small details, but notice them with the curious eyes of a child
and without judgment. It’s easy to get caught up in the
busyness of the holidays, but take time to take a few deep
breaths when standing in line or waiting at a stop light.
Reflect on what is truly important and meaningful
in your life. Take a moment each day to gather your
thoughts and make a short list of what is important that you
have control over. These are your priority items. Then write
down what you have control over that isn’t that important.
You may wish to complete these at some point. Eliminate
items you don’t have control over that aren’t urgent or
important. The idea is to decrease the open files in your mind
to reduce worry and minimize rumination which can lead to
irritability. Worry and rumination also increase the risk of
depression, anxiety and even activates the pain network.
“Get outside of your
head by externalizing
your attention to
notice the beauty
around you.”
Create and maintain social connections. The holidays
can be a time when we may feel particularly lonely. Stay
connected to friends and plan some time for authentically
connecting with others. Participate in activities with a group
of people with similar interests. Reach out by volunteering
and giving kind attention to others. A great antidote for
loneliness is to take part in festive activities with other people
who are doing compassionate acts. A simple, but powerful
behavior is to give someone at least two minutes of your
undivided attention.
Give yourself the gift of self-care. If we drain ourselves
by rushing around and checking off our lists, we won’t be
available for quality time with our loved ones. Get enough
sleep, eat healthy foods and move your body every day for
thirty minutes. Time invested in daily self-care will more than
pay for itself in the long run. Go for a short walk to re-
energize. Take time each day for meditation, prayer or other
ways to relax and focus through music, dance, knitting,
crafts, or even astronomy. Get outside of your head by exter-
nalizing your attention to notice the beauty around you.
Maintain balance. Simplify your activities, don’t over-
indulge and focus on the events that truly fill your spirit.
Connect with others through your creative skills, like writing,
artwork, baking, cooking or decorating, with the deliberate
intent of keeping them meaningful.
The holidays can put a strain on our mental, physical and
emotional health. Schedule what truly gives you joy. Practice
compassion for yourself and others to bring out the true joy
of the season.
Wishing you well, good health and much joy this holiday
season!
SUSANNE CUTSHALL and DEBBIE FUEHRER are integrative health specialists at the Mayo Clinic with experience in a range of
holistic health practices, including acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage, nursing and counseling.
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