T is for Touch: mindfulness in nature

Hold your hand against the furrowed trunk of an old oak tree, brush a feather against your skin or walk barefoot through a meadow.

Clichés, yes, but these things really do have a way of making you feel more grounded.

Try repotting a plant.

Remove it from its container and gently agitate the soil around the roots – is it cold? What do the roots feel like between your fingers? Place the plant into a larger pot then top it up with soil, patting down the surface around the stem to hold it in place. Water well, feeling the liquid on your hands.

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Almost without realising it, those few minutes of mindful contact with nature will have reduced your heart rate, easing feelings of anxiety, frustration and even anger.