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Why am I like this?

Elle Hunt explores how to live well in the modern world

  • An illustration of a woman with her hand over her lips so as to signal keeping quiet

    Feeling off? Your secrets could be making you stressed

    Researcher Valentina Bianchi says holding in information can take a mental toll. Here’s how to manage it
  • Person looking out of a yellow-framed window in an illustration.

    Try small steps and set the bar low: how to find the meaning of life

    Don’t treat it as a lofty quest, experts say. You can make each day feel more meaningful with humbler methods
  • An illustration of a person cozied up under blankets

    Feel your feelings and reconnect with past passions: how to recover from burnout

    Recognizing the physical and psychological tells is half the battle, says author Emma Gannon
  • A woman at sunset or dawn meditating in front of a large window.

    How to end the year right: come up with your own personal rituals

    Rituals are different from routines – they elevate everyday life. Here’s how to create meaning beyond the festive season
  • We need to be proactive and flexible about our interactions.

    Feeling lonely? Six ways to connect with friends – even when busy

    If you aren’t getting the quality time or intimacy you need, try these connection experiments to shake up interactions
  • illustration of person wearing sports gear, kneeling next to football

    I’m terrible on the field. But my amateurism might actually have benefits

    Find an appealing activity and stick with it even if you lack skill, says Karen Walrond, author of In Defense of Dabbling
  • Graphic illustration of two people - one in a party hat looking at a laptop, and one sucking on a drink looking at the other person.

    I need to send a difficult email. Will a ‘forcing party’ help me stop procrastinating?

    Planning a time to do things we’re putting off in the presence of others makes them more pleasant – and less difficult
  • Graphic of man and woman sitting at table with red circles on their cheeks

    Is my friend mad at me or am I just insecure?

    The fear a friend secretly hates you is usually less about them, and more about old patterns of self-doubt
  • an illustration of a person anxiously looking at texts on their phone screen

    My friends made plans without me – is it weird to invite myself?

    New research has shed light on the psychology of ‘self-invitation’, and why people hold back from asking to join others’ plans
  • illustration of person looking into mirror

    Is it true that I ‘don’t get angry’? Or am I actually dangerously suppressing it?

    Anger is rarely thought of as positive – but the emotion itself exists to protect us, says author of Good Anger, Sam Parker
  • illustration of person dressed in purple laying on back while looking at phone, with mountains and moon cycle in the back

    My hours seem to slip away. How can I manage my time better?

    How you pass your days is how you pass your life – mine seem to slip through my fingers
  • woman

    I’m disagreeable – and it’s backed by science. Can I change my personality?

    I scored low for agreeableness in a personality test for the ‘big five’ traits – does this mean I’m doomed to be disagreeable? I looked into how I can change who I am
  • Untitled Artwork 430

    I want to host more parties, but I’m worried nobody will come

    Throwing a party can be nerve-racking. How do we get over anxiety so we can get together?
  • Illustration of woman holding piggy bank and looking thoughtful

    I can afford my life. Why can’t I be less anxious about money?

    Being self-employed, I am familiar with my bank account’s ebbs and flows. My worries about money aren’t entirely rooted in reality
  • illustration of a woman looking one way and a younger version of her pulling her the other way

    Can my ‘inner child’ help me navigate life as an adult?

    People on TikTok are exploring the idea of ‘reparenting’ their younger self. Could I reconnect with mine?
  • Graphic illustration of woman looking at doorway that has light streaming through it.

    Is being a cynic bad for you? Here’s what I learned

    I don’t have much faith in the future – but a psychology professor says cynicism doesn’t hold up to scrutiny
  • illustration of a woman sitting at a table writing a letter

    I want closure – but do I have a hope of ever getting it?

    It’s tempting to believe that if we could speak our piece, we’d be able to accept our situation and move on
  • illustration of person wearing blue top sits at green chair and looks to the left

    Why do I feel like I’m stuck in a ‘waiting room’, hoping for my life to get started?

    Joy can feel elusive in today’s economy – a counsellor talks to us about moving the needle from surviving to thriving
  • illustration of a woman holding a tablet with posts in the air around her saying things like 'ur cancelled'

    Everyone’s so intolerant online. Am I right to stay silent?

    Call-out culture has left many of us afraid of posting. Africa Brooke offers suggestions for navigating online hostility
  • ‘In late 2020 the cumulative toll hit and, after six months of working almost around the clock, I broke down at my computer mid-sentence.’

    Is it possible to break the cycle of burnout for good?

    The cycle of busy periods, burnout and recovery has started to feel grimly predictable. Are we doomed to repeat it forever – or can we develop immunity?
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