Tips for Practicing Mindfulness This Holiday Season

As 2021 comes to a close, it is easy to get overwhelmed, and stressed out. Gifts, parties, travel, and family can all add to the feelings of being overwhelmed.  This can trigger other issues, emotions and even aches and pains.  As your partner in natural health, we wanted to share some tips on how to stay present and find inner peace.

Try these tips and tricks, and let us know how they worked for you!

1. Focus on the small stuff first. Try to incorporate all your senses. What do you see, hear, feel, smell, or taste with each thing you do?  An example would be, sensing the coldness of your first sip of water each morning. Do you hear the sound of your AC running, or if you are outside, can you hear the sounds of birds or nature? Can you smell the fresh brewed coffee in your cup? You can also try this at any meal. Focus on the flavor, texture, mouth feel of each individual bite throughout each meal of the day.

2. Meditation is a great way to help clear your mind. Find a window of time that works for you. Even if it is only 60 seconds, five minutes or longer, any amount can be helpful to quiet the noise and thoughts in our heads. The key to making this successful, is to make it a part of your daily routine. Try to practice it each day at the same time. After a couple of weeks you will look forward to it, or you’ll miss it if you don’t do it.

3. If you’re like me, you are non stop all day long. Mindfulness doesn’t have to be done sitting down, or while you are at rest. Practice mindfulness wherever you feel most motivated to do so. That may be outside on your morning or evening walk, folding laundry, gardening, or through breathing exercises while you are doing other things.

4. If you forget, or get too busy to practice daily, don’t be hard on yourself.  In fact, forgiving yourself is an act of self-compassion, and can decrease stress and elevate your mood.

If you’re struggling and juggling things to find balance this holiday season, we are here for you. Contact our practice for a gentle, focused adjustment.