Amidst the annual pressures to purchase piles of presents, decorate every orifice of your home or office, manage a social schedule that keeps everyone happy, and still leave enough time for the pursuit of the perfect mince pie… It’s easy to end up super stressed and lose sight of the bigger-picture point of what this time of year is all about.
Thankfully you don’t have to wait for the Three Wise Men to come knocking at your door to get the advice you need to enjoy the festivities - free from stress! You just need to be more mindful with these three top tips.
1. REDUCE THE RUSH : BE MINDFUL OF THE MOMENT
Time tends to feel limited and stress-levels rise when we stop focusing on what we are doing now and get caught up over thinking about all the other things that need done later. The reality is you can only ever do one thing at a time. Through being present by giving all of your attention to whatever you are doing, right now, you naturally end up even more effective and efficient and enjoy the whole experience.
Focus on the task in hand by being mindful of your senses. Really look and listen and tune into what you are touching. Wrap each present without giving any thought to the pile waiting in the sidelines. Properly feel the spoon in your hand as you stir the gravy. Notice the colours of the Christmas lights that are passing by as you drive to the shops or your next social engagement.
In essence, fully engage the reality of what is occurring in the immediate here and now. You’ll be amazed by how time has a magical way of stretching and how you get so much more done - with very little stress.
