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 at your fingertips! Packed with motivational advice and lessons from TED speakers worldwide, this handy guide will inspire you to unleash your creativity and unlock your full potential.

(Portico, £9.99)

2. Out and about

Land’s End to John O’Groats Virtual Challenge

To conquer this virtual challenge, you must walk or run 874 miles, which is the same as the distance from the bottom to the top of the UK. You can track your progress and stop at any time, but what better way to motivate yourself than knowing you are planting trees as you progress? Not only that, but when you reach 50% of the way, a meal is donated to someone in need.

(Visit endtoend.run for more information)

3. Act of kindness

Thank someone every week

We often underestimate the power of a simple ‘thank you’. We might think we’re showing our appreciation through our actions, but how often do we actually say it? Show your gratitude to your loved ones by simply writing a thank you note, or sending a text. Not only will it make them feel appreciated by you, you’ll also feel great for doing it.

4. Lend us your ears

‘Griefcast’ with Cariad Lloyd

Coping with the loss of a loved one is one of life’s biggest challenges. While healing can take a long time, this down-to-earth podcast is here to help ease the process of your grieving journey. Caraid Lloyd invites well-known comedians and other guests to talk openly about their experience with grief, and provides comfort in a time of need.

(Available on all podcast platforms)

5. Plugged-in

The BakeKing

Award-winning cake artist Ben Cullen deliciously turns cake into everyday objects and food – and we can’t get enough of it. His lighthearted video content creates a recipe for visual trickery, and has us screaming at our phones while we watch him bite into a milk bottle or raw potato that is actually (yep, you guessed it) made out of cake.

(Follow @thebakeking on TikTok)

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 – or, perhaps, simply because we want to be better versions of ourselves.

And change can happen. In fact, research published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin explored how most of us would like to change ourselves in some way, and that people who were able to do so, in ways that aligned with their desires, tended to experience increases in wellbeing over time as a result.

Of course, though a hopeful reminder, those data-backed conclusions don’t completely capture the full picture of the healing journey – the good days and the bad days, the hurdles and uphill struggles – let alone the fact that healing is about so, so much more than just changing ‘something’ about yourself; it’s about tending to emotional wounds, unlearning unhelpful thought-patterns, grieving, forgiving, and learning. So, what can we do to make it a positive and successful experience?

Bon voyage

Say you’re at the start of your healing journey, what are some common misconceptions that can hold you back? We put this to Dr Liz Sparkes, a health psychologist and life coach, and she answers by looking inwards.

“I suppose the best way to address this is to reflect on my own misconceptions that I have become aware of,” she says. “It’s important to be gentle with yourself and there is no rush. Healing is most definitely not linear, and you haven’t failed if you find you are revisiting the same issues or feelings. As long as you have awareness and take steps forward each time, that’s progress.”

Treating yourself with kindness is more than just a pat on the back, it’s a whole shift in attitude, and it’s key to any journey with healing. But if ‘self-compassion’ feels out of reach for you sometimes, you can easily break it down into its practical elements. Self-compassion researcher Kristen Neff believes it has three main components:

1. Self-kindness, or having the ability to refrain from harsh criticism.
2. The ability to recognise your own humanity, or the fact that each of us is imperfect and each of us experiences pain.
3. The ability to maintain a sense of mindfulness or unbiased awareness of experiences, even if they are painful.

While you’re working on your healing, how does your attitude stack up against these principles? What do you do well, and what might you need to consider working on as you move forward?

Off-trail

“There is more than one route to the top of the mountain,” says Dr Sparkes. “It’s very empowering to realise that nobody else has the ultimate answers, they come from within.”

She goes on to highlight the ways that we can do everything ‘right’ – access the right support, the right guidance, the right environment for healing and development – but, ultimately, this journey is

Whether it’s dealing with another yeast infection, feeling like you constantly have UTIs, or trying to figure out what your discharge means, understanding vaginal health is really important. Here, Jenna Farmer chats to the experts to help you get the lowdown ‘down there’

Whatever you might have read online about vaginal steaming or douching (seriously, don’t do it!), your vagina is pretty clever at keeping itself healthy and clean all by itself. However, many of us find ourselves dealing with common health issues, which, while not usually serious, can be really uncomfortable. About 75% of us are thought to have had thrush – also called a yeast infection – at least once in our lifetime, and, by the age of 24, nearly one third of females will have had at least one episode of cystitis, which affects our bladder, but can also be linked to our vaginal bacteria – more on that in a moment.

These don’t just impact our physical health, but our mental health too. One study in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology found psychological stress was significantly related to the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis, a common condition that causes unusual discharge. Topics like vaginal discharge and needing to urinate can also increase our anxiety, worry, and embarrassment about seeking help or speaking about these issues, meaning we might try to self-treat without talking to a professional. Another study from Saint Louis University, in Missouri, found that this can cause real problems, with up to three out of four women being found to treat themselves for a yeast infection that they didn’t actually have.

It’s important to remember that these are common, normal complaints. Here, we’re chatting to the experts to get their tips.

Vaginal discharge: what’s normal?

Everybody gets vaginal discharge, and it’s actually a really good sign that your body is working as it should. This discharge is your vagina’s way of naturally self-cleaning, and the type and quantity of discharge varies from person to person; some people notice it more at certain times of their menstrual cycle, while others may need to use pantyliners on a daily basis.

Nearly all types of discharge are perfectly normal, but if your discharge is accompanied by an unpleasant smell or a change in its colour and texture, it could be a sign of a yeast or bacterial infection. The main thing to watch out for is a ‘change’ – a sign that something is out of the ordinary for you personally.

How can you tackle yeast and bacterial infections?

Yeast infections, or thrush as we often call them, are really common – in fact, some of us may have the Candida bacteria which causes yeast infections, without any symptoms at all. If you notice your discharge is of a white, cottage-cheese like texture, along with vaginal itching or burning, chances are you’ll have a yeast infection, which can be caused by anything from being run down to your contraceptive.

“Fungal yeast