Get out into nature and near a body of water

Walking provides a way to connect with the primal, animal nature that lies dormant inside you, according to Jonathan, who uses the metaphor of an ‘inner wolf’ to represent his own wild nature. ‘We have disconnected from our sense of intuition, and we tend to try to think our way out of problems rather than feel our way out,’ he says. ‘Walking helps you feel grounded in nature, which helps you remember you’re a primal being. It creates a feeling of connection to the world.’

Science certainly backs this up. Walking somewhere green for five minutes, even if it’s just the local park, helps improve your sense of wellbeing and lower your risk of mental illness. This was discovered in an analysis of 1,252 people from different backgrounds across the UK.

For even greater benefits, just add water; natural landscapes combining green and blue – whether lakes, rivers, ponds or the sea – increase wellbeing even further. See p26 for more.