We all need a pick-me-up every now and then, and if life has left you feeling a little flat lately, a trip to the Harrogate district could be just what you need to get you firing on all cylinders again.

With an amazing variety of activities and experiences to boost your mood, balance your mind and restore your energy, it’s a perfect place to visit to feel more positive, proactive and ready to handle the hurdles of life.

Have a look at our ideas below:

Challenge yourself to something new

It’s well documented that exercise helps prevent and improve a number of health problems and that the psychological and physical benefits of exercise can also help improve mood and reduce anxiety.

At How Stean Gorge, in the heart of beautiful Nidderdale AONB, you can challenge yourself to a new physical activity and feel the joy of adventuring in the great outdoors – at one of the only places in the UK where you can take part in paddle sports and rock sports in one day.

Relax and unwind in a spa

Have you found that spending time at a spa can help you reduce stress and feel more relaxed? Treatments such as massage are known for helping to boost your mood with the release of serotonin, the happy hormone.

Enjoy a cultural escape

Various research has suggested that engaging with the arts can be good for your mental health and that people who take part in cultural activities can tend to have lower levels of anxiety and depression as well as a higher satisfaction with their overall quality of life.

Look to the stars

Have you noticed that pausing and taking in the vast expanse of the natural environment can help you feel more relaxed and positive? It’s a similar sensation to gazing up at a starry sky – and feeling pretty small in the world compared with the magnitude of the universe!

Take time out in a gorgeous garden

As well as gardening, the simple act of visiting and enjoying a garden can seem to offer excellent benefits for physical and mental health. There’s a world of enjoyment to discover in immersing yourself in the sensory delights of colourful and fragrant plants and trees and the natural creatures that are drawn to them.