How To Make Time For Mindfulness Over The Hectic Holiday Season

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With just a couple of weeks left in the year and just over a week to go until Christmas day, a lot of us will be winding down for the holidays over the coming days…at least in theory. Many of us (especially those in the gig economy) will be rushing to finish year-end work projects and holiday shopping and preparation before the holidays. Christmas shopping these days is like a dress-rehearsal for the stage production of Battle Royale. 

In this backdrop of noise, movement, chaos, confusion and inevitable mess, it’s important for all of us to afford ourselves a little time to come back to center. To reorganize our minds and rise above the chaos and calamity. Here are some ways I do exactly that:

Practice Mindfulness Meditation

We live in a world where life moves at an incredibly fast pace all year round. It can seem like every year that passes rushes by a little faster than the one before. Have you ever wished that you could slow the pace of life down a little. Just slow enough so that you could stop to smell the proverbial roses.

Mindfulness meditation is a great way to prevent yourself from getting rushed along by the passage of time. It only takes a few minutes, can be done anywhere, and can make a huge difference in facilitating the kind of calm and restful state that will be essential in holding onto your sanity over the holidays. Try it for just 5 minutes every day and you’ll be astonished at the difference it makes.

Keep Your Body Healthy

A healthy mind needs a healthy body. We can’t expect to nurture one while neglecting the other. When we don’t get enough sleep, treat coffee as if it’s a meal and eat only bites from whatever’s available in the vending machine on a busy work day, we can’t expect to achieve a rested, mindful and happy brain.

What’s more, you’ll likely wear down your immune system and make yourself vulnerable to the nasty bugs, bacteria, and viruses that always do the rounds at this time of year. See an air conditioning repair specialist to make sure that the room in your home is free of harmful bacteria. Exercise as often as you can. Get at least 7-8 hours sleep every night and make sure that you eat enough good quality food to keep your body healthy.

Treat Yourself To Some Downtime

Finally, while Christmas is the time for family, friends, and togetherness, it’s also essential to spare yourself some magic moments all to yourself. Whether it’s a half hour snuggled up with a hot cocoa and a good book, a long bath with a glass of red wine, or a short walk in the park, you deserve some quality time with yourself.