Struggle to unwind? We asked those in high-pressure roles, in which often it really is a matter of life and death, how they meaningfully decompress after a busy day in the clinic.
‘I try to make minimal decisions at home’
Dr Nabila Laskar, consultant cardiologist and specialist in cardiac imaging at St Bartholomew’s Hospital
“As doctors, we can become so accustomed to being needed that rest starts to feel unproductive. I’ve learned not to ‘optimise’ every moment. My working life is highly structured and outcome-driven, so the greatest luxury is sometimes doing something with no measurable purpose at all.
“I use small pockets of recovery rather than waiting for an entirely free evening, because they rarely arrive. Walking slowly, putting my phone away while having a hot drink, sitting in silence, taking 10 quiet minutes before the household wakes up, spending unstructured time with my two daughters. From making all the decisions at work, I make minimal decisions at home and try to go with the flow. That contrast helps me genuinely switch off.”
‘Painting saves me from the intensity of medicine’
Professor Debbie Shawcross, liver specialist and professor of hepatology and chronic liver failure, King’s College London
“To switch off from the intensity of medicine: I paint. I’m a self-taught artist and work mainly in watercolour and acrylics, particularly atmospheric landscapes, skies and cityscapes. There is something wonderfully absorbing about starting with a blank sheet of paper or canvas and having to think only about light, colour and what is immediately in front of me.
“Medicine and academic life are fast-paced, analytical and often dominated by decisions, deadlines and responsibility; painting uses a completely different part of my brain. When I’m painting, I become totally immersed in the moment and the noise of the working day disappears. Creativity gives me the headspace to reset and regain perspective; whether it’s a couple of hours at the weekend or painting plein air somewhere beautiful, it is probably the closest I come to genuine mindfulness.”
‘Penises and nuns’ – The Bayeux Tapestry’s curious history
The legendary woven record of the Norman Conquest has been unveiled to the public in the UK for the first time. As it goes on display at the British Museum, here’s what we know about its extraordinary history.
What you need to know
Back in Britain
The tapestry recording the Norman Conquest of 1066 is back in the UK for the .
Deal with France
It is as part of a special deal between the UK, France and the British Museum.
Medieval wonder
Considered one of the wonders of the medieval world, it offers insight into 11th-century England.
Watch more from The i Paper
Tapestry’s curious history
- It is believed to have been commissioned by the half-brother of William the Conqueror.
- The consensus now is that it was made not in France but by nuns near Canterbury.
- The soldier with the arrow through his eye might not be King Harold, but historians are uncertain.
- The may be random comic irrelevances or commentary on the story.
5 min read
How to get tickets
- The tapestry is on show at the British Museum from 10 September until 11 July 2027.
- Tickets are sold out until a release on 21 October, with details on the museum’s website.
2 min read
The new illnesses pharmacists can treat under NHS scheme
Pharmacists will be able to treat people with migraines, acne and several other conditions as the NHS’ “Pharmacy First” scheme is expanded this autumn.
What you need to know
Pharmacy scheme
The NHS scheme allows people to receive care for common illnesses from pharmacists without seeing a GP.
New conditions
From autumn, people can get help for acne, migraines, scabies, certain ear infections and allergic rhinitis.
Expanded offering
It adds to the seven conditions pharmacies can already treat.
The changes in full
- Pharmacies can already treat seven conditions under the Pharmacy First scheme.
- They are impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, earache, sore throat and .
- Once fully rolled out, the scheme’s expansion means pharmacies will now be able to treat 12 conditions.
What the NHS says
The NHS expects between two and three million consultations for the new list of five conditions that can be held in pharmacies. It is hoped this will take pressure off the NHS.
Dr Amanda Doyle of NHS England said people can get treatment “quickly and conveniently on local high streets”.
2 min read
Burnham’s thoughts
People are fed up with the scramble for routine appointments
The Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Treating people closer to home means catching problems earlier, easing pressure on GPs and A&E and giving people back precious time.”
Hospital waiting lists spike
It comes as the waiting list for routine hospital treatment in England has risen to its highest level for nine months. An estimated 7.33 million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of July, relating to 6.21 million patients, according to NHS figures. The numbers are the highest since October 2025, when the list stood at 7.40 million treatments and 6.24 million patients.
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August was world’s joint hottest month on
August was the joint hottest month ever recorded, with global temperatures soaring 1.65C above pre-industrial times.
Scientists say it is another “warning siren” for climate change. Here’s what you need to know.
What you need to know
Record temps
August 2026 tied July 2023 for the planet’s hottest month on record, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Fossil fuels impact
Last month was 1.65°C above the average for the period 1850-1900, before humans burned fossil fuels at scale.
Warmer seas
Sea surface temperatures hit 21.07C, a joint high mark with March 2024.
The impact of record heat
Heatwaves in August continued a run of extreme heat that began in May, with severe drought hitting the UK, France, Hungary and Serbia. Major rivers from the Rhine to the Danube saw exceptionally low flows.
Under 2015’s Paris Agreement, countries agreed to limit global warming to “well below” 2C above pre-industrial levels.
3 min read
What the scientists say
Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at ECMWF, said the latest temperature data shows how “climate change is driving extremes across both the atmosphere and the oceans”.
Gareth Redmond-King, of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said a “warning siren” was sounding two months before the COP 31 summit.
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How El Niño could impact UK weather
The United Nations says the world is in a “danger zone of extreme weather”, with warnings that aeroplane turbulence and food shortages could affect Britons.
How hot drinks can raise cancer risk
Frequently consuming drinks at very high temperatures increases the risk of oesophageal cancer – cancer of the food pipe or gullet – UK research suggests.
A three times higher chance
The study, from Oxford Population Health at the University of Oxford, included nearly a million people and found those who drank “very hot” drinks had about a three times higher risk of oesophageal .
Hot liquid may damage the cell lining of the food pipe as it travels down to the stomach, which could increase the risk of cancer developing, though the overall risk is low.
3 min read
3 min read
How hot is too hot?
The research, published in the , did not record the temperature of drinks. But the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified drinking beverages above 65°C as “probably carcinogenic”.
Drinking six or more hot beverages a day also increases the risk, data from 977,282 middle-aged men and women in this latest study shows.
A rare cancer
The researchers said that one or two in every 10 oesophageal cancers could be avoided if people stopped consuming hot drinks.
The cancer is rare, though, with only around 1 per cent of the UK population at risk of being diagnosed with this type of cancer.
- Other factors, such as smoking, pose a comparatively bigger risk for developing oesophageal cancer.
What to do
- Letting drinks cool down before drinking or adding cold milk can negate the risk, experts agreed.
- Researchers said the temperature at which coffee and tea is drunk in Western populations is estimated to be .
- “More research is needed to identify the exact drink temperatures linked to increased risk,” the researchers added.
3 min read
How to be more grateful for daily life in five easy steps
The world feels like a difficult place at the moment, and it can feel very hard sometimes to find things to be thankful for; when we are overwhelmed, we have less capacity to notice and reflect on the good things. Yet, ironically, proactively cultivating gratitude is one of the things that can actually help us feel less stressed.
NHS GP dR RADHA
The science
Research has shown that feeling or expressing thanks can actually alter our brain.
- The balance of neurotransmitters change; more serotonin and dopamine (feel good chemicals) are produced.
- This can be long lasting if we make gratitude a regular habit.
- We also get a decrease in our cortisol (stress hormone) levels which helps lower anxiety.
- Being grateful can strengthen the nerve pathways which triggers positive emotion.
How can we build gratitude?
Change your words
Instead of seeing something as a problem, try to see the opportunities within it.
Our brains are very receptive and what we read or write can alter our emotional system.
Express it
This will not only make you feel good, but you will also get a positive response from others.
How can we build gratitude?
Notice more
Throughout your day, try to notice all the things that are going well; has someone opened a door for you, or smiled?
The basics
By being thankful for the small things every day, we are far more likely to be and stay healthy so that we can enjoy them.
What to do
Gratitude can lead to feelings of optimism, lower our blood pressure, and improve sleep quality.
- Write down what potential good aspects there are to the things you don’t feel like doing, or even what could be worse about it.
- Spend a few minutes writing down three things that you are looking forward to that day, or the good things that have happened to you that day.
- Say thank you to yourself for the things you have achieved, or managed to get through and changed that day.
Sales of battery
electric vehicles hit a record high last year.
Starts at £22,995 for the smaller battery
Available with either a 40kWh battery or a larger 52kWh pack, that offers almost 255 miles, the latest, retro-inspired Renault 5 is both a joy to behold and a hoot to drive.
The interior has been lavished with a level of detail that’s typically reserved for more expensive cars.
4 min read
A champion of EV efficiency
It offers a remarkable 491 mile range on a single charge from the 85kWh battery.
It is a technological masterclass inside with the ability to option screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, including an optional display for the front passenger.
Priced from £37,400
2 min read
It’s a lot of money to part with, but this is arguably all the car you will ever need.
The £89,000 Macan is a premium SUV that somehow manages to blend Porsche’s reputation for dynamics and sporty driving with everyday practicality.
The 95kWh batteries can go from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 21 minutes from the fastest public charging outlets.
With the business class-style six seat configuration costing a staggering £76,995, it is by far the most expensive Kia ever made, but it backs up its financial demands with a suite of genuinely useful and impressive onboard technology.
It’s fast, goes a long way between stops and charges relatively quickly but the interior is bland, the onboard technology is infuriating and the experience is devoid of emotion.
All of its gadgetry can’t disguise the fact that performance is weak, even for a typically zippy EV, the ride is fussy at slower speeds and it’s not in the least bit enjoyable to drive on a country road.
- While good value (prices start at £17,935) for the 200-mile max range, there are more interesting options from Hyundai, Citroen and Renault for similar money.
- It attempts to wow with tech, much of which hinders, rather than helps.
- There’s no tangible benefit over mounting your phone to the dash.
- Simply an average driving experience, adequate range and slow charging speeds.
2 min read
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Victorinox paring knife
It’s comfortable to hold, with a point sharp enough for scoring pastry.
ProCook cast iron pan
For unbeatable searing and heat-retention, cast iron is the top choice.
Tesco chopping board
Priced at just £22, I’ve yet to find another board that matches it for sheer value and quality.
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Pyrex jug
It is the perfect vessel for blending smooth sauces, melting butter, or warming stock. It won’t stain like plastic and the red measurements never fade.
Salter scales
“I’ve had my slim little set of Salter Disc Scales for over a decade, and I’m delighted to see they are still made to exactly the same reliable design today.”
Microplane grater
It uses photo-etched stainless steel teeth that stay razor-sharp for a decade, something the lookalike copycats simply can’t match.
Braun hand-held blender
It’s an essential for everything from making velvety soup to getting the lumps out of white sauce.
Bodum cafetiere
As well as delivering great results, cafetieres are easy to clean and there’s no ongoing filter paper costs or pod recycling to deal with.
5 min read
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Oxo peeler
What truly sets it apart is the chunky, rubberised handle that absorbs pressure and stays completely non-slip, even if your hands are wet. It is inexpensive and incredibly durable.
Falcon pie dish
Made by fusing porcelain onto heavy-gauge steel for smooth durability, it is dishwasher, freezer, hob, air-fryer and oven-safe.
The golden rules for a happy, secure relationship
Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Amir Levine, author of bestselling book , explains why we behave the way we do in love.
Golden rules for happy relationships
Start with your own behaviours
The foundation of a secure, connected life is being what I call CARRP: that means being consistent, available, responsive, reliable and predictable. All of these qualities can be enacted in small gestures every day.
Express your needs
People need consistency and connection to feel safe. This is not, ‘You hurt my feelings by never replying to me’, it’s more ‘this is the kind of contact that helps me feel secure’.
Golden rules for happy relationships
The appendix ‘inflammation’ rule
If a relationship repeatedly inflames your nervous system, you need to disengage and deprioritise it.
Lean on community
You don’t need hundreds of friends. You need people and places that regularly remind you that you belong.
Stop blaming childhood
Humans are much more complicated than: ‘this happened to you, therefore you are doomed to be anxious’.
Reach for a
secure script
When something unsettles you in a relationship, your first reaction is not always the most accurate one.
If you’re anxious, your brain may jump very quickly to: ‘this is the beginning of the end’. If you’re avoidant, your brain may say: ‘this person wants too much from me, I need to get away’. So one very practical thing you can always do is pause and ask: ‘What would a secure person do here?’
Loneliness elsewhere
When people talk about loneliness, they often assume it means you don’t have enough people in your life. But you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely if those relationships leave you feeling excluded, ignored or disconnected.
What to do
- Build a community that works for your temperament and gives you regular, reliable moments of connection.
- You can still be kind to people while not treating them as someone who belongs in your inner circle.
- Explain what you need. Sometimes people simply don’t realise how you are experiencing them.
- Check in with people: does this person actually feel that I’m reliable? Do they experience me as predictable? That’s the only way that you can start to become more secure.
‘I give myself several minutes of slow breathing’
Dr Francesco Lo Monaco, consultant and preventive cardiologist and author of ‘‘
“Doctors are often good at prescribing recovery while treating it as optional for themselves. As a cardiologist, I can finish the day still mentally replaying decisions and conversations, so switching off requires a deliberate transition rather than simply arriving home.
“I grew up in Sicily, where mornings began with a walk and evenings often ended around the table with family. A quiet walk without [my] phone gives me a physical boundary between the intensity of the clinic and the rest of my life. I also write down anything that requires action before I finish work. The brain tends to keep rehearsing unfinished tasks because it is afraid they will be forgotten. Putting them somewhere allows me to say, ‘This has been captured; I do not need to solve it tonight.’
“At home, an unhurried meal and conversation are more restorative to me than passive distraction. I try not to eat while answering emails or carry my phone from room to room. Being present with other people is often what breaks the work mindset most effectively.
“After a particularly stressful day, I avoid trying to counter one form of intensity with another. A punishing late workout or ice bath may add further stimulation when the nervous system is already highly activated. Gentle movement and several minutes of slow breathing – with a slightly longer exhalation than inhalation – help create a more genuine physiological downshift. I protect sleep as I would protect an important appointment. Devices stay away from the bed, the room is kept quiet and I try to maintain a consistent schedule.”
Dr Lamia Zafrani, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist
“Powerlifting is the closest thing I have to meditation. You can’t step under a heavy barbell while thinking about emails, operating lists or tomorrow’s clinic. If your mind wanders, the lift doesn’t happen. For that hour, the only thing that exists is the next movement.
My week involves looking after women with complex high-risk pregnancies, C-section operating lists, labour ward on-calls, emergency gynaecology and early pregnancy scanning clinics, as well as night shifts. After particularly difficult cases, we’ll often debrief before leaving the hospital. It’s a simple habit, but it creates a natural boundary between work and home. There are still patients you think about, and there always will be.
“I also love hiking. It’s the complete opposite of a hospital environment: fresh air, open space and time to think. Since becoming a mum, I’ve introduced my toddler to both. She loves watching me train and has already accompanied me on plenty of hikes in a baby carrier.”
‘I breed seahorses in my spare time’
Tim Lane, consultant urologist and robotic surgeon at the East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust and president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
“For many years I bred seahorses in my spare time – I had always been fascinated by them. I followed Project Seahorse [a marine conservation charity] for many years and became a scientific fellow of the Zoological Society of London as my interest grew.
“My time with these fascinating creatures was always the ultimate antidote to the inevitable stresses of a busy clinical career. Although I am no longer actively involved with breeding programmes, I continue my worldwide quest to pursue the ‘leafy sea-dragon.’ To date, I have only ever seen them in aquariums in Singapore and Barcelona. The search continues.”
‘I have a non-negotiable massage every week’
Dr Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist and founder of
“Since having a coronary stent three years ago, exercise has become even more important to me in terms of protecting my heart and maintaining muscle. I lift weights three times a week and do cardio – either running, rowing or incline walking, another two or three times. I like training hard enough that I have to focus on what I’m physically doing. I rely far more on routine than motivation – my training is booked into my week well in advance.
Running my own clinic is mentally dense: you are constantly assessing risk, making decisions and managing complications. The fatigue often comes less from the number of hours than from being the person everybody ultimately looks to for a decision. I also need some genuinely quiet time when I get home. After a day in which people have needed constant attention and reassurance, being with my family, eating properly and having a period when nobody requires an immediate answer is deeply restorative.
[At work] you spend hours leaning over patients, concentrating intensely and holding tension. I have a non-negotiable massage every week, focused on my back and shoulders.”
‘I do an hour a day of Olympic training’
Professor James Larkin, consultant medical oncologist at The Royal Marsden
“I make breakfast for my teenage kids each morning (always eggs). Then as a family, with my wife too, we all head to our CrossFit gym and work out together. I train for an hour, five days a week in the mornings. It’s a mix of cardio, strength training and gymnastics, with elements of Olympic weightlifting and mobility built in. CrossFit is a real community and is very social. I also prioritise getting six to seven hours of sleep most nights to support recovery.”
‘Classic cinema helps me unwind’
Professor K Ray Chaudhuri, world-renowned expert in Parkinson’s, professor of neurology and movement disorders at King’s College London and leading consultant neurologist at King’s College Hospital
“My schedule is travel-heavy, I am away one to two weeks of every month, often crossing time zones and I juggle clinical work, academic work, advisory roles and lectures. I also have a young son at home in London. Sometimes I have to give a diagnosis of Parkinson’s to younger patients who may not be suspecting it. If I have delivered diagnoses two or three times a day, I’m psychologically and mentally drained and need to slow my thoughts down so hobbies are very important to me.
“Music and watching classic cinema really helps me unwind. I love listening to podcasts on people I admire and their ways of dealing with life and playing guitar when I can. I like to delve into music history, particularly rock and the 60s, and discover new bands from the past. Recently I have been listening a lot to Canned Heat.”
Dr Nilofer Farjo, hair transplant surgeon at Farjo Hair Institute
“In my line of work, surgery can take between six and eight hours, so it can be hard to switch off after work. I don’t mind though, I find some of the most productive conversations and decisions happen over dinner. For me, relaxing starts with cooking from scratch at least five days a week. I love the creativity of making healthy meals with whatever I find in the fridge. I’ll often put music on and dance or do some stretches while cooking.
“Sport and dance help me decompress. My husband (who is also my business partner) and I find having a busy social life is what helps us chill. We got into cycling a few years ago and are now hooked and attend regular cycling weekends. We also have a travel and foodie group with friends. Being organised keeps me sane and a big part of that is having a continuous to-do list.”