I hiked 100 miles to find the best walking poles, here are my favourites
Trekking poles can improve balance on uneven terrain and reduce stress on joints. Our seasoned adventurer put 10 to the test to find the best• ‘I’d never head out without one’: 10 hiking essentialsOh, I would walk 500 miles – with the help of a trusty…
Is tech the secret to a more analogue life? How gadgets, apps and tips could actually reduce your screen time
It’s often thought of as the problem, but what if the right technology could help us switch off and live more in the moment?• The best screen-free activitiesWith the continued backlash against AI and growing concern about our reliance on screens, an…
The one change that worked: Anxiety had me hiding from the world – then two magic questions set me free
I used to be terrified of socialising, certain I would embarrass myself the moment I opened my mouth. And as for dates …As with a lot of teenagers, social confidence was not my strong suit. Throughout my time at school in the early 2010s, I hated the…
Does avoiding misery make you happy?
It might seem like self-preservation, but the results aren’t necessarily what you’d expectIn Dr Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham, the relentlessly upbeat Sam-I-Am spends the entire book badgering a grouchy, nameless narrator into tasting the eponymous dish. He…
‘It’s problematic’: concern as weight-loss jab maker sponsors Vogue World event
Critics say partnership between Mounjaro maker Eli Lilly and fashion giant suggests thinness is an aspirationThe fifth iteration of Vogue World, overseen by Anna Wintour, took place in Milan on Tuesday night. Gigi Hadid and Jennifer Lopez provided…
‘I’d like to explain why I was such a monster back then’: six writers on the apologies they wish they’d made
From making life hell for a young teacher to doubting the motives of a caring foster mother, Olivia Petter, Derek Owusu, Annie Lord and other writers repent for past bad behaviourAt school, I was not a good girl. Actually, that’s putting it mildly:…
‘They accepted the money but didn’t take care of my child’: what Luna Wong’s death reveals about the treatment of international students in the UK
When her parents waved her off to study in England they hoped it would be a fresh start the 16-year-old needed after struggling with her mental health in Hong Kong. Instead, 10 months later, she was dead. What went so wrong?As a young teen, one of Luna…
Experience: a brain surgeon dropped part of my skull on the floor
I was a healthy 34-year-old when a mass of blood vessels ruptured close to my brain. It took three neurosurgeons and a risky 16-hour operation to fix meOn a Sunday in May 2017, I was at the gym and using a chest press when there was this pop. It wasn’t a…
I love my life and my cup is full but I’m drowning in shame for things left undone. How can I balance it all? | Leading questions
You are not the only one, advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith writes. It will help to ask whether you have a time problem or a bandwidth problemRead more Leading questionsI love my life in so many ways. I have a rewarding job, I’m making stellar…
Something in your eye? Here’s how to get it out – without making it worse
It’s natural to want to soothe eye irritation, but mishandling could lead to more problems, experts warn. We asked them for advice on how to deal with it properlyIt may feel like a gritty, annoying sensation, or a sharp pain. Either way, you may have the…