Christmas Day Mindfulness

10 ways that take less than 1 minute to mindfully navigate the energy of a bustling Christmas family gathering.

Christmas can sometimes bring a whirlwind of over stimulation, making it easy to lose ourselves in the noise.

Navigating the energy of a bustling family gathering provides a wonderful opportunity for finding stillness within the movement.

Practicing mindfulness enables us to reclaim our peace and transform a stressful marathon into a series of vivid, cherished memories.

By grounding the body, the nervous system settles, ensuring Christmas Day is actually felt rather than just survived.

Here’s ten ways to practice mindfulness in under 1 minute on Christmas Day. Start creating your oasis of calm right now.:

1. Feeling into the Weight of the body on the Chair
While sitting during the Christmas dinner, bringing awareness to the points of contact between the body and the chair, and noticing the support of the seat beneath the thighs and the spine.

2. Observing the Steam from the Kettle
Standing in the kitchen while the tea is being made, watching the plumes of steam rising from the spout, and noticing the swirling patterns as they dissipate into the air.

3. Savouring the First Bite
Bringing a small piece of Christmas pudding or a mince pie to the mouth, noticing the complex textures of the fruit and spices, and lingering on the sensations of tasting before swallowing.

4. Tuning Into the Hum of Conversation
Allowing the many voices of the room to become a single chorus, noticing the rise and fall of the volume and the melody of the laughter without needing to follow any specific story.

5. Resting the Eyes on a Decoration
Finding a single bauble or a bit of holly on the mantlepiece, softening the gaze, and noticing the way the light reflects off the surface while the busy world continues around it.

6. Noticing the Temperature of the Glass
While holding a drink, feeling the cool smoothness of the glass against the fingertips, and noticing the sensation of the liquid moving as the hand tilts.

7. Smoothing the Cracker Paper
Touching a discarded paper crown or a piece of cracker wrap, noticing the crinkled texture against the skin, and observing the bright colours of the paper without any judgment.

8. Softening the Shoulders During the Toast
While sitting for a toast, noticing any tension held in the tops of the shoulders, and allowing them to drop away from the ears during the act of raising a glass.

9. Witnessing the Passing of Plates
Observing the hands of loved ones as they reach and pass the sprouts or the gravy boat, noticing the coordination of the movement and the flow of giving and receiving.

10. Counting Three Breaths in the Hallway
Stepping into a quieter space like the hallway or the landing for a moment, noticing the cool air in the lungs, and simply counting three cycles of the breath before returning to the group.
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