As we head into the festive period it can be easy to get carried away with all the holiday activities, planning and prepping. It’s important to take some time to reconnect with the true meaning of the holiday season and try to fully appreciate this time to relax, spend time with loved ones and be thankful for what we are so lucky to have.
Here on the Endpaper Blog, we’ve spoken before about the therapeutic benefits of mindfulness. Check out these five tips below on ways to stay mindful and make the most of this time of year.
1. Give the Gift of Presence
The Christmas period can be a busy time of year with multiple tasks and events to juggle. When Christmas Day finally comes around it’s important to remember to relish the opportunity to slow down and enjoy the time you have with family and friends.
Disconnect from social media and put down your phone for a while and be fully present. This way you will get the full benefit of being around those you care about as well as taking time to reconnect with yourself.
2. Eat Mindfully
With so much food on offer over the holidays, it can be very easy to over-indulge on Christmas turkey and sweet treats. And it can be even easier to lose track of what we’re putting into our mouths.
Practicing mindful eating can help us to slow down and enjoy our food. Stay in touch with your body and recognize when you are full, and try to focus on just eating rather than being distracted by the latest Christmas film on TV! This way you will truly appreciate and enjoy your festive goodies.
3. Make a List
Making lists is a fantastic way to feel like you have everything under control. During the holiday period, make a note each morning of three things you want to achieve that day. This will give you a chance to focus on things you’d really like to do that day and ensure that you make the most of your precious time off.
Then, in the evening, write a list of three things you enjoyed about the day. This is a great way to build up a sense of well-being and it’s also a nice thing to look back on when you want to remember the great time that you had.
4. Get Crafty
If you find it hard to make time for creative activities in your daily life, try to take advantage of time off work over Christmas to do some crafting or journalling.
It can be very grounding to make things with your hands, so why not pick up a cross-stitch pattern or try out a new baking recipe. This is an effective technique to help focus your mind and be present in the moment, and it’s also a great way to reduce festive restlessness.
5. Get Outside
Being cooped up indoors for too many days on end can make the best of us a little stir-crazy.
The perfect medicine for this is to get outside into the fresh winter air. Taking a break from the festivities and going for a mindful walk out in nature or even just around the block can be enough to clear the cobwebs and return refreshed.
