5 Simple Ways to Rejuvenate During the Holidays

The Holidays.  They can be a time of reflection and hope; of anticipation and excitement for many, yet they can also bring enormous stress, worry and even sorrow.  It’s a disorienting time for many.

But what if you could pull the reigns back on all of the emotions and pause to really focus in on the experience you want to have?  What would you see?

Are you looking to maintain more connection?  Joy?  Is your heart telling you to slow down or speed up (yes, some of us need to do that too).

Below are 5 simple steps for rejuvenation during this often chaotic time.  Read on to find out how you can break from the stressors and take a step toward more bliss.  Even if you’re busier than a Christmas elf at midnight.

  1. Breathe

The number one way to ground yourself is to breathe.  And just focusing on your breathing can be a great place to start.  You can do this anywhere and it doesn’t need to take more than 60 seconds.  Simply stop what you’re doing and pay attention your breath.  Exhale so that you clear the way for your next inhale (see why this is a necessary step in getting deep breaths here).  Then let your body breathe naturally.  The more you practice this, the closer you will get to receiving the coveted deep “belly breaths” – the kind that ultimately relax you (as well as provide a host of other physical and mental benefits).

  1. Give

Our children may not yet understand, but as adults we have probably all felt the rush of satisfaction when we give to others.  Science has shown that the dollar amount is not a factor in determining the results of a giver’s “high”; that the parts of the brain that ignite when we receive an award is the same that light up when we give to others no matter how big or small.

And money is not the only currency.  Donating time or skill has also proven to boost emotions.  You can probably think of a dozen ways to contribute in your community right this moment:  Time at a shelter, Donating professional attire to an organization (Here’s a great one!), Tutoring kids after school, Supplying an extra canned good in the grocery donation bin.  And how about this one for easy?  Smiling.  Offering smiles is free and contagious.  And who doesn’t want to receive a warm smile any time of the year?

  1. Connect

Our humanness makes us social creatures.

We are born to be around and connected socially with others.  You might be a homebody, but it doesn’t mean you don’t crave connection on an intimate level.  Bonds help us strengthen our immune system, de-stress, live longer, raise self-esteem and more.  And in an age where we find ourselves linked more often to our devices than to our people, we may need to take conscious action toward this basic human need.  So what can you do to connect?  Connection might look like grabbing coffee with a coworker, bringing lunch to an isolated neighbor, or connecting spiritually in a meaningful way for you.  Taking this step can offset many of our own undesirable emotions during the holidays and instead trigger the feelings we yearn for.

4.  Write

If you’re overwhelmed in any way, writing can help.  Making lists of things that need to get done can help you focus on the higher level tasks on your plate.  Sometimes, just knowing it is all written down (in a place you can easily access – phone “notes” or “reminders” are common options) is enough to bring the stress down.  The key to lists, however, is to then transfer them to your calendar for completion.  Organization is the key to sanity during active seasons so let it be your friend!

*A word of caution* Bear in mind, that no matter how organized you may be, there will be things that get left behind.  Recently, I absentmindedly left a bag of purchases at the Target register.  A day later, I returned to said location amid shopper high season to discover a whole cart-full of forgotten items alongside mine.  And then roughly 5 days later, I did it again.   It seems even with the best intentions, methods, and systems, these things will happen.  Perhaps the best thing to do is to revisit rejuvenation tip #1 and head to Amazon.

  1. Gift Yourself

We all know the script during inflight passenger safety announcements:  “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to direct your attention as the flight attendants demonstrate the safety features of this aircraft . . . If you are travelling with a child or someone who requires assistance, secure your mask first, and then assist the other person.

Yes.  Against all female protocol, we must acknowledge that filling our own well first is necessary.  As leaders in the family, in our schools, work place, and community, we owe it to our tribes to take good care.  And in the haze of a holiday season, it is often the first thing off the list.  So what would gifting yourself look like?  A solid 3 hours of leisure reading in bed springs right to my mind.  Maybe it’s a pedicure all by yourself.  Or a long walk to help you clear your head.  Whatever it is, commit to doing one simple thing prior to the next event – you’ll thank yourself.

2018-05-15T18:30:25+00:00

4 Comments

  1. Dawn December 22, 2016 at 11:32 pm - Reply

    Lovely 😊

    • Jenny Paulin December 23, 2016 at 1:52 pm - Reply

      Thanks Dawn. 🙂 Wishing you happy holidays!

  2. Donna December 23, 2016 at 5:41 pm - Reply

    Thanks Jenny for more great reminders! Merry Christmas to you and yours

    • Jenny Paulin December 24, 2016 at 3:26 am - Reply

      Merry Christmas Donna. Sending you lots of love.

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