(#11) 12 Days of Self Care Blogmas Day 10

I cannot believe it is already day 10 of blogmas! There are only 2 days left of this journey.

Today's self care tip is all about being present. When we are in our minds thinking about the list of things we have to do, things we have to buy, people we have to shop for, things we need to bake, places we need to go, etc., we are not living in the joy of the present moment.

Life goes by so fast, the holidays are supposed to be the "most wonderful time of the year", but they aren't as wonderful and magical if we waste the whole season in our heads instead of in the present moment.

The best way to become more present is through the practice of mindfulness.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines mindfulness as “A mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.” More simply put mindfulness is the practice of being present and being aware of yourself and your surroundings.

Mindfulness has a wide range of benefits and can be useful to anyone who chooses to practice it. According to the American Psychological Association, Mindfulness can reduce rumination, reduce stress, improve working memory, improve focus, lessen emotional reactivity, improve cognitive flexibility, improve relationship satisfaction, enhance self-insight, enhance morality, enhance intuition, increased immune functioning, improvement to well-being, reduction in psychological distress, increase information processing speed, increases in compassion, empathy and overall quality of life.

Practice Mindfulness using your 5 senses. Explore your current space and find:

5 Things you can see

4 things you can feel

3 things you can hear

2 things you can smell

1 thing you can taste

Right now I see:

1. My stockings hung on the mantle

2. The gentle snowfall from my window

3. The gorgeous glow of my Christmas lights

4. My sweet pup sleeping beside me

5. The decorations that my grandmother gifted me

I feel:

1. The fuzzy blanket against my skin

2. The slight chill in the air

3. My glasses resting on my ears and on the bridge of my nose

4. My hair clip pressed against my hear

I hear:

1. The sound of each key as I type

2. The crackling of the fake fireplace on my TV

3. The sound of the train across the street (I've heard it so many times that my brain actually ignores it, like that dripping faucet you tune out. Guests always point out the sound of the train, when I rarely notice it at all)

I smell:

1. My skin smells like the almond soap that my friend Heather at Kelpytown Kove Gifted me

2. I smell the oils in my diffuser

I taste:

1. (I had to get up for this one) A peanut butter ball that I made this afternoon

When writing these blogs I spend my time thinking about what to write next, the best way to articulate my thoughts, if what I'm sharing will benefit you, if you'll try today's practice or share it with a friend. Delightfully, sharing my mindfulness practice made me feel more present in what I am writing and so joyful too.

See you tomorrow for day 11 of Blogmas!

Xoxo

Bianca