Join The Simple Things’ Wellbeing Editor Rebecca Frankand our regular co-host, contributor to the magazine and author of The Slow Traveller, Jo Tinsley, as they talk about how these early days of spring bring about a rise in energy, an urge to sort and maybe spring clean and how to bring new life to old and get out in the garden.

If you are in the UK, you can try an immediate start subscription to the The Simple Things and receive the current issue straight away. Or buy current and back issues here

Thanks to our partner for Season 9, Friends of Glass, an organisation that celebrates and supports glass packaging for food, drink and cosmetics. Find out more about why glass is better for health, taste and the environment and follow them on instagram @friendsofglassuk

Editing & music by Arthur Cosslett

On the blog

Koromagae Linen Spray

In the March issue (165) on sale now, available to buy here

Spruce up – As the garden springs back to life, now is the time to rejuvenate neglected corners.

Magical Creatures: An appreciation of the first butterfly of the year

Home Economics: Tropical Fruits. How to ensure the long journey of these drops of sunshine is worth its while.

Gathering: Clothes swap brunch

Wisdom: The joy of enough. A change in circumstances made Anna Kilpatrick rethink her life.

In the Feb issue (164) available to buy here

My Place: linen cupboards

Change by numbers: Helping to make the world a better place

In our Flourish Volume 4

Pleasure Garden – Spring seems to arrive sooner when you have fruit trees and blossom

The First Blossom: a promise of renewal each spring.

Find out more

Plantlife's No Mow May Movement

Not Needing New: A Practical Guide to Finding the Joy of Enough (Orion)

Join The Simple Things’ Wellbeing Editor Rebecca Frank and Contributing Editor Jo Tinsley as they discuss why this is a good time of year to get started with new projects, the brain-boosting benefits of learning a new skill and the science behind creating habits.

If you are in the UK, you can try an immediate start subscription to the The Simple Things and receive the current issue straight away. We can send subscriptions anywhere in the world. Or buy current and back issues here

Editing & music by Arthur Cosslett.

Thanks to our supporter for Season 9, Friends of Glass, an organisation that celebrates and supports glass packaging for food, drink and cosmetics. Find out more about why glass is better for health, taste and the environment and follow them on instagram @friendsofglassuk

On the blog

Match your creative itch to a new class here

Projects using glass on instagram @friendsofglassuk

Making a jam jar garden

Ways with rosemary:

Rosemary and ginger hinny herbal tipple

Olive oil, rosemary and apricot cake

A guide to rosemary pairings

In the February issue (164) on sale now, available to buy here

My Living - we chat to Catherine Mugonyi, founder of community arts space Aunty Social in Blackpool

Tarot for therapy – using the cards to help unlock thoughts, feelings and emotions

Tea & Tarot – an afternoon tea with a wellbeing twist

In the March issue (165) available to order here (on sale in shops from 27 March)

More than words – why learning a language is good for our brains and our communities. Find out more at Sign Language Week (16-22 March)

My City Malaga – a local’s guide to this sunny city in spring

In Flourish (Volume 4), available to buy here

Growing habits – if you want to change anything, start small and let it grow

Heart, body and soul – rosemary recipes and a soothing rosemary and lemon scalp rub

Join The Simple Things’ Editor Lisa Sykes and Wellbeing Editor Rebecca Frank as they find reasons to celebrate during February, including the returning daylight, time spent with friends and loved ones and joyful occasions from Lunar New Year to Shrove Tuesday.

If you are in the UK, you can try an immediate start subscription to the The Simple Things and receive the current issue straight away. Or buy current and back issues here

Editing & music by Arthur Cosslett.

On the blog

Seville & blood orange marmalade

Blood orange posset

Blood orange Negroni

Vietnamese summer rolls recipe

In the February issue (164) on sale now available to buy here

Foods of love – what we eat and how we eat it has long associations with romance

Friends for life – the mood-boosting, life-enhancing benefits of friendship

Kitchen therapy – Sensory baking (Herb and black olive fougasse and Cavolo Nero Gnochi) and simple embroidered onions

My City Taipei – cherry blossom and feasting during Lunar New Year

What to do with orange peel – from scented kitchen spray to joyful garlands

In the January issue (163) available to buy here

The Big Idea: Could you be an Otrovert? Explore the thinking behind Dr Rami Kaminski’s book The Gift of Not Belonging: How Outsiders Thrive In A World Of Joiners (Scribe)

In our A Year of Celebrations Anthology

Lunar New Year gathering – recipes to share and celebrate with friends

Find out more

Travelling sun sculpture myhelios.org

Thanks to our partner for Season 9, Friends of Glass, an organisation that celebrates and supports glass packaging for food, drink and cosmetics. Find out more about why glass is better for health, taste and the environment and follow them on instagram @friendsofglassuk

In the STAR episode The Simple Things’ Editor Lisa Sykes and author of The Slow Traveller and regular contributor Jo Tinsley celebrate Twelfth Night and look for other reasons to cheer up what feels like the longest month of January.

If you are in the UK, you can try an immediate start subscription to the The Simple Things and receive the current issue straight away. Or buy current and back issues here

Editing & music by Arthur Cosslett.

On the blog

Candle Holder

How To Wassail Well

How to hold a Wassail

Buttered bourbon apple cider

Tangerine and nutmeg hot chocolate

Blood Orange Posset

Slow Orange Poppy Seed Cake

In the January issue (163) on sale now

The appeal of ice skating

A winter of care and repair

In our In our A Year of Celebrations Anthology

Gathering: Twelfth Night with the La Fête des Rois

Candle holders

In previous issues, available to buy at picsandink.com

Life lessons from the north: the value of age-old customs and community in enduring the long, dark winters. (Issue 151)

Looking back why we are fascinated by the stars (issue 152)

Snow lanterns (issue 138)

Learn more

Candles: A modern guide to making candles by Ebi Sinter and Emmanuel Sinteh

Watch out for the Quadrantid meteor shower between 28 December-12 January, peeking around 3-4 January 2026

Slow Down And Be Here Now by Laura Brand and Freya Hartas

A Winter Dictionary: A Collection of Words for the Festive Season by Paul Anthony Jones

Thanks to our partner for the Merry Midwinter season, the Marine Stewardship Council, which sets certification standards for sustainable fisheries and awards the blue ecolabel on fish and fish products. Find out more about the best fish to choose at msc.org and follow them on instagram @mscintheuk

If you’ve got some time off, now’s the chance to kick back a bit. Join Wellbeing Editor Rebecca FrankAuthor of The Slow Traveller and regular contributor Jo Tinsley

In Episode 5 PAUSE, as they share ideas for carving out some time to relax and reset in this in-between bit of Christmas.

If you are in the UK, you can try an immediate start subscription to the The Simple Things and receive the current issue straight away. Or buy current and back issues here

Editing & music by Arthur Cosslett.

On the blog

How to do a jigsaw properly

In the January issue (163) on sale now

Long views from tall towers

Taking cues from the people, animals and nature that surround us

Life lessons from David Attenborough

Fish pie and cheddar mash

Learn more

Is a gansey a Guernsey?

Mindwandering: How It Can Improve Your Mood and Boost Your Creativity, by Moshe Bar (Bloomsbury Tonic)

Fish pie hash

In previous issues available to buy at picsandink.com

Wearing well: Mittens (issue 127)

Panettone French toast (Issue 138)

Favourite annuals (issue 138)

Thanks to our partner for the Merry Midwinter season, the Marine Stewardship Council, which sets certification standards for sustainable fisheries and awards the blue ecolabel on fish and fish products. Find out more about the best fish to choose at msc.org and follow them on instagram @mscintheuk

Join The Simple Things’ Editor Lisa Sykes and Wellbeing Editor Rebecca Frank as we get stuck into festive feasting. We’ll be talking turkey, side dishes, tipples and nibbles, how to explain Christmas Eve to kids with science and just why we love Boxing Day so much.

If you are in the UK, you can try an immediate start subscription to the The Simple Things and receive the current issue straight away. Or buy current and back issues here

Editing & music by Arthur Cosslett.

On the blog

Root veg peel crisps

Christmas Eve explained

Cheese board pairings

Brussel sprout bhajias

Which Christmas character are you?

In the December issue (162) on sale now

Boxing day buffet – roast cranberry and mustard gammon, winter goat’s cheese salad, meringue nests with fruit and boozy cream

Grow your own Christmas Day veg

Sprout slaw

Homemade blinis

In previous issues available at picsandink.com

Kitschmas – snowball, devilled eggs, mozzarella and pineapple sticks (Issue 150)

Why we love Boxing Day (Issue 150)

In our A Year of Celebrations Anthology

Side dishes as celebratory as the roast they surround

Thanks to our partner for the Merry Midwinter season, the Marine Stewardship Council, which sets certification standards for sustainable fisheries and awards the blue ecolabel on fish and fish products. Find out more about the best fish to choose at msc.org and follow them on instagram @mscintheuk

Join Wellbeing Editor Rebecca Frank and Author of The Slow Traveller and regular contributor Jo Tinsley as they help you discover ways to find your own little pockets of calm in the run up to Christmas. In this episode, we appreciate the quiet of the approaching solstice, press pause and take some time for ourselves before curling up with some winter reads.

If you are in the UK, you can try an immediate start subscription to the The Simple Things and receive the current issue straight away. Or buy current and back issues here

Editing & music by Arthur Cosslett.

On the blog

How to solve an Agatha Christie novel

Books that Embrace the Cold

Why We Love Cosy Crime

In the December issue (162) on sale now

Pressing pause: Whether it’s a few minutes to yourself or a day away, giving yourself time to do the things you enjoy this month will help prevent overwhelm

Kitchen therapy

Reading: awell-chosen book can bring moments of comfort, calm and cheer over the coming weeks.

Modern eccentrics: Solstice revellers

My place: Festive foliage

Learn more

Nature’s Calendar: The British Year In 72 Seasons by Kiera Chapman, Lulah Ellender, Rowan Jaines, Rebecca Warren (Granta)

In previous issues available at picsandink.com

A day in December: images that captured the magic of this month (150)

How to get on with your siblings as grown-ups (and have a more harmonious yuletide). (126)

A winter walk is a breath of fresh air. (150)

Tuning into the month’s micro-seasons (138)

Thanks to our partner for the Merry Midwinter season, the Marine Stewardship Council, which sets certification standards for sustainable fisheries and awards the blue ecolabel on fish and fish products. Find out more about the best fish to choose at msc.org and follow them on instagram @mscintheuk

The Simple Things’ Editor Lisa Sykes and Wellbeing Editor Rebecca Frank talk treasure, including the things we decorate our homes with, the people we treasure at Christmas and ways to treasure the season.

If you are in the UK, you can try an immediate start subscription to the The Simple Things and receive the current issue straight away. Or buy current and back issues here

Editing & music by Arthur Cosslett.

Thanks to our partner for the Merry Midwinter season, the Marine Stewardship Council, which sets certification standards for sustainable fisheries and awards the blue ecolabel on fish and fish products. Find out more about the best fish to choose at msc.org and follow them on instagram @mscintheuk

On the blog

Handmade gift ideas from thesimplethings.com

Christmas crackers template here

Bay and lemon sea salt body scrub

Homemade tea bags

Edible baubles

Fairy cake baubles

Gingerbread tree decorations

In the December issue (162) on sale now

Make your own advent candle

Christmas playlist

Mini rosemary wreath decorations

Eggnog – why everyone should try it

Forest needles chai

Decorations from fabric scraps

Weekend away – wreath making in the west country

In our A Year of Celebrations Anthology

Crafternoon – festive bakes and gifts

Choosing the tree

Edible baubles and stained-glass biscuits

Handmade Christmas crackers

In our wellbeing bookazine, Flourish Volume 4

Everlasting wreaths

Learn more

How to have an eco-friendly Christmas: advice from The Wildlife Trusts, The National Trust and WWF

Fish pie recipe carrying the MSC blue label by James Strawbridge

In previous issues available at picsandink.com

Missing people at Christmas – Issue 150