No matter what you are celebrating/getting ready to celebrate/ not celebrating today, I hope this post finds you with at least a little space for yourself.
And if today is difficult for you in any way, I hope you can find comfort, ease, and rest. Please give yourself room for your feelings and go easy on yourself, you are doing the best you can.
For many of us, this will be a busy day but try to create some space by taking little breaks when you can and by focusing on the purpose of the activity rather than on the details of it.
I’m really hoping that creating those spaces will help today feel more fun and relaxing (and less like a bit list of tasks.)
Since I couldn’t include a practice for every possible celebration that is happening right now, I’ve chosen to focus on the feelings I wish for you right:
Even amidst the busy-ness, I would like for you to be able to feel good today and here’s a cardio workout from PS Fit to support that:
I hope your day includes some coziness, like in this practice from Yoga with Adriene:
Since so many celebrations at this time of year are about bringing light, I thought this candle meditation from Sattva House would help bring a little extra light to your day.
And, as always, I hope you can feel at ease and restful throughout the day.
However, given that celebrations usually involve a lot of moving parts and a lot of socializing, it’s pretty easy to get a bit jangled and feel a bit out of sorts.
So here are a few videos to help you find your equilibrium, get unjangled, and feel more like your favourite self again:
A self-soothing meditation from the Calm app’s YouTube channel:
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. Also belated Yule greetings and an early wish for a joyous Kwanzaa.
Whatever you celebrate (or not), may today be a peaceful one with minimal obligations, and shared time with family and/or friends if that is your wish.
If you feel like moving, a quick search will turn up many themed workouts from low-impact through to intense multi-day challenges. If the weather is right, a walk, ski, or bike ride might be more your style. Enjoy!
After you’re done, join me for a beverage of your choice. I think I’ll have a hot chocolate.
A marshmallow snowman relaxes in a hot chocolate hot tub, while Pandora the kitty looks on
I was trying to decide between two different approaches for the first part of today’s post but then I remembered that I am the boss of me so I decided to put both of them in here.
Approach #1 – Add Some Fun
Today, I’d like to invite you to make your tasks a bit more fun.
Yeah, I know you probably have some things to do that are no fun at all and there might not even be a way of making them fun. You may just have to power through those – set a timer, curse the whole time, do whatever you need to do to get to the finish line.Here’s hoping those ones go quick.
But there are other tasks that are kind of routine, maybe even tedious, that you could have a bit of fun with.
With those tasks, you could play some music, or put on comfy clothes, or put a movie on in the background, or listen to a podcast, or challenge yourself to do them within a certain amount of time, or ‘race’ a friend to the end of a set of tasks you are both trying to finish. Maybe some good snacks or a fancy cup of tea or coffee would make a difference. Or perhaps you can set a timer and get up and move around whenever it goes off – a different movement each time or weirder versions of the same one. Or, you might make a chart on a piece of paper and cross off your tasks, or make a big star on the paper for each one you complete.
Really, anything that adds a bit of fun can make your list feel easier and will make your day flow more smoothly. And I vote yes on both of those ideas!
Approach #2: Give Yourself What You Need
Ok, this isn’t drastically different than Approach #1 but the purpose is a little different.
This one is about making yourself more comfortable (without guilt!) while getting things done.
Lots of times, I try to power through my tasks even when I need a break, need some water, or I’m sitting in an uncomfortable way. It just seems like too much trouble to stop/get water/shift or do whatever needs to be adjusted. Unfortunately, the task then often goes on longer than I was expecting and I end up kind of cranky and disheartened.
So, space making friends, please, please, please, give yourself what you need and go easy on yourself.
Need a big list? Make one!
Need the music blaring? Turn it up!
Need constant snacks? Start pouring food into bowls!
Need company? Ask someone to join you in person, on the phone, or virtually.
Need a break every 5 minutes? Take one! Then take another!
Need to stomp and growl while you work? Put on your big boots and get that growl rumbling.
Need a cozy blanket around your shoulders or a fancy hat*? Dig ’em out and put ’em on.
Give yourself the things you need (or the closest version you can manage) whenever you can.
You may have a long to do list but you don’t have to suffer (even in small ways) while you make your way through it.
*****
Please note: Taking things off of your list is ALWAYS an option. Keep an eye out for things you can drop. Once again, you have my permission and if anyone gives you grief, send them to me.
There! See why I couldn’t decide which to post?
Anyway, whatever you are up to today, I hope you can find a way to give yourself some space.
I wish you ease and self-kindness, as always!
Here are our practices for today:
Our movement practice today is a 10-minute Dance Exercise to Release Stress & Anxiety from Tamara Nazon. I like how she talks about creating space within ourselves with these movements.
Our mindfulness practice for today is Guided Meditation | Creating Mental Space | Mindfulness Exercises from Mindfulness Exercises.
* I have a floppy white summer hat that I sometimes put on when I feel stressed and then I say in a haughty voice, “Fancy ladies never get stressed.” The combination and the idea is so ridiculous that it makes me laugh every time. I may just be easily entertained. 😉
My initial plans for today’s post were lost in the hubbub of pre-holiday traffic (a.k.a. my errands took so long that I ran out of time to follow my initial plan.)
Sooooooo…
I’m back to being a good example.
Well, ok, let’s just say that I am definitely an example of some sort and forge ahead.
Once I realized that I couldn’t do my initial plan and since I have promised myself that I will minimize feeling rushed whenever I can, I switched to my backup plan – figure out 3 things.
In practice, that works like this: I can’t follow my plan so what three things will let me call this post done?
Thing one: A self-kindness reminder
Thing two: A movement practice
Thing three: A mindfulness practice.
So, I decided to use my three things plan as my self-kindness reminder. Scaling back this post, accepting that I couldn’t follow my plan, and recognizing that imperfect but done is much better than perfect but unfinished are all part and parcel of me being kind to myself.
Then I searched for videos of practices that appealed to me at the moment, popped them in this post and added all the connecting bits. And I’m done with a few minutes to spare!
So, space making friends, if your day is getting a little out of hand and your time is tightening around your tasks (and probably around your brain), then I invite you to consider a similar procedure for your plans for today.
Acknowledge the need to change the plan, scale back to 3 (or so) things that will get the thing done, be annoyed at having to be imperfect but do it anyway, and be kind to yourself about the whole process and feel good about having done what you set out to do.
Wishing you ease and space today, no matter what procedures, processes, or plans you follow!
Sidenote: If the thing you were working on turns out to not be all the important, you also have the option to ditch it completely! Tell ’em I said you could!
Today’s movement practice is the happy result of a YouTube search for ‘fun dance workout’ This is Lift and Bloom‘s 10 Minute Christmas Dance Workout.
Still image is of a woman in exercise clothes and a pair of headband antlers, she is smiling at the camera. The name of the video is on a card overlaid on the left side of the image.
And for something a little different today, here’s a Movement Meditation from Living Bliss Yoga.
Still image is of a woman in exercise clothes standing on a yoga mat in between two windows in a studio. She is in motion with her arms raised to shoulder height and her hands in front of her.
Today is a good day to ask yourself three questions as you envision the days ahead:
How do I want to feel?
In an ideal world, what would need to happen for me to feel that way?
And, finally, since we don’t live in an ideal world…
What is the shortcut to feeling the way I want to feel?
While I know that I can’t necessarily control how I feel at a given moment, I always find it helpful to ask these questions when I am busy, stressed, or have a lot to do.
Focusing on how I want to feel (and how to create my best chances to feel that way) helps me to figure out my priorities. It helps me to identify key tasks and to make decisions about the other items on my list.
For example, on Friday, I had a get-together for a group of close friends and I had envisioned serving a few special snacks and making something really cool for our gift exchange.
Alas, my Friday went a bit sideways, as days sometimes do, and I found myself at 3:30 with a lot of tasks and not nearly enough time to do them.
So, I asked myself how I wanted to feel that evening and I settled on ‘relaxed.’
And I knew I wouldn’t feel relaxed if I tried to rush through my too-long list.
In fact, having lots of experience with trying to push through too many tasks in too little time (I don’t always remember to ask myself the important questions above), I knew that that would result in me feeling flustered, bedraggled and kinda cranky as the party started. And that is not a recipe for a good time – it is no fun having to ‘catch up’ to everyone else’s relaxation levels!
So, I thought about what I needed to feel relaxed and settled on the shortest possible list to create those conditions. I did a bit of tidying up, took the dog for a walk while I brainstormed a quick but fun thing for the gift exchange, decided on a quick supper and a shortened version of the special snacks.
And I got dressed for the party as soon as it was feasible instead of leaving it until the last minute. That way, no matter what else got done, I was already ready for the fun part of the evening.
It ended up being a really fun night that was made even better by the fact that I was relaxed right from the start.
Now, I recognize that my party example is pretty low stakes compared to some of the other things you or I might be trying to get done between now and the end of the year but I think that using ‘How do I want to feel?’ as a guideline could be beneficial now matter how complicated the situation might be.
You may not be able to generate the perfect conditions to feel the way you want to feel but I think you’ll be able to give yourself a little more space and to reduce your stress a bit.
Whether you start with the questions above or try something completely different, I wish you ease and lots of space for yourself today. 💚
Now, onto our suggested practices:
For our movement today, here’s Dr. Andrea Furlan with Senior Fitness Made Simple: 10 Minute Chair Routine
Still image description: the instructor, who is wearing exercise clothes, is seated in a chair and leaning over to one side to stretch the side of her body. There is an end table next to her and the exercise space has a wooden floor and beige walls.
Our mindfulness practice for today is a 5 Minute Meditation for Relaxation and Positive Energy from Lavendaire
Still image description: The instructor is sitting cross legged on a couch with her eyes closed, her face relaxed, and her arms position do that the backs of her hands are resting on her knees and one of her gingers is curled to meet her thumb. Everything in the photo is in a restful shade – grey, green, or white.
It’s the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and, as a result, I’m thinking about themes of rest, renewal, and stillness. Well, I’ve been thinking about those things for ages, really, but they are especially relevant today.
I was told this morning that the word solstice is the combination of the Latin words ‘sol’ (sun) and ‘sistere’ (cause to stand – i.e. stop/be still) and that it is connected to the fact that, to us, the sun seems to stay in the same spot (in its seasonal path) for these few days of winter before it appears to start moving in the opposite direction.
If the sun can take a little rest right now, surely we are justified in seeking the same thing, right?
I’m kind of making a joke there, making light of the fact that because of the ambient pressure for us all to work, work, work all the time, we end up feeling like we have to explain why we are resting. And using the sun’s rest as an explanation feels pretty justified, right?
I wish we didn’t feel that way since rest is actually part of the cycle of our lives, not something we have to earn.
We don’t actually owe ANYONE every minute of our days, even if the world at large tries to convince us that we do.
Yet, even though we know that rest is part of our lives and we don’t need to earn it, it’s still hard to actually rest in the midst of this busy time of year in our perpetually busy culture. Our to do lists are set, our plans are generally in place, and we have made commitments.
If you want to read and think more about rest and the social forces that benefit from pressuring us to work then Tricia Hersey‘s The Nap Ministry is a good place to start.
So, if we can’t just take the day off today, what can we do?
My suggestion is to start slow, to finish slow, or to slow down in the middle – a.k.a. scheduling a break that involves a low-key activity so my rest doesn’t feel like I am ‘sitting around doing nothing.’
Because that feeling of ‘doing nothing’ gets my brain churning about all the things I *should* (shudder – I hate that word) be doing instead. If I can tell myself ‘this is my reading time’ then I can usually shush my brain and take that rest.
For me, this might look like planning to spend the first 15 minutes (or more!) after breakfast just reading and drinking tea instead of jumping into my to do list right away.
Or it might look like choosing to do some yoga, to chat with my sister, or to do some drawing in the middle of my day instead of scurrying to the next thing.
Or it might look like getting ready for bed a little bit earlier so I have time to listen to some music and putter around before reading, drawing, or listening to a podcast to settle down before sleep, instead of trying to ‘just finishing this one thing.’
Making these spaces for myself, taking things slowly at a few points in the day makes all the difference in how flustered I feel. And when I feel less flustered, I can find more fun and satisfaction in the things I have to do and the things I choose to do.
Those spaces help me feel like I am living a life, not just trying to get stuff done.
I invite you to find your own way to take a break, to start slow, to ease your way into your day. Perhaps not calling it a break will make your brain more willing to cooperate.
Well, with that said, and with the hope that you can find some ease today, here are our suggested practices.
I have two Solstice-themed suggestions in each category because I couldn’t decide between them but feel free to also choose your own type of movement and your own approach to mindfulness. After all, you are the boss of you and you get to decide!
Still image shows the instructor sitting on a chair in a corner studio with her arms raised out to the sides and her eyes closed.
And here’s a longer practice Day 21: Winter Solstice Reflection Flow/ Merry & Mindful from YogaInMe
Still image shows the instructor in a corner studio lying on her back with one leg outstretched and she is holding her other leg folded toward her chest with both hands.
Our first mindfulness practice is a short Winter Solstice Mediation from Meta Moon Yoga
still image shows a drone view of a winter road surrounded by evergreens with soft snow on all the surfaces and the light is that soft blue that happens during a snowfall.
And here’s a longer Winter Solstice Yoga Nidra meditation from Ally Boothroyd.
still image shows a woman lying in the snow looking peaceful with her eyes closed, she is wearing a winter coat and she has grey/black hair that is resting on the snow around her face.
There are countdowns for all kinds of things going on right now and those countdowns can amplify our stress.
Please be kind to yourself and remember that those countdowns are largely arbitrary.
Yes, there are some things in our lives that have fixed times and dates but a lot of things can be far more flexible if we need them to be.
If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed about your plans and tasks right now, please take a look at them and see which ones have fixed deadlines (i.e. a government application that must be submitted by December 31) and which ones are actually more flexible (the timing of a meeting or a meal).
Personally, I have shifted a couple of projects into the new year and moved some plans with friends from this weekend to next.
These changes were prompted, in part, by my therapist’s question, “What happens if these things *don’t* get done before the end of the year?” which led me to realize that I could actually let go of the feeling of urgency around many of my tasks.
So, Space-Making-Friends, I invite you to do the same thing.
Look for flexibility in the nooks and crannies of your to do lists and free up some of that energy for the tasks, plans, and projects that have more strict deadlines.
And yes, I know it is not always possible to be more flexible and if that’s the case for you then I hope you can find flexibility in your expectations instead. You don’t have to seek perfection – there are a lot of layers of really, really good imperfection that are worth exploring.
Wishing you ease, as always. Please be good to yourself.
Here are our suggested practices for today:
This movement practice is a little different but I really enjoyed this Energy Boost Routine from Brain Education TV – I especially love the instructor’s energy. (This video includes tapping techniques which may not be everyone’s thing.)
Still image description: a photo of the instructor, a woman in loose exercise clothes who exudes a welcoming energy, standing on an orange mat in a studio and reaching overhead with her right arm. The right side of the image features the title of the video in large white letters overlaid on the image.
Today’s mindfulness practice is 5 Minute Expanding Awareness Meditation (guided) / Interoception & Proprioception from Nathan Sellers – Heal. Grow. Become – This one is quite woo and I’m not sure if this actually will help with interoception/ proprioception but I enjoyed the practice all the same.
Still image is a photo from the shore of a clear rippling lake that is surrounded by tree-covered mountains on both sides. The video title is overlaid on the image.
I have a lot of things I want to get done today but the most important thing on my list is making a very loose schedule for the next week or so.
Yeah, it seems weird to be making a schedule for what is, essentially, a holiday week for me but I know that creating that plan will make a big difference for my busy brain.
See, I have all kinds of things of fun and interesting things I want to do and all kinds of tasks that will contribute to those things.
What I don’t have is unlimited time and energy.
So, today, I am going to spend an hour or so looking at the holiday things I am hoping to do, and the tasks related to them, and decided, roughly, when I’m going to do them.
This will be helpful because:
My list will be visible and tangible so it won’t just be taking up space in my head. And part of my brain can relax instead of constantly reminding me of the things I need and want to do.
I will be able to see when things are happening/when I want to do things and I’ll be able to tell if I am trying to fit too much into too little time.
I’ll be able to batch my tasks so I can do errands for several activities at the same time instead of having to go out multiple times.
Basically, I’ll be able to make sure that I have time, energy, and all the supplies for the things I want to do when I want to do them.
Having all of that written down means that I will be more likely to finish stuff when it needs to be done and more likely to be able to relax and have fun when I am with my friends and family.
Now, maybe you can keep all these things in your head and map out a mental schedule without having to take the time to sit down and plan it out, if so, forge ahead and keep being kind to yourself about what you are trying to get done.
But if you are like me and you need to have things a little more fixed in time and space, perhaps a list/schedule will be helpful for you, too. Forge ahead with your scheduling and keep being kind to yourself about what you are trying to get done.
No matter how you approach this, I wish you ease, clarity, and as much space as possible to do the things you want to do in the way you want to do them.
And, in case you need it, I give you permission to ditch anything that is causing you disproportional stress.
So, now that we’ve taken care of that larger space-making idea, let’s move on to the practices for today.
Our suggested movement practice for today is 5-Minute Movement Break from Work.Break.Stretch.
Still image is a sideview of the instructor in a slight squat with one arm pointing straight down and the other curled up towards her chest. She is wearing a sweater and yoga pants and she is standing next to a large plant and a window at one end of an office space with white walls.
Our suggested mindfulness practice is 7 Minute Meditation to Calm Your Mind from Soundings of the Planet:
Still image is of calm water with the sun low in the sky and reflecting on the water. The sky and water look orange as a result.
I’d like to invite you to take a really deep breath and kind of shake your arms out a little while you breathe out. And now I’d like to invite you to do that a couple of more times.
Ok, now that we’ve already done one small, silly, helpful thing for ourselves, let’s do another.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a good singer for this to work – as someone who sings with more enthusiasm than skill, I assure you that any level of singing ability is absolutely fine here.
You can sing in the kitchen, in the car, with other people, or wherever the heck you’d like.
You can pick a seasonal tune, pick a ditty you find especially enjoyable or you could give one of these ’10 Happiest Songs’ a try (with the caveat that while there is some science behind those song choices, they are also not very diverse, culturally or otherwise.)
No matter what kind of noises you are making today, tuneful, silly, or otherwise*, I wish you ease and self-kindness as you make space for yourself in your day.
And here are today’s suggested practices. As always, these are just here to save you the trouble of seeking them out, if you have your own plans for movement, meditation, or other space-making today, please proceed with those.
Our suggested movement practice for today is 6 Minute NIA Dance Break with Myrna Weinman from Nia Technique. This movements in this video are slow and deliberate so it is pretty easy to pick things up as you go.
Still image: 5 happy looking people in a dance studio with a brick wall and windows behind them. They are all wearing exercise clothes and their arms are in motion, some of them have one foot slightly off the floor. Four of them are standing and one of them is exercising in from a seated position.
And our mindfulness practice for today is this 10 Minute Mindfulness Drawing Meditation: Easy Art Tutorial For Relaxation and Self Care from Artfully, Mindfully.
Still image shows the title of the video in white text on a rectangular see-though title card and beneath the card it shows the instructor’s hands as she draws on a notebook with a blue marker, there are a few other markers next to the notebook on the left.
*There are those who suggest that screaming into the void is the way to go but that’s a bit hard on the voice so proceed with caution on that one.
So, after my lovely slow start yesterday morning, things got hectic.
In fact, I kind of feel like I have been on a hamster wheel ever since.
None of this hecticness was a result of my slow start though because none of this stuff could have gotten done yesterday morning.
It’s all just a frustrating convergence of a bunch of small things with bad timing thrown in.
No crises, just low key hassle and some rushing around.
And I hate it.
But, let me tell ya, I am so happy and grateful that I drew a card and listened to ghost stories yesterday morning instead of churning through my to do list.
Imagine if I had really pushed myself yesterday morning and then I had all this hassle – I would be totally exhausted by now.
I have definitely learned a lesson about taking breaks when they arrive* and I can feel the difference that calm morning made in my brain even amidst the other hassle.
Speaking of the hassle, though, I have also been trying to pause and take a few deep breaths every so often and that’s also been helpful.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to be one of those people who says ‘Stress is all in your mind. It’s all in your attitude!’ because while there is some truth in that, it is also rather unhelpful and puts blame on an already stressed person.
No one needs that.
But here’s what I will say – some extra stress can be generated by our own thoughts and stopping for deep breaths on the regular can help reduce that pressing, busy feeling.
Deep breaths are more of a pause than a break but they do make a difference.
So, Space Making Friends, if you are feeling straggly and hassled today, I hope you can find a moment to pause and breathe.**
Now, with the story of Christine’s pauses complete, let’s have a look at our suggested practices for today.
I wish you ease and clarity today and always. 💚
Here a 10 Minute Cardio/Strength Workout from Yes2Next to try out today;
Still images shows the instructors, a mother daughter team. The mother who is a senior, is seated for the workout, and the daughter, who is middle-aged, is standing. They are both wearing exercise clothes.
And here’s a 5 Minute Guided Meditation for Clearing Blockages and Negativity from Great Meditations
Still image is a cartoon graphic of a person seated cross-legged in meditation.
*Yes, I will definitely have to learn this lesson again. Let’s just accept that and move on.
**Some of my coaching clients find it fun to breathe in deeply and the exhale while saying a curse word – might be worth a try if your brain fights you on the idea of pausing.
