5 Mindfulness Tips to Find Your Center This Thanksgiving

#StressManagement #SelfCare #SelfNurturing #Wellness #EmotionalWellness #SocialWellness #Gratitude #Mindfulness #Center #Thanksgiving

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To my readers here in the United States, Thanksgiving is in four days. Did it catch you by surprise too? The interesting thing is that we are always late to the Thanksgiving party, our German friends celebrated on October 6, 2024, while our Canadian friends and neighbors to the north celebrated on October 14, 2024. Even though we have a whole extra month to prepare and this year, Thanksgiving occurs the latest that it possibly can (November 28th), yet it still feels as though it snuck up on us. As our time winds down to T-Day, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations. However, amidst the rising costs of food and the traditional stresses of family gatherings, it's important to remember the true essence of this holiday: giving thanks.

A Brief History of Thanksgiving

The holiday's roots lie in a 1621 harvest feast shared by English colonists from Plymouth and the Wampanoag Native American tribe. And though for more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were commemorated by individual colonies and states, Thanksgiving does not come without some controversy. Many Americans, particularly those of Native American descent, contend that Thanksgiving celebrations gloss over the historical injustices and bloodshed inflicted upon Indigenous peoples by European settlers. Another pang point for Thanksgiving is the commercialization of the holiday. Thanksgiving as we know here in the US was proclaimed nationwide by President George Washington on November 26, 1789. The purpose of the day was to set aside time to reflect and give public thanksgiving, prayer, and show gratitude for "the favours of Almighty God." In numerous American households, the original religious significance of Thanksgiving has waned, giving way to a secular celebration centered around cooking, sharing a bountiful meal with family and friends, football, and holiday shopping.

The Stress of Thanksgiving

The APA (American Psychological Association) article: "Even a joyous holiday season can cause stress for most Americans," found that while Americans often find joy and excitement in traditional holidays, nearly 9 in 10 also admit to feeling stressed both before and during the celebrations. This is understandable. Alot goes into hosting Thanksgiving. There’s grocery shopping, deciding which home to visit, meal prepping, coordinating dishes, hours of cooking, turkey basting, cleaning the house and setting the table, and managing family dynamics. The Today Show did a poll asking the question about what the most stressful part of Thanksgiving is. Of their readers, cleaning was the top of the list. How about you? What's the most stressful part of Thanksgiving? Mark your selections in our poll below. You can also add your thoughts down in the comment section below.

While you can’t avoid all sources of stress this holiday season, we can take the next few days to shift our mindset to help minimize the impact stress has on us. All year we have been studying mindfulness and its benefits in our emotional and financial lives. This article, we will examine 5 mindfulness tips that can help us stay grounded, present, and focused on what truly matters this holiday season.

Set Your Intentions for the Holiday

Let's be honest. Many times, the intention is to just get through it. Get through the grocery shopping, get through the cleaning, get through the cooking, get through the backhanded compliments from relatives you normally make every effort to avoid the remainder of the year. If that works for you, hey keep doing you. But, if you have noticed that with each passing year, just getting through it isn't enough, there may be a different approach to try out. What do you want Thanksgiving to mean this year? Are there loved ones you are genuinely excited to get to spend some quality time with? Is it that you want to focus more on the things you are grateful for? What is your intention for this Thanksgiving? And what space allows for you to live within that intention? Is it with family or is it with friends? You get to decide for you. If you are in a situation where the majority rules and some things (like which family you are visiting) is out of your control, that's okay. You still get to decide what Thanksgiving will mean to you.

Practice Deep Breathing

Your heart rate speeds up. Your face and ears feel hot and flushed. You've just been activated. When thinking over your holiday experiences over the years, you pretty much have a good idea by this point what your trigger points are that cause anxiety, frustration or anger during the togetherness of the holiday season. I don't know how many times EnvisionCo Blog has encouraged it, but here it is again, make deep breathing a regular practice. Deep breathing offers a multitude of benefits for both physical and mental health. It can help reduce stress and anxiety by activating the body's relaxation response, lowering blood pressure, and slowing the heart rate. By practicing deep breathing regularly, we can experience a greater sense of calm, clarity, and overall well-being. And yes, I know Thanksgiving is in four days. Don't worry about that not being enough time; that is more than enough time to just breathe and relax. Trust the process and know that your body is capable of adjusting in this way to help you through this Thanksgiving and holiday season.

Embrace “Good Enough”

There is so much pressure that comes with Thanksgiving, especially when it is your turn to host. Insisting on doing everything yourself to “get it right” can be so tempting. From the perfectly cooked turkey to the meticulously decorated table, to feeling pressure to make sure everyone gets along, it's easy to get caught up in the details. But is it really worth the stress? No. This is not what Thanksgiving is about at all, and you are only going to leave yourself stressed, drained, and depleted. Instead of striving for perfection, consider embracing a more relaxed approach. Good enough is often more than enough. By letting go of unrealistic expectations, you can focus on what truly matters: spending quality time with loved ones. So feeling guilty about taking shortcuts and buying pre-made dishes? Stop it. Feeling the urge to run up the bill purchasing decorations and place settings instead of using the ones from last year? Stop it. Blaming yourself that aunt Pauline is upset that her candied yams couldn't make the menu this year because she didn't RSVP with her dish in time? Stop it. When perfectionism takes over Thanksgiving, it can lead to stress, exhaustion, and disappointment. Instead of focusing on the joy of connection and gratitude, the holiday becomes about meeting impossible standards. Again, good enough is more than enough.

Set Boundaries

This is not an easy one because we rarely have been taught the true meaning of what it is to set boundaries. Popularized in media, boundary setting is often depicted as us sharing or telling others what we will not put up with out of them. For those who may struggle with that level of directness, boundary setting can become an intimidating chore to be avoided. However, please know, boundaries are not for other people. Boundaries are for you. Boundaries are not a list of things you will not tolerate from others. Boundaries are what you will not tolerate from yourself. This year will you tolerate from yourself the feeling of overwhelm and aloneness in trying to prepare the home, prepare the dishes, get the place settings just right, and referee conversations? Establish healthy boundaries with yourself to protect your mental and emotional well-being. Give yourself time limits on dealing with difficult relatives. Give yourself limits on your commitments and say no to the extras. Assign yourself mandatory personal downtime to include short rest breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge. A quick walk, a few minutes of silence, or even sipping tea in a quiet corner can help you reset and return refreshed. Stick to your sleep schedule, eat nourishing meals, and find time for activities that recharge you, like reading, meditating, or exercising.

Create Space for Gratitude

In the midst of the holiday hustle and bustle, take a moment to practice gratitude. This could involve journaling, meditation, or a simple shared moment at the dinner table where everyone names one thing they're thankful for. Gratitude can shift your focus from stress to joy. It involves recognizing and appreciating the positive aspects of your life, big and small. Thank the people who make your life better, whether through a heartfelt conversation, a simple text, or a handwritten note. In the days and weeks ahead for the remainder of the holiday season, challenge yourself to express gratitude daily. Grab your favorite journal (affiliate link) and write down three things you're grateful for each day, no matter how simple. Be grateful for the ability to see, hear, have shelter, or earn an income. You'll be amazed at how rich your life truly is.

As Thanksgiving approaches, let’s remind ourselves of what truly matters: connection, gratitude, and presence. This holiday is not about creating the perfect meal or orchestrating flawless gatherings—it’s about cherishing the moments, however imperfect, that bring us together. By setting realistic expectations, practicing mindfulness, setting boundaries, embracing imperfection, and creating space for gratitude, we can shift our focus from stress to joy. Whether your celebration is big or small, elaborate or simple, let it reflect what brings you peace and happiness. Remember, good enough is more than enough and no matter where you are on this journey, do not worry about getting it perfect; just get it going. Wishing you a holiday filled with warmth, gratitude, and meaningful connections. Until next time. Happy reading and Happy Thanksgiving!

Now here's some extra cash to be grateful for this holiday season.

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