Holidays are stressful this year, let alone every year. Take ten minutes to follow this guided mediation to help tame your stressors today!

https://soundcloud.com/mindfulmagazine/a-10-minute-guided-meditation-to-tame-holiday-stress

Even while we cannot gather in large groups during these COVID-times, it allows for opportunity to have more intimate experiences with our loved ones whom we do live with. If you have children at home, try welcoming them into the kitchen and create joyful experiences working together while making a meal or a dessert. Whether they watch and give input or get their hands messy themselves while mixing cake mix, increase mindfulness, joy, and compassion together. Here is an article that lists various ways to engage your children into the kitchen, even with the pickiest eater!

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/Cooking-With-Your-Children.aspx

This year does not have to be a dull holiday season–it is a different holiday season which brings a creative need to bring on the joy and cheer! This article has quite a list of options that families and friends can do to bring on the holiday cheer. It includes virtual holiday gatherings, virtual holiday games, and even virtual holiday gift giving! Take a look and see what would be a good fit for you and your loved ones!

https://snacknation.com/blog/virtual-holiday-party/

The holidays this year are different. While the national recommendations around managing COVID this season is to reduce our contact with others, whether we like it or not, the holidays aren’t going to be like they used to be and it’s ok to be upset about it. This attached article highlights the important steps to take to manage any disappointments this year: Identifying how you’re feeling, acknowledging what you’ve lost, making the most of what you have, not romanticizing your typical holiday plans, and practicing gratitude wherever gratitude is had. You’re not alone, and this won’t last forever so try and keep a dialectical view this season and we will all get through this.

https://mhanational.org/preparing-holidays-during-covid-19

Thanksgiving is a time in which we can pause and reflect on the things we are most grateful for in our lives. With COVID, elections, social and personal stressors, life can seem rough at times and so stopping and noticing what we are grateful for is important. This attached article highlights a number of important benefits of practicing gratitude, predominantly the reshaping the brain and the way we view things for the better. Take a moment and read through, I hope it helps motivate you to pause more for a moment of gratitude.

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_changes_you_and_your_brain

Mindfulness does not need to be a guided meditation, mindfulness of breath, or sitting in silence. Mindfulness can be bringing your attention to music that is soothing and grounding. Here is a Lofi playlist from SoundCloud that has a number of soothing songs that I personally enjoy listening to. Certain songs can be pure instrumental, some have more of a blend of beats and lyrics. Each person has their own particular gravitation to various types of music so find what you gravitate toward that brings peace and joy and treat yourself to some good tunes.

There are many TED talks illuminating the values of practicing mindfulness, and I recommend watching them all! Here though is one that highlights the practicality of practicing mindfulness each day to gain all its benefits even with a busy lifestyle. Phil Boissiere explains in this particular TED talk how one could obtain the benefits of mindfulness by 30 seconds of practice. Research has increased more and more each year proving how we can all benefit from daily mindfulness practices. Watch, embrace, and live mindfully.

Ever find yourself in a situation that is challenging to speak up or to express yourself effectively? The DEAR MAN skills constructed by Marsha Linehan is the go-to skill to use! This video breaks down one very valuable skill that is golden for effective communication. It breaks down key components of communicating and getting your needs met. Also, even if after you try and you don’t get what you want from a situation, at the very least you will know you did your very best with your skills while working toward your goal.

We can definitely be our own worst critic, so take a moment to pause and reflect on some self-love!

https://youtu.be/cFeCUfw657g

COVID, elections, work, family… our lives may have a lot to work through and yet it’s not what’s on our plate, but how we manage our plate. From allowing yourself to take a break, to finding ways to rethink things that are going on, there are tips and tricks on how to bring a sense of inner peace. Check this attached article out to read the 15 methods recommended to bring about a more peaceful way of living.

https://www.positivityblog.com/inner-peace/