With the festive season comes a time of high stress, shopping, organising end of year catch-ups, to-do lists and prepping for the big day. It is very easy to get caught up in the ‘behind-the-scenes’ of your Christmas Day, that it seems to go by in the blink of an eye, and it’s the new year before you know it! Taking a mindful approach to your holiday season can help you to truly enjoy this time with family and friends, and allow you to truly appreciate and rekindle the Christmas magic!
What do the Holidays mean to you?
Figuring out what the festive season means to you is paramount in practicing mindfulness over the holidays. If your Christmas time is all about spending time with family and others close to you, then prioritise time with your partner, your kids, your parents, your bestie – make these gatherings and hang-outs take precedence over shopping for gifts and going crazy prepping for Christmas dinner.
Express Gratitude
Taking time to recognise the things that you are thankful for this Christmas is a great mindfulness activity to help you truly appreciate the things around you. Write a list of the people and the things you are grateful for. Let the people on your list know that you are so very thankful that they are in your life and that they mean so much to you. Not only will this help you to enjoy Christmas time even more by expressing gratitude, but it will help to share the festive spirit with those around you, making their holidays more meaningful also.
Meditate
Just because work and school go on break over the summer, doesn’t mean our routines need to suffer completely. Make meditation a part of your daily routine, using your time to reflect on your 2014, channel inspiration and creativity for the new year, and keep a calm and open mind about things to come. Maintaining a regular meditation practice sets you up with a solid foundation for the new year, and helps to keep you calm and level headed. and Meditation can take as little as 10 minutes, and be able to sit and calm the mind can help foster a stress-free, balanced Christmas for you and your family.
Choose Creativity Over Expense
When it comes to giving presents this Christmas, try mindful gifting! Taking the time to make something for someone close to you helps to materialise your love for the receiver, but also lets them know how important they are to you. In this crazy busy world of ours, taking the time out to create something for someone else is one of the most wonderful things you can do, and it helps you to unleash the creative beast inside and create a gift that will be remembered years down the track.
Taking a mindful approach to Christmas will not only help you to connect with yourself and others on a deeper level but will foster amazing memories for you and those around you. Take the time to appreciate, recognise and relish all that is the silly season!
Article by Rachel Gill
Rachel is a yoga teacher & student, mother and freelance writer based on the NSW mid-north coast, Australia. You can connect with her via her holistic lifestyle blog ‘Inspire The Wild‘, or on instagram, facebook and twitter @rachelmarieyoga.
W: ‘Inspire The Wild
Originally Published December 8 2014
