"Always find time for the things that make you feel happy to be alive!"
This time of year can bring out varying emotions in people. This season is packed with holidays worldwide which is exciting for many but can also bring anxiety for others. The power of practicing gratitude in all seasons is a beautiful way to get the mind and body back to positivity and calm making those anxious moments less likely. So even though you may feel like you're too busy to take time for yourself, here are 5 tips for practicing gratitude during a busy time.
Keep a gratitude journal with you at all times so that whenever something good happens (and trust me, it will), write it down immediately. This journal doesn’t have to be big. It can be a simple notepad from a pharmacy.
Listen to a podcast or watch a TED talk about Gratitude. Very often, someone we have never met in person, says something that resonates with us. Such thought leaders often share simple tools for transforming a mindset.
Set an alarm on your phone to go off twice a day. When it goes off, think about what you're grateful for at that moment. Maybe it's having a job you love, or maybe it's having someone who loves you back.
Make a list of things that make you happy and keep it somewhere where you'll see it often (like on your bathroom mirror). Whenever something makes you happy, add an item to your list. Nothing is too small or too big if it brings you joy. It all counts! Keeping this list will remind you how many wonderful things there are in life and help give you perspective when life gets hectic.
Take pictures of things you are thankful for and at the end of the day, reflect back on what you captured and why you captured it. Reflecting on the good at this time creates a positive experience at that moment regardless of any other events that may have brought you stress.
