How To Stay Present During The Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time to enjoy being with loved ones, or a chance to relax after a stressful year of work.

But if your mind is wandering, you’re not making the most of this time. Harvard University researchers report that our minds are lost in thought 47 percent of the time. Rather than being present, we are often dwelling in the past—which can lead to sadness or depression—or worrying about the future—which produces stress and anxiety. 

Rather than let those emotions become overwhelming, here are some tips on how to stay present during the holiday season.

1. Unplug (No, Really Unplug)

Digital Detox reports that the average person checks their phone 150 times a day. That’s not a misprint. Over 50% of people wake up at least once a night to check their phones. 

During the holiday season, encourage those around you to park their gadgets in a basket for the day. Get a group photo with someone’s phone, then take a vacation from electronics. Research has shown that a tech free vacation can improve concentration and creativity, and increase mental clarity, among other benefits.  

Instead, play a board game, cards or dice games, or sit around the table and reminisce with loved ones. Be present instead of checking your phone or binge watching the latest show.

2. Get Outside

A brisk walk is good for your physical health, but being outside can help your mental health too. Besides helping to lower the risk of depression and recover from stress more quickly, studies have shown that being in nature can “restore and strengthen our mental capacities, increasing focus and attention.”

If weather or other circumstances prevent you from getting outside, then try a Luna London Candle from the Elements Collection. Choose from Water, Air or Fire, or pick Earth for an aromatic blend that brings together the wild aroma of crisp spearmint, freshly picked blackcurrant and apple, and intense jasmine enriched by clove, ginger, caramelized tobacco, and vanilla amber. Lay back and pretend you’re lying next to the earth.

3. Practice Meditation

Meditation has numerous benefits, like reducing stress and anxiety. It can also increase the strength and endurance of your attention. It may even reverse patterns in the brain that contribute to mind-wandering, worrying, and poor attention.

Luna London is excited to offer a YouTube channel, which has guided meditations that make it easy to learn this powerful habit, or continue to practice what you already know can be a life-altering practice. There are even meditations specific to your Zodiac sign, like the Sagittarius guided meditation with affirmations for abundance. Luna London Candles also offers a Meditation Collection, with scents to clarify your mind and spirit.

Mindfulness doesn’t happen overnight. Staying present, keeping a positive mindset, and enjoying every moment to its fullest, takes practice. Make time to hone your mindfulness each day, so you’ll know how to stay present during the holiday season.