Silly season fatigued?
Top Three Mindfulness Tips to Get You Through The Silly Season
The silly season is upon us! It can be an exhausting time of year. On top of the chaos of preparing for Christmas, business leaders are also trying to wrap things up before their much-needed holiday break. It can be easy to forget that we also need to unwind after yet another turbulent year.
I’ve been reflecting on how we can best mindfully navigate this time of year, and I kept coming back to these three simple practices.
One: Ask these essential questions each morning to build self-awareness
When you wake, perhaps while the kettle is boiling for your morning coffee, take a very small moment to ask yourself these questions:
What are my top priorities today?
Do these priorities align with my values?
Is there anything in my daily schedule that’s preventing me from fulfilling these priorities?
The answers to those questions then become the day’s compass. We become grounded in action, mind-wandering and procrastination dissolve, productivity increases, and we are present. And present moment living is the path to a more mindful and stress-free life.
Two: Weave well-being into your daily routine
There are four key mindfulness practices that, I think, should be woven into everyone’s daily routine – especially at this time of year.
Firstly, meditation: carve out 10 minutes in the morning or before you sleep to close your eyes and observe your thoughts. Commonly reported benefits include increased mental clarity, increased energy and greater peace of mind.
Secondly, deep breathing: if you are agitated or stressed, long and deep breathing is the fastest way to bring our emotions back to a sense of calm. Deep breathing can be done anywhere at any time – perhaps even hundreds of times per day if it is a particularly stressful time.
Thirdly, exercise: we have all felt the benefits of fresh air and movement. A 30-minute walk outdoors does wonders – it’s a no brainer.
Finally, practice gratitude: before you sleep, take time to notice and reflect upon the things you're thankful for each day. If you do this long enough, the answers to the above-mentioned questions start to change - in a way that benefits everyone.
Three: Have fun!
This time of year is also incredibly joyous. So, eat, drink and be merry! Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine.
We hope you take time to rest, unwind, have fun and enjoy your well-deserved break.
We wish you and your family a happy, peaceful and safe holiday season.
Thank you for being part of our community.