How to get through the Christmas season + free mindfulness advent calendar for download

Download the Mindfulness Advent Calendar as PDF

Do you remember the year when "Yippee, Advent is here!" turned into "Oh God, is it December already?"? As we get older, the Christmas season often loses its magic - especially as responsibilities increase and time seems to slip through our fingers ever faster. Presents have to be bought and the holidays planned. Then there are various Christmas parties to attend, a tree that needs to be decorated and cookies that need to be baked. The department stores and shops are overcrowded and the pushing and shoving at the Christmas market is only really bearable with a glass or two of mulled wine under our belts, right? In other words, the Christmas season is very stressful for many of us and the anticipation of the festival of love is considerably dampened.

So how can we get through Advent with less stress? How can mindfulness help us slow down and find serenity during the most hectic time of the year?

Tips for a mindful Christmas season

Return to the here and now

Being mindful means focusing our full attention on the here and now and experiencing the present moment without judgment. And this is precisely where we so often fail in stressful times. Instead of being in the present, we're stuck with one foot in the past and the other in the future. The thoughts and to-do lists that occupy us during the Christmas season, on top of our already stressful daily routines, make it difficult for us to perceive the present moment. Thoughts race through our heads, leaving us on edge all day long.

A good first step here might be to visualize and clearly write down all your to-dos and tasks on a large piece of paper. This will free up space in your head and keep everything in view at once. Jot down everything that comes to mind, no matter how small.

Another way to quickly return to the here and now is through your senses. No matter where you are or what you're doing, pause for a moment and notice what's happening around you. What do you hear? What smells are in the air? What do you feel? What tastes do you perceive? What do you taste? What do you see? This small exercise can have a big impact and help you relax from within.

Your breathing is a similarly effective tool. When things get too much for you, or your head is spinning from all the things you have to think about, breathe deeply into your stomach several times through your nose. Let the air escape through your mouth, and consciously try to relax your muscles. When we feel stressed, we often tense our stomach, jaw, and face. or shoulder muscles without us even noticing. Let go.

Here you will get more ideas for mindfulness exercises in between.

Take a break!

Yes, that's right. Especially when we're busy and running from one appointment to the next, we rarely allow ourselves time to relax—after all, we still have so much to do! But it's especially important in moments like these that we take breaks. Pause for a moment, calm down, do something that brings us joy or takes our mind off things. Even just five minutes can be enough to relax us and clear our minds.

So turn on your favorite Christmas song, make yourself a cup of tea, or retreat to a quiet place for a quick 5-minute meditation.

Also consider which tasks and errands you can get help with. There's no shame in asking others for help. Dividing tasks makes preparation easier and is fun, too!

Work on your attitude

I can't stress this enough: Your thoughts determine how you feel and ultimately how you experience your day. So consciously think positive thoughts, for example, by occasionally thinking about something you're grateful for. Or concentrating on what's really important to you. Or by trying to look at an unsatisfying situation from a different perspective. Even a "forced" smile can have a big impact: When you smile, end-of-life hormones are released, and your body tells your brain that you're happy. Try it out, preferably now. Come on, first one corner of your mouth, then the other. It's not that difficult, is it?

Journaling or visualization can also help here. Write down your thoughts and worries from your heart, reflect on your day in the evening, and consciously remember one thing that went well that day. You can also take a few minutes and imagine your perfect Christmas. How would you like to interact with those around you? What is important to you during the holidays? How can you make others happy? What can you do to feel comfortable around difficult relatives? Be completely honest with yourself here. Take care of yourself and allow yourself to feel whatever feelings you have. And remind yourself that you are GOOD ENOUGH. You're already doing a great job, I'm convinced of that!

Mindful through the Christmas season with our mindfulness Advent calendar

As a little mindfulness inspiration for each day of Advent, I've put together a little mindfulness Advent calendar for you. You can print it out or save it as your computer background. It's meant to guide you through the otherwise contemplative Christmas season and remind you to be mindful of yourself. It's also meant to remind you that it's okay to take breaks, slow down, or do something nice for yourself. So that "Oh my God, is it December already?" becomes "Yippee, Advent is here!"

Download the Mindfulness Advent Calendar as PDF, or click simply click on the following image (right click -> Save As...).

If you would like to learn more about healthy eating, mindfulness or sustainability, Check out more exciting blog articles on these topics here.