When do you find the time to feel good? In a world where the hours, minutes and seconds are increasingly squeezed like the spinach in your creatine-spiked green juice, it’s all too easy to forget to actually, you know, enjoy yourself. But that doesn’t have to always mean hammering the pub after a long week’s work to let off steam — it can also mean hitting up a steam room and getting those endorphins rolling.

The key to feeling good, we reckon, is neuroplasticity. Which sounds very technical, but basically means rewiring your brain to learn new things, respond differently to situations and challenge your expectations. Feeling good isn’t about searching for some sort of elusive state of euphoria (spoiler: it doesn’t exist!) but making manageable, positive changes to your lifestyle while learning to play with the cards you’ve been dealt.

Inspired by our video franchise, Guide to Feeling Good, the latest episode of which features our editor-in-chief Teo van den Broeke, here’s Esquire and Mulberry’s guide to staying happy, grounded and fulfilled.

Everyday luxuries

Seriously, you deserve it. While we’re not advocating for a material existence — nor spending beyond your means — a little retail therapy goes a long way. Investing in high-quality pieces (well-crafted fashion, luxury furniture, handmade ceramics) rather than ephemeral purchases is going to give you a genuine sense of satisfaction and fulfilment rather than a quick hit of dopamine.

That’s at the heart of Mulberry’s “Made to Last” mantra, supporting craft that endures. Here at Esquire, we’re admirers of the Mulberry Piccadilly range, a collection of luxury bags meticulously crafted by the British fashion house’s expert artisans. Try the Piccadilly Holdall for size – your new, suave weekend bag in supple grain leather.

Find balance

Don’t listen to the podcasters saying that a work-life balance is a myth. It exists to stop you from burning out. Trust the process and learn to switch off from the endless barrage of Slack messages and “urgent” emails when you’re having some R&R in the evenings. Phone blockers like Brick come in handy here, actively blocking you from engaging with your boss’ requests. And if you’re really struggling to digital detox, don’t go cold turkey — wean yourself off until you find that your thumb’s no longer opening Gmail on autopilot.

Enjoy movement

It’s annoying, as sometimes, you really don’t feel like it, but exercise really is the antidote to life’s woes. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to run a PB to the furthest away gym you can find, bench press three times your body weight and then warm down with a HYROX sesh. In a recent-ish study, dancing was flagged as one of the most effective forms of exercise to keep depression at bay — so chucking some shapes to the new Skepta album might do. Slow down on the Strava and focus on intentional, tension-reducing movement.

Embrace therapy

It’s a loaded word, therapy. Maybe, it conjures up images of past counselling experiences or just scenes from The Sopranos. But seeing a therapist is never, ever a sign of weakness — it’s a show of strength. Some sort of mindfulness — whether that’s meditation, writing a diary or yoga — can keep you grounded in a world that feels increasingly untethered.

Learn crafts

Mulberry's ethos? “Rooted in Craft.” While you may not have the dexterity to start stitching together leather bags, it’s always worthwhile looking into new skills and hobbies (it comes back to that whole neuroplasticity thing we were banging on about, earlier). The sourdough starters of lockdown may, now, be a crumbling memory, but maybe you can try your hand at gardening (it’s chicer than ever, honest); follow Esquire editor-in-chief Teo van den Broeke and start painting (for mindfulness and a home filled with free art); or take up tap dancing, as per Tom Holland. Remember, it’s not about being good at whatever new hobby you decide to become obsessed with — just feeling good.

Visit Mulberry.com to discover more and to the explore the Piccadilly range