing. For some, however, the longer days and warm weather bring irritability, discomfort and gloom. This is known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. What is SAD? Clinically speaking, SAD is a type of …
