When we hear the word mindfulness, we often associate it with yogis and masters of meditation. The first thing we imagine is closing our eyes, staying completely still, and being one with the world— something we would usually want to skip as there are deadlines to meet and places to go.
What we've learned, though, is that mindfulness is something we could easily apply to almost all aspects of our life without actually having to go on a full-stop from our routines.
What is mindfulness?
By definition, mindfulness is being fully aware of your thoughts, movement, and surroundings. In doing so, you're tapping into a level of self-awareness that allows you to take control of what you think and what you do in response to those thoughts.
Without knowing it, you might have been doing acts of mindfulness often. Think of the time when you were in an unfamiliar situation. Your first thought isn't something you could control, so when you find that it was an unwelcome one, you acknowledge it without judgment and consciously tried to push it aside to refocus on your current reality.
What's good about mindfulness? It's something everyone is already capable of doing. There are no requirements other than the willingness to, slowly but surely, integrate it into our daily lives. Here are small ways you could start practicing them during the holidays:
While you're on your break
What usually happens:
We take our holiday breaks, but not really. Our mind wanders off to what we left behind, our next move, or a completely different mental checklist. The result? A feeling of dissatisfaction for breaks that you deserve, wishing you spent it into something productive instead.
How you can practice mindfulness:
We understand if your lifestyle demands too much of your time and you find that you're left with only a few moments to yourself. If that's the case, try to take those moments and completely have it to yourself.
This season, try turning off your notifications for a while as you focus on what rest looks like to you. Reduce the guilt that comes with breaks as you make them truly restful and full. You're capable of gently pulling yourself back to where you want to be again.
While you dine for the holidays
What usually happens:
When we eat, we sometimes find ourselves doing and thinking of so many things at once. While sometimes unavoidable, this leaves us the feeling of eating just for the sake of responding to hunger which satisfies only one aspect of consuming food.
How you can practice mindfulness:
Mindful eating does not mean thinking of every calorie, carbohydrate, or sugar that comes into your body. It's coming to the table with the full intent of enjoying the food that comes into your body, taking note that this event is a way to replenish your energy and take in what your body needs.
As you enjoy more festive meals, take the time to appreciate the food that you're eating by taking smaller bites, making sure you chew slowly. Allow yourself to think of how your food tastes like, what you feel as you eat, and how each bite contributes to nourishing your body. Doing this baby step is a stepping stone towards having a healthier relationship with food and your body.
While you reconnect and communicate
What usually happens:
Conversations where we hear but don't listen in a rush to get points across. What happens is we miss out on what's left unsaid (a huge part of communication) which often gives space for misjudging or misreading our interactions with people.
How you can practice mindfulness:
You fully arrive with the intent to interact, and you've set yourself to focus on the conversation. Now it's time to try a focus that extends to someone else.
As the saying goes, your presence is a present. While you catch up with friends and family, let yourself be genuinely curious about what they have to say. Notice the non-verbal cues and gently guide yourself back to focus when you find your mind straying from the conversation. It will be a two-point check-in, but what you get in return when it comes to building a relationship with yourself and others will be tenfold.
Mindfulness is a practice— it's not a rewire you could decide to do and immediately be able to master. Even experts of mindfulness say so!
Take the conscious effort and challenge yourself. Start with what you can do with where you're at right now. Take advantage of the holidays and let you and the people around you feel your full presence in the process of slowly building the habit. Sooner or later, your efforts will start manifesting through how you navigate your way through your relationship with others, most especially, yourself.
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