The Holidays can be a time of joy. But with family, friends, parties and festivities it’s easy to lose yourself in the rush of it all. So don’t forget to take a few moments for yourself.
Here are five easy tips to do just that:
Breathe Deep
The key to real, ongoing relaxation is found in your breath. It can calm you, lower your blood pressure, reduce your anxiety and keep you grounded no matter how quickly your world is spinning. If you feel agitated, draw a full breath slowly into your stomach. Feel your stomach expand for a slow count to eight. Hold it for a count to two and slowly exhale it for another count to eight. Feel the air enter and then leave your body and focus on the sensation of your breath. Take a few deep breaths to ground yourself when you first feel yourself start to spin. Call it a mini-meditation and enjoy the calm it brings.
Shopping Break Meditation
When your wits are at their end take a moment to sit by yourself. Place your feet flat on the floor with your hands on your thighs. Take a deep belly breath in, and feel your skin expand against your clothing. Slowly count to eight on each inhale and each exhale. Feel the calm start beneath you scalp and move down to your shoulders. Identify each point of stress and take a moment to allow your inhale to wrap around it, relax it, and take that stress away as you exhale. Use your three minutes to breathe in positive, relaxing energy, and breathe out negative stress.
Mindful Eating
This is a path to power over your food and your stress. Instead of just jumping in and trying to finish your meal before you’ve even started, take a moment. Become aware of the food before you. Notice the shape, color and texture of it. Become attuned to your body, the way you salivate, the way you anticipate enjoying it. Notice the taste, the texture, and the different sensations you feel when you eat. Take the time to look around and become aware of the service around you. Notice the place setting, the staff and the décor. Appreciate and enjoy what you have before you rush back into your day.
Don’t Lose Yourself
During the Holidays family, friends and work associates want to rejoice and celebrate. It’s what the holidays are all about. Just don’t forget that you also need to spend time rejoice and celebrate your own self. It may sound silly, but don’t feel like you have to do everything at your own expense. Schedule time out for a quiet cup of tea to reflect on last year and think about the new one. Make sure you schedule time to connect with yourself so that you don’t lose the most important person in your life to the Holiday shuffle.
Remember to Give a Little
Giving can be one of the most calming acts we can do. All too often we lose sight of the bigger picture by thinking about the large gifts we want to give. We want to impress, we want to show our love, but don’t forget to do so on a smaller scale. Give a smile to someone, leave a slightly larger tip, say thank you. You’ll be surprised how much energy you can generate and accumulate during the day, just by giving a little as you go about checking off your to-do list.
Remember, the holidays are supposed to be a fun and joyous time. If you ever feel they aren’t, STOP, BREATHE, and BALANCE yourself to enjoy the love of the seasons.
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