Boho playsuits

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The flirty alternative to a dress or shorts.

1Occasion dressing is much more relaxed than it used to be, with lots of knee-length and mid-calf alternatives to the traditional full-length gown. A modern lifestyle means having clothes that are current and versatile, not sitting gathering dust.

Fabric is key, so try embroidered lace or brocade, as well as details like sequins and prints, and when in doubt, go for metallics. And don’t worry about being perfectly coordinated – a fabulous shoe with a bag that doesn’t match, and a little shrug in feathers or velvet, will stand out from the crowd.

2DoDresses are having a big moment, and we love a long-sleeved maxi T-shirt, a belted dress with a full skirt in beaded and embroidered tulle and a simple, sequinned minidress, which is great for cocktail parties – you just need a clutch, bold jewellery and heels.

And when it comes to casual events, a shirtdress in crisp cotton is a great go-to. Fun prints and patch embroidery are also very popular at the moment.

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… To Snapchat every song at the Beyoncé concert. You just don’t want your friends to miss out on her slay. So considerate.

… If you find it annoying when someone says, “I’ll give it 110%.” Maths, people!

… To accept you’ll never get your head around the latest Instagram timeline. Chronology is the order of life.

… If you have an extra meal on the side when going out for tapas with your friends. Anything on a sharing plate is just a snack.

There was a time you’d rather stay grounded forever than delve into your love life with your parents. But you’ve grown a bit, and Mom and Dad have evolved, Sure, it’s cute to post a photo of you two feeding goats at the country cottage you visited, or tweet about the 5km you ran. But unless you’re aiming to be the next #Followmeto duo and ( professionally) photograph every life experience you have as a couple, you don’t want those shared selfies to get in the way of enjoying actual moments together.

You’re building memories, not an Instagram-worthy photo album for others to like. What matters most is that you like the stuff you’re doing together.

ver feel as though life has got on top of you? Don’t worry – you’re not alone. A recent Forbes survey found that nearly 20% of women under 35 feel “chronically overwhelmed”. And it’s because we sweat the small stuff. “We’re just starting to recognise the positive impact organisation has on mental wellbeing,” says decluttering expert Vicky Silverthorn. “Start small, and you’ll get the headspace to make bigger life changes.” Try this. Declutter your…

handbag

“A cluttered handbag shows a fear of being caught short,” reveals Vicky. “But it’s liberating to carry less.”

First, tip the contents of your handbag onto a tray. “Next, get rid of everything you can – there are few things you won’t be able to source on the go if you really need them.” Then, get organised with pouches.

“Pop all of your tech stuff, like cables and chargers, in one colourful pouch, and your makeup and stationery in others. It saves all of that endless rifling and valuable minutes hundreds of times a day,” advises Vicky.

Declutter your…

headspace

Totally confused about your #lifegoals? Welcome to our world. When our minds are clogged up with conflicting ideas about our future, this leads to “decision paralysis”, explains psychologist Maurits Kalff. “To clearly visualise our future, we need to declutter our minds of assumptions about what a successful life entails – and others’ plans for us.”

Few of us are motivated by ‘extrinsic’ factors, such as a high salary, our mom’s desire for grandchildren or wanting to impress an ex, but our ego and sense of obligation still distract us from what we really want in life. Instead, focus on ‘intrinsic’ motivations: your desire to help others, your love of travel or maybe your passion for justice.

“When you tap into what’s important to you, those big life decisions become easier to make,” says Maurits. Declutter your…

to-do list

“Too many of us finish the day having crossed only a handful of things off our to-do list, which makes us feel like a failure,” says nutritional biochemist Dr Libby Weaver. “It’s also human nature to procrastinate and avoid the most important and daunting tasks.”

Step one: “Number your list according to priority,” Dr Weaver says. Step two: make the tasks specific. Instead of ‘reply to emails’, write ‘reply to X, Y and Z.’ Finally, give each point a time frame – eg: ‘by 3pm’. “This way, you have a clear action plan, not a swamp of never-ending tasks,” explains Dr Weaver.

Declutter your…

social circle

Do you often spend too much time with the wrong people (eg: your colleagues) and then feel too tired or busy to see the family and friends you really value?

“One of the greatest sources of social stress is that sense of obligation: ‘I don’t want to do this, but I must,’” says chartered clinical psychologist Kathleen Cox. “Depriving yourself of choices is very disempowering.”

Make a list of five people you want to prioritise seeing this month and save them as ‘Favourites’ in your phone contact list. Get in touch with them over the weekend and arrange time together over the next four weeks.

Kathleen’s golden rule after that? “Don’t say goodbye without putting the next meet-up date together in your diaries.”

He didn’t come home”

“He said he was too drunk and stayed at a colleague’s house. Later, I saw messages synced to his ipad asking a friend to lie for him. Suddenly, previous lies came into focus.” – Lauren, 28 Why she was right “She was in denial until this point,” says Jo. “The messages reveal he’d been manipulative and unfaithful – so the trust was shot. It’s hard to get that back.”

He totally overreacted”

“I was with friends when I got a barrage of messages: ‘What’s your stuff doing everywhere?’ I replied, ‘I’ll tidy when I get home.’ He’d thrown my things out and was furious.” – Sophie, 31 Why she was right “He chucked her things without allowing her to rectify the problem,” says psychologist Sam Owen. Being that controlling, aggressive and unpleasant about something minor was a red flag. “He may have gone on to be domineering in other aspects of their relationship.”

We asked the pros so that you don’t have to!

Phillips recommends taking one medicine that targets your most bothersome symptom (eg: expectorant for chest congestion). If you’re on multiple pills or all-in-one cold meds, you

Start in plank, shoulders over wrists. Keep arms still, jump feet forward to land outside palms. Jump back into plank. Do 10.