Self Improvement

Curated by our editorsStories to fuel your mind

This Is the Most Common Question to Ask a Friend — and It’s Way Less Helpful Than It Seems

When a friend is going through a hard time, you want to be there for them. But there’s one super common and well-meaning question you’re bound to ask that could be getting in the way of truly supporting them: How are you?

The To-Do List Method for People With Crazy Lives and Short Attention Spans

If you constantly feel like you have too much on your plate, give this trick a try.

Best of How to: Waste Time

In a culture obsessed with productivity, what would it mean to let go?

Meet My Pal, the Ancient Philosopher

How friendship with long-dead thinkers can help us live better.

3 Digital Body Language Signs Someone Isn’t Into You, Even If They Always Text Back

Conversations on dating apps can be tricky to navigate. Is it a red flag if a new connection takes three days to respond? Is a text paragraph vulnerable, or self-centered? Does replying with a lone "k" really mean someone hates you?

How threesomes and swinging went mainstream (and the rules to follow)

Ever heard of “ethical non-monogamy”? This is the respectful, consensual counterpart to unethical non-monogamy (otherwise known as cheating).

“Endlings”

I started watching the Warrens’ children because my mother’s dead sister was hanging around, giving everyone a hard time. That was how I met the Warrens: my mother’s letter made its way across town to Ed’s desk.

The One Word That Helped Me Find Career Satisfaction

Michael Menard found through self-exploration and research that the answer to career satisfaction is gratitude.

4 Todoist Templates to Streamline and Organize Your Life

If you’ve never heard of this task management app, check out my full write-up about Todoist. It’s amazing! (I’m not affiliated with the company in any way, just an enthusiastic user.)

Five ways to persuade more people to buy electric cars

The government is facing a backlash from car manufacturers, who claim that current rules designed to promote electric vehicles are too harsh. They say consumer demand for electric cars has fallen far short of what was expected, meaning they are struggling to sell enough.

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Your Armpits Are Trying to Tell You Something

The best time to apply antiperspirant is right before bed. Seriously. Produced by ElevenLabs and News Over Audio (Noa) using AI narration. Listen to more stories on the Noa app.

What Professional Organizers Know About Our Lives

In 2012, when the anthropologist Carrie M. Lane would tell people that she was researching professional organizers, most pictured Sally Field as Norma Rae holding up a “Union” sign on a factory floor.

I'm a life coach for the children of the ultrawealthy. I see the same problems over and over again.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Aprajita Anand, 41, a life coach in New York City. It's been edited for length and clarity. I've been a life coach for children of the ultrawealthy for 12 years. I started on this career path very organically.

I’m nearly 80 and there’s a void in my life that hobbies can’t fill

The question I am nearing 80 and am overwhelmed by what I think is called existential boredom. The truth is I’ve been struggling with it for what seems like aeons… I have achieved all my ambitions – and loads more – but I’m now at a loss as to what do next.

Dear Therapist: No One Wants to Host My In-Laws for the Holidays

My husband’s parents are divorcing, and they are worried about being alone. My husband and I have been together for five years. In that time, his parents have separated and are now divorcing.

Curated by our editorsStories to fuel your mind

This Is the Most Common Question to Ask a Friend — and It’s Way Less Helpful Than It Seems

The To-Do List Method for People With Crazy Lives and Short Attention Spans

Best of How to: Waste Time

Meet My Pal, the Ancient Philosopher

3 Digital Body Language Signs Someone Isn’t Into You, Even If They Always Text Back

Popular with Pocket readersStories from across the web

How threesomes and swinging went mainstream (and the rules to follow)

“Endlings”

The One Word That Helped Me Find Career Satisfaction

4 Todoist Templates to Streamline and Organize Your Life

Five ways to persuade more people to buy electric cars

Discover More Topics

Your Armpits Are Trying to Tell You Something

What Professional Organizers Know About Our Lives

I'm a life coach for the children of the ultrawealthy. I see the same problems over and over again.

I’m nearly 80 and there’s a void in my life that hobbies can’t fill

Dear Therapist: No One Wants to Host My In-Laws for the Holidays

Discover More Topics