Meditating | RelaxingMusic on Flickr
While the holidays can welcome a lot of love and light, they can also bring chaos and stress with them. This holiday break, take some time to unwind and cherish the time off. Here are some tips on how to relax during the break.
Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness can be found in multiple mediums. Being mindful can help students to appreciate their own life and find joy in its little moments. To practice mindfulness, try journaling, meditating or walking. Journaling acts as a wonderful release to any built-up emotions from the past semester.
Meditating may seem challenging at first, but it works towards freedom and letting go. Depending on one’s personal comfort with meditation, sit for five minutes to 30 minutes and focus on your breathing.
This helps to clear the mind and create a sense of balance in the day. If this feels too extreme, try walking. Getting out in nature and moving will help to calm the mind and allow room for some great ideas simultaneously. Any of these practices can add routine and peace over the holiday break.
Set aside personal time
The holidays are known to be filled with family time and interacting with a lot of people, so it is important to set aside time to be alone. This can be listening to music, reading, watching a movie or even taking a drive.
All of these suggestions allow a pause from social interaction, allowing one to process their emotions and find themselves. These actions also help you to get lost in something you enjoy, creating happiness. Focus on activities that bring entertainment and joy to further capitalize on creating a great mood.
Interact with others
Once you have had some personal time, make an effort to socialize with other people. These could be family members, friends or anyone students enjoy being around. Connection is such an important aspect of life, and it can really soothe and relax people over the holidays. Find some fun board games to play or tasty cookies to bake with people that make you smile.
