This time around we’re talking to Dr Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist and the co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic.

Hi, Elena! If you could recommend One Good Thing everyone can do to improve their mental health, what would it be?

Committing to a daily mindfulness meditation practice – meditating in the morning (even for just 10 minutes).

Why is this your One Good Thing?

Committing to a daily mindfulness meditation practice every morning can help you set an intention for your day. We all have good and bad days. And so, starting your day with a short mindfulness exercise helps provide you with a sense of your emotional state so that you can create a day that is aligned with how you’re feeling.

How do we do it?

Take these steps:

Find a quiet place, somewhere you know you won’t be disturbed. Try to make it at the same time every day so it becomes part of your routine.
Set a time limit (just 10 minutes has been shown to have benefits). The app Insight Timer has a good timer for this.
Start by bringing your attention to your breathing, each breath in and each breath out.
Next, carry out a body scan, and notice where you’re holding any tension. Breathe into those places.
Notice when your mind has wandered (remember: it’s completely normal for the mind to wander – that’s just what minds like to do!) and then gently guide it back to what you’re doing.
Spend some time connected to your breath and your body, and when you are ready, open your eyes.

One Good Thing: why you should start your day with a mindful meditation practice