How to Practice Mindfulness During the Holidays

The holidays are a time of joy, connection and celebration. They can also be incredibly hectic, in their own special way. Between shopping, social gatherings and travel, overwhelm and fatigue can easily take hold. Practicing mindfulness during the holidays offers a way to slow down, be present and enjoy the moment, even amidst all that busyness. It isn’t about retreating from the festivities, but rather about fully embracing them with a sense of calm and awareness. This article will guide you through how to practice mindfulness this festive season, helping you reset and find your balance.

Did You Know? Five Festive Facts About the Holiday Hustle

For those who celebrate, the festive season is one of the busiest times of the year. With so many celebrations and social events, it's no wonder people can feel overwhelmed. Here are five facts that showcase just how hectic the holidays can be:
• 86% of us are likely to be out socializing over the holidays, often attending multiple events across a short period of time.
• The average person travels over 275 miles to visit family over the festive season, contributing to additional stress and exhaustion.
• Holiday shopping can lead people to walk more than 10,000 steps a day on peak shopping days, equivalent to nearly five miles of walking through crowded streets and stores.
• People report spending 41 hours on average preparing for Christmas.
• 63% of people report feeling stressed or overwhelmed during the holiday season due to the increased demands on time, money and energy.

What Is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the moment, without judgment. It’s about observing your thoughts, feelings and environment with a sense of calm and clarity. While it might seem like a simple concept, mindfulness can be a challenge to master - so many things seem to pull our attention in so many different directions at once. As part of your regular routine, though, it can have profound benefits, particularly during high-stress times like the holidays. It is a tool that can help you stay grounded, calm and connected when things start to feel overwhelming.

How Does Mindfulness Work?

Research shows that mindfulness practices can reduce stress, improve emotional regulation and boost overall mental clarity. By staying truly connected to the present moment, mindfulness helps reduce the mental clutter that contributes to anxiety and burnout. During the holiday season, when your to-do list seems endless, mindfulness can offer moments of peace and clarity that help you stay balanced.

Four Ways to Practice Mindfulness Throughout the Festivities

It’s easy to feel like there’s no time left during the holidays. But practicing mindfulness really doesn’t require hours. There are simple ways to integrate it into your daily routine and try it out on the go. Here are four practical exercises you can try to stay mindful during this year’s festivities:

1. Create Moments of Stillness

Even in the busiest schedules, it’s possible to create small moments of stillness. Finding time for quiet reflection can help you feel more centered and balanced during the holiday rush.

Why it works:
Carving out a moment of stillness, even for just a minute, allows you to calm your nervous system, reduce stress and reset your mental state.
How to:
• Find a quiet spot where you can sit comfortably.
• Close your eyes and take a deep breath in through your nose and exhale slowly.
• Focus on your breath. If your mind starts to wander, that’s ok - gently bring your focus back to the sensations of your breathing.
• Start with one minute and gradually increase to three to five minutes as you build comfort with the practice.

Top Tip:
Enhance your stillness practice by ending it with a cup of calming herbal tea. This can help create a sense of relaxation and make the practice feel even more restorative.

2. Walking Meditation

With so many errands and tasks requiring you to be on your feet, you might enjoy turning those moments into mindful walking meditations. Whether you're walking through a crowded shopping center or taking a stroll into nature, you can practice mindfulness on the move.

Why it works:
Walking meditation allows you to blend physical activity with mental clarity. It encourages awareness of your body, breath and surroundings, helping you stay grounded and present.
How to:
• As you walk, focus on each step. Feel your feet make contact with the ground and notice the rhythm of your movements.
• Take deep, mindful breaths, paying attention to the sensation of the air filling your lungs.
• Engage with your surroundings by observing colors, sounds and scents without letting your mind wander too far.

Top Tip:
Try leaving your phone or headphones behind when you practice walking meditation. This will allow you to fully engage with the environment and experience the calming effects of mindful walking.

3. Care for What Moves You

The holiday season is often physically exhausting, especially on your feet. Giving yourself time to care for your feet is a mindful act and can also help you feel more grounded.

Why it works:
Taking time to care for your body, particularly during a busy time, encourages you to slow down and reconnect with yourself. It’s an opportunity to show gratitude for the parts of your body that carry the most strain.
How to:
1. Step One: Relax 
2. Step Two: Exfoliate 
3. Step Three: Care
Begin by soaking your feet in warm water with four spoonfuls of our Relaxing Bath Salts. This will calm and soothe the skin as well as balancing moisture levels and helping to remove impurities. 
Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells, allowing your skin to absorb moisture more effectively. Gently rub the wet Pumice Stone onto wet skin, focusing on heels and rough parts. Then apply a small amount of our Exfoliating Foot Scrub to your feet and lower legs, massaging in a circular motion.
After exfoliating, it’s time to hydrate and recover. In any order you like, apply Relief Lotion for tired legs and feet with Nourishing Foot Balm and/or Comforting Dry Oil. These products, with their highly effective active ingredients, will help soothe and dry skin, keeping your feet soft and supple throughout the winter.

Try It With:
As you apply hydrating products, incorporate a little of our Signature Foot Massage. Rooted in the principles of Reflexology, it’s designed for mind-body balance.

4. Journaling for Mindfulness

Journaling is a powerful tool for mindfulness, especially during the holiday season. It provides an outlet for reflection, helping you process your thoughts and emotions, and bring clarity to holiday chaos.

Why it works:
Journaling can help reduce stress by providing a space for you to express your feelings. It brings focus back to yourself and helps you identify what might be causing stress or joy.
How to:
• You might like to set aside 15 minutes to journal in the morning, jot down a few notes at night, or you might use time on your commute to write down your thoughts.
• Write freely about what’s on your mind. You can focus on how you’re feeling, what you’re grateful for, or anything that’s causing you stress.
• If you’re feeling overwhelmed, use journaling to brainstorm small, actionable steps to help manage the stress.

Top Tip:
Add a gratitude section to your journal. Writing down three things you’re grateful for each day can help shift your mindset and foster positivity, especially during busy or stressful times.