Innehållsförteckning för July 2020 från Psychologies

We have created a wonderful ‘Psychologies’ Connected Community group on Facebook to spread kindness and offer support to each other. Join us and feel the love, humour and camaraderie. ‘Psychologies’ is the UK’s biggest and bestselling mindful living magazine and the ‘Psychologies’ Connected Community group aims to connect all our readers, their friends and family. • Daily inspirational and uplifting content • 1pm live broadcasts with top experts, columnists, coaches and therapists • How to create positive, healthy and happy habits • Learn to be resilient, resourceful and courageous • Take the opportunity to connect with the Psychologies team and our amazing ambassadors • Access free online events, courses and webinars • Your place to feel safe, boosted and connected to your tribe of Psychologies readers and friends JOIN US…

TIME OFFLINE I look forward to purchasing my copy of ‘Psychologies’ every month – there is always an article that resonates with me or inspires me. I particularly liked the ‘How to… Not always be working’ piece in the March issue. I am constantly checking my phone and emails, even when I get home from work. My children are always telling me to stop looking at my phone. From now on, I’ll make a concerted effort to separate my work from home life. My phone will be left in a drawer while I enjoy quality downtime time with my boys. Thank you! Sara WE’RE HERE FOR YOU These are comments from members of our free ‘Psychologies’ Connected Community Facebook group. Join us for friendship and support! • THE NEW GROUP…

My doctor, You helped me understand my mental health problems and worked with me to overcome my traumas and past. I have now learned to live with my trust issues and anxiety. They might never fully go away, but you reminded me that maybe they should! Because of you, it feels as if they might disappear altogether one day. You respected me for who I was and how I wanted to heal myself. You allowed me to communicate my story and helped me progress to a much better place, where I understand more about my relationships with professionals, which were once shattered. I learned about what I should not have lost all those years ago; and I realised that it is all OK – I am actually OK! I will…

HAPPINESS BEGINS with loving yourself – and learning to love yourself comes in stages. The first is self-acceptance. Accept where you are now, your past and your misgivings about the future, and allow them to be. I love what writer Elizabeth Gilbert says about this: that your heart is who you are, and your mind is where you live. You are not your past, your body or your mistakes. You, my friend, are pure potential. When you learn to accept yourself, you will realise that no one else is you, and that is your power. Join Kia Cannons for our ‘Do What You Love’ video series and more happy hacks at lifelabs.psychologies.co.uk. Life Labs is a blogging platform where world-class experts write about subjects ranging from productivity and work-life balance…

Do you think about making changes in life? Change can come unexpectedly – a life event may make us question where we are and whether other things would bring us more satisfaction. Midlife, whatever that means to you, can prompt reflection – but change can be scary. We may not know where to start or worry about upsetting the status quo. I spoke to therapist Melissa Cliffe about how therapy can help someone through midlife transitions. Psychotherapist Melissa Cliffe has a special interest in women and midlife. She explains how periods of transition can affect us, and how to deal with them There’s a cliche that men go through a midlife crisis – but most of us experience changes as we go through life. Over time, our responsibilities and relationships…

1 What don’t you want? Sometimes, it is easier to know what you don’t want, or what you won’t put up with any more. Cutting out those things can leave more space for the things you do want. 2 What gives you satisfaction in life? What are the things you don’t often get to do but want to make more time for? Make a conscious effort to prioritise these activities. 3 What holds you back? Is there something that makes it tough to instigate the change you want? Think creatively for solutions. 4 What are your emotions telling you? Our feelings can help us make change happen, and monitor the process. 5 Who can help you? Talk your ideas through with someone you trust, or consider speaking to a therapist…

The ‘Psychologies’- endorsed ‘Find a coach’ directory, with Barefoot Coaching, provides readers with a choice of top coaches, all with postgraduate training accredited by the University of Chester and the International Coach Federation. Find a coach who suits you to help you navigate and transform your life – in the areas of money, work, relationships, parenting, health and leadership.…

Approximately eight million people in the UK experience some form of anxiety and it is considered one of the most common psychiatric disorders. It is perfectly normal to feel fearful at times but anxiety is not the same as feeling stressed, which is a natural response to precarious or challenging times. Anxiety is a condition that persists, whether the cause of it is clear to you or not. “Reframe anxiety as a benign force, guiding us towards goals, health, happiness and survival” A PHYSICAL REACTION Our collective levels of anxiety are spiking dramatically at the moment, which isn’t surprising. We are under threat from a pandemic and it is understandable that people feel afraid. This perpetual fear will affect us on an emotional and physical level. When we are scared,…

1 Be specific “Once you know what is causing your anxiety, you can take action to tackle it” For many of us, anxiety is a nameless dread, so it’s important to investigate what’s triggering our fears, says Owen. Ask: Is it real or imagined? Is it self-generated anxiety from our thoughts; or repetitive negative thinking about ourselves and our self-image? Or is our behaviour actually causing the problem? Are we behaving in line with our authentic self? Are we overloaded and taking on too many tasks, or processing too much information? Or is the cause externally generated? Maybe our anxiety stems from negative relationships or a problem at work. After identifying the cause, make a plan to overcome the threat: Create self-serving positive thoughts that soothe or eliminate…

I remember feeling panicky as a child, and it got worse. In my 20s, I suffered from social anxiety and had agoraphobic episodes. It came to a head in 2012 following the tragic death of my brother and the subsequent trial and media coverage. I cut myself off and had signs of PTSD, although I wasn’t ready to accept it. My parents’ concern prompted me to find a way to manage my anxiety. My therapist said something that will stay with me: ‘You are more sensitive to life than other people. But why is that a bad thing, if you can find a way to manage?’ Medication made me feel numb, so I created a holistic toolkit with rituals for daily life, and for when things got tough. Counselling myself,…

Leading the way “Brilliant! Extremely breathable. I strongly recommend this product”HELEN, reader panellist, Wiltshire Launched in 1989, Natracare makes natural, organic pads and tampons. Free from plastic, perfume and chlorine, these are biodegradable and compostable. Certified as vegan-friendly, the company is also part of the 1% For The Planet scheme. Natracare wins our Eco Champion award for its ongoing commitment to sustainable period care. • Natracare pads and tampons, from £2.16 a pack, natracare.com PSYCHOLOGIES PROMOTION Cool and collected “I love that the cup lasts for up to 10 years”ELLEN, Eco Living Editor Saalt,a new period care company that champions and designs products for all menstruators, has launched in the UK with a premium range of menstrual cups. Ellen recommends Saalt, a B Corp company that cares about people and…

Jade Purple Brown Illustrator Jade is an artist and designer from Chicago who lives in New York. She uses strong figures, vibrant colours and messages of optimism to create empowering artwork, and has attracted a range of international clients. This month, we feature a beautiful illustrated quote from Jade’s new book, Words To Live By (Chronicle, £12.99), in The Fix. The perfect opening to Psychologies, we think! Kim Morgan CEO of Barefoot Coaching Kim is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of coaching and coach training and an International Coach Federation Master Certified Coach. Author Kim writes a monthly column for Psychologies(page 34) and is the creator of a collection of coaching cards. She draws on her extensive experience of what works to make great leaders, successful individuals, productive teams,…

@button03_4: Thank you @PsychologiesMag for the  latest issue – never has a magazine resonated so much as right now. @julietjuggles: For all those now working from  home or who are thinking about changing direction to start a business, here is a piece I wrote for @PsychologiesMag online about how to thrive working alone. See psychologies.co.uk @CallieDiNello: A lovely tea break this morning  reading @Jini_Reddy’s ‘Magical realism’ article in the May issue of@PsychologiesMag. I can’t wait to read her new book ‘Wanderland’. @attentive_art: Lovely to find a spot of sunshine to read @psychologiesmagazine with a cup of tea and a cat. @brandon mayhair: Recently, we’ve had to adjust to a slower pace, and self-care is important. We subscribed to @psychologiesmagazine just before the lockdown started. Right now, it’s coming…

BE SENDSIBLE! People are more willing to share intimate informationonlineusingphones,as opposed to computers, research reveals.** Whether it’s a first-person tweet, an honest review or posting personal details, the study found that our phones make us feel less inhibited with our opinions and info. One reason for this is their small size, which makes it more difficult to edit our words than on a desktop, and means we focus on completing our task quickly. Another factor is the feeling of comfort and familiarity we have with our phones, making them feel safe and like a friend. Think before you share! CHILD SUPPORT It stands to reason that we try to hide negative feelings from our kids but, according to a study, concealing our stress worsens our children’s reaction to it.** In trials, children…

OUR CONNECTION WITH nature, across generations, is so important and life-affirming – spotting birds together, painting stones or planting seeds… I love the new Wild Days online platform from the environmental charity Earthwatch. Developed by environmental scientists and outdoor learning specialists, it provides free accessible daily activities for the summer, covering topics such as wildlife, food, water, soil, climate and shelter. Ambassadors include naturalists and presenters Nick Baker and Michaela Strachan (pictured), and the charity will also be sharing poems from its children’s national poetry competition, inspired by the natural world. Join in at earthwatch.org.uk/get-involved/wild-days Think companies should be kinder? Our Real Eco awards celebrate the brands that really care about people and the planet. This month, in her Eco Worrier column on page 67, Ellen discusses the benefits of…

LIKE MANY OF YOU, I’ve been in lockdown with my family. It’s an uncertain time, but also an opportunity to reflect. Sometimes, despite our suffering and trauma, it can be a positive thing to stop and think in life. My charity, the Katie Piper Foundation, is adapting, and finding new ways to help our patients. We work with those affected by burns and scars, and their psychological and physical treatment is often urgent and necessary. While our burns rehab centre is closed, our patients are receiving online physiotherapy, and making use of our virtual therapy and mental health services. We’ve also opened a burns specialist helpline to relieve the NHS. Loneliness can be an issue during and after burns treatment, and it’s crucial that we combat that. I’m in regular…

MARY FENWICK is a writer, speaker and executive coach; she’s also a mother, divorcee and widow. GOT A QUESTION FOR MARY? Email mary@psychologies.co.uk, with ‘MARY’ in the subject line. FOR MORE about Mary’s one-to-one work and speaking, go to maryfenwick.com. See the ‘freebies’ tab on Mary’s website for her free guides on resilience, stress and more. “How do I deal with my teenager’s sullen and reclusive mood?” Q I have spent a lot more time with my teenage son during the lockdown and I have realised that his frame of mind is perpetually dark. We are both usually quite busy and I wanted to spend meaningful time together, but he spends most of the day in his bedroom and, when I pop my head around the door, he is rude…

• TheUK Council for Psychotherapy(UKCP) is the leading research, innovation, educational and  regulatory body working to advance psychotherapy for the benefit of all. We have a register of more than 8,000 individual members, who offer a range of therapy approaches for couples, individuals, families and groups. We also have more than 70 training and accrediting organisations for those who wish to become psychotherapists. • To find the right therapist for you, or learn how to become a therapist, visit psychotherapy.org.uk…

Once, I remember seeing a woman snapping at her toddler in the supermarket. He was demanding a treat, throwing himself back in the seat of the trolley, his face tear-stained, his feet beating against the metal with a clanging sound. ‘Enough!’ his mother hissed. ‘One more word and you’ll get a smacked bottom!’ At the time – desperate for kids but not yet a mum – I found myself mentally tutting. The poor child, I thought. She should control herself and speak to him calmly. And as for threatening violence! Join the club Now I have four-year-old twins and I not only sympathise with that woman but I’ve been there. In fact, I don’t know a mum who hasn’t – because parenting is nothing if not challenging. And, when life…

Attitudes towards the physical and mental experience of touch are being explored by researchers at Goldsmiths, University of London, working with BBC Radio 4 and the Wellcome Collection. The Touch Test questionnaire aims to understand the similarities and differences in our experience of touch, to increase our understanding of its role in health and wellbeing. The results will form the basis of a series, The Anatomy Of Touch. The study examines how touch relates to empathy, loneliness and the size of our social networks and whether contemporary society allows us to get enough touch or leaves us wanting more. The results will be announced in the autumn, and you’ll be able to hear them on BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service. For more, go to touchtest.org…

Q I’ve found the last few months pretty stressful; lives everywhere have been disrupted, but I feel as if I’ve been less emotionally resilient than most. I want to start getting my mental wellbeing back on track and deal with what feels like an anxiety hangover that I’ve been carrying around with me, but I don’t know where to start. How do I begin to put a wellness routine in place to help me feel less anxious and more normal again? Caro, 52 A I want to start by saying how wonderful it is that you have acknowledged how you feel and that you want to make some changes – that in itself is the hardest thing, and getting started is often a challenge. Let’s begin by reflecting on what…

• A churning feeling in your stomach • Light-headedness or dizziness • Pins and needles • Restlessness or inability to sit still • Headaches, backache and other aches and pains • Shortness of breath • A fast, thumping or irregular heartbeat • Sweating or feeling hot • Sleeping problems • Grinding your teeth, especially at night • Nausea • Needing the toilet more or less often • Changes in your sex drive • Panic attacks Try the NHS mood self-assessment at nhs.uk/conditions/ stress-anxiety-depression/mood-self-assessment (it asks the questions GPs ask to diagnose anxiety or depression). For more resources, go to mind.org.uk…

I had a parent with an addiction that I was exposed to for 27 years. My home life was unsafe and unstable. In my early 20s, my behaviour became chaotic and I self-medicated, didn’t eat well and engaged in risky lifestyle choices. At 25, I realised I did not want to live that way and needed help. One-to-one therapy helped me create a narrative for my childhood story, and I become self-aware and able to recognise my emotions – but Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has been life-changing. It’s allowing me to tackle what happened by looking at the emotions and thoughts attached to my memories. I’ve realised that I took on a lot of responsibility and I was deeply affected by feeling unsafe. I am starting to…

1 When life gets challenging, you often notice a change in your: ♥ Patience ◆ Motivation • Sleep ■ Memory 2 Your go-to stress reliever is: ■ Mindless scrolling ♥ Venting to a friend ◆ Binge eating or drinking • Pushing through it 3 You hate how anxiety makes you feel: ♥ Irritable • Tired ◆ Out of control ■ Unproductive 4 When you’re calm, your priority is your: ■ Work or projects • Commitments ◆ Wellbeing ♥ Relationships 5 When you’re anxious, people often: ♥ Misunderstand you ◆ Tell you to take care of yourself • Have no idea what you are going through ■ Encourage you to take a break 6 You’re most resilient to anxiety when you feel: ■ Productive ♥ Understood ◆ Centred • Useful 7…

THAT’S WHYEACH product is carefully scrutinised by our Eco Living Editor Ellen Tout to ensure it meets our standards. The chosen products are then tested by our panel of 25 discerning readers to be rated and reviewed.We will only ever include brands we really trust – if it doesn’t match up, it’s not getting in! Cuts out plastic Vegan-friendly and cruelty-free Natural and organic Sustainable and ethical Shows real care for the planet…

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT Our evolutionary conditioning means we have a greater tendency to focus and dwell on negative situations as a way of protecting ourselves from potential threat. We’ve had our fair share of negative happenings over the past few months and, because evolution values survival over happiness on a ‘better safe than sorry’ basis, we may feel more tuned in to this negative bias at the moment. But better times are ahead and, this month, we’ll begin to reverse this bias and switch to a more positive outlook, using mindfulness. Let’s get the good vibes flowing! FOLLOW US! #mindfulhealth@aliroff @psychologiesmagazine, psychologies.co.uk Soothes you, madam! Feeling anxious about events outside of your control? Try adding CBD oil to your daily tea ritual. ‘Studies* show that CBD oil has a stabilising…

1 How To Fail All journalist Elizabeth Day’s interviewees are highly successful, and this is about how they overcame bumps in the road. One of the best is her interview with chef Tom Kerridge, and I also like her chats with Marian Keyes, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Jane Garvey. Each comes with three failures to discuss. It’s also worth listening to her talk with philosopher Alain de Botton. 2 Katie Piper’s People They may be in front of you in the supermarket queue or quietly walking the dog in the park – most of Katie Piper’s extraordinary people don’t wear capes or have a prime-time telly slot.The Psychologiescolumnist’s open and honest interviewing technique is to be admired. She certainly prompts me to think about my choices and journey, and where I’d…

Have you ever made your own pasta? It sounds daunting but it’s easier than you think. Homemade is a cut above, and you don’t need a pasta maker for a rustic ravioli and more. If you have flour and eggs, you can whip up a batch of silky goodness; then add your filling or sauce and garnish with intense satisfaction, as you serve up a feast made with love and a little added time. Enjoy simply like the Italians, tossed in olive oil with a sprinkle of Parmesan, or with a fresh sauce, filling or pesto. Buon appetito!…

1 Miss Benson’s BeetleBy Rachel Joyce (Transworld,£16.99) It’s 1950s England,and prim and proper teacher Margery Benson is tired of her trammelled life. Recalling her childhood passion for a mysterious,possibly mythological,golden beetle, she decides to head to New Caledonia island to find it.Aware that she needs an assistant, the irrepressible Enid Pretty answers her advert,and the duo embark on a grand adventure. This is a story that is as much about fun,heartfelt friendship and courage as it is about trekking through dangerous terrain. 2 How Much Of These Hills Is GoldBy C Pam Zhang (Little, Brown, £14.99) Set in the dying days of the Californian gold rush, this is the tender story of two siblings: bookworm Lucy, 12, and her androgynous sister Sam, 11, who are forced to go on…

Be inspired by Zoffany or William Morris prints from Style Library, iconic patterns from Liberty London and coastal themes from Seasalt Cornwall. Family-run The Cloth Shop is another great resource, or take a virtual wander around the haberdashery section of your favourite department store for ideas. Think creatively and save your pennies: Transform a bedspread into curtains, decorate beds with soft, woollen throws and cushions or revitalise a sofa with a floral cover. Bespoke is the word!…

Hello, I’m Suzy Walker, the Editor-in-Chief of ‘Psychologies’ magazine. I’m a qualified career coach and the  author of Making The Big Leap and The Big Peace’. Not only have I changed careers three times myself, but I’ve helped thousands of people make the professional and personal shifts they desired. I ve also interviewed some of the most well-known and respected experts and thought leaders, from Brené Brown and Cheryl Strayed to Oprah Winfrey. I’m so fortunate to have been plugged into the wisest and most successful people on the planet. Join me for our brilliant ‘Psychologies’ course, ‘Love your life’ – I want to share what I’ve learned with you!…

“Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions“ Pema Chödrön is our favourite wise woman. Beloved Buddhist teacher, author, nun and mother, she has inspired millions of people around the world who have been touched by her example and message of practising peace in these turbulent times. The Pema Chödrön Foundation is dedicated to preserving and sharing Pema’s inspiration and teachings in order that they might help us all awaken wisdom and compassion in ourselves and the world around us. pemachodronfoundation.org To buy her books, go to shambhala.com; bookdepository.com; betterworldbooks.com…

In this time of transition, we’re gathering the tools we need to help us navigate the future. First, take a breath and reflect… We invite you to complete five coaching exercises to get clear about the impact the last few months have had on you, and decide what’s next (page 18). What changes, if any, do you want to make? How might you build a better life going forward? Worried about your job? Kim Morgan, our life-coaching columnist, offers confidence-building tools for finding your next fulfilling role (page 34). Feel like you’re having a midlife crisis and want to make a big leap? UK Council for Psychotherapy therapist Melissa Cliffe takes us through five steps to transformation (page 26). Feeling anxious? Our 16-page Dossier investigates the many ways you can…

I feel lucky to have been born with a cheerful, optimistic nature; I honestly think it’s down to my natural serotonin levels. When things go wrong, my instinct is to think either, that didn’t work so I will try something else, or that should have worked, so I’ll give it another go. My husband says he doesn’t want to fill his life with drains, he prefers radiators – I like that analogy. Why spend your time with people who make you miserable? I admit I’m bossy; if I think things aren’t right, I want to get involved and fix them. I have to right the wrong and that’s what inspires me; it’s not from a philanthropic, kind heart, it’s just because I can’t help interfering! I really believe that if…

I AM DRAWN TO the deeper conversations in life, so it’s no surprise that I trained to be a therapist. Something profound happens when we speak honestly and share our vulnerabilities, hopes, stories and dreams. Moving around the world with my family as a child gave me a sense of being ‘other’. I became observant, interested in identity and how we find a sense of belonging. I am fascinated by dissimilarity and how we can learn to accept and celebrate our own differences and those of others. My career in marketing was creative and social but didn’t hold long-term appeal. In 2001, when a friend waxed lyrical about her therapy training, I was inspired to enrol. My study was transformational and its emphasis on authenticity and acceptance resonated. I have…

CAREER TIMELINE WITH A DIFFERENCE Ask someone you trust to do this exercise with you. It can help you prepare for an interview, write your CV, build confidence during a career transition and plan a future career path. It is so much better than writing down the jobs you have done and trying to pull out your strengths and key achievements. This exercise brings your career to life by, literally, walking through it: • Dot five or six pieces of coloured paper card like stepping stones around a room. If the weather is nice, do it outside. Now, stand on the stepping stone that represents your most recent job. • Ask your friend to have pen and paper and to ask you to talk about your successes, skills, high points,…

Every morning, my new boyfriend wakes me up telling me about a podcast or book he thinks I’ll like. Most evenings, he invites me to dance: ‘Slow music, not fast,’ he laughs, because he knows how difficult I find it to slow down. ‘Give me your hand…’ And we dance, with his mouth close to my ear. In the afternoons, he often suggests picnics. ‘Where?’ I ask.‘The top of Parliament Hill. Let’s walk at a leisurely pace and talk about everything and nothing. I have a flask of coffee and chocolate brownies – gluten-free for you,’ he says. If only it were real. I’m writing this in the middle of lockdown, my boyfriend lives 50 miles away and we haven’t been in the same room for two months. We’re relegated…

Psychologies’ partnership with Barefoot Coaching gives you the tools to find a coach who meets your needs. Barefoot Coaching has been at the forefront of coaching and coach training for 25 years. It has a proven track record as a provider of high-level coaching and coach training to organisations and senior executives, nationally and internationally. Train as a coach with Barefoot Coaching The Barefoot Coaching International Coach Federation- accredited Postgraduate Certificate in Business and Personal Coaching is one of the most well-established coach training courses in the UK. Barefoot runs regular, free introductions to coach training throughout the year. Visit barefootcoaching. co.uk/taster-mornings to book.…

Don’t battle anxiety alone. Join ‘coach of the month’ Ted Bradshaw on the four-week ‘How to manage anxiety and thrive’ programme when you subscribe to ‘Psychologies’ (see below). You will automatically gain access to all our other downloadable courses, which include exclusive videos, podcasts and masterclasses on a range of subjects, to help you live your happiest life. Don’t wait – connect with like-minded souls in our uplifting online community, the Life Leap Club. We are here for you!…

• Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) can be nervousness, fear or worry.‘Worrying is one of the major symptoms of GAD – not being able to stop worrying, and worrying about many different things,’ says Brotheridge. Physical manifestations are very common. ‘Unless they have had anxiety, people don’t realise how physical it is. GAD might mean a nervous stomach and a need to go to the toilet more frequently, shaking, experiencing surges of adrenaline and nervous energy in your body, or that you can’t keep still, sweating, problems with sleep, fidgeting and an inability to concentrate.’ • For many of us, panic attacks are a physical symptom. ‘During a panic attack, we can feel as if we are having a heart attack. Many people end up in A&E because they think they…

My anxiety was linked to a period of depression that I experienced in my mid 20s. Pretty soon, I was having regular panic attacks. Honestly, they floored me. I went to my doctor, who referred me to a counsellor, and I am grateful for that every day. Once I’d found the right person, talking therapy had an impact on my life in so many incredible ways. For a few months, I also turned to medication, which helped me get to a place where I felt able to work on myself. All treatments have their place, it’s just about finding what’s right for you. Life is never a straight road. Now, when I need it, I have therapy to help look after myself. I also think I’m a lot more mindful,…

For years, I struggled with uncomfortable and irritating period products, but thankfully there are now many more natural brands available. The good news is that those that are better for your body are kinder to the planet. Most high-street pads and tampons are made from plastic and contain harmful chemicals such as bleach. Eco-friendly options encompass pants and pads, tampons and reusable applicators. These are our plastic-free award winners, plus some other product I really like. For more honest reviews and recommendations, follow #PsychologiesRealEco on social media and go to psychologies.co.uk/ real-eco. Join our eco tribe! Follow us! FOR MORE HONEST REVIEWS, TIPS AND VIDEOS GO TO: #PsychologiesRealEco psychologies.co.uk/real-eco @Ellen_Tout @PsychologiesMag…

• WHEREAS MOST natural period products use cotton, Flo’s tampons and pads are a blend of organic cotton and sustainable bamboo. A win-win! Flo tampons and pads, from £4.99, hereweflo.co • BEYOU’S PERIOD PATCHES are vegan, cruelty-free and biodegradable. They provide up to 12 hours’ relief from period pain. BeYou patch, £7.99 for five, beyouonline.co.uk • DAME is a climate-neutral period brand and makes an innovative reusable tampon applicator, which is safe, sanitary and waste-free. DAME reusable applicator, £17.99, wearedame.co • OUR FAVOURITE THINX recently created a special Project Earth limited-edition design, available exclusively from Selfridges. High-rise THINX boyshorts, £36, selfridges.com • ORGAN(Y)C MAKES organic pads, tampons and intimate-care products that are vegan-friendly and kind to skin. Organ(y)c Intimate Wash, £8.49, organyc.uk…

WE HAVE STARTED an observational diary of the goings-on in our gut to help us identify ‘weeds’ that could be creating unruly behaviour – excessive bloating and gas, constipation and looser movements – in our gut garden. So, with our diaries at the ready, let’s investigate the main culprits that may culminate in some undesirable symptoms in the gut. Identifying the weeds • Stress: Was there a connection between your gut symptoms and the way you feel – anxiety or stress? If so, working on the gut-brain connection is your main focus. Managing stressors is an integral part of helping keep your gut on track. Daily mindfulness, such as meditation, breathing exercises and/or gentle yoga, is crucial for all of us, but especially if stress triggers gut unrest for you.…

Pasta is one of the world’s favourite foods because it’s delicious, nutritious and versatile. Enjoyed as a main course or side dish, hot or cold, a plate of pasta is one of the most satisfying comfort foods there is. Whether your preference is for spaghetti, lasagne or penne, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in Italian-born Laura Santini’s book, Pasta Perfect. Laura believes the heart and soul of every dish is in the sauce. We’ve focused on traditional, family-friendly tomato sauces and making our own pasta, but also try creamy ‘Ricotta, green olive and basil’, punchy ‘Smoked mackerel and pink pepper’ or, for something a little bit fancier, ‘Truffle mac ‘n’ cheese’. As the Italians say, ‘mangiamo’; let’s eat! ARRABBIATA This is a simple tomato sauce with a kick of heat…

Book of the month HUMANKIND A Hopeful History By Rutger Bregman (Bloomsbury, £20) For years, philosophers, psychologists, historians and writers have convinced us that humankind is selfish and self-interested. Bregman believes that the contrary is true – that at heart we are essentially good, kind and altruistic. He urges a radical, but realistic, rethink of these depressing notions and sets about carefully re-evaluating scientific data, psychological research and philosophical theory to show that these long-held attitudes were founded on skewed thinking. If we believe the worst of others, it brings out the worst in us. But, encouragingly, if we think well of others, we all reap the benefits of a more caring, compassionate and creative society. Hopeful, robust and sincere, this book is a rallying cry for a new way…

Textiles are one of the most versatile components of home decor and an easy way to add colour, pattern and charm. From bed linens and cushion covers to lampshades, curtains and throws, there are myriad ways to inject your individuality into your space, whatever your budget. In Decorating With Fabric, designers Kate French and Katherine Sorrell provide inspirational ideas for every room. Using real homes, they demonstrate that there is no limit to the ways material brings softness, warmth and character: opulent, chic, minimal, neutral, functional, colourful, dramatic and frivolous. As someone wise once said: ‘You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy fabric, and that’s pretty close.’ ‘Decorating With Fabric’ by Kate French and Katherine Sorrell (Ryland Peters & Small, £19.99)…

24HR PROTECTION Rehydrate your skin this summer with the new FAIR SQUARED Zero Waste 24 Hour Cream which contains a balanced composition of Fair-trade argan oil, olive oil and apricot kernel oil to give your skin protection around the clock against free radicals. Providing the perfect protection without leaving your skin feeling greasy. Enriched with argan oil and rich olive oil which are both excellent sources of vitamin E to help protect your skin Truly 100% plastic free packaging, this moisturising cream now comes in a new eco-friendly glass jar and aluminium lid with a biodegradable and Fairtrade rubber seal. www.fair-squared.co.uk £24.95 PAMPER HAIR Dreaming of wonderful, silky, and shiny hair? Khadi can make that happen for you with the Wonder Hair Tonic. It is infused with a blend of therapeutic…