There’s no streetlight and the night’s silence is broken only by the hoot of an owl. Your eyes scan the sky, growing accustomed to the dark. Then, gradually, you spot an incredible shimmer. The universe is revealing its magnificence… The night sky has fascinated people for millennia and inspired many age-old myths and stories. The …
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 …
Algorithms on social media are one of the tools used by technology companies on the apps, games and websites we use every day. They show you content you enjoy so that you spend more time on their sites. But in doing so, they can influence your thinking. Algorithms can lead you into an echo chamber …
In the 1960s, Maltese polymath, doctor and author Edward de Bono invented the concept of ‘lateral thinking’ to describe a way of thinking that boosts creativity and solves problems by approaching them in an inventive or unusual manner. Often referred to as thinking outside the box, lateral thinking expands your perspective by helping you realise …
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 …
Our friends are some of the most important people in our lives. They’re the ones who lift us up when we’re down, celebrate our successes and help us make sense of the world. Spending time with friends should leave us feeling like we belong and bring out the best in us. Friendships offer a support …
The human brain has an amazing capacity to remember journeys. Think of a walk, drive or cycle you do often. You know which way to turn and how to get there. The frequent travel has created a memory map in your mind. But what about when you go somewhere you don’t know? A friend or …
Have you ever let your mind wander and suddenly stumbled upon a great idea? Or woken up in the morning with a ‘lightbulb moment’? Dreams are a fascinating way to tap into the creative parts of our brains, offering inspiration that feels like it comes out of nowhere. And did you know that it’s possible …
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 …
The late fantasy novel author Terry Pratchett, who also wrote The Unadulterated Cat, a wry-yet-loving look at the many different faces of cats, wrote: ‘In ancient times, cats were worshipped as gods. They have not forgotten this.’ Pratchett, who passed away in 2015 with his own cat sleeping beside him on the bed, was touching …
