Each year as the holidays roll around, I’m often asked to teach a class on Managing Your Energy and Calming Stress. Let’s face it, here in the U.S., December can be even more frenetic than other times of the year. In addition to work, family, friends and community obligations, we are also asked to navigate the hustle and bustle and media pull of the holiday season. So how is your holiday energy?
As I write this, I am sitting under a dryer at my hair salon. It is my lunch hour and this particular spot has proven to be one place to pause and take note. While I could be answering e-mails and checking social media feeds on my phone, or I could literally leave with wet hair, I’ve decided to observe the comings and goings of the salon. Besides, it’s starting to snow outside and it is very cozy right here.
In the warmth of the salon, I notice the holiday decorations hanging from the ceiling-- dozens and dozens of colorful ornaments, all suspended by clear filament, and giving the appearance of floating. Holiday music pours from the corner speakers and can be heard over the hum of blow dryers, laughter and important conversations.
So what is the buzz exactly? For some it is about holiday shopping, work deadlines, visiting relatives, school programs and parties to attend. But soon the conversations move to more meaningful topics like relationships, discoveries, even hopes and dreams for the year to come. Yet, no matter how we take in our surroundings, it still seems to come around to the fact that we all need just a little more time to get it all done.
Over in the corner, nearby, I see that a woman, perhaps in her late 70’s is brushing tears from her eyes as her hair dresser leans in and comforts her by rubbing her arm. I learn a little later that this is the first Christmas this woman will spend on her own. She lost her husband earlier this year and is still adjusting to a life without him. That conversation halts everything for me, and certainly my own thinking about the busyness of the holidays. Suddenly, I feel a wave of gratitude for everything I have in my own life and time feels a little different than it did when I walked in to the salon 30 minutes ago. Gratitude just offered another perspective. But, let’s come back to that.
First, let’s talk about time. Yes, time. It is often our “go to” excuse when we are stressed, busy, overwhelmed. Time. It’s the one thing that doesn’t really change. There are still 24 hours in a day. And yet we seem to have so much angst about it. There never seems to be enough time to do all the things we want or need to do. Well, in fact, time is a limited resource. However, there is a place we can focus. Personal energy is renewable and replenishing your energy can build your resilience.
Research shows that when we focus on our own well-being and happiness first, we boost our resilience, feel better and live longer. Sounds more promising, doesn’t it?
So let’s consider the 4 energy areas for boosting well-being and happiness. And as you consider these key areas where you can find energy for yourself, notice which areas have occupied your attention in the past 24-48 hours, and which ones haven’t gotten much attention.
Physical Resilience—don’t just sit there, move! How can you boost your physical resilience? Remember, it’s the small steps that count. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Take some slow, deep breaths. Get outside. Nature energizes! Remember to Laugh—it’s an energy boost. Walk. Take the stairs. Drink water. Get enough sleep.
Mental Resilience—Brain science tells us that we can build new neural pathways when we engage in and learn new things. So tackle something new. Drive to work a new way. Do a puzzle. Our willpower gets stronger the more we exercise it. Change your routine. Read. Follow a recipe. Challenge your fear.
Emotional Resilience—we are biochemically wired to want to connect and help one another. So, connect with those around you. Smile. Compliment others. Listen. Be mindful of your words. Suspend judgment. Quit comparing your life to others. Detach from results. Assume positive intent. Ask, “What can I do for you?”
Spiritual Resilience—a great way to boost your spiritual resilience is to practice mindfulness daily. For some, prayer and reflection build resilience. For others yoga and meditation are renewing. Or you can express gratitude, pay it forward, and surround yourself with other positive people. Take some “You” time!
As we begin to build our own resilience, it can put our daily lives into perspective. It opens us up to life, no matter how much is going on around us. And here’s the deal. We don’t have to swallow the holiday season in one giant gulp. We just have to live in the moment that is right in front of us, no matter whether we are feeling happy, sad, tired or anything else.
In a rush to decorate the house one year, I handed two of my kids the tinsel and asked them to decorate the kitchen. As you will see in the photo here, they did just what I asked. We all got a good laugh out of this and I realized that this single and silly moment generated so much more joy than I could ever have imagined.
Research shows that gratitude—the act of discovering those things we are truly grateful for in our lives—can build our resilience. The simple act of being present with ourselves and others actually builds physical, mental, emotional and spiritual resilience and boosts our energy—perhaps the very thing we all need most during the holiday season!
Wishing you Peace and Ease this Holiday—
Dawn