In the Spirit of the "Busy Holiday Season"

This month we're chatting about the "Busy-ness" of our modern lives, which ramps up during the holiday season each year. As I post these throughout the month, I'm hoping to connect with some people and to create more folks who aim to go in the OPPOSITE direction from "the norm".

I learn more and more each year that when it comes to health, practicing going in the OPPOSITE direction of what "most people are doing" is a VERY REFRESHING approach (and typically one that works!). During the holidays we take what most of us have done all year (book ourselves with 'something' at every free moment in our days, complain about how busy we are, drag ourselves through most days of our weeks, lose focus and get grumpy, anxious, stressed or just down right a bummer to be around). This holiday season, aim for the OPPOSITE. Remember, as we ALWAYS remind each other here on the Zen Blog - It DOES NOT need to be in any extravagent or complicated ways. A little "shift in the opposite direction from the chaotic, busy season" can create a HUGE shift in YOUR deep health. 🥰

I saw this quote recently and I couldn't NOT share it with all of you... 👇

"Some days ask us not to hurry - just to be present, gentle and here."

~ Unknown

With those words in mind, the questions to ask ourselves is;

When is THAT my REALITY?

When do I ALLOW this to be my day?

How often am I just PRESENT, GENTLE and HERE?

How often am I NOT (in any way) in a hurry?

Remember that we've discussed in previous posts the fact that we have CHOICES. How we CHOOSE to live our days/weeks is 100% OUR OWN. Therefore, whatever YOU do choose - OWN IT!!!!

☯ If you are always in a hurry to get out the door and to work on time... CHOOSE to wake up 15min earlier so you don't have to rush out the door OR go to bed 30min earlier so you have less trouble waking up.

☯ If you are always complaining you have NO TIME... Say NO to even just 1 or 2 things this week to GIVE yourself time (and then DON'T schedule anything else in that timeframe)

☯ If you feel like you're ALWAYS on the GO... STOP scheduling yourself, kids and/or family with something even just ONE night of the week and HOLD THAT day for NO scheduled "things"

☯ If you feel like you have a hard time focusing on wherever you are, or what you're doing... Slowly incorporate moments of mindfulness practice into your days (that doesn't need mean meditate - although you certainly can!)

☯ If you feel like the world is weighing on you... Look INWARD and discover how much time you ACTUALLY have for yourself each day/week. If you feel that you have time for YOU regularly, now look at HOW you're spending that time (eg: If you're spending that time mindlessly numbing yourself from your stressors/life by staring into your phone or binging Netflix, consider a new practice that will help alleviate some of that 'weight' you feel). *Reminder - it CAN be small!

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It doesn't take much to witness the LACK of MINDFULNESS and being present that is out there in our daily lives. From people driving on the roads to interactions (big or small) you have with others, we can see how rushed and distracted we have become. This, along with the quote shared here, is the perfect reminder to JUST DO THE OPPOSITE of what most people are doing in order to create the healthy lifestyle you are aiming for.

This time of year is a great time to practice SMALL, SIMPLE habits that are opposite to how the season tends to work today. Slowing down, especially during busy times like the holidays, is a STRENGTH that will feel SO GOOD you can only understand by EXPERIENCING IT FOR YOURSELF.