Mental Health

Taking care of yourself and finding a moment for mindfulness isn’t always easy, even for those who’ve practised it for years. Here, columnist Grace Victory shares her own struggles to refill her cup, and offers four simple ways to bring mindfulness into your everyday life – even when it’s tough It’s actually ironic that I’m

Do you want to start a yoga practice, but have no idea where to begin? We ask Hannah Barrett, one of the UK’s leading online yoga and meditation teachers, some common questions Hi Hannah, what are some of the benefits of yoga? Yoga has a host of benefits, including reduced stress and anxiety, increased strength,

Most of us are familiar with the difficult side of social media. Whether that be all-hour access to bad news, furious arguments in comment sections, comparison traps, body shaming, or even cyberbullying, these once exciting technological platforms have started to lose their shine a bit. Though, of course, there is another side. New research from

Host of The Repair Shop, Jay Blades, joins Happiful to talk about the amazing ability to mend anything, even ourselves, with the help of community, human connection, and conversation Jay Blades is visibly buzzing with energy when he pops up on the screen from his agent’s central London office. The past month has been hectic

With the ASICS London 10k due to take place on 10th July, UN Women UK, Stylist Strong Women, and LimeLight Sports Club have partnered to campaign for safety, change, and freedom in London UN Women UK’s ‘Safe Spaces Now‘ initiative aims to redesign public spaces and people’s behaviours to free them from sexual harassment. Supporters

Getting to grips with how brands are twisting eco values for big business We’ve all seen it: products claiming to be ‘sustainably-sourced’, ‘carbon neutral’, or ‘environmentally-friendly’. But when might a seemingly positive policy actually be a bad thing? This is where greenwashing comes in, and it’s something we need to flush out. According to the

A new study reveals the power of feeling seen and heard for LGBTQ+ people Mainstream literature has a history of underrepresenting LGBTQ+ characters, choosing not to include them and centring heteronormative characters instead. Despite this, there is a history of LGBTQ+ literature that dates back to Ancient Rome and Greece, it’s just rarely taught. For

Psychotherapist and author of Ten to Zen, Ten Times Happier and now How To Be Your Own Therapist, joins our podcast to discuss working on yourself, managing change and addressing your internal tone Owen O’Kane believes wholeheartedly in the power of good therapy. As someone who was previously a NHS Clinical Lead for Mental Health,

For those times, when even the simple things feel impossible, try this Good and bad mental health days are something many of us will cycle through at some point in our lives, and, usually, we have strategies in place to keep on going about our daily routines. But, when things get really bad, those usual

What is it, why does it happen, and what signs should I be looking out for? We share everything you need to know about passive suicidal ideation Passive suicidal ideation is something that many of us experience, but few of us seriously talk about. Perhaps you have thought “I wish I could fall asleep and

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and for good reason. Seeing our innermost thoughts and feelings on the page can be a hugely beneficial thing, allowing us to express ourselves in a safe space, and process our experiences. Here, psychotherapist Bhavna explores the powerful practice of journaling, and how you can harness

From optical illusion cake videos to a virtual challenge across the UK, and a film that’ll inspire you to chase your dreams, try something new with our enriching suggestions 1. Page-turners Great TED Talks: Creativity by Tom May Never underestimate the power of a TED Talk, especially when you can access 100 of them right

It’s the small gestures that can make all the difference and, here, we’re sharing five ways to let the one you love know how you feel 1. Lingering eye contact It lets someone know that you’re listening, helps you express and read emotions, and studies have gone on to show that eye contact has the

When it comes to finding our personal sanctuary, we all deserve a space that can invigorate and inspire, as well as offering peace and protection – whether that be a physical place or a mental state. Here, mental health advocate, author, and broadcaster Fearne Cotton reveals how she found her own happy place, and invites

In what could be a breakthrough moment for those living with chronic pain, reachers from the University of Oxford have a new understanding of the mechanisms that cause chronic pain In a study published in BMJ Journals, estimated that chronic pain affects between one-third and a half of the UK population, approximately just under 28

Birth anxiety is a common experience, but it doesn’t have to rule you Birth anxiety is extremely common – thought to affect up to 80% of women, with a further 14% experiencing ‘tokophobia’, a severe fear of childbirth. And, if we take a minute to consider where this fear might come from, it doesn’t take

It’s that time of year again and in the lead-up to the final weeks of exam season, students have been tackling their revision in a rather unconventional way Thousands of students will sit their A-Level and GCSE exams in the next few weeks before school’s out for summer, but with so much information to take

With heavy news cycles, it’s easy to see how staying informed can come at a cost to your mental health. But it doesn’t have to be that way In today’s world of constant connectivity, there’s little avoiding the news. Rolling news coverage, and countless online media outlets, mean it’s on our screens, and at our

If you’re feeling lost, detached from your purpose or low on energy, spiritual coaching may be just what you’re looking for We live in a time when there is an abundance of supportive professionals available to us. Whether we’re looking to change our relationship with food, heal from past events or update our thinking habits,

Are you feeling disconnected from yourself, or lacking direction? A little introspection, and some time and space to soul-search could lead you down the pathway to you best self Hello Happiful readers, The thrill of knowing where you’re heading, even if you don’t know exactly how you’re going to get there, is hard to beat.

The anniversary of a traumatic event can bring up feelings you experienced at the time, even years later. Learn more about these ‘anniversary reactions’ and ways that you can cope The images of Grenfell Tower engulfed in flames will forever be etched in our nation’s memory. Half a decade on from the horrific fire, our

We’ve all heard of the baby blues. But do you know the warning signs of the baby pinks? Welcoming a new baby into the world is a life-changing time. Emotions running high, excitement abounds, anticipation at the new, tiny person who will be joining your family. Yet for many of us, the journey isn’t without

We all deserve to embark on those first steps towards healing, but what does that look like in reality, and how can we learn to enjoy the ride? Many of us are on a journey towards healing and self-transformation. It might be following trauma, periods of ill-health, the end of a relationship, abuse, burnout, bereavement

There’s more to beekeeping than just the yummy honey! Looking after the busy insects is good for the planet, can improve your mental wellbeing, and really boost your self-esteem. It’s time to uncover what all the buzz is about My son announced recently, quite unexpectedly, that he wanted to buy some bees. Now, while this

Mondays can be hard, so refocus your energy with these uplifting affirmations Mondays can be a drag. And when you’ve got an overwhelming, never-ending to-do list in front of you, the stresses of the week ahead are creeping up, and the thought of putting one foot in front of the other feels too much, it’s

Have you ever started dating someone, and it’s felt like your relationship has gone from meeting up for coffee to planning to move in overnight? If you’re in a relationship where it feels like things have left you feeling overwhelmed (in a good or bad way) with their intensity, it could be a sign of

❗ TRIGGER WARNING:This article discusses sensitive topics that some readers may find distressing. The topic of suicide is incredibly sensitive, and distressing to discuss, but it’s only by breaking the stigma that we can bring the subject into the light, and ensure those in need get help as soon as possible Suicide isn’t an easy

We look at the pros and cons of taking a mental vacation when things get tough Escapism can come in many forms. Perhaps you find it when engrossed in a good movie or maybe when endlessly scrolling funny videos on TikTok. It’s that feeling you get when you lift yourself out of the here and