I'm the least-stressed person that I know...

BUSINESS powerhouse and longstanding Dragons' Den investor Deborah Meaden has a busy schedule, from filming commitments to advising her varied portfolio of investments, but she describes herself as "the least worried and stressed person" she knows.

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The secret behind this zen? Walking barefoot in the garden every morning, of course.

"I start every day barefoot in the garden, just to connect with nature," says the 66-year-old businesswoman, who lives in Somerset with her husband, Paul Farmer, and her many animal friends. "It's not just about the fact I'm standing on the earth, it's the time that I take to sort of breathe in and think, right, I'm going to start my day in the open air and connected to the earth. As soon as I touch the grass, it's like, okay, everything's all right.

"That used to be thought of as very hippy and well, you know, call me hippy, if you like - but not many people would," she jokes. "But, I know that it makes me better at what I do because it sets me up well for the day."

The successful entrepreneur acknowledges that slowing down and being present requires a level of discipline which can be difficult for many, but regularly encourages other business owners to give it a go.

"For a lot of people in small businesses, I see it in their face. They're just doing too much, because they fear that if they stop everything will fall in on them," reflects Deborah. "But, you cannot keep yourself at peak fitness at all times. You have to manage your business and your mental fitness, because there are times when you've got to bring your full game. It's like being an athlete. Athletes don't keep themselves Olympic fit all the time, they work towards it."