It is generally accepted that our environment affects our mood. The weather, the temperature and those around you.

I’ve heard it said that anxiety is prompted by thoughts of the future and low mood can dwell in the past. This leaves the safety of the present moment to notice and find balance.

When we have a number of events, plans and different arrangements to think about this can pull us into anxious thoughts of wanting certainty about how things will be.

To find a peaceful head space if you notice that your thoughts are rushing forward or dragging backward, it can help to practice grounding or mindfulness – a bit like consciously reminding your brain that you are in this current moment and that you are safe. There are lots of ways to do this and just a few minutes is all you need. Slowing counting while taking some breaths, you could try to find an image of, or imagine, a setting that you find soothing. What can you see in this place? What might you hear? What would you smell? How do you feel? This creates a peaceful place for you in your mind’s eye that you can return to when you need to come back to your senses.

Sometimes just taking a minute to look around you, notice where you are standing or sitting and taking a long, deep breath can help. If you find that you are pulled back to past times then the same technique can help, notice something that you are grateful to have in your life (even if it is a very small begrudging appreciation, that’s okay, you’re still telling your brain that things are okay just for this moment even just that one thing).