OVER the last three months I've been travelling a lot for work, and I've become sick of the constant unpacking, repacking, and lugging my life in a wheelie-case through train stations, airports and tube lines.

I'm now waiting to hear back about various projects, as well as working on commissions, and my thoughts are shearing off in a dozen different directions.

So I decided to seek out the most relaxing things to do in Salisbury, and here are my findings.

A walk around the water meadows took a little while to get into as I was pounding the ground like an angry commuter for a good five minutes before my thoughts stopped rattling and I started taking in my surroundings. The combination of movement, fresh air and visual stimulation was a winner, though, and helped me put my thoughts in order as I went.

I chose Choral Evensong at the cathedral for the singing and ordered calm, but was also taken out of my whirling thoughts by the sermon and readings.

Religious or not, it's good to be stimulated or challenged by the words of others, and while I've been preoccupied with work, this made me contemplate global issues.

An equipment pilates class at Bodywise studio took just minutes to relax into. I wasn't thinking about work or outside distractions, just focusing on stretching, breathing, and doing the exercises correctly. Afterwards I felt energised, and after bouncing home, I could feel the effects for several hours.

My final 'experiment' was the one I'd been most looking forward to. After a lot of research I decided to try the signature ritual at Vita Spa, which incorporates massage and a tailored facial.

It only took a few moments to relax, and then it was as though to every question my brain had, the answer was 'shhhhhhhhh'.

Afterwards I felt totally refreshed - like a Disney princess awaking from sleep. Or a socialite after a month in a Swiss clinic.

The emails are still flying, the features still need to be written, and the bills still need to be paid, but at least I know there are things I can do to alleviate the clamour.