Holiday Stress, Mindfulness and Holiday Tradition

Helpful Holiday Resources   The holidays can often be filled with stress and pressure, leading to fatigue and withdrawal. It may seem ironic that the holiday season, which is supposed to cheer us up and bring us together, ends up stressing us out. Why does this happen? Well, our brains are hard at work trying to help us survive the chaos of the busy season. So, we’ve put together some helpful holiday resources to help you manage and even enjoy the holidays! Be Mindful One way to break the cycle of stress is through mindfulness. Mindfulness is about being interested and paying attention to what is happening in our bodies and minds in any one moment. By being aware of our experiences, rather than distracting ourselves and pretending we are not facing anxiety, we can learn to address our feelings as they come up. We can train our brains to reduce anxiety that can disconnect us from our family and friends. We can even tap into the very process that drives behavior: our natural reward-based learning system. Here’s how: instead of fighting our brains, or forcing ourselves to try to not be anxious during the holidays, be mindful and really pay attention to what you are doing. Curiosity is a powerful tool for taming stress and anxiety. What happens when we get curious? We notice that the feelings of stress and anxiety are simply made up of body sensations—and that these sensations come and go. We notice what is happening in our experience from moment to moment – a deeper level of mindfulness. By substituting the behavior of distraction, worry, or comparison with curiosity, we’ve hacked our brain’s reward-based learning process. Curiosity feels good and is readily available – it’s just a matter of tapping into our own capacity and noticing the reward right in that moment. So, in preparation for the holidays, take a few moments every day to train your brain to be mindful. Whenever you notice that you’re beginning to get stressed or anxious, take a moment to be aware of what’s happening in your body and mind right in that moment. Be curious.   Credit: https://www.mindful.org/train-brain-tame-holiday-stress-anxiety/ (Judson Brewer)   Define Your Holiday Traditions Talk to older family members or friends – Ask relatives about past holidays and events. Reviving these memories could link generations together and revive forgotten traditions. Savor edible traditions – Food is an essential part to many holidays, and the sense of smell is powerfully connected to memory. The wonderful aromas of decadent desserts or delicious dishes evoke memories of special days. Ask family or friends to share their favorite recipes to keep the memories going. Recall family origins – Research the traditions and foods of your ancestors, and find ways to incorporate them into your own celebrations. Members of your family will gain a sense of their own unique heritage that can be preserved for future generations. Record new memories – Keep traditions alive and remembered by keeping a “holiday journal”. Immediately after the holidays, briefly note how you celebrated, who was there, what you ate, where you went, etc. and capture a few moments on camera – but be sure to enjoy the moment as well! Keep it simple – Traditions should be fun, and not overly time-consuming or expensive. This year, take a few moments to define your family’s traditions and make a special effort to preserve them. Your family and friends will thank you for it!