Mindful Tips for Surviving the Holidays
The holiday season is officially here, and it is not always the joyous season we hope for. Here are some mindful holiday tips to help you survive the holiday season gracefully.
Not everyone holidays the same. If you have the privilege of an amazing, supportive, loving family that enjoys quality time together- you are so fortunate! For others, they do not have this same joyous experience. Some have lost loved ones or don't have a loving supportive family to call their own. For them, the holidays are a giant reminder of their losses and are often spent alone. So do your best to tread lightly when speaking to others about their holiday plans. Be compassionate for those less fortunate.
Set low or no expectations. As a former holiday host, I remember wanting everything to be just perfect and amazing and every year I was disappointed in the outcome. So set achievable goals and have low or zero expectations when entering the holidays. Nothing will be perfect and that is not even close to the point of the celebrations. Don't set yourself up to fail.
Take time and space for yourself. If the holidays can be overwhelming for you, set aside time and space to do something that serves only you. It is not possible to give from an empty cup, so doing something to recharge your batteries is crucial.
Boundaries are your friend. Learn to say no to parties or situations that do not serve you or make you feel inauthentic. People pleasing will get you nowhere in life. If a situation doesn't make you feel good about yourself, say no or walk away and be proud that you chose yourself over pleasing others. It is absolutely ok to say no, even if you let others down.
Try not to abandon your health habits. It is so easy to lose your health habits during the holiday season and this is not a reason to beat yourself up. Every day is a chance to start again. Focus on your long-term goals rather than what is right in front of you. Your future self will thank you.
Cherish your loving and loved ones. The holidays are a reminder to check in on and appreciate your loved ones. Tell the people you care about that you love them. Do your best to really promote more love in the world. Physical gifts are great but showing someone how deeply they matter to you is priceless.
Be aware of your triggers. I have sat around so many holiday tables where conversations get heated, and people get triggered. This is, sadly, normal for some around the holidays. Your best bet is to pause, step away, realize how and why the trigger is occurring (physically and emotionally) and take long and slow deep breaths to compose yourself before reentering the situation. When triggers occur, the ego steps in to protect you and listening to ego during moments of conflict is never the answer. Be aware that everyone is entitled to their own perspectives and not everyone has done the work to be compassionate when sharing them. You always have a choice to respond or react. Reaction only brings future shame so avoid it all by listening to your higher self.
Practice your peace. Whatever it is that brings you inner peace, continue to work on that. For me, I meditate, practice breathwork, listen to mental health podcasts, take hikes in the woods, travel etc. Whatever can calm your insides, do more of that. It will help you regulate your system, when the holidays stir up the chaos inside.
Be kind, be kind, be kind. This is an all-year practice, but the holidays tend to stir up more stress and anxiety and it is so much easy to flick off a bad driver or lose your cool to a stranger. Trust me, I've been there. When you are stressed or anxious, your lower self is just aching to come out. Recognizing that everyone is going through something, and you always have a choice to be the joy in someone's life or the villain. Do your best to approach all situations with compassion, understanding and kindness.
Find your gratitude. Even if it's the smallest and silliest thing- like for me last night, my pajamas came out hot from the dryer and I was stoked. In your difficult moments, pause, look around the room and find three things to be grateful for. Simple but useful. Keeping your gratitude list running through the holidays helps ease the more tense moments. And share your gratitudes, it will help others to shift into a more graceful mindset. Appreciate what you have, how you share joy in the world and that you are still here, heart beating loudly with the purpose of love and connection.
Happy holiday season Maikana family!
Thank you for always being a part of our journey.
I am eternally grateful.
Jamiesonxo