In a turbulent year, Atlantic writers have sought to provide readers with practical advice. Whether it’s how to navigate the pandemic, how to avoid bedtime procrastination, or how to break a phone addiction, our pages have been here to guide you through these confusing times.
But some of the stories that have resonated most have also offered insight and recommendations for our everyday life, such as how to improve our relationships, how to push back against the idea of “staying positive,” and the importance of saying no.
As 2021 comes to a close, read a few of these words of wisdom from the past year, to carry with you into the new year.
The Best Time-Management Advice Is Depressing But Liberating
You can make time for things that matter, or you can make time for more email.
The One-Size-Fits-All Narrative of Your 20s Needs to Change
Your 20s don’t have to be the “best time of your life.”
The Most Effective Way to Thank Your Significant Other
One fact of long-term relationships is that humans often take their partner for granted. Think of gratitude as a buffer against that.
The Secret to a Fight-Free Relationship
Conventional wisdom says that venting is cathartic and that we should never go to bed angry. But couples who save disagreements for scheduled meetings show the benefits of a more patient approach to conflict.
‘Self-Care’ Isn’t the Fix for Late-Pandemic Malaise
What we need is to take care of others.
Women and the Liberating Power of Saying No
From Jane Austen to Rosa Parks, from Joan Didion to Stacey Abrams, saying no has been the key to female self-respect and political empowerment.
The Opposite of Toxic Positivity
In a survey done in the early months of the pandemic, more than half of people reported feeling grateful, and almost 70 percent expected to feel grateful in the future.