Do you really know?

All personal development coaches emphasise the importance of setting goals, even ones that may seem out of reach at first. Doing so not only boosts motivation but also enables gradual achievement.  Nowadays a lot of people find this kind of approach almost second nature, but others struggle with it. A fear of failure, workplace anxiety, and a lack of self-confidence can make ambition seem unattain...

If you’re asking yourself whether cracking your knuckles is a bad thing, we'll take it as a given that you do crack your knuckles. You’ve probably also been told at some point that doing so will give you arthritis, most likely by someone already annoyed at you doing it! So, just how seriously should you be taking the know-it-alls? As you’re probably aware, many people find the noise pretty off-put...

Polycystic ovary syndrome, also called PCOS, is related to hormonal imbalances in women’s bodies. It’s the leading cause of fertility problems in women and affects one in ten women of childbearing age in the UK, according to the NHS. Despite that, there is very little awareness about the condition. The most important thing there is to know about PCOS is that it leads to excessive production of and...

For some, a trip to the hairdresser feels like a chore, while for others, it’s a refreshing boost. Either way, getting regular haircuts isn’t just a matter of appearance; it’s key to maintaining healthy hair and encouraging natural renewal.  Cutting your hair doesn’t make it grow faster, as some people would have you believe, but it does make it stronger. Hair tends to wear out and thin, especiall...

Of all the involuntary spasms the human body has, hiccuping is one of the most peculiar. Sure, it’s funny at first, and in particular if it’s happening to someone else rather than you. But it quickly gets annoying if it doesn’t go away! There are two things to note when you have the hiccups. First, your respiratory muscles, and the diaphragm in particular, contract suddenly and push out air from w...

Picture this: your boss asks you to do something that feels unfair or pointless. You disagree… but you go along with it anyway. It happens all the time. Most of us comply simply because we don’t want to risk conflict or consequences. Why is saying no so difficult? But how far can that instinct go? So why don’t we push back more often? Is it just about avoiding trouble? So is disobedience impossibl...

Every year, an average of four planes and twenty boats vanish in this notorious area. Straddling the line between legend and reality, the Bermuda Triangle has inspired countless adventure novels and films, continuing to captivate the public’s imagination. This vast region spans approximately 500,000 square kilometres, situated between Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Bermuda archipelago. How did the...

If you are looking for a quick and easy way to boost your protein intake, you might have considered eating a protein bar. They are convenient, come in various flavors and claim to provide you with the essential amino acids your body needs, often attracting people who want to lose weight, build muscle, or simply snack healthily. And, according to a BBC article, the market is booming. A report by Mi...

Sleep is often seen as a waste of time. Many businessmen, politicians, and celebrities boast about sleeping only 5 hours per night or even being insomniacs. However, despite its sometimes bad reputation, sleep is essential for maintaining good health and aging well. Bear in mind that no one has ever gone longer than 11 and a half days without sleeping. As a point of comparison, Scottish man Angus...

Modern life moves fast—work, responsibilities, and that endless to-do list. It often feels like there’s no time for what truly matters. Relationships get sidelined, calls get postponed… and before we know it, staying connected becomes a real challenge. But here’s the thing: sometimes, just a few minutes is all it takes to maintain those vital connections. In fact, some experts say the perfect call...

Social media just can't seem to shake off its obsession with thinness! Despite knowing that what we see online isn't always real, it still manages to mess with our heads. Early 2024 saw a huge fuss over the controversial "legging legs" trend, especially on TikTok. Well, believe it or not, leggings, which often get a bad rap, are making a comeback, but for all the wrong reasons. Loads of videos eme...

When you’re feeling a little blue, eating to feel better can be an appealing proposition. But the reality is we often turn to junk food or sugary treats that are high in calories and packed with salt or saturated fats. Of course, our mood can be impacted by a number of factors and there’s no magic fix that will instantly make us feel better. But there are actually types of food out there that have...

Climatologists and medical experts are in agreement about the detrimental impact of excessive meat consumption on both our environment and health. Industrial livestock farming is responsible for a significant 15% of global CO2 emissions, and it also raises ethical concerns regarding animal welfare. In light of these concerns, it recently emerged that UK meat consumption is at its lowest level sinc...

Salim Berrada, also known as "the Tinder rapist", has been on trial in France since 18 March 2024. He is accused of raping or sexually assaulting 17 women, after meeting them on the Internet via dating applications. According to victims his MO was always the same: he would invite them to his home for a photo shoot, offer them a drink that they felt compelled to take and which would result in them...

As the years go by, we're getting less and less sleep. A survey by Chemist4U in 2022 found that Brits get just 6 hours and 10 minutes of sleep per night on average. Economic stress and the overwhelming demands of modern life have been blamed for this, but there’s no real evidence to back that up. Still the fact remains that not getting enough sleep can significantly impact our daily lives, so it’s...

We've long known that masturbation can help relieve stress and even alleviate menstrual pain in women, thanks to the release of hormones like endorphins acting as a natural painkiller. It’s also well established that sexual activity is beneficial for the cardiovascular system, as it increases our heart rate and may even contribute to lower blood pressure. But as it turns out, using sex toys can al...

At some point in life, most people experience grief, whether after losing a loved one or at the end of an important relationship. We tend to associate mourning with death. But sometimes grief begins before a person has died. This experience is often referred to as anticipatory or ambiguous loss, a form of grief felt when someone is still physically present but psychologically or cognitively change...

Hypersexuality, overactive libido and sex addiction are just a few of many terms used to describe those who simply can’t seem to get enough when it comes to sex. According to UK-Rehab.com, it’s estimated that somewhere between 3% and 6% of adults in the country are addicted to sex.  It might be a hot topic these days, but the concept only really surfaced in the late 1970s. The rise of the internet...

Here at Do You Really Know, we’ve talked over and over again about the importance of getting good quality sleep. So of course, you don’t want your evening meal to disrupt it, and that’s a cause of uncertainty for many people. Bear in mind that to drift off to sleep, your body temperature needs to gradually drop. Given that digestion tends to raise our body temperature, that poses quite the conundr...

A lot has changed in the workplace since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Companies have had to figure out how to best manage remote work for their employees, all the while supporting their career development and helping them feel more satisfied at work. Well, the concept we’re going to talk about today may be just what’s needed to address those challenges. It’s a modern HR strategy kno...

A 2022 YouGov study suggested that 26% of British people have at least one tattoo, a statistic which reflects just how the perception of tattoos has changed over the years. They used to be reserved for subcultures, but are now very much in the mainstream, and seen as a positive way of expressing one’s identity. Nevertheless, getting a tattoo can be dangerous if not done correctly. If you’re thinki...

Today, “left” and “right” are the main labels we use to categorise political views, but their origins go back over two centuries. To understand, we have to go back to the French Revolution in 1789. That spring, France’s King Louis XVI convened a meeting known as the Estates General, bringing together representatives from three groups, or “Estates”: the clergy, the nobility, and the Third Estate, w...

The pursuit of restful sleep is a common goal, especially considering that around one-third of people in the UK experience sleep disorders such as insomnia or even orthosomnia, an obsession with achieving perfect sleep (to find out more about this listen to our episode all about it.) To combat this people try all sorts of methods from meditation to  counting sheep, one new approach is the 10-3-2-1...

Getting intimate while you or your partner are menstruating isn’t always straightforward. Still, the idea of period sex has gradually become less and less of a taboo over time. OK, it is potentially messy, but there’s nothing inherently wrong or unsafe with it. And if you’re in the mood for sex, it’s kind of a shame to miss out for that reason alone.  Most importantly, both partners need to be ful...

Ever since Covid-19 lockdowns, many people have developed a taste for interior design and regularly take to Pinterest for inspiration. But as you may well know from experience, buying a few furniture items can quickly add up in cost. As a result, clever internet users have been coming up with solutions to repurpose items bought from Ikea, whose items are available in many different parts of the wo...