Feelgood Season 2026 - Irish Examiner

<p>Ellen Keane, Ireland's youngest-ever Paralympian</p>

health and wellbeing

Ellen Keane: After I won my first Paralympic medal in Rio, I had to work on my mental strength

After a career spanning five Paralympic Games, Ellen Keane is learning what life looks like beyond elite sport. She speaks with Sarah Finnan about retirement, mental health, disability, and her role as a keynote speaker at WellFest

<p>Left unmanaged, cortisol can spike your appetite and motivation to over-eat, so managing stress is very important</p>

health and wellbeing

Science-backed ways men can reduce belly fat — and their risk of heart disease and diabetes

<p class="contextmenu internal_Caption">With an average of seven tonnes of pressure passing through our feet every day, they deserve their own wellbeing regimen. <span class="contextmenu emphasis CaptionCredit">Picture: iStock</span>
</p>

health and wellbeing

Step up your foot care when it’s cold outside

Smile face inside yellow background and white punch paper with copy space for positive mindset and client excellent evaluation c

health and wellbeing

Find your happy spot with simple daily habits

Smiling face of elderly lady having glass of cold water

health and wellbeing

Six signs you're not drinking enough water

A young fitness woman checks her pulse on her neck.

health and wellbeing

Could your always-on fitness tracker be doing more harm than good?

Sophie Morris: 'Adding nuts and seeds to your breakfast is a really good hack'

Author Sophie Morris has all the tips to help us skip the UPF products - or switch them for something better - along with ideas for good things to make that are both delicious and nourishing

Fri, 16 Jan, 2026

Satisfied woman drinking and relaxing in winter in a park

Rest revolution: Why women need to reclaim the right to recharge

Suzanne Harrington looks at how work deadlines, digital overload, domestic responsibilities, disrupted sleep rhythms, and poor diet often leave women running on stress hormones and on the brink of burnout

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026

Collage style hand holding semaglutide Injection Pen cost or money concept with textures and vibrant colors

Hungry for change: How will 2026 reshape the way we treat obesity?

From the King Kong of weight-loss jabs to the Godzilla of the category, the GLP-1 industry is undergoing big changes

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026

'Good posture is not about being poker straight — it’s about releasing tension'

Megan Roantree explores whether the Alexander Technique can help improve her body alignment

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026

Micro habits: A lazy person’s guide to making self-improvements in January

Making tiny lifestyle changes can boost how you feel and help maintain motivation, says Jonathan deBurca Butler, who took up a two-week health and wellbeing challenge

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026

Watch: Derval O'Rourke’s 10-minute fitness challenge is perfect for a new year reset

Whether you’re brushing off the cobwebs after a break from exercising, kickstarting your fitness journey, or you’re a seasoned gym-goer, you'll likely find this programme helpful

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

My world, my way: Kathryn Thomas reveals how she juggles her high-energy life

Kathryn Thomas is learning the power of saying no to extra demands on her time and yes to early nights, which have become key to sustaining her fast-forward life. It’s this simple discipline — not HRT, which she dropped — that is helping to fuel her high energy levels

Sun, 04 Jan, 2026

The girl balances on the scales between healthy and junk food. Healthy lifestyle concept

Avoid new year diet and find balance beyond food rules

Instead of looking for new ways to lose weight, consider taking an intuitive eating approach, which teaches us to tune into our body’s signals so that we eat what we need and when we’re hungry

Fri, 02 Jan, 2026

A pensive businessman sits at his desk with closed eyes, taking a moment for himself in a modern office.

Mindfulness ‘can make all the difference to our working day’

Tuning in and finding stillness can help us cope with a working day filled with non-stop deadlines, meetings, and instant messages

Fri, 02 Jan, 2026

Can tiny tweaks beat total makeovers?

Could microdosing long to-do lists and making small, bite-sized changes be the key to fitting more into your day without overhauling your whole routine?

Fri, 02 Jan, 2026

20 ways to pack more fibre into your diet

Certain plant foods help feed the bacteria in our gut microbiome, so it’s vital to get our daily fill. Their benefits go beyond simply keeping us regular

Fri, 02 Jan, 2026

Cheerful Woman with Dumbbells in Orange Activewear

Make 2026 the year you take up strength training

Does the idea of strength training feel daunting? No need — just follow these simple tips for consistent progress

Fri, 02 Jan, 2026

Food resolutions that just might stick

Ditch self-denial and embrace more sustainable goals in 2026 to add big flavour and vital nutrition to your diet

Fri, 02 Jan, 2026

young woman runner tying her shoes preparing for a jog outside at morning

Watch: Learn to run, week four — Expert tips to continue your running journey

Coach Emmett Dunleavy shares his advice for novice runners on the final week of his four-week training plan

Fri, 31 Jan, 2025

Doctor watering brain tree vecor illustration

Four key chemicals that govern your life — and expert tips on how to optimise them

From exercise to social connections and healthy food, understanding the role dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins play in our bodies can help you boost their positive effects

Fri, 31 Jan, 2025

I do weekly sauna sessions and always finish on cold — I haven't had a cold in a year

Nurse Helen Tuffy was accustomed to picking up illnesses due to the nature of her work, but all that changed when she started visiting the local sauna, followed by an icy dip in the river

Fri, 24 Jan, 2025

Young fitness female runner legs ready for run on forest trail

How increasing your steps and walking more can help you to live longer

Intense fitness routines can be daunting, but simply going for a walk can significantly improve your health. Upping your daily steps will quickly make a difference and put you on the path to a longer life

Fri, 24 Jan, 2025

Watch: Learn to run, week three — Expert tips to continue your running journey

Coach Emmett Dunleavy shares his advice for novice runners on week three of his four-week training plan, including why you should consider joining a running group

Fri, 24 Jan, 2025

Watch: Learn to run, week two — Expert tips to continue your running journey

Coach Emmett Dunleavy shares his advice for novice runners on week two of his four-week training plan, including how to stay mentally strong

Fri, 17 Jan, 2025

Colm Hayes: I'm trying to up my game with the 40-Day Health Challenge

Supported by health experts from Operation Transformation, the challenge is designed to motivate participants to focus on improving their physical health, mental wellbeing, and nutrition over 40 days.

Fri, 17 Jan, 2025

Watch: Expert tips for learning how to run at any age — and sticking with it

It may be tempting to turn up the heat and stay snug at home during January, but this pared-back month is ideal for exercising outdoors. Athletics coach Emmett Dunleavy and Olympian David Gillick share their top tips for learning how to run at any age — and stick with it

Mon, 13 Jan, 2025

Healthy Morning Jogger runner Exercising on White

10-minute exercise routines: Quick ways to bust out of the January blues

If you are already losing motivation for your health and fitness resolutions, there is hope in the form of 10-minute wellbeing hacks that promise to keep you on track

Fri, 10 Jan, 2025

Inflammation: How to eat to regulate immune responses

Though designed to help the body fight infection and repair damage, inflammation can trigger serious illness when it becomes chronic. Our diet plays a key role in regulating this immune response

Fri, 10 Jan, 2025

Running woman in the forest. Close-up of sneakers.

Watch: Top coach on learning how to run in just four weeks

Start your new year off with these simple running tips for beginners

Fri, 10 Jan, 2025

Positive business management words on adhesive notes

The power of language: How one word could be key to your best year yet

Instead of a long list of resolutions, choose a concept — like ‘courage’ or ‘focus’ — to guide you through 2025 and influence your daily decisions

Fri, 10 Jan, 2025

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Ellen Keane: After I won my first Paralympic medal in Rio, I had to work on my mental strength

Science-backed ways men can reduce belly fat — and their risk of heart disease and diabetes

Step up your foot care when it’s cold outside

Find your happy spot with simple daily habits

Six signs you're not drinking enough water

Could your always-on fitness tracker be doing more harm than good?

Sophie Morris: 'Adding nuts and seeds to your breakfast is a really good hack'

Rest revolution: Why women need to reclaim the right to recharge

Hungry for change: How will 2026 reshape the way we treat obesity?

'Good posture is not about being poker straight — it’s about releasing tension'

Micro habits: A lazy person’s guide to making self-improvements in January

Watch: Derval O'Rourke’s 10-minute fitness challenge is perfect for a new year reset

My world, my way: Kathryn Thomas reveals how she juggles her high-energy life

Avoid new year diet and find balance beyond food rules

Mindfulness ‘can make all the difference to our working day’

Can tiny tweaks beat total makeovers?

20 ways to pack more fibre into your diet

Make 2026 the year you take up strength training

Food resolutions that just might stick

Watch: Learn to run, week four — Expert tips to continue your running journey

Four key chemicals that govern your life — and expert tips on how to optimise them

I do weekly sauna sessions and always finish on cold — I haven't had a cold in a year

How increasing your steps and walking more can help you to live longer

Watch: Learn to run, week three — Expert tips to continue your running journey

Watch: Learn to run, week two — Expert tips to continue your running journey

Colm Hayes: I'm trying to up my game with the 40-Day Health Challenge

Watch: Expert tips for learning how to run at any age — and sticking with it

10-minute exercise routines: Quick ways to bust out of the January blues

Inflammation: How to eat to regulate immune responses

Watch: Top coach on learning how to run in just four weeks

The power of language: How one word could be key to your best year yet

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