Thriving During the Holidays: Mindfulness Activities
Published: November 25, 2020
Make sure to take some time for yourself this holiday season to de-stress. Mindfulness exercises and activities can be a great way to center yourself and your family during the hectic holiday season. We’ve compiled some ideas for you to try alone or with family and friends.
- Mindful water coloring
- While painting try to focus solely on the brush in your hands
- Focus on how it feels to paint on the paper
- Watch the colors as they hit the paper
- Choose colors that make you feel calm and relaxed
- Mindful eating
- Notice the texture, the taste, and the crunch of the food
- Notice where on your tongue you taste each flavor
- Enjoy every little bite!
- Gingerbread play dough mindfulness activity
- Make gingerbread play dough (this is edible but should NOT be eaten)
- 3 cups gluten free flour
- 3/4 cup salt
- 6 tsp cream of tartar
- 3 cups water
- 3-5.5 tbsp coconut oil
- 6 tsp cinnamon
- 6 tsp ginger
- 3 tsp nutmeg
- 3 tsp cloves
- Feel the play dough in your hands (do not squeeze the play dough yet)
- Keep the play dough in a ball in your hands
- Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale
- As you do this notice the smell of the play dough. What scents do you notice? Pay attention to the memories or pictures that come to your mind
- Do not squeeze the dough yet
- Notice the urge to squeeze the dough, where does your body feel this urge?
- Now press one finger into the dough. Notice the temperature of the dough, the texture, what sensations does your finger feel?
- Now you can start playing with the dough. What are the sensations that you are feeling? The textures? The smell
- Make gingerbread play dough (this is edible but should NOT be eaten)
- Snow globe mindfulness
- Shake the snow globe
- Watch every piece of the snow and follow it as it settles
- Dance it out
- Put on your favorite holiday song and dance it out
- Try to focus solely on dancing
- Feel your body as you dance it out
- What do your fingers feel like? Your toes? Your legs?
- Listen to the music
Discussion