Cake and inner calm: 10 ways to improve your mood – without exercising

Not everyone can - or wants to - look after their mental health by getting a sweat on. But there are plenty of other ways to give yourself a boost

As lockdown continues, exercise is often touted as one of the best ways to promote good mental health. But as good as running and cold swimming are if they work for you, they do not appeal to everyone. Nor are they an option if you are ill, injured or living with a disability. I am chronically ill and have been shielding for a year; my greatest exertion has been lifting Oreos from the packet to my mouth.

I don't want to brag, but I have not gone completely mad. When I spoke about this recently on Twitter, I received hundreds of messages from other disabled people who are finding their own ways to look after their mental health in lockdown (with very little physical effort). Here are some of our best tips.