The Importance of Mindfulness During the Holiday Season

Holidays Are Notorious for Being Stressful

On top of your already busy life, you have holiday-related tasks to attend to. Thus, leaving you with so much to do and so little time to do it.

You may have noticed your stress level rising. You may have also become irritable, and you’re snapping at the people around you. Or, you’ve lost sleep worrying about everything that has to get done before the holidays arrive.

Regardless, you’re overwhelmed and are pushed to your limit. You need to do something fast to offset your holiday stress.

That’s Where Mindfulness Comes In

Mindfulness is a pretty big buzzword in the mental health and wellness industry. But many people struggle to define it. So, for the purpose of this blog post, mindfulness can be defined as having full awareness of your body. This includes awareness of your mind, feelings, and surroundings in the present moment. All without judgment.

Mindfulness Doesn’t Have to Be a Long-Drawn-Out Thing

In fact, you’re likely already doing it. But, you may not know it. For example, how many times have you been in the shower enjoying how the water feels when your mind starts to wander? You may notice some tension when you think about a big project at work or a fight you had with a loved one. Well my friend, when you do this you are actually practicing mindfulness. You’re noting your surroundings and how you feel.

So why is mindfulness important, especially during the holidays?

Good question. Mindfulness is important because it helps ground us to the present moment in time. During the holiday season, many of us get very caught up in anticipatory stress. This means we’re worried about things that haven’t even occurred yet. That’s not great for your mental health. But, you can work to be more in tune with how you feel. By doing so, you can reduce the anxiety of the unknown and focus on what you do know to be true right now.

Furthermore, It’s Normal to Judge Your Own Emotions

Many are hard on themselves for feeling anything negative. It may be an emotion like jealousy, worry, anger, etc. . But, here’s the thing. It’s normal to have negative emotions, it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you or that you’re a bad person. In fact, being hard on yourself for the way you feel and trying to repress it, will only make things worse. But, practicing mindfulness and acknowledging our feelings without judgment allows us to connect to ourselves. Remember, feelings do not need action, they only need to be noticed.

Mindfulness Tips

There are so many ways to practice mindfulness during the holidays and all year round. I know you’re already very busy this time of year. But, allowing yourself a few minutes every day can improve your mental health. In fact, studies show it can retrain your brain to think in a more mindful and natural way. Isn’t that cool?

So, take a few minutes when you shower, eat, drive to work, take a walk, or lie in bed to allow yourself to be present and feel. Try doing a whole-body scan where you think about how your body feels from the top of your head to the tip of your toes. This is most commonly done while lying on your back with your palm facing up but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re scanning your body, take note of your thoughts and any sensations you feel.

If That Doesn’t Work for You, Try Meditating While You Sit

Straighten your back and plant your feet firmly on the floor. Then, focus on your breathing. Or you can try walking meditation where you notice how your body feels while you move one foot in front of the other.

At My-Therapist, we understand that holidays can bring about many emotions. And, although they’re supposed to be merry and bright, this isn’t always the case. You may be struggling to cope with the stress of the holidays. If so, join us on December 1st for our online holiday webinar: Mindfulness Tips to Bring More Peace Through the Holiday Season. In this event, you will learn how to use mindfulness and soothe stress when faced with holiday chaos. Together, we can help you make room for all the feelings to create peace and practice gratitude on a daily basis. You can grow and learn to be present at the moment!

Sign Up for Our Free Winter Workshop

Finding peace during the holiday season can feel impossible amid stress and anxiety. But, taking the time to practice mindfulness can help you rediscover the holiday spirit. Our caring therapists would be happy to support you from our Wake Forest, NC-based therapy practice. To start your therapy journey, please follow these simple steps:

1. Learn more about our free winter workshop

2. Meet with a caring therapist

3. Start overcoming holiday stress!

Other Services Offered at My Therapist

We offer a variety of services from our Wake Forest, NC-based practice. Other services offered include individual therapy for relationship issues, couples workshops, and marriage counseling. We also support clients via couples intensive therapy, foundations of lasting love, and AAMFT supervision. For more helpful info, please read our blog or visit our services page!