Welcome to Day 22 of 31 Days of Healthy Ways to Enjoy the Holidays More.  Your tip today is to be still.  Spend some time in meditation.

You’re just a few days away from Christmas and you’ve been a busy, productive little bee!  Can you take 10 minutes out of your holiday preparations to be still, sit in a comfortable position and just listen to your breath as it moves in and out? If distracting thoughts come into your mind, that’s ok, just notice them and go back to focusing on your breath.  Sometimes it helps to repeat a word (or mantra) on the inhale or exhale.  I’m a little intense and have a hard time chilling out so I like to repeat the word “calm” on my exhale.  It helps!

Meditation can help bring clarity and focus to a busy mind.  It can lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety and stress.  It can help you start to see the big picture again if you’ve been getting bogged down by the nitty gritty details of life.  At first you might feel like you’re not doing anything at all and that you’re “wasting time” by just sitting and breathing, but if you give it some time and just let it happen, you will see some benefits over time.  The holidays are a great time to start a meditation practice because it will bring you to a calm place when there is so much going on around you.

Take a seat and try it.  What’s it like to just be alone with your body and mind for a few minutes?  What does that feel like?  Is it comfortable for you? Is it easy?

Need some more reasons to try it?  Check out this cool infographic on the benefits of meditation by Emma Seppala.