Mindfulness Week: how to take part and calming activities to enjoy daily

From forest walks to creating beautiful natural crafts, autumn is the perfect time to connect with nature and engage in mindful activities - either by heading outdoors or retreating inside to hide from the elements.

We’ve teamed up with In the Moment Magazine for a special autumn mindfulness week beginning on 7th October.

Find out more about the week and discover calming activities to enjoy daily with our guide to Mindfulness Week 2019.

How can I take part?

You can follow what’s happening on social media or return to this page to see what’s been added as the week goes on. Each day we will add new ideas for you to try. See the daily themes for the week below.

A to Z of mindfulness in nature

Our guide explains how nature can help you become more mindful, in turn improving physical and mental wellbeing.

Find simple ways to be mindful in nature

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What are the themes for Mindfulness Week?

Each day we will focus on a different theme and share mindful ideas to help you enjoy each daily experience.

Monday – Stargazing

Milky Way stargazing at Kielder Observatory — (Photo by: Christianto Soning / EyeEm via Getty Images)

The UK has a growing number of great places to go stargazing and is the perfect mindful activity to enjoy in autumn and winter.

Find inspiration for the best stargazing sites in the UK, plus how to do it mindfully:

Tuesday – Creativity

Woman on beach — Pebble-painting is a fun, mindful activity that adults and children of all ages can enjoy. (Getty Images)

Crafting is a great way to unwind and absorb your self in the moment. Capture the beauty of nature in your home with these nature-inspired crafty ideas:

Wednesday – Foraging

Foraging course — (Photo by: Clark and Company via Getty Images)

There is a wide variety of food you can forage for in Britain, including nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables and more. Our expert monthly foraging guide includes advice on how to forage safely, the law and what’s in season each month. Here is some inspiration to get you started:

Thursday – Coast

Beach at sunset — Solway coastline at Silloth, Cumbria UK in late spring. (Getty)

According to Ordnance Survey, Great Britain’s coastline is 11,073 miles (17,820 km) in length. With so much shoreline to be explored, we’re spoilt for choice with places to walk. Listening to the sound of the sea while breathing in fresh salty air is a great way to unwind and relax. Here we've shared a couple of mindful ideas to enjoy by the sea:

Friday – Wildlife

Close up of a Red Fox in Bristol in a garden/park using a remote camera trigger. (Getty Images)

Watching wildlife is one of life's great joys – and Friday's theme of wildlife is a lovely mindful activity to enjoy too. Which of nature's most magnificent spectacles will you see in the British countryside this autumn?

Saturday – Cooking and baking

Greek butter bean and tomato soup (Photo by: Jason Ingram)

Who doesn't love a warming soup or hearty stew in autumn? Our theme for Saturday is cooking and baking, and you'll find plenty of inspiration for traditional recipes in our food section.

Sunday – Walking

Couple walking in Beech woodlands in autumn — Walking in nature has been proven to be good for our mental health. (Credit: Getty Images)

Walking in nature has been proven to be good for our mental health. Sunday is the perfect day for a countryside walk, so we end our Mindfulness Week with the theme of walking. We have hundreds of walking routes for all abilities, so find plenty of inspiration in our walking section. Happy walking!

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