Ready or not, here they come….
The holidays are upon us! As if life wasn’t already busy enough, many of us are now planning parties, gift giving, travel, and spending a great deal of time socializing.
To avoid getting swept away by the frenetic holiday pace, I’ve compiled a list of ideas that can be incorporated into the coming weeks to bring more of yourself, and what really matters, to the season.
If you choose to take any of these to heart, I’d encourage you to do so with a sense of adventure. These suggestions are not intended to give you more stuff to do, but to provide you with more opportunities to actually savor this time of year.
Simplify
Much of the stress that comes from the holidays is the result of the additional tasks and activities we are inclined to engage in while also managing our normal responsibilities. Are there things you can do to scale back your holiday activities without feeling like you are losing the meaning behind the season?
Take some time early on to gather some clarity around what you value most about this time of year. What feelings do you want to cultivate in yourself? In those you love? What experiences have the most meaning for you? Is it being with family? Giving meaningful gifts? Reconnecting with those you don’t see regularly? Making the season magical for your children? Allow your values to drive your activities rather than falling back on seasonal habits.
Make Time for Self-care
Although there is more to do this time of year, sacrificing self-care practices for the sake of getting more done is guaranteed to decrease well-being. Continue to make time to eat healthy meals, exercise, meditate, and rest. Taking time to care for yourself can be a great buffer against the holiday onslaught.
Check-in
Take moments throughout the day to stop “doing” and check-in with yourself. What is the quality of your breathing? What physical sensations, thoughts and feelings are you experiencing at the present moment? Anchor yourself in your breath, residing in stillness for a few minutes before returning to activity.
Cultivate Kindness
Let us not forget that the holidays are a stressful time for everyone. Whether we are struggling internally to meet the demands of the season or find ourselves in proximity to someone else who’s having a hard time, we can cultivate kindness both for ourselves and others. Phrases of loving-kindness can be repeated silently to yourself in a formal meditation or incorporated into a moment of difficulty. Consider these words of gentle support for yourself or someone else who may need it: may I (you) be happy, may I (you) be safe, may I (you) be healthy, may I (you) live with well-being—and see if a shift occurs.
Deeply Listen
Many of us will be socializing more than usual in the coming weeks. Use this time to develop your listening skills. Instead of being wrapped up in how you are going to interject your brilliance into a conversation, consider giving your full attention to the person talking. Take the time to really hear and understand what others are saying in communication. Be curious and interested in them, their lives and their experiences. Your full presence and attention can be a deeply meaningful gift to others.
Be Mindful of Your Consumption
The holidays carry with them multiple opportunities to indulge in food, drink and a variety of other “quick fixes.” Use these moments to bring mindfulness to your consumption practices. Can you allow yourself to slow down and focus on what you’re taking in? Can you bring awareness to your physical senses, thoughts and feelings before, during and after you consume?
Bring Awareness to Your Gift Giving
Before stepping headlong into your routine holiday gift giving, consider ways in which you might shake things up a bit. Before purchasing another “thing” for someone, consider the lifespan of that object, from its manufacture to its final demise. How is it adding value to the receivers life? Could you consider instead giving someone an experience, like a membership to a museum or another cultural institution, a gift card for a nice dinner, tickets to a movie? There are a host of ways to make gift giving more personal and creative.
Challenge Your Impulses
The frantic pace of the season can put many of us on edge, inclining us to react to impulses that are not skillful. When impulses to engage in negative behaviors arise, consider refraining from the compulsion to act. You can make this a sort of playful experiment to see how many impulses arise before you respond. You may even find the impulse disappears after a few occurrences.
Develop an Attitude of Gratitude
If you find yourself struggling with negative emotions at times, consider keeping in mind what you are grateful for in the present moment. Remind yourself of the blessings that arise with awareness. If the holidays leave you feeling low in general, research suggests that writing down three things you are grateful for everyday can boost happiness. Here you can learn more about this practice.
Let Go of Perfection
Yes, there is potentially a lot to get done, but the beauty to be found during the holiday season has less to do with how well we attend to our task list, but rather how present we are to appreciate each other and all that life has already provided. Show some kindness to yourself and let go of the striving for perfection. You are enough.
The holiday season can be a beautiful and heartwarming time of year, if we slow down long enough to enjoy it. May your heart be filled with love and your days filled with peace this and every season!
Life’s Feast