We’ve reached Christmas week already. I hope you are all set for the holidays and ready to wind down from work and enjoy the break with your family and friends. So many of us have been looking forward to the holidays for so long. But despite all that anticipation and preparation, the holidays with our families can still be stressful.
Here are three tips for you if things become, hectic, noisy and stressful, or if the holidays leave you feeling sad or lonely.
1 – Take some time for yourself to look after your own needs. You can’t fill anyone else’s cup unless your own is already brimming with wellness! Try to take a few moments for yourself each day – meditate, take some long slow deep breaths, tune into your senses, do some stretches or dance for a while, listen to music, read a book, eat a mince pie – do whatever you need to bring a few moments of calm and peace just for you!
2 – Get out in nature. Being in nature is beneficial in so many ways helping you to relieve stress, put things in perspective, calm your mind, recharge your body and boost your energy. Go for a walk, look up at the sky, take in the view, tune into the sights, sounds and smells around you, say hello to people passing by, and breathe in the fresh clean air.
3 – Practice gratitude. Being with families and friends can sometimes be difficult. Take opportunities to reflect on what you’re grateful for about yourself, the people in your life and the holidays. Gratitude can transform you, spreading happiness and boosting your health – it’s good for you, your relationships and for humanity! And if you’re really struggling with someone in particular, try repeating this little mantra in your head, “I wish you joy, peace and happiness; I wish myself joy, peace and happiness; I wish us both joy, peace and happiness”.
Be present for the holidays.
I’m leaving you with this poem as a reminder to try to be present enough to enjoy the holidays you’ve been looking forward to for so long. It can be so hard to switch off from the busyness in ours minds – we get so caught up in thinking about something that happened earlier or planning the next thing to do, that we totally miss the joy of the moment we’re actually living. So as spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle says, “just get out of your head and into the NOW!”. Remind yourself to bring all your energy, focus and attention into the thing you’re doing, the conversation you’re having, the food you’re eating, the moment you’re living – time and time again as you go through the day.
Each Moment is Precious by Patricia A. Fleming
Live in the moment,
Just take it all in.
Pay attention to everything,
Right there and right then.
Don’t let your mind wander
To what’s coming next.
Cherish this moment
And give it your best.
Don’t let tomorrow
Make you rush through today,
Or too many great moments
Will just go to waste.
And the person you’re with,
In that moment you share,
Give them all of your focus;
Be totally there.
Laugh till it hurts,
Let the tears drop.
Fill up each moment
With all that you’ve got.
Don’t miss the details;
The lesson is there.
Don’t get complacent;
Stay sharp and aware.
It can take but a moment
To change your life’s path.
And once it ticks by,
There is no going back.
In just 60 seconds,
You may make a new friend.
Find your true love,
Or see a life start or end.
You become who you are
In those moments you live.
And the growth’s not in taking
But in how much you give.
Life is just moments,
So precious and few.
Whether valued or squandered,
It’s all up to you!
Wishing you all joy, peace, and happiness for the holidays!