“Tis the season to be jolly” While the holidays bring us many joys family reunions, good food, thoughtful gifts, they also bring an incredible amount of stress. The good food often requires lots of careful preparation and holiday shopping can be a nightmare. So how can we stay grounded and present and truly let ourselves feel the holiday spirit?
To really enjoy the holidays, try these simple, research-based practices that will help keep you in a healthy state of mind.
1. Set your intention to Enjoy the Holidays as much as you can
By making the conscious decision to open yourself to true well-being and happiness, you’ll be more likely not to miss those uplifting moments and even begin to have your radar out for them. Psychiatrist Dan Siegel argues that by setting your intention, you “prime” your brain to be ready for positive experiences.
2. Savor any moments of Well-being when they’re here
Let your awareness savor how the experience registers in your body and mind for 15 or 30 seconds. Neuropsychologist Rick Hanson calls this taking in the good.
3. Take a break, regain your focus
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by everything on your To Do list, remember to take a few breaths. Take a break and enjoy a cup of tea or a hot bath. Try some yoga or exercise. Or get out of the doing mode for a little while and let yourself just relax.
4. Practice gratitude
Don’t take your good fortune for granted. Express your appreciation directly to loved ones and friends when you’re with them. You and they will both feel the joy of the connection.
5. Practice generosity
Neuroscience research shows that performing an altruistic act lights up the same pleasure centers in the brain as food! Whenever you feel the impulse to be generous you should act on it. Notice how good it feels inside when you see someone happy because of your sincere generosity.
6. Play and have fun
Remember what it was like when you were a kid during the holidays? Let yourself experience that again. Be around kids if you can. Tune into and take delight in their enthusiasm. Singing or dancing are excellent ways to get out of your head and open to joy.
Finally, remember that happiness is contagious! Research shows that happiness can spread like a virus across three degrees of separation; if you’re happy, you increase the odds that your close friends and family will be happy, too. So the more you can stay connected to your own happiness, the more you help others get in touch with their own well-being. We all benefit when you can awaken the joy within you. Happy Holidays!
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