By Dawn Burke | Aetna SKY | Bounce Coalition 

We often find that the holidays can bring as much stress as they do joy! To counteract stress and make the most of your festivities, consider practicing mindfulness. 

Mindfulness helps by bringing our attention to the present moment in a spirit of nonjudgement and acceptance. When we notice we are caught up in an angry mood, or upsetting thoughts of the past or the future, mindfulness is how we turn our attention to the present… the only reality. 

Here are some ideas about practicing mindfulness in an informal way:

  1. Let’s say you are stuck in a slow-moving line of traffic, and you find yourself feeling very frustrated – this is a great opportunity to do some deep breathing, maybe engaging in the 4/7/8 method by breathing in for 4 counts through your nose, holding for 7 counts and breathing out through your mouth for 8 counts. Do this for as long as you need to.
  2. Perhaps you are stuck in a long line at a store and you are feeling impatient, this might be a great opportunity to reflect: Take an inventory of the positive things that happened that day or in general, the things you feel grateful for.
  3. During stressful moments, think about ways to make it more pleasant. Maybe while in slow moving traffic you can turn on some uplifting music or call someone you enjoy talking to (safely). In the line at the store, you might connect with someone in line with a compliment or kind gesture. You can look around and notice what is around you with fresh eyes and an open mind. Notice beauty and kindness and breathe it in.

As we gear up for the holidays, we can easily lose sight of what really counts. Part of mindfulness practice involves regularly asking yourself “where does this fit in the grand scheme of things?” in order to keep a realistic perspective. 

Accepting our imperfections, not setting the bar too high, and responding whenever possible to stressful things or thoughts with patience and kindness really helps to make the season bright!