The holiday season is upon us. We have enjoyed Thanksgiving and now are eagerly anticipating Christmas and New Year's. And as much as we enjoy these festive and meaningful holidays, we are sometimes so rushed and stressed trying to get everything done that we can't fully enjoy the moments.
We need to take a breath.....Quite literally.
Try this simple little formula for taking a breath this holiday season - and see if it helps you.
- Get up 10 minutes earlier - and plan your day. Some plan their day in their heads and others create an elaborate spreadsheet while others just make an old-fashioned list. How you do it is not nearly as important as actually making the plan. And have an extra cup of coffee or tea as you plan.
- Listen to music. Music soothes the soul. And it is a tremendous motivator as well.
- Read for pleasure - at least for a few minutes. It takes you away from the daily grind and provides a nice respite - even if only for a few minutes.
- Connect with a friend for a few minutes - or a few for a minute or two. Staying in contact with others keeps us more balanced. It also gives us a short break from our own troubles.
- Enjoy your dinner - whatever it is - and take the time to sit down and relax. Whether it is of a frozen microwave variety or something you've prepared yourself, take the time to sit down and taste it. If you have the benefit of dining with others, enjoy the conversation. If you're dining alone, enjoy the solitude of the moment.
- Watch, listen or read the news for 30 minutes or less - otherwise it can add much more stress than we need.
- And before bedtime, do at least one thing you enjoy just for you.
This simple little formula for taking a breath this holiday season may not take all your stress away - but it may provide some much-needed breathing space. And, if it works, it may just keep on working after the holidays are long gone.
Sara Fitts owns SLF Consulting and specializes in developing Simple Little Formulas for your success. Please visit www.SLFConsulting.com for more information.
Since this is Thanksgiving week - tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day - I'm thinking about the essence of gratitude. What does it mean to be thankful? What does it mean to have gratitude?
I'm very thankful for many things. I'm thankful for my family and friends. I'm thankful for Patrick - and for Winston, too. I'm thankful for my colleagues and my students as well as the clients that I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with over these past 30 years. But is simply being thankful the same thing as having the essence of gratitude?
I know that as thankful as I am for the people in my life, I haven't always exhibited the essence of gratitude where they are concerned. Sometimes I haven't had the patience that I needed to have. Sometimes I haven't taken the time to listen as intently as I needed to. Other times I was much too quick to end a conversation that could have continued. Still other times I could have said "yes I can do that" instead of "no, I just can't make that happen."
I think the essence of gratitude begins with realizing that life is short and precious and we need to make sure that every single day is as peaceful for us and for those who walk with us as we can possibly make it.
I think the essence of gratitude is expressed in how we live, in how we treat each other - strangers as well as family and friends. We must live in congruence with our beliefs.
I think the essence of gratitude is also expressed in fairness and equality.
I think the essence of gratitude is never time-bound. By that I mean that we should possess an essence of gratitude not only at holiday times but every single day we live. I believe we should thank God for our blessings. And I think we should also say thank-you to everyone who does anything for us. I want to exhibit the essence of gratitude everyday from this moment forward.
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you and your family, friends and loved ones enjoy time together.
Sara Fitts is the founder and owner of SLF Consulting. Please visit us online at http://www.SLFConsulting.com . Sara is a teacher, coach, motivator, mediator, and consultant.
