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10 Powerful Ways Positivity Can Transform Your Life (P)

Far from being a luxury, cultivating joy, meaning and connection is a powerful route to a better life.

Positive emotions do more than lift your mood -- they can change your life.

Research shows that feeling more positive has powerful, far-reaching effects on mental health, relationships, creativity and brain health.

The more we cultivate these emotions, the more we benefit.

These 10 studies illustrate just how wide-ranging those benefits are to how we think and feel -- and our longevity.

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The Science Of Heartbreak: 9 Insights Into Breakups & Moving On (P)

Who suffers most, how long recovery really takes and what actually helps people move on.

Breakups are often described as one of life’s most painful experiences.

By their 30s, people experience an average of three breakups -- and at least one usually affects them deeply.

Researchers have uncovered who suffers most, how long recovery really takes and what actually helps people move on.

Here are the findings from 9 studies exploring the psychology of breakups and recovery.

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Why We Struggle To Foresee Our Own Decisions — Even After Repeated Experience (P)

Most people believe they can predict what they will do next. The evidence suggests otherwise.

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11 Ways Vitamin D Shapes Your Brain — From Before Birth To Old Age (P)

From childhood to old age, studies are uncovering surprising links between vitamin D and mental health and cognition.

Vitamin D is best known for supporting bones, but scientists frequently link it to the brain and mental health.

Low levels have been linked to a wide range of psychological problems, from neurodevelopmental disorders to mental illness and cognitive decline.

Yet many people -- especially in northern climates -- do not get enough, particularly between October and March when sunlight is scarce.

Here are 11 studies revealing some of the surprising ways vitamin D may influence the mind and brain across the lifespan.

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Perfectionism: 11 Studies Reveal Its Origins, Costs & How To Cope (P)

The drive to be perfect is rising. So is the damage it causes. Find out what research says — and how to break free.

Perfectionism involves being highly self-critical, constantly striving to meet the standards set by others — typically parents or mentors — and doubting whether one's own efforts are ever good enough.

Unfortunately, striving to appear flawless and achieve perfection in everything can damage both mental and physical health.

Despite having higher IQs, perfectionists can suffer psychologically and physically because they are under continuous stress.

These 11 studies explore how the relentless pursuit of impossible standards often masks deep-seated anxieties -- and how perfectionists can cope with them.

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16 Ways Sleep Deprivation Affects Your Mind (P)

From planning to eating and connecting with others, sleep deprivation affects far more than most people realise.

In January 1964, American teenager Randy Gardner set what was then the record for the longest scientifically documented period of intentional sleep deprivation.

Without the aid of stimulants, he managed to stay awake for 264.4 hours, or 11 days and 24 minutes.

Part of his motivation was to show that the symptoms of sleep deprivation were not as severe as people thought.

He was wrong: he experienced paranoia, hallucinations, mood swings and a range of psychological problems, many of which are described below.

But he didn’t notice many of these problems himself -- which is part of how sleep deprivation catches people out.

Here are 16 of the most striking ways a lack of sleep affects the mind and brain.

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24 Proven Techniques To Be More Creative (P)

Creativity is not just talent, it is also technique. Here are 24 ways to boost innovation.

Creativity can feel like magic: ideas may come at the edge of sleep, while in the shower or when we least expect.

Sometimes they spring up after we stop trying, other times they hide behind a sarcastic remark or a second guess.

But, psychologists have found we can help along these seemingly random or natural processes in a number of ways.

Comprehensively updated in May 2026, here are 24 techniques for increasing creativity: both the generation and selection of innovative ideas.

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16 Studies Reveal The Causes & Cures Of Addiction (P)

These psychology studies uncover the causes of addiction and the mindsets that can help people break free.

Addiction is often explained in simple ways: weak willpower, bad habits or the desire to escape painful feelings.

But decades of research across psychology, neuroscience and behavioural science has transformed what we know about addiction -- from the thoughts and feelings that drive it to the traits and mindsets that can help people recover.

Here are 16 psychology studies that shed light on the causes of addiction and the factors that aid recovery.

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20 Memory-Enhancing Hacks That Work Like Magic (P)

These 20 memory hacks involve nutrition, smells, specific types of exercise, drawing and even changing location.

What if improving your memory didn’t require endless repetition or exhausting study sessions?

The good news is that psychological research has uncovered a range of techniques that can help you enhance your memory in surprising -- and often enjoyable -- ways.

Whether you want to ace a test, remember new names, or hold onto life’s everyday details, these scientifically backed methods can give your brain the boost it needs. (updated May 2026).

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10 Reasons Napping Is The Ultimate Power Move For Your Brain, Heart & Mood (P)

From “aha” moments to a 50 percent lower stroke risk, science proves that napping isn’t lazy — it’s a biological necessity for peak performance.

For most of us, the afternoon nap carries a faint whiff of guilt; it feels indulgent, unproductive, a little too close to giving up on the day.

While napping too much can be a bad sign in the elderly (1, 2), for healthy people, psychological research tells quite a different story.

These 10 studies reveal what napping really does to your brain, your mood, your cognitive performance, and even your long-term physical health.

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