I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with family and friends. While everyday should be about thankfulness and giving, the days surrounding the holidays seem extra special.  I am truly grateful for all of my family and friends who support me and love me unconditionally.

Each year that I get older, it seems that time flies by so much faster. It could be that I just get used to the daily “grind” and run on auto-pilot through most of the week. Work, home, dinner, relax, bed. When the holidays roll around each year, it seems that time flies by even faster between finding “the best” deals, buying gifts, trying to visit everyone, and enjoying all of the holiday parties. Before you know it, it’s January and we are making New Year’s resolutions, shaking our heads wondering where it all went off the rails the previous year.

We tend to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season as ads constantly bombard our emails, TV, social media, and radio stations. Black Friday now starts the week before Black Friday, stores are now open in the early evening hours of Thanksgiving, and we’ve got Cyber Week. Consumerism surrounds us daily…and we just need that…(insert brand new shiny toy, phone, tech, etc.). It can cause severe anxiety for those who aim to please and meet certain holiday expectations. NO ONE should have anxiety over the holidays! Our time should be spent in great company with friends and family who don’t expect anything of us!

One way to keep us grounded and organized is to practice mindfulness and gratitude everyday. Anytime you feel anxious, stop, take a deep breath, and think of a couple things you are grateful for and why. Try unplugging from technology for awhile and actually connecting to those around you. Enjoy the moment in its entirety. Dial back your commitments if you aren’t 100% excited about them. Make sure you get enough rest and self-care. If you tend to over-commit yourself during the holiday season, be sure to schedule some self-care into your calendar.

Just a few moments of mindfulness and gratitude can make all the difference in the world. You’ll decrease your anxiety around holiday expectations. You’ll appreciate everything you currently have. You’ll be able to recognize when you need to take time to care for yourself. For a moment you’ll be able to slow down your life by just enjoying it.

If you’d like to download the free mindfulness worksheet, make sure to fill out the form below and look for it soon in your inbox!