How to have a good day at work
The optimal state means you are performing well, effective and engaged, says Daniel Goleman. Photo: 123rf Achieving a flow state at work is rare, temporary and it’s unclear how to achieve it – so it’s better to aim one tier lower, a US psychologist says. American psychologist and author Daniel Goleman argues hitting a tier […]
Review: Twenty One Pilots told us how to rock, and I don’t mind
The band performing at the start of the show. Photo: Supplied/Jared Tinetti Typically, an artist visits New Zealand at the end of an Australasian tour leg, with our little country tacked on as a bonus. This was not the case on Sunday night for Twenty One Pilots, who arrived fresh and rested ahead of moving […]
How to get better at small talk, as Christmas parties approach
(File image) Photo: 123RF / Mandic Jovan How about this weather? Got any New Year’s resolutions? Any plans for the school holidays? This time of year we’re forced into even more small talk situations than normal, as Christmas events are added to the calendar with family, friends and end-of-year office mixers. Robert Poynton reckons feeling […]
How to shop mindfully and save money
Photo: Katy Gosset/RNZ Too many clothes in your wardrobe? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. But how many wears are you getting out of each item? And could you ditch a few to make some extra money? The mindful fashion movement has its own take on the “do it right the first time” motto – by […]
How to be financially average
For full-time workers, the average weekly earnings, including overtime, is $1612. File photo. Photo: 123RF Forget being the highest-earning, the most dedicated saver or the savviest investor. What if you just want to be average? There can be something satisfying in being able to benchmark yourself against what’s “normal” for New Zealand. If you’re on […]
How to clean fly screens and doors this spring
By Anna Chisholm of the ABC Flyscreen doors can be tricky to clean. Photo: Creative Commons Insect screens do an excellent job of letting fresh air in and keeping bugs (and other unwanted creatures) out. It can be difficult to notice but they do get pretty grotty and benefit from a wash every now and […]
Nicole Vignola on how to stop mindless scrolling and create a dopamine menu
Nicole Vignola, neuroscientist and author of Rewire: Break The Cycle, Alter Your Thoughts And Create Lasting Change. Photo: Supplied Do you often find yourself bored and scrolling through endless memes, reels and cat videos? Nicole Vignola, neuroscientist and author of Rewire: Break The Cycle, Alter Your Thoughts And Create Lasting Change says creating a dopamine […]
Daylight saving: When it starts, why we observe it and how to change the time on your phone
Photo: AFP/Xamax Get ready to spring into summer; daylight saving begins this month which will mean we lose an hour of sleep late September – but the days will be warmer and brighter. So when do the clocks switch over? Why do we observe daylight saving? And how do you check the time on your […]
How to photograph the blue supermoon
If the conditions are right, a sturgeon super moon will be visible around New Zealand on Tuesday night. Photo: Kunal Kumar / Auckland Astronomical Society Jonathan Green knows a thing or two about photographing the moon. The astrophotographer has been capturing cosmic events for nearly 15 years and previously ran the New Zealand Astrophotography competition. […]
How to talk to your kids about setbacks
Encouragement to identify emotions, make a plan, and having support can help children learn to cope with life’s challenges more resiliently, experts say. Photo: Unsplash / Jordan Whitt The way parents speak to children about making mistakes shapes whether they view failure as part of learning or something unsafe, according to a new University of […]