What do you imagine when you think of nature?

Perhaps you think of going for walks in the park or countryside with the sun on your back, going to the beach or wrapping up warm and splashing in puddles while the wind whips around you. But what if you don't have access to these places, are unable to get there or aren't ready to go out yet?

Thankfully there's more to nature than great escapes and we can all find our little bit of nature if we look for it. We might find it in the garden or even from inside our home. The key is to look for it. It might me that you enjoy pottering in the garden, looking after a window box or pot plant, or even just listening to the birds singing as you put the bin out. After all, good things don't have to be big things.

The way we look at things determines how we feel. Not only are the sights and sounds of nature soothing to our mind but the act of seeking it out and appreciating it in any form takes us away from sadness, anxiety and depression, giving respite and the head-space to relax. Looking for nature and what you like about it uses the area of the brain associated with positivity so is a great way to feel better.

Ask yourself when you see droplets sparkling on the window, do you see the rain or the sun glinting through the clouds? If it's the rain, well then, what's good about the rain? Then look beyond it.

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek