WELCOME

How do you spend the earliest hours of

Good morning, sunshine

Getting out into the morning light can boost alertness, mood and energy levels and help you sleep better. Understanding the science gives you the chance to improve your routine

Emotions on display

Whether you’re embarrassed to cry in public or tut loudly when someone pushes in front of you, is there a right or wrong way to express your feelings around others?

See the funny side

Whether a wry smile or a hearty guffaw, the capacity to find humour in difficult circumstances can be a means of fostering connection and overcoming adversity

HOW TO USE HUMOUR TO CONNECT

Connecting through humour isn’t always as easy as it sounds. You need to know what to say, and when to say it. A mistimed joke can land as badly as a slap in the face. It requires a combination of psychological insight, confidence and inner warmth. So if you want to know how to use humour to bond with others, read on

Firm foundations

Becoming more aware of the subconscious beliefs you built as a child, and continue to construct, can help you keep your internal house in order

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

Beliefs are often deep in your subconscious, meaning

Go with your gut

What is interoception, and how can you hone this invaluable sense?

LIVING

Making the decision to leave or quit something is never easy – give yourself permission to take your time and move through it carefully

Special delivery

Few creatures have such an enduring presence in myth as the stork – and at last they are returning to the UK

Bouncing back

A career break can knock your confidence. Here’s how to feel better about stepping back into work

Lentils forever

The humble lentil has been linked to longevity. Here’s the lowdown on this simple legume

Winter warmth

Two of Tess’s favourite lentil dishes

Rooted in stillness

The mindful art of growing a cutting garden

HOW TO BEGIN A MINDFUL CUTTING GARDEN

Every space, however small, can nurture a connection to nature. A cutting garden may begin with a single pot of sweet peas on a balcony, a windowsill tray of herbs or a border of perennials beside a path

The art of quitting well

It isn’t easy to decide when the time is right to move on from a job or relationship, but knowing how to end something well can give you the confidence to make that choice

MINDFULNESS

How you relate to others is fluid and ever-changing, shaped by who you are with and how you feel. What connections will you choose to create?

Happy by accident

Don’t be spooked: coincidences are a wonderful way to deepen your connection to yourself and others

No strings attached

The case for giving without expecting anything in return

Peace of mind

Taking those first steps on the journey back to yourself

A tangled web

Recognising your attachment style as secure, anxious or avoidant can help you to be more conscious in your relationships, but nothing is set in stone. Seeing the way you relate to others as fluid and ever-changing can be liberating

Missed connection

How social media can sometimes create an illusion of closeness

CREATIVITY

Soothing, natural, harmonious – the gentle sounds of a wind chime, carried on the breeze, serve as an anchor to the present

All fired up

Working from her studio in Pembrokeshire, Wales, Linda Unsworth has found creative ways to make her beautiful wood-fired ceramics echo the landscape she lives in

Blowin’ in the wind

The music of a wind chime on the breeze can serve as a reminder to pause, breathe and step outdoors

To catch a whisper

The joys of writing regular pages in your journal may be familiar – but you’ll be surprised at the creative ideas that can emerge from a junk version

ESCAPE

Set off on two wheels and weave your way through a picturesque landscape – unwind, reconnect with nature and find your inner calm

Into the woods

Remember to catch sight of a sea of glorious bluebells this spring: their magic is ancient and fleeting

Animal magic

A selection of stunning shots from the latest Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition

Pedal power

In a nation criss-crossed with disused railway lines, scenic rail trails are the easy and accessible way to enjoy off-road cycling

The great escape

The joys (and frustrations) of crosswords, and the refuge they offer from life’s stresses

How to be ordinary

Everyday moments don’t come with hashtags – they just exist. And they’re beautiful