4 d. ago Drink tea, tidy up and take action! Can advice from artists really improve your life?

As three self-help books chock full of arty wisdom are released, an art critic tests whether they can improve a seemingly lost cause: himYou’d think at this point I would have learned all the lessons I could from art. I have been a full-time, professional art critic for most of my adult life. I spend my days in galleries, surrounded by art, reading about it, absorbing it. I like art a lot, but I am also cynical about its supposed benefits beyond the merely aesthetic.But just as a new study by the Art Fund finds that art isn’t just good for our mental wellbeing but our physical health, three new books are hell-bent on proving that art is chock full of important life lessons too. Can art really teach us anything, can it change the world, can it make you a better person? We might as well put it to the test and see if it can improve the apparently unimprovable: me. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago ‘I moved to Spain to improve my life – but there are just too many foreigners'

Eva is one of thousands of Malaga residents who feel like their city is being swamped by tourists – but unlike most protesters, she was born in Sweden

Politics

1 week ago Labour really ISN'T working for most Brits: Study reveals average person has seen 'no meaningful improvement in their life' since Starmer took office

An annual 'Life in the UK' survey of 7,000 people, carried out by charity Carnegie UK, showed no significant change in the wellbeing of Brits since 2023.

Politics

1 week ago Average person’s life saw ‘no meaningful improvement’ over past year – charity

Carnegie UK found stagnating wellbeing and persistent hardship for millions of people since 2023.

Politics

2 w. ago Enjoy seamless living with these smart gadgets and innovative products

From ergonomic desks and chairs to tech resale programmes, these products are designed to improve your everyday life

Politics

2 w. ago Tests that diagnose dementia before symptoms appear could be available on the NHS within four years

The government has awarded £5million to researchers to help develop improved ways of diagnosing the disease and boost the quality of life of people living with it.

Science

2 w. ago The hobby that can help improve brain health as you get older

Learning how to play an instrument offers a plethora of benefits for cognitive health and engagement

Politics

2 w. ago The blood pressure secret: everything you need to know to improve yours – and live a longer, healthier life

It is known as ‘the silent killer’, because many people suffer from high blood pressure without even being aware of it. Here is where your numbers should be, and how to change them for the betterThe older you get, and the more obsessed with your health, the more it feels as if life comes down to numbers: how many more years you can expect; your lean body mass; your percentage of visceral fat; how dense your bones are; how many kilos you can squat; how long you can deadhang; how often you still do it; your levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol; your resting heart rate; your overnight blood oxygen level; how quickly you can run; how many steps you do in a day; how many hours you sleep; how fast you are shrinking; how often you get up to pee.I say you, of course, but what I mean is me. I fixate on all those things and more. Do you want to know my vascular age as calculated by my smart scales? I will tell you. The point is that some of these numbers matter more than others. And one that def...

Society

2 w. ago ‘It’s quite useless to us’: What autistic people actually want from the Trump administration

US government is seeking proof that acetaminophen leads to autism while not providing ‘services and support so we can be included in the community’The Trump administration is seeking to “make the proof” that acetaminophen (or paracetamol) leads to autism, Robert F Kennedy said earlier this month during a televised cabinet meeting.But autistic researchers and advocates say they are significantly less interested in the “causes” of autism – which decades of research have shown to have a strong connection to genetics – than in support services and research on issues that would improve their quality of life. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Doctor says adding key foods to your diet can help relieve menopause symptoms

Dr Martin Kinsella is known as the Hormone Doctor as he works to improve the quality of life for men and women. He says adding some foods to your diet could relieve menopause symptoms

Society

3 w. ago Young adults taking up eight habits could prevent and reverse prediabetes

The Life’s Essential 8 test was made to measure and improve cardiovascular health, but could be a major indicator for young adults with prediabetes on where they may be going wrong

Politics

3 w. ago Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 review: the most comfortable noise cancelling headphones

Premium commuter cans upgraded with longer battery life, USB-C audio and improved sound, but still cost a lotBose has updated its top-of-the-line noise-cancelling headphones with longer battery, USB-C audio and premium materials, making the commuter favourites even better.The second-generation QuietComfort Ultra headphones still have an expensive price tag, from £450 (€450/$450/A$700), which is more than most competitors, including Sony’s WH-1000XM6. Continue reading...

Politics