For most people, the holidays are a busy time of year. They can also bring about lots of pressure and conflicting emotions. A commitment to have mindful holidays can reduce internal stress and anxiety so that you can actually relax and enjoy each moment of the season that only comes around once a year. <\/p>\n
(This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I will receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support! For more information, please see my\u00a0disclosure.<\/a>)<\/p>\n If you read much in personal development circles, you will find that mindfulness is a buzz term right now. Mindfulness means to be aware of your surroundings and to make a conscious effort to live in the moment. That means not worrying about your to-do list, your family, work, or anything else. Just be fully present where you are. Notice the little things that you usually are only vaguely aware of. <\/p>\n So often we get caught up in making the holidays \u201cperfect.\u201d\u00a0 We want all the decorations in just the right places, the perfect playlist, the perfect presents, the perfect wrapping, and the list goes on and on.\u00a0 There is no such thing as absolutely perfect. <\/p>\n Mindful holidays are ones in which you make time for yourself to slow down and savor it. Soak in the RIIIP of wrapping paper. Cherish the happy excited shouts of the kids. Take pictures and videos, but don\u2019t stress over getting the perfect shot. Instead, pay attention to what is going on around you. Notice the little details that you usually take for granted. <\/p>\n Don\u2019t think about what you have to do next week, the places that you have to go, or anything else that could be distracting you. Be right there in the moment in both mind and body. Laugh and dance along with the kids. Let go of your worries and frustrations for a little while. That\u2019s how you have mindful holidays.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Mindfulness is a great practice to start any time. The holidays are so busy, though, I think it\u2019s especially important to breathe it in. They seem here and gone so quickly. There are several areas that you can practice mindfulness for the holidays. <\/a><\/p>\n There are several ways to have mindful holidays when it comes to gift-giving. They include: <\/p>\n Related: 5 Ways to Practice Gratitude<\/a><\/p>\n Needing to get Organized?<\/strong> Check Out the Mindful Holiday Planner!<\/a> <\/p>\n The holidays are a busy time. There are a LOT of activities going on and you may feel pulled in many different directions. If I feel rushed, with many things packed into the schedule, it\u2019s hard for me to enjoy them. I just feel tired and stressed about getting to different places in time. I try to mindfully select the activities that mean the most to me and my family. It\u2019s ok not to do everything. Do the things that you enjoy the most. <\/p>\n Some people enjoy going all out for holiday decorations. If having a Christmas tree in every room and having the whole house decked out in Christmas decor is something that you enjoy, go for it! <\/p>\n For myself, I prefer one tree in the living room for Christmas. There are a few other decorations that I enjoy that I put out. If my tree has any theme, it\u2019s memories. The decorations that go on my tree are ones that my Grandma made me, some that I got as gifts from various people in my life, and ones that the kids have made. To me, it is beautiful because each ornament reminds me of something or someone. Put up the decorations that you enjoy the most. Don\u2019t stress about getting them perfect to show off. Your decorations in your house are for you and your family. <\/p>\n Just like with mindful holidays and gift-giving, there are several ways to be mindful of food around the holidays. I love holiday food just as much as anyone else. However, I am trying to make some healthier food choices. This is my plan to be more mindful of food around the holidays: <\/p>\n Sometimes little things make a big difference when it comes to mindful holidays. For example, I never realized that we always put Christmas music on when we put up the Christmas tree until I went back and watched some old home movies. Now, we all put the Christmas tree up together. It\u2019s a family event, as is taking it down. When it goes up, we play Christmas music. When we are unwrapping gifts on Christmas morning, I always make sure that I put Christmas music on then too.<\/p>\n Little things like hot spiced cider in the crockpot,<\/a> putting on music, lighting a candle, starting a fire in the fireplace, or donuts for breakfast can become little things that stand out in future holiday memories. <\/p>\n Related: 10 Amazing Little Things to Enjoy This Holiday Season<\/a><\/p>\n The best advice for mindful holidays all centers around stopping long enough to soak in the whole experience and making an effort to be fully present at the moment. <\/p>\n When making your holidays mindful, don\u2019t compare your holiday to anyone else\u2019s. If your gifts to each other are smaller, that\u2019s ok. If you have simpler decorations or your tree is not perfectly themed, like mine, that\u2019s ok.<\/p>\n The holidays are very personal and the experience is different in each family. As my Mom told me when I was a newlywed, part of crafting the perfect holiday for your family is deciding which traditions to keep from the husband\u2019s side and the wife\u2019s side, how to mesh them together and which ones to create new. Your holiday needs to fit your family; not your neighbors. <\/p>\n Your holidays should reflect your values and your priorities. Don\u2019t compromise them to fit in with anyone. Stand up for what you believe in and the things that are important to you. You can do it in a respectful manner. Set an example you would be proud of for your kids to follow. <\/p>\n Don\u2019t go into debt over Christmas. It may mean that you have to start Christmas shopping in July and buy one gift a month, or that you save a certain amount each month for a year. Plan ahead. Paying off Christmas for several months afterward is no fun. At the end of the day, it\u2019s stuff. What matters is the experience and love that you share as a family. Give what you can afford and don\u2019t trash your finances for one day. <\/p>\n Related: Finances Without Fighting: How One Couple Does It<\/a><\/p>\n There are certain Christmas presents that stand out in my mind as a kid. I remember the year that Santa brought us a Super Nintendo. (Laugh all you want \u2013 it was amazing at the time!) I also remember the year that I got a rocking horse that made noise and I\u2019m sure drove my parents nuts with \u201cclip-clop, clip-clop\u201d sounds, and the year I got something that was so big and so special that I wasn\u2019t sure that Santa was going to be able to deliver on it \u2013 a Hula Hoop! <\/p>\n Yes, you read that right \u2013 a simple hula hoop ranks right up there with a brand-new game system in my Christmas memories. More than the gifts, I remember the memories. I remember my little brother throwing a bear out of his brand new little tikes car and it saying \u201cBingo!\u201d as its head hit the floor. I remember Christmas music, playing in the snow, and the smell of special holiday meals. These little details are what you need to soak in. Take pictures, take videos, and take in all that is going on around you as best you can. <\/p>\n The past few years have taught us a LOT about change. By now, we should be used to changing (or canceled) plans, but around Christmas time, it\u2019s hard. If your plans fall through, stay flexible enough so that you can regroup. Changing your attitude can change the whole experience. Make new plans, create a new tradition, find something else to look forward to. Try to be fully present and live in the moment<\/a> instead of mourning what might have been. <\/a><\/p>\n Related: 7 Tips for a Stress- Free Christmas<\/a><\/p>\n Even for the best of us, and especially so this year, the holidays can be a trigger for mental health issues. The Mayo Clinic has some tips<\/a> if you are trying to have a mindful holiday with mental health issues. <\/p>\n I find coping with Christmas stress to be at odds with having a mindful holiday, yet I would be lying if I told you that it wasn\u2019t part of the holiday season. The above tips on having a mindful holiday apply for coping with Christmas stress<\/a> as well, but here are a few more tips!<\/p>\n Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, but it can be disappointing when the reality falls short of your high expectations. That\u2019s one of the reasons its so important to try to have a mindful holiday so that you can enjoy the moments and be fully present for them. Christmas may be magical, but people are still people. It\u2019s ok if your kid is not zipping down the sidewalk on the new improved super popular and mega-expensive thing-a-ma-jigger! If it\u2019s not in the budget, it\u2019s not in the budget, and it\u2019s a great opener for teaching gratitude. <\/p>\n My oldest son asked for a $600 remote control nerf tank one year. He didn\u2019t get it. But it didn\u2019t ruin his Christmas. We just used it as an opportunity to talk about managing expectations and being grateful for the gifts he did receive. <\/p>\n Nothing takes the fun out of the holidays like family drama. While you may not be able to control other people, you can choose how you respond to it and the boundaries that you set. You can politely ask people to stop certain behaviors, or you can remove yourself from the situation. Setting personal boundaries<\/a> may sound hard at first, but it\u2019s healthy for both you and other people. <\/p>\n Remember that \u201cA soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.\u201d \u2013Proverbs 15:1 KJV<\/a> <\/p>\n Speaking of setting personal boundaries, it\u2019s really easy to over-commit during the holiday season. Guard your downtime. You need that to rest and recharge for the next day. You don\u2019t have to do everything with everyone every year. Say yes to the things that mean the most to you. Don\u2019t be afraid to say no to the rest. <\/p>\n When I am stressed I tend to spend more time on social media. It does not help. It still draws me in like a siren song, but when I start asking \u201cis this making me feel better?\u201d the answer is always no. Social media is good for a lot of things, but don\u2019t let it be your entire social life. You will feel much better with a better stress relief outlet. Do something to fill your cup<\/a> instead. <\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> Best Stress Relief Products to Help You Relax<\/a><\/p>\n 16 Easy Ways to Still Your Mind so You Can Sleep<\/a><\/p>\n 12 Powerful Self-Awareness Techniques You Need to Know<\/a><\/p>\n Benefits of Self-Love and How to Develop It<\/a><\/p>\n 7 Quick Powerful Tips to Boost Your Self-Confidence<\/a><\/p>\n People do not do well in isolation. That\u2019s one of the reasons that 2020 was so hard \u2013 isolating is hard on mental health. <\/a>Make this year the year that you reach out -whatever that looks like for you. It may be volunteering, it may be doing charitable work, or just texting a friend and asking them to go have coffee. <\/p>\n If you have anxiety, the holidays can be a big trigger. It feels like there are a lot of expectations, there are tons of things to do, people to see and that starts the cycle of \u201cWhat if\u2026\u201d Try these tips to continue having a mindful holiday and calm your anxiety this holiday season. <\/p>\n I once read a book called \u201cThe Power of Self-Coaching.\u201d <\/a> In it, Dr. Joe Luciani gives my all-time favorite definition of worry. He says \u201cWorry is the habit of anticipating chaos.\u201d Do you know anyone that anticipates chaos? I do because I used to be a master at it. (And still am, sometimes, but I have learned to better recognize it now.) We all want to be in control of our lives, but worrying does not make anything better. <\/p>\n \u201cTrust in yourself and your ability to handle life as it comes.\u201d That\u2019s another quote that I got from the book because it\u2019s one that I repeated to myself often. When you find yourself worrying, shift from worry to concern. Worry deals with fiction and things that \u201cmight happen.\u201d Often the emotions are overblown in proportion to the problem. Concern, on the other hand, is fact-based and the emotional reaction is more in line with the actual problem. It\u2019s geared towards problem solving. <\/p>\n Focus on what you can control, let the rest go and deal with it when and IF it comes. <\/p>\n Related: What to do when you are worrying too much<\/a><\/p>\n I know this one sounds cliche. I used to scoff at it too. But I have found that when I stay active it helps put me in a better mood. There are many benefits to physical activity on your mood.<\/a> Stay active, even if it\u2019s just going for a brisk walk. It helps you to deal with stress and will give you more energy as well. <\/p>\nWhat is a Mindful Holiday? <\/h2>\n
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What Areas Can You Practice Mindfulness for the Holidays? <\/h2>\n
Mindful Holiday Gift Giving<\/h3>\n
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Mindful Holiday Activities<\/h3>\n
Mindful Holiday Decorations<\/h3>\n
Mindful Holiday Eating<\/h3>\n
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Little things that make a difference<\/h3>\n
Best Tips for Mindful Holidays<\/h2>\n
1. Don\u2019t compare <\/h3>\n
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2. Remember your priorities<\/a><\/h3>\n
3. Budget<\/h3>\n
4. Cherish the Memories<\/h3>\n
5. Be Flexible if Plans Change<\/h3>\n
Mental Health Holiday Tips<\/h2>\n
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Coping With Christmas Stress<\/h2>\n
1. Manage Your Expectations<\/h3>\n
2. Set Personal Boundaries<\/h3>\n
3. Don\u2019t be Afraid to say No<\/h3>\n
4. Limit Time on Social Media<\/h3>\n
5. Focus on Making Connections<\/h3>\n
Anxiety During the Holidays<\/h2>\n
Focus on what you can control<\/h3>\n
Stay Active<\/h3>\n
Be Kind to Yourself<\/h3>\n