WELCOME

Imagine the scenario: it’s your 10th birthday, and

Solid support

The benefits of letting a wall share the load in an exercise routine

Take the load on

It might have originated in the military, but rucking is a versatile and accessible fitness trend. Here’s all you need to know

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN RUCKING

DO… Get the basics right . You need

A cosy night in

A new genre of slow-paced, low-stakes video game might offer a surprisingly mindful escape

HOW TO PLAY COSY GAMES WITH INTENTION

Escape, not avoidance . Gaming should always be

OTHER COSY ACTIVITIES

If gaming’s not for you but you find

‘Most people have something they’re afraid of’

Experiencing a phobia is surprisingly normal, but there are strategies to prevent the fear from becoming overwhelming

A FEW WELL-KNOWN PHOBIAS…

Arachnophobia A fear of spiders is thought to

LIVING

Every element in an ecosystem relies on others

Mushrooms in mind

At this time of year, a stroll through damp woodlands could become a tranquil hunt for mushrooms – wild wonders that reveal themselves only to those who slow down, stay curious and drop their eyes to the earth

Wild about sleep

For humans, drifting off into the land of nod means lying down and hopefully enjoying a few hours of restorative rest while consciousness is suspended. In the animal world, it’s not quite that simple

Same old scene?

If catch-ups with friends have become a tad predictable, here’s how to change them up and create new shared memories again

Ode to autumn

The autumn garden, with its vibrant colours and mellow light, offers soothing beauty alongside some profound and valuable insights

Nature’s bounty

Cristina shares one of her favourite dishes that’s full of comforting autumn flavours

Go reds!

Common in some parts of the world but endangered in others, the red squirrel is beloved by many a conservationist determined to see them thrive

ESCAPE

Dewy mornings, warm waters, a kiss of cool

Blowing in the wind

Lift your eyes to the skies and explore the wonderfully quirky world of weathervanes

TWISTS IN THE TALE

Just a few famous weathervanes around the world

It takes a village

A homestay with the Karen tribe in the lush highland forests of northern Thailand offers an authentic immersion into their community and culture, and a unique ethical encounter with elephants

Pleasures of the Fall

A personal reflection on why autumn is the very best time for outdoor swimming

The magic of moss

Enjoy the simple allure of nature’s lush, green miniature landscapes

World of wonder

A planet bursting with colour, emotion, awe and intensity is revealed in this stunning selection from 2025’s Travel Photographer of the Year competition

Embrace the landscape

Details are important, but keep in mind the wider scene

MINDFULNESS

Pull back the curtain on positive feelings and get comfortable experiencing hope, happiness and exhilaration

Displays of affection

The concept of love languages, developed in the early 1990s, isn’t just useful for romantic relationships. Understanding how your friends and family express care and fondness could offer some intriguing insights into the way they tick and improve many different interactions

Just one look...

A fraction of a second is all it takes to form a first impression, claim scientists. But how reliable are these snap judgments?

An invitation to hope

How to overcome self-protective blocks to feelings of excitement, joy and positive anticipation

Rights and wrongs

Everyone makes mistakes – it’s what happens next that matters

Take five

The benefits of mindfulness are well established, but building a regular habit can be a struggle. What if there was a set of simple prompts that could serve as a reminder?

CREATIVITY

Putting an idea temporarily to one side can be a powerful way to give it the space it needs to grow into its full potential

The long walk

Walking takes centre stage on the big screen for good reason. Here’s why film-makers can’t resist a good trail tale

Eerie in the everyday

From scarecrows in the fields to robots with all-too-human faces, there’s both terror and fascination in our experience of the uncanny

Petal pushers

Adam Brand is helping to run his family’s business, an old-world fabric flower factory that’s been creating handmade artificial blooms in New York’s garment district for more than a century, and has a clientele of style-savvy devotees from major fashion houses to the Hollywood A-list

Sowing the seed of an idea

Ideas are seeds from which the shape of a creative endeavour can arise, but sometimes putting them to one side gives them time to grow