’Tis the Season For Mindfulness

BY APRIL PASCARELLI

’Tis the season for excitement and joy… and family and friends. The season for gift-giving, and decorations, and holiday cheer. A time where you can sense an aura of love in the air and a glimmer of hope for the new year that is just around the corner. But for many, it can also be a season of chaos and stress. The hustle and bustle of the holidays can take a toll on our well being, and the amount of money spent on gifts can be downright depressing. So what do we do in a world filled with holiday parties, eight crazy nights, secret Santa swaps, and schedules that  will not stop? 

Well, for starters, we become more mindful. Typically, the times when we have so much on our  plates are when we need mindfulness the most. 

So, what exactly does it mean to be more mindful? It means being aware of our thoughts, our feelings, and our emotions in every moment. It means being in tune with ourselves and focusing on the present moment. We let go of the past, and we stop imagining every detail of our future. We live moment-by-moment, in the here-and-now. Read on for some pointers on how to stay present throughout the upcoming holiday season.

Meditate 

Having a mindfulness practice is in itself a form of meditation. It lets us accept each moment as it is - nothing more, nothing less. Being mindful allows us to focus on the moment at hand and teaches us to stop worrying about our past and our future. It's crazy when you think about it. We worry about the past that has already happened and the future that hasn’t happened yet! And most of the things we worry about never even end up happening! So by adding in meditation, we help to boost overall awareness. Meditating takes us away from thoughts, worry, stress, anxiety, fears, anger - whatever we are feeling. And it lets us connect with ourselves in a way unlike no other. It calms the mind, reminds us to breathe, and helps us find true enlightenment. Meditation is powerful, and by adding this in regularly, there is no doubt that transformation will come of it.

Stop Multi-Tasking 

If you are anything like me, you pride yourself on how many things you can juggle at once. I know as a mama, this comes with the territory, and often we can be too quick to remind our spouses how much we have accomplished to their one thing. Though sometimes it is necessary (how would we get anything done?), this is the thing - multi-tasking 100% takes us away from being in the moment. It might feel good to check off that list all at once, but sometimes it’s best to focus on one task at a time. Plus, by focusing on that one thing, we will be more likely to give it our all.

Slow Down 

Have you noticed that everyone is always in a rush? There are a million places to be and a million people to see. And when you ask someone how they have been, their response more often than not is "busy." But why are we always so busy? As a kid growing up in the eighties, I can assure you that parents back then were not always so busy. We have placed this insane need on ourselves to do everything and be everywhere. We need to remind ourselves that it is okay if we don't sign our kid up for that extra activity or that we are allowed to say no to another social event. Why do we put ourselves through the constant go, go, go? We must be mindful and learn when we need to give ourselves a break and amp up the self-care.  

Cut Down On Screen Time 

Thanks to social media and smartphones, we are more connected than ever, and though that has its advantages, the downfall is that we are ALWAYS connected! Can you imagine a world without cell phones? Many of us cannot though we grew up without them! These handheld  devices have become everything to us - phone, computer, radio, camera, and so much more!  Seriously, what can't they do? While all these things are amazing, it also means that the likelihood of us putting our phones down and connecting with people in person is that much more challenging. Whether you are on your smartphone for work or just mindlessly scrolling, we need to put it down and be present with family and friends. And take breaks from your phone and your computer. Heck, even the TV! Schedule these breaks if you have to. Shut it all off and  enjoy the little things in life for at least a little while. 

Get Outside 

And last but not least, after you shut it all down - get outside! It does not get more simple than this. Take a walk, breathe in the fresh air, notice everything around you. There is no better way to take in the beauty of this life than by surrounding yourself with the great outdoors. There is so much to see and so many sounds to take in. And if there is snow, even better. Soak up the snow and make a snow angel. Before we know it, everything will melt, and flowers will be in bloom, and a new season will be before us. Let's enjoy every moment of it while we can! 

So basically, be present. There is no better time than the present! Living with gratitude for each moment of every day allows a shift to happen within our mindset. We become happier and more positive. The anxieties and stressors fade, and we can go through each day knowing that we are ready for whatever comes our way. And because of this, we let go of the worry - it does nothing for us anyway (besides drum up more anxiety and stress). So, breathe in deeply and then let it all go. Go into this month moment-by-moment, and the feelings of overwhelm will melt away. Remember, December has got nothing on us - we got this!