WELCOME

It might be a primary-school friend who can

WELLBEING

Loud, quiet, bright, dim, smooth, textured – where there’s a will, there’s a way to create spaces that work for everyone

Moving target

Do you get your five portions of fruit and veg a day and eight hours’ sleep a night? How about that step count? Are you hitting the 10,000 mark? With so many wellness goals out there, maybe it’s time to explore their usefulness and origins and aim for a more personalised approach

Sounds like a plan

In a noisy world, designing quiet into communal areas is an important way of creating shared spaces that are welcoming, healthy and inclusive

Out of season

Winter can be a difficult season for many, but some find it particularly challenging. If you’re among those who experience seasonal affective disorder, it’s worth trying to manage the symptoms by preparing early, acting swiftly and taking a holistic view of mind, body and soul

Solid support

An introduction to chair yoga

Slow it down

How breathwork during the day can make for a more restful night

LIVING

A warm smile from a stranger, an easy chat with a friend, a cosy night in with a book – take comfort in life’s simple pleasures

Hear your voice

Face-to-face conversations are necessary for nurturing relationships, but when that’s not possible, could audio messages help you calmly keep in touch?

Smiley people

The simple act that spreads happiness

Side by side

The benefits of walking in nature are multiplied when sharing the route with a friend

Comfort zone

Why revisiting much-loved media often trumps newer offerings

OLD FAVOURITES AND THE TEAM’S CHOICES

Here are a few ideas from Sophie Jo and her friends and family, while over the page, members of the Breathe team reveal their go-to pick-me-ups

What’s age appropriate anyway?

Whether you’re 19 or 90, the best activities to practise are the ones that bring you genuine joy. Prepare to dip your toe into a brave new world

PROUD TO BE DIFFERENT

Meet some of the people happily kicking the age stereotypes into touch

MINDFULNESS

There’s more than one way to access the benefits of meditation – time to tune into a different rhythm?

Being with lonely

Loneliness is a challenging emotion, stigmatised by some, feared by many. It’s a feeling that comes most people’s way, however, and digging beneath the surface of what it means for you can be helpful

NEW APPROACH

Debbi outlines different ways to explore loneliness

Presence of mind

Memory provides a corridor through time that helps sustain sense of self, which explains why it’s distressing when it falters. Here, we explore how science is beginning to understand what makes it work – and look at ways it might be honed

Inner guardian

Learn to become a loving parent to yourself

Bear no grudge

Whether it’s focused on someone else’s lifestyle, career success or character traits, envy isn’t a nice feeling, but creative writing can help to overcome it and shift your gaze

Lost in music

If listening to the repetitive beats of techno and electronic dance music can have a similar effect on the brain to meditation, is it time to mix the two and seek inner quiet via rhythm?

CREATIVITY

Forget rules, eschew tradition, quieten self-doubt – imagine

Life stories

Exploring the role of the orphan protagonist in fiction

Create your own writing retreat

Don’t let a lack of cash get in the way of diving into a world of creativity

Well-travelled road

Happiness, loneliness, frustration, devastation – astretch of motorway is as much a conduit for emotions as it is for traffic

Circle of calm

Discover how to weave the beauty, quiet and inner peace of collective mandala-making into the fabric of the modern world

ESCAPE

Sometimes fearsome, often beautiful, always magical – the

Precious planet

The World Nature Photography Awards were founded in the belief that photography can inspire people to help shape the future of Earth in a positive way. These stunning images are from 2022’s competition

Aquatic adventures

Tranquil, illuminating, awesome – welcome to the wonders of snorkelling

At one with nature

Responsible travel is helping to empower local people, protect wildlife and preserve traditions in the Southern African country of Botswana

Island of opportunity

There’s something undeniably romantic about visiting a small island – but why, exactly? Perhaps it’s because these specks in the sea represent or promise the mind’s desires

Golden gifts

Treasure your personal qualities – they’re not just for others