3 Simple Ways to have a Mindful Christmas

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It’s the most Magical time of the year!

… But also quite possibly the time where we are all busy and stressed. There’s just so much to do, so much to buy, events to plan etc etc. This year more than ever I’ve been finding it hard to switch off and be able to enjoy the festivities, so I’m making a promise to myself that I’m going to switch my focus back to mindfulness, something which I’ve been working on slowly but surely throughout the year.

As I’ve written about in previous posts, it’s been proven that taking a few mindful moments each day can help to reduce stress, and in turn helping us to be more productive and efficient – which definitely helps at Christmas time especially!!

Here are a few ways of bringing mindfulness into your festive preparations!

First – have a Mindful Coffee

This is a great place to start! On the busiest and most stressful days, I force myself not to get stuck into work or Christmas To-Do lists the second I wake up. Instead, enjoying a mindful moment while I sip my morning coffee means I bring my mind to the moment I am living in – and not wondering onto the day’s tasks. I take slow, small sips of coffee – noticing the taste, the temperature, the consistency. I do this for five minutes, enjoying every last sip – and when I’ve finished not only do I feel perked up ready to take on the days tasks, but also calm and collected.

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Be mindful in your present wrapping!

Gift wrapping can easily become a mindless task. Last year I remember I was quilty of double-screening whilst wrapping – I didn’t take even a few minutes to be mindful about what I was doing. This year, I’ll be writing out gift tags slowly, purposefully and making genuine remarks in the cards as opposed to those stock phrases that you read time and time again. When it comes to wrapping, I’ll pop on a festive, chilled playlist and choose easy to wrap gifts to reduce the stress!

One gift which a few of the girls in my family and friendship group will be receiving this year is the festive Birchbox. I’ve been receiving their boxes for over a year now and look forward to opening up my very own monthly gift every time it arrives on my doorstep! Not only is it filled with beauty treats which give you the perfect opportunity to try something new, but the hard work has been taken away thanks to it’s elegant boxed packaging and festive note card.

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What’s Inside?

The treats inside this month’s Birchbox couldn’t be more perfect as either a stocking filler or a thoughtful gift – classic favourites such as a Bobbi Brown mascara can be included as well as Winter skin & hair luxuries like the Dr Brandt pore perfecting exfoliator and Percy & Reed Wonder Balm. For those Christmas and New Year parties, handbag sized beauty products such as the Benefit Pore-fessional primer and Ciate Fierce Flicks full size Eyeliner are also options – it’s five gifts in one!

Discover more about Birchbox here, and see the other gifts which you could find in the December Birchbox. You can choose whether to treat someone to a single box, or allow them to enjoy the gift all year round with a 3, 6 or 12 month subscription here, with an individual box priced at £10, but even better savings to be found with the longer subscriptions.

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Get Stuck Into Festive Activities

Banishing your phone and logging off your email is a necessity to truly embrace this time of year! Fully immersing yourself in festive activities such as ice skating, putting up the decorations and making snow angels ( I’m remaining optimistic for a white Christmas!) will help make you feel more relaxed and refreshed. Allow yourself to get totally carried away by the festivities and stop your mind from wondering back to work and other chores.

What are your tips for a mindful Christmas? 

xoxo