Eat, Drink and Be Mindful!
December is here. For many people this is a very busy time of year. Whether you celebrate holidays or not, 2018 is ending shortly.
It's that time of year when you can reflect on the past 12 months as well as plan ahead for the next year. With all this reflecting and planning, it is easy to stop living in the present.
This holiday season, do more for yourself then "power through".
Surviving the holidays is exhausting. Why not stay present and thrive with each moment instead? See video and tips below for thriving!
Self-Care for managing the holidays:
1. Practice Self-Compassion
- Be kind to yourself. So your holiday cookies didn't turn out as well as grandma's. It's okay! What did you learn from this experience? Maybe they need less time in the oven, more sugar, less sugar...whatever happened, you learned something.
2. Stay Present
- Whenever you notice your thoughts have drifted away from what is happening around you, acknowledge that your mind has wandered and bring it back to the present moment.
3. Use Kindness
- That self-compassion you have been practicing on yourself? You can practice with others! Give the gift of kindness. Notice any angry thoughts at the store clerk for being sold-out of what you need? Notice your feelings then ask yourself: are you making up any stories about this person? -- "That clerk is such a jerk" -- now is that story helping you live the life you want to live? Probably not. That store clerk is probably just as stressed as you. Smile. Be kind. It is what it is.
4. Be Mindful
- Mindfulness is the practice of choosing to be in the present moment without judging your experience. What a great way to be with all the delicious foods available during the holidays! Ditch your negative judgmental thinking. It's not helping you. Instead, stay present and notice all the sights, smells and sensations. Pay attention to how your body is responding. When you notice feeling full, honour that sensation and stop eating. When you notice judgmental thoughts telling you to not eat something because it's unhealthy -- check in with your stomach instead. If your stomach is hungry, eat it! If not, pass for now or save it for later.
Want more on Mindfulness? Check out our FREE download: "Mindfulness: an introduction to improving well being"
