The joy of low-maintenance friends

Chatting with a barista in the coffee shop, nodding at that woman you see every day as you walk your dog. Sociologists call this type of connection ‘weak ties’, but their impact is anything but weak, writes Kellie Gillespie Wright.

Try these practises, proven to help you feel more joy

Midlife – and all the stresses that come with it, like divorce, redundancy and bereavement – can take its toll on long-established female friendships. As we saw in the last series of The White Lotus,

There’s a good reason to tap into happiness right now, and it’s probably not why you think, writes Jackee Holder

Research reveals there’s a gap between how ‘liked’ you think you are and how much your friends, colleagues and acquaintances really do enjoy your company. Acting health editor Chloe Gray reports on how to bridge it

Thought-provoking culture, insightful science and inspirational snippets to bring you up to date on all things uplifting, hopeful and happy-making