Psychologies

Editor-in-Chief Suzy Walker Design Director Lynne Lanning Creative Director Laura Doherty Features Director Elizabeth Heathcote Production Editor Vee Sey Deputy Production Editor Leona Gerrard Associate Editor Anita Chaudhuri Wellness Director Ali Ro

Nina is founder of The Expater, a lifestyle blog for women living abroad. After residing in 10 countries, including Syria, India, Angola and Chile, she made it her mission to help women recognise their self-worth wherever they live. ‘I got fed up wit

‘When nothing is sure, everything is possible.’ I love this quote from novelist Margaret Drabble in Heidi Scrimgeour’s brilliant piece about how to find peace in unpredictable times (page 32). ‘Place your hands on your heart, breathe deeply and tune

@KatieThistleton: I’m writing a new column for  @PsychologiesMag all about the life lessons of our twenties – starting with comparing yourself to others and social media. Head to psychologies.co.uk @_KateTownshend: Lovely feedback on my @Psychologie

WHEN WE THINK OF wildlife photography, our thoughts drift to images of elephants, big cats and exotic species – but the UK is home to amazing wildlife. Taking the time to enjoy and photograph it is a great way to highlight and preserve local habitats

My best Friend, lee My mother recently passed away from cancer after eight months of illness and being in the hospice for only a week. My friend, Lee, has been a great support during what has been such a difficult time for me. Just a few days afte

KINDNESS BOOSTS HAPPINESS – that much is established in science. But researchers at the University of Oxford wanted to know whether it mattered who you were kind to – in other words, does it boost happiness more if you are kind to people you know wel

JOIN OUR CLUB! BE PART OF OUR WORLD-CLASS ONLINE COACHING CLUB – AND MEMBERSHIP IS FREE TO ALL SUBSCRIBERS. LEAP INTO A BETTER LIFE AT PSYCHOLOGIES.CO.UK/LIFE-LEAP-CLUB-NEW-SUBSCRIBERS ■

I ALWAYS CARRY REUSABLE food and drink containers, but sometimes it can be tricky to find a spot to refill. I recommend the recently updated Refill app, which is free and created by the plastic pollution campaigning organisation City to Sea. With a b

In cinemas now INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS, this is the feature debut from writer-director Henry Blake. It explores drug trafficking from inner cities to rural areas, exploiting vulnerable children. Set in the heart of working-class east London, County L

THE SEASON OF GOODWILL is upon us, so here’s a three-point plan to happy hack your Christmas! • Make a commitment to prioritise your wellbeing this festive season. • We are conditioned to think selfishness – we call it self-care – is ‘bad’, so journ

HOW IMPORTANT ARE GOALS? I feel in limbo, almost lost, without them. Setting goals gives you intention and resolve, and helps you guide your life in the direction you desire. I never set a goal as a response to comparing my life, looks or achievement

The best moment of a new relationship is the second before you kiss for the first time. You’re face to face, close enough for it to be almost certain, but far enough away for it not to be a done deal – and there’s a concoction of excitement, lust and

The Psychologies-endorsed ‘Find a coach’ directory with Barefoot a choice of top coaches, all with postgraduate training and accredited by the University of Chester and the International Coach Federation. Find a coach who suits you to help you naviga

Author Pete Mosley works with introverts and quiet or shy people who lack the self-belief to promote themselves or grab life with both hands Q I used to love travelling in Europe, with its different cultures and food. Before the pandemic, I began

gives you the tools to find a coach who meets your needs. Barefoot Coaching has been at the forefront of coaching and coach training for 25 years. It has a proven track record as a provider of high-level coaching and coach training to organisations a

1 Log your emotions. Write notes about how you feel on a weekly basis. Record the moments that made you feel especially happy, sad and envious. Look back over your journal of emotions regularly to identify patterns. Ask yourself which situations spa

Q My partner has an adult daughter he raised alone and she is close to his family. My relationship with her was OK but I didn’t fit into the clan, found it claustrophobic and my mental health declined. Eventually, I attempted suicide while she was in

Join the Life Leap Club and receive free coaching from our experts. All you have to do is subscribe to access free coaching videos, inspirational resources and masterclasses. Go to psychologies.co.uk/ life-leap-club-new-subscribers . View video conte

Uncertainty feels so unsafe, we opt to stay in bad situations to avoid it. Recognise this to help you embrace uncertainty and build negative capability. Use your mind to employ soothing self-talk. As novelist Margaret Drabble writes, when nothing is

Consider what you do to care for your health and wellbeing in the following areas: • PHYSICAL • EMOTIONAL • PSYCHOLOGICAL • SOCIAL • SPIRITUAL • FINANCIAL • EDUCATIONAL • How does your current behaviour benefit you? • What does your current behavio

WHEN I HEAR THE WORD pension, I immediately switch off. I have never been a numbers person and have to admit that even after being self-employed for three years, I have yet to set one up! However, when I read that having a sustainable pension can red

• TheUK Council for Psychotherapy(UKCP) is the leading research, innovation, educational and regulatory body working to advance psychotherapy for the benefit of all. We have a register of more than 8,000 individual members, who offer a range of thera

1 What now? What does injury mean to you – the end of your career or, if you are unable to go for a run, do you need to find another way to manage your stress? 2 You and your injury: Because you can no longer exercise, even temporarily, how does y

FOR MANY YEARS, I WORKED as a sports commentator. I was that bloke on the telly who shouted ‘goal!’ for a living. It was great fun, but it wasn’t as relational as I wanted. I tried my hand at a few other things, but it was only when I went into thera

Sports injuries affect people differently, but they can have a deep psychological impact on both the pro and amateur athlete. Listen to Sarah Niblock and Gary Bloom talk about how a sports injury can adversely affect psychological wellbeing and what

Social media sucks. There, I said it! Conversely, I like it because it allows me to keep in touch with friends all over the world and enables me to work from home, but… And that’s a big but: The ever-present demand to comment, interact and be sociabl

The four-week ‘How to be happy working from home’ programme with our coach of the month, career specialist Michelle Tranter, is designed to help you fine-tune a homeworking lifestyle to your maximum advantage. We look at the practical side, including

OWING TO THE pandemic and modern technology, more of us are working from home than ever. At the last count, 49 per cent of people in the UK were doing so, at least some of the time. But now that the novelty has worn off, many homeworkers are struggli

‘Use “stackable functions” – a term from permaculture that describes getting more value out of a single activity. For example, if you take the children to school every day, you could walk part of the way, which would give you family connection, time

If you feel crushed by habit but also thrive when certain elements are present in your routine, rituals can provide the daily structure you need without impinging on the freedom and spontaneity that you love. Even mavericks need order to their week a

Winter solstice is on the way, with traditional symbols of fire and light on the darkest day of the year. All life contains light and dark; bitter and sweet – ‘give me more’ pleasant and ‘not now, not ever!’ unpleasant. But, so often, we embrace the

A little indulgence is all part of the fun but can result in bloating and indigestion. Support your digestive system with this healing pose that relieves acid build-up, wind, indigestion, IBS symptoms and constipation by applying pressure on the inte

The festive season, however joyful, can be short on relaxation – but it can also be a sensorial and emotional delight. See it as an opportunity to practise mindfulness in all its glory, indulging in every feeling, smell and taste. Here are five steps

Essays On Black Womanhood By Kenya Hunt (HarperCollins, £16.99) Sharp and funny, these powerful and provocative essays from a trailblazing global fashion editor are essential reading. Hunt celebrates the star-bright creativity and empathetic fe

By Jenny Erpenbeck (Granta,£14.99) Erpenbeck grew up in East Berlin. She was 22 when the Wall fell and her way of life and country disappeared. She has spent her adulthood considering loss, memory and art, and how the three can deeply affect a life

Lustre for life. Simone Thomas biotin haircare plan, from £130. Save 25% when using the code ‘Biotin25’at checkout. simonethomaswellness.com Unlock the imagination. Child subscription, £12.99 per month; adult subscription, £18.99 per month, lovemyr

Soothing and smoothing. Sonic-powered mask, from the UFO 2 range, £249 each, foreo.com Dip into natural nourishment. Olverum Bath Oil, £36.50,olverum.com Write your way to awareness. ‘The Happy Self Journal’, £19.90 each, happysel›ournal.com Po

Unwind, chill out and relax. Aromatherapy Real Calm Discovery Kit, £13.45, tisserand.com Decorate your lobes with climbing jewellery. Silver and pearl ear wings, £22,potterandmooch.co.uk Find a creative solution. ‘Down the rabbit hole’ jigsaw puz

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WREATHS ARE USED as a symbol in many cultures. Their origins date as far back as the Roman Empire and the pagan festival Yule. Later, we adopted the Christmas door wreath tradition here in Britain. The meaning is beautiful whatever your religious vie

‘Psychologies’ readers can buy a copy of Christmas Cookies by Hannah Miles for the special price of £6 (RRP £9.99). To order, go to rylandpeters.com and use code ‘PSYCHCOOKIES’ at checkout. Postage costs may apply. Offer valid until 18 December 2020.

The ‘Yo! Hey, everyone!’Adrienne introduction may leave you feeling like a lie-down, but stick with it. Power Hour is brilliant listening, especially Adrienne’s ‘best of careers’and ‘best of food and nutrition’.The wellness professional’s expert gues

Pema Chödrön is our favourite wise woman. Beloved Buddhist teacher, author, nun and mother, she has inspired millions of people around the world who have been touched by her example and message of practising peace in these turbulent times. The Pema C