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The psychology of holiday relaxation: why the sound of waves could be the stress-relief we all need

New research reveals that natural sounds, seaside scents and sensory experiences could help calm the nervous system, reduce mental fatigue and make holidays feel more restorative. Picture it: the gentle hush of waves rolling onto the shore, the rustle of leaves overhead, birdsong drifting through the trees. Before we’ve even unpacked our bags, many of […]

Sally Saunders

5 June 20265 June 2026

The psychology of holiday relaxation: why the sound of waves could be the stress-relief we all need

Mental health

Foot on the pedal, or putting your feet up? The bank-holiday dilemma, hustle culture, and why so many of us struggle to relax

Long weekends were supposed to be for rest — so why do so many people now feel forced to use them as a chance to ‘get ahead’? Why hustle culture, social media and modern work pressures are making it harder than ever to take a break As another bank-holiday weekend arrives, many people aren’t planning […]

Sally Saunders

23 May 202622 May 2026

Foot on the pedal, or putting your feet up? The bank-holiday dilemma, hustle culture, and why so many of us struggle to relax

‘The shame was never ours to bear’: how Ruth Ellis’s execution scarred generations of her family

For decades, the execution of Ruth Ellis cast a long shadow over her family, shaping childhoods, relationships and a legacy of trauma. Now, after securing a historic posthumous pardon for her grandmother, Laura Enston tells us how she is reclaiming a story that was once a source of shame.

‘Help — I can’t stop thinking about my married coworker!’: How to stop a workplace crush from becoming an affair

You can’t always control who you’re attracted to, but you can control what happens next. A therapist explains why workplace crushes develop, what they might reveal about your needs, and how to stop attraction from crossing a line.

What happens when the person who murdered your loved one is on death row? The psychology of grief, justice and closure

When someone is murdered, the grief can be devastating. But for families whose loved one’s killer spends decades on death row, the wait for justice can bring its own psychological challenges. Chartered psychologist Dr Ravi Gill explains how repeated delays, anticipatory grief and the hope of an execution can affect the bereavement process – and why closure is rarely straightforward.