STARTING THE DAY

UPON RISING: take a few moments to relish your freshly woken moment.

EARLY MORNING: enjoy five to ten minutes of meditation with a hot lemon tea. Finish with a little light stretching or movements.

BREAKFAST: savour a bowl of seedy oats in the summer, or warm up with a healing soup in the autumn.

GETTING READY: follow breakfast with a shower, taking your time to notice each part of your body as you lather up with some beautiful essential oils and natural soaps. Dress with joy and cultivate the attitude of expecting to encounter something great in your day.

SELF-REFLECTION: before you set out for the day, read a poem or an inspired quote from your journal.

STEPPING OUT: consider your intentions for the day – the things that are important to you and those you love – and step out with an attitude of embracing them.

TIP: Spend a little time outdoors first thing in the morning. The trend for Forest Bathing, which, put simply, means spending time in nature for the benefit of your health, is on the rise thanks to the growing research supporting the healing properties of the natural world. (We’ll explore the beauty of nature in Part Four.)