| It’s crucial for your mental wellbeing this holiday season that you carve out time and space for true rest, reflection, and restoration. Give yourself the gift of a less stressful holiday season by implementing these three essential steps listed below. I offer these tips to support you in staying grounded, and to set you up to approach 2024 in a quieter, more mindful manner. My wish for you is that you will truly embrace the spirit of the holiday, savor each moment, and be fully present this season. What are these three steps?Set intentional holiday prioritiesMaintain mindfulness & unplug during the holidaysReflect and create intentions for 2024Set Intentional Holiday PrioritiesThis holiday season prioritize YOU and your peace. Create intentional priorities so that you can experience the true spirit of the holidays. Pace yourself by shifting your focus to one of joy, meaning, peace and simplicity. Fill up your own cup with self-care and embrace saying no. Give yourself permission to opt out. Rather than filling up your calendar with countless events, make intentional decisions about what you truly want to attend. Set clear boundaries, so that you do not feel overwhelmed. You do not have to say yes to everything. Whether you reflect on these questions for yourself or keep them in mind for your colleagues and direct reports, I invite you to think about the following:What matters to you the most this holiday season?What are you prioritizing and what can you let go of?What does an intentional, meaningful holiday season look like to you?What lasting memories do you want to create?How can you quiet your calendar?What expectations can you let go of?Maintain Mindfulness & Unplug During the HolidaysI know it’s easier said than done to maintain mindfulness during the holidays. It is something you have to commit to and make part of your daily routine amidst the holiday chaos, demands and expectations. Think of small tweaks you can make in your daily routine to practice mindfulness throughout the holidays. Carve out pockets of time for mindful practices. It can be something as simple as a 5-minute guided meditation in your room, or going outside for a short walk by yourself. For example, I stay off email as part of a digital detox on the weekdays between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and it helps me tremendously to be present with family, friends, and myself. Reflect and Create Intentions for 2024The end of the year is quickly upon us. I encourage you to create space for deliberate reflection. Carve out an intentional window of time to reflect on what’s working and what’s not working for you both personally and professionally. Harness the power of pause! Think about what you want your guiding focus to be as we move into 2024. Consider avoiding the term “resolution” and move toward an intention, phrase or word that will define your new year. In the Washington Post’s article, ‘Pick a New Year’s Nudge Word Instead of a Resolution,’ they encourage readers to participate in the annual word of the year exercise to reflect on their values, intentions and hopes for the new year. Click here to get started on choosing your WORD for 2024. By taking a reflective step back now, you will go further in 2024. Ask yourself the following: 1. What have I done well? 2. What milestones am I celebrating? 3. What lessons did I learn? 4. How have I grown? 5. What is no longer serving me? 6. What can I let go of? 7. What is one thing I will do differently in the new year? This month, I am beginning to harness the power of pause to create space for deep reflection. My 20th anniversary of my business is coming up next year, and I am reflecting on what has worked and what hasn’t. I am celebrating the milestones. I am considering what I want my focus to be in 2024. Stay tuned! There will be some celebratory content coming your way in the new year. Please read, like, and comment on my December LinkedIn article by clicking here. |