The holiday season can be pretty stressful with financial pressures, crowded shopping malls, the desire for perfect parties and gifts, travel, overindulgence in food and alcohol, dealing with relatives you rarely see, and sometimes feeling alone while everyone else seems to be celebrating.
That’s where meditation can really help! It’s known to reduce stress, help with depression, and promote positive emotions, joy, empathy, and kindness. This can be especially helpful when you’re coping with challenging family members or the chaos around you. Here are some pointers to help you stay calm and positive during the holidays:
Be mindful of your purpose
Mindfulness means being aware of your present experiences. It can help you connect with the kind of life you want. Remember, holidays are “holy days” meant to enrich our lives with spiritual values like rest, connection, gratitude, and giving. It’s easy to get out of balance and stress over material things, so keep reflecting on what the holidays mean to you. This can help you stay aligned with your true purpose.
Don’t just do something, sit there!
If you don’t already practice meditation, the holiday season might seem like a bad time to start, but it’s actually beneficial. Even a short five or ten-minute session can bring more calm and balance into your life. So whether you’re new to meditation or an old hand, keep at it!
Keep coming back to compassion
Remember the saying, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” Everyone you encounter, including those who annoy you, wants to be happy and avoid suffering, just like you. Keeping this in mind can make you more understanding and reduce conflicts, thereby lowering your stress.
Forgive yourself!
Don’t beat yourself up for feeling stressed. Everyone loses their patience sometimes. When you’re frazzled, remember it’s a normal reaction to being overloaded. Place a hand on your heart and tell yourself, “It’s OK. I care about you and want you to be happy. I forgive you.”
Be kind in crowds
In crowded places like malls, it’s easy to get frustrated. Try mentally repeating, “May we all be well and happy” as you move through the crowd. This can help replace those exasperated thoughts with more compassionate ones.
Take a breath
Make a habit of focusing on your breathing. Doing so can help you let go of stressful thoughts and reduce adrenaline levels. Take a few mindful breaths while standing in line, riding an escalator, in an elevator, or even during a quick break while cooking or wrapping gifts.
Remember impermanence!
One way to appreciate the people around you and be more patient is to remember that our time together is limited. This isn’t necessarily a sad thought—it can make you value your relationships more during this busy season.
Finally, remember that meditation isn’t just for the holidays; it’s a practice for life. Keep it up even after the festive season is over.