When rearranging a drawer is restful: the magic of ‘pottering’

How small tasks can benefit our state of mind

For Anna McGovern there is a satisfying, sensory pleasure to be had in rinsing milk bottles: The very best thing about getting your milk delivered is rinsing and returning'. Don't cheat by putting your bottles in the dishwasher. Wash them, by hand. Put a small amount of water in the bottle, slosh the water around, put your hand over the top, shake it up and down, upturn the bottle, glugging the water out, then head for your doorstep and put out the bottle with a plink'".

This is one of many meandering, seemingly mundane tasks that McGovern delights in describing in her new book. Another is pegging out the washing (Pull it out of the basket in a long, sweet-smelling, damp lump.") In fact, when we speak about pottering, McGovern tells me she has done just that to help order her thoughts".