The holiday season can be joyful and merry but it can also be stressful and tiring. Last year many of us did not have the typical holiday buzz of activities, events and gatherings. Some may be feeling the desire to make up for last year’s lack of festivities.

Mindfulness is about having awareness - awareness of self and others. It is easy to say “pay attention to how you feel” but putting this into action takes intention. What ways can you support yourself this holiday season? Is there one small thing you can do each day to help you feel good, balanced, calm?

The holidays are a time for giving to others. But when we don’t feel balanced or mindful or calm, this can be felt by others. As you go about the holiday season, here are few tips to help you stay balanced and mindful throughout the season.

1) Tune In

Place a post-it note on your mirror, computer screen, kitchen cabinet. “How are you feeling right now?” This little reminder can be helpful in reminding you to take a moment and tune into how you feel. When we become more aware of how we are feeling inside, it helps us become more aware of what we need to stay balanced. It also helps us become aware of how our mood and being is radiating out to the world.

2) Take a Walk

Holiday 15 Challenge: 15 days/15 minutes. Take a walk outside for 15 minutes each day. And if you have nature nearby, even better! Taking a walk in nature helps calm the body.

3) Time for a Pause

Before the next holiday get together with family or friends whether IRL (in real life) or by zoom, set the timer on your phone for 10 minutes. Sit quietly in a chair. Simply be with yourself, with your breath for 10 minutes. You might be surprised how relaxing and recharging this mini-pause can be.

4) Mindful Eating

In mindful eating, we take time to enjoy the food paying attention to all our senses. How does it look? Taste? Smell? Feel? Sound when I bite? Eating mindfully can help us be more present and pay attention to what and how we are eating.

5) Breathe

Yup, that thing we do all day and all night long, sometimes without noticing it. Breathing exercises are beneficial to improving blood pressure, focus and concentration. A consistent practice of deep breathing is beneficial in our reactivity to situations, reducing the 'fight or flight' response. Try this breathing exercise.

Remember, tuning into how you feel each day can help you pay attention to what your body and mind needs. I invite you to make the intention to take time to tune in this holiday season. In doing so, you might not only feel different but also more aware of what is happening around you.

Photo by Jonathan Knepper