Four Easy Tips for Staying More Mindful this Festive Season
Christmas can be a magical time of year can’t it? A chance to celebrate with friends and family, to enjoy good food and festive traditions. But for many of us the festive season can also bring challenges. We might feel stressed and overwhelmed, under pressure to be constantly jolly and bright, or sad thinking of loved ones we can’t be with.
However you feel about the festive season, being a little more mindful can make the good times feel even more meaningful, and the harder times a little easier to bear.
1. Give your presence as well as presents
It’s wonderful to give and receive thoughtful gifts, but deep down what we all crave more than material possessions is to feel connected and valued by our loved ones.
“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.”
- Thích Nhất Hạnh
Prioritise finding some pockets of quality time to share your undivided attention with the people you care about over the festive season. You could agree on some designated ‘screen-free’ meals, enjoy an activity together like a walk or board game, or schedule in a phone call at a time when you know you’ll be able to listen without distractions.
2. Accept what’s outside your control
Many of us have big expectations about how Christmas and New Year ‘should’ go and place a lot of pressure on ourselves and others to deliver a ‘perfect’ experience. But if the pandemic taught us anything it’s that even the best laid plans can go awry. If things change at the last minute or don’t go entirely as you’d hoped, try to accept the situation with good grace.
Real life is not perfect (despite what social media, films and seasonal ads might have us believe), and if you’re focussing over how things should have gone, you’ll be missing the joy that might be lurking in the imperfect present moment that’s happening right now.
3. Go easy on yourself
If you’re experiencing difficult emotions like grief, fear, worry or loneliness this Christmas, see if you can give yourself the same care, gentleness and compassion you might show a loved one who was in your shoes. A simple shortcut is to ask yourself: What would I say to a friend who was feeling this way?
"Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others."
- Christopher Germer
Schedule time for activities you find soothing and nourishing; spending time in nature, listening to a favourite piece of music, stroking a pet or doing a guided mindful self-compassion meditation. It might seem selfish to put your own needs first, but chances are if you look after yourself you’ll have more energy and headspace to care for others too.
4. Savour the little moments
It’s easy to focus on the big glittery parts of the festive season – the picture-perfect Christmas dinner, the family gatherings, the gifts – but don’t forget to savour the quieter, subtler moments too.
Whether it’s listening to birdsong on a wintry walk, holding a warm mug of hot chocolate in your hands or hugging a loved one, be on the look-out for sensory experiences that bring you pleasure or contentment. It’s a great daily practice to foster a more positive outlook on life and balance out the human negativity bias, whatever time of year it is.
Did you find these tips useful?
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