A therapist and a science writer look at the issues with wellness apps and argue for a radical new approach. — In 2017, two psychologists from Duke University published the results of a decades-long study that stands to change the way we think about mental health and what we do to protect our own wellbeing. After following more than 1,000 people from the time they were 11 until they turned 38…

The happy-family aspirational blueprint is a farce. It’s time to make a decision for yourself. — “Hazel, I think it might be time to freeze your eggs.” Mum barely bothered with a “hello” before dropping that telephone bombshell — but she was probably right to convey some urgency. Menopause comes early for the women in our family. Her periods stopped at age 42 and I was…

How to escape the distraction trap and train your mind to flow — On a hot Tuesday evening last summer, I leant over the ropes of a boxing ring to watch two men sparring. Something wasn’t right. Having coached both of them for years, I knew these fighters well. Normally, their rounds were full of classy angles, pinpoint accuracy and quick reactions. But…

Why Your Eyes Tell You Lies — Hallucination is a word that most people associate with drug-use or psychotic disorder. However, the ability to distort and add to the information that we perceive as reality is a standard function of a healthy mind. …

A six-step process for generating true drive — How do you know when you’re feeling motivated? Think of an activity that draws you in — one that has the kind of shiny, sparkly lure that gets you moving automatically in its direction. This article is about finding and fuelling that experience. But first, let’s talk about what happens…

How to Unearth the Joys of Wonder, Awe and Epiphany — When I was about seven, I found fragments of a buried relic in our front garden. Outdoors was my favourite place to be. Few things could fascinate me as much as an army of ants marching up a skyscraper-scale plant stem, or a butterfly painted in impossible colours. The garden…

On death, longing and little glimpses of more — I once thought myself into a state that verged on existential crisis. I was at art school (predictably), comparing the work of Lucio Fontana to the photography of Jeff Wall. …

Five powerful questions for winning freedom from self-sabotage — What does your self-destruct button look like? We all have one, although we use them in different ways. Maybe you’re an avoider? Do you procrastinate your time away with computer games, cleaning or Netflix? Do you fail to submit your job applications? …

Finding success in the wake of shame — Extract from The Mind Monster Solution Image credit: Greg Funnell Title credit: Eve Parmiter tat tat, tat tat, tat, tat … boom. That rhythmic thud of glove on pad never leaves you, and I can hear it now breaking up the barked instructions from coach to fighter: ‘Don’t get drawn…