Dine like Da Vinci, unleash your inner diva – 101 ways the arts can slightly improve your life

If you're seeing something long and challenging, remember that having an alcoholic drink beforehand is asking for trouble. So be sure to do it. Decorate a room as if you're a set designer, letting your imagination run wild. As William Morris said, bin whatever isn't useful or beautiful. Study your favourite standup and learn their best joke off by heart. It's not just about making your friends laugh: comedy teaches confidence and communication. From Evan Hansen to Alexander Hamilton to Mary Poppins, find a character whose feelings mirror yours – then unleash that emotion. Improvisation isn't just some zany thing comedians do on telly. It's a philosophy, as Pippa Evans' recent book Improv Your Life shows. When you're thrown a curveball, deviate from your standard script.