Friends with benefits

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

Was it five years ago already? THE pandemic ...

Whether it’s a thumbs-up, a smiley face or even a simple letter ‘K’ (which means ‘OK’ if you don’t have teens!) I’ve realised over the past few years that most of my communication has boiled down into

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.

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

Danielle Holmes, 38, runs an IT business with her husband, Kyle, 33. They live in Wiltshire with their two children, aged 13 and 12. I’m generally a very chilled-out person, so when I start getting an