After graduating with a double first in history from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, I spent several years in lifestyle journalism, first at FHM magazine, and then as a freelance writer. I was a contributing editor of Arena magazine and a regular columnist for Time Out, and wrote for the Guardian, Independent On Sunday, Elle, the Observer, and Empire, among others.

After some soul-searching in the early 2000s, my work changed direction. Informed by experiences of depression and anxiety, I started writing about health and well-being. In 2004 I began working with the Mental Health Foundation, researching and writing a report on the use of exercise as a treatment for depression. Up and Running?: Exercise Therapy And The Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate Depression In Primary Care (2005) formed the basis of a year-long campaign which transformed GPs' attitudes to exercise therapy, leading to a four-fold increase in referrals for the treatment.

I was also the lead researcher on the Foundation’s flagship publication, The Fundamental Facts: The Latest Facts And Figures On Mental Health (2007), co-author of Boiling Point: Problem Anger And What We Can Do About It (2008), and author of In The Face Of Fear: How Fear and Anxiety Are Affecting Our Society and What We Can Do About It (2009). I wrote for the Foundation on subjects such as dementia, young people's mental health, diabetes and depression, talking therapies and public mental health, as well as developing project proposals, creating fundraising materials, and writing a history of the organisation.

In 2006, I spent a year deepening my study and practice of meditation, living and working at Dechen Choling, a retreat centre in central France. Meditation had by this time come to play an integral role in maintaining my own well-being, and I have taken part in and/or staffed several month-long intensive retreats.

On my return to the UK, I became increasingly interested in mindfulness-based approaches in secular contexts, which led to my proposing, developing and writing The Mindfulness Report (2010) for the Mental Health Foundation. The report looks at how mindfulness can be an effective treatment for depression and other health problems. It forms the basis of the year-long Be Mindful campaign, which aims to improve awareness of and access to mindfulness training.

I also began writing on health, well-being, meditation and Buddhism for the Guardian's comment is free pages - over the last 18 months I have written around 30 comment pieces for the Guardian.

My first book The Mindful Manifesto:How Doing Less And Noticing More Can Treat Illness, Relieve Stress and Help Us Cope With the 21st Century looks at the potential for mindfulness to help with our mental and physical health, as well as with addictions and general well-being, both individually and as a society. It is co-authored with Dr Jonty Heaversedge, and will be published by Hay House in September 2010.

I now also teach mindfulness to a range of individuals and organisations. I am an authorised meditation instructor, and have completed a mindfulness teacher training retreat run by Bangor University. I also hold a post-graduate certificate in the Fundamentals of Counselling and Psychotherapy from the Centre For Counselling and Psychotherapy Education (CCPE).

I live in Sussex with my wife, Victoria, who is an executive and personal coach.