Mindfulness means to pay attention and live in the present moment rather than dwell on past regrets or future fears. It can help us to cope with challenging situations and live life to the full.
Here are three easy ways you can build mindfulness into your daily routine this winter:
Every morning and evening
Start and finish the day by sitting down, feeling your feet on the floor, and taking five deep breaths, feeling the sensations of breathing in and breathing out as best you can.
While out for a walk
Spend 30 seconds deliberately savouring an enjoyable experience of each of your senses. For example the feel of a piece of bark, the smell of wet leaves, the sight of a robin on the path, the taste of a rosemary leaf, the sound of the water against the bank of the river.
To break out of a cycle of negative thoughts
Count ten things on your fingers that you are grateful for, for example my friend who rang me last week, that nice dinner I had last night, my dog, the tree in my neighbour's garden with the bird feeder, etc.