Check out my first published blog for GratitudeOnline.com.au

Well it’s that time of year again, the warmer weather is here, plans for the festivities are already in full swing and those holidays are getting closer and closer!

It’s around this time that I always like to start setting my intentions, re-assessing where I am at and preparing for the year ahead, because let’s be honest, if you wait until the New Year, it is already February before you know it!

A good declutter of all you no longer want or need to make plenty of space to welcome the new. Dreaming new, bigger and more adventurous dreams and really getting clear on what you are asking for. And of course to acknowledge and celebrate all that you have achieved throughout the year so far. All too often we can focus on what hasn’t happened yet or things not going to plan, but how much that wasn’t ‘in your plan’ showed up and brought experiences and achievements you had not even considered?

As a lifestyle coach who specialises in helping women to honour and embrace their feminine flow, I encourage women to practice awareness around what they need for them right now and optimising what best works with their energy and emotions at the time. All too often we are pushing the override button to keep ‘doing it all’ all the time and before we know it, we are overwhelmed, exhausted and ultimately disappointed, when the key is actually as simple as doing the right things at the right time.

Once we tune in and work with our natural flow, we actually get far more done and even have more time for ourselves. It’s what nature intended way before life became so full (I don’t use the word ‘busy’ anymore!) with us women juggling our home, family, career and social lives, often forgetting completely about looking after ourselves. We have a huge advantage as women when we start living within our flow, so the more we can encourage others to do so, the happier and healthier we will all be!

Being in flow means we are in constant change, which is why consistency is unrealistic for women, and the same goes for balance. These are words we hear a lot and are so often trying to achieve, so it’s important to know that even though they aren’t effective for us, it is actually a bonus!

This doesn’t mean however you can’t have elements of consistency in your life! I still believe in routine and daily habits or practices, it’s all about being more mindful and aware of what is going on within you to best deal with all that is going on outside of you!

With our days set to become even more ‘full’ over the next few weeks of planning, shopping and partying, I wanted to share my happy habits to help us all ensure this time is full of more fun than fatigue!

5 Happy Habits For The Holiday

Mindful Minutes

The more mindful we are, the more we are truly living in the moment. As our days (and minds!) get more full and the lists get longer, taking a few moments here and there to stop, recollect and appreciate, are essential to avoiding overwhelm. The best way to ensure you do this is to start and end each day with a practice of gratitude and forgiveness.

Ask yourself ‘What am I grateful for this morning?’, ‘What am I grateful for that happened (or didn’t happen) today?’ What we acknowledge, appreciate and think about, we attract more of!

And ‘What or who do I need to forgive?’ Don’t carry over to tomorrow what you can let go of today! Either write these down in a book, or simply go through them in your head. I always do this in the shower…time efficient and a time of personal space.

Play

As adults we need to play more! Christmas tends to be all about the kids, which means you too…don’t forget about your own inner child! You’re never too old to feel the magic of true joy! A friend actually mentioned the other day how she and her husband had been Christmas shopping and ended up cycling around the shop trying out the bikes they were buying for the kids…I can only imagine how much fun they had! Make time for what you enjoy…relax, laugh, try something new! Be spontaneous! Put your phone down and play with your kids. The more we play, the more joy we feel…and life is all about our feelings, so let’s feel good as much as we can!

Connect & Collaborate

The more we take on, the more we must share the load. Not only do we achieve more by working together, but we have way more fun!

Since becoming a mum, I have understood the need to ask for help. So often we don’t because we don’t want to put onto others who are already no doubt as ‘busy’ or more so than us. However most of us are all ‘busy’ with the same things, so why not do them together?

If you have kids, they have more fun getting to play with their friends, and as mums, we will get more done and be able to enjoy an adult conversation! Just being the one to ask for help allows others to feel that they can too. Proud independence has its place, but there is nothing more fulfilling than helping others, especially when that in turn is helping yourself.

Make Memories

I am definitely one for presence over presents and have always loved experiences and events over ‘things’. A lot of the commercial side to Christmas is of course about the gifts, but I am sure we will all agree, it is the smile you see when the present is opened that is the most wonderful part of it all.

There is so much preparation for what is literally over in a few minutes and hours. Take it all in and be in the moment. Time flies and things come and go, but the memories will always be with us!

Don’t Forget About You!

Yes, giving is what it is all about…which means you MUST start by giving to yourself! By putting into practice each of the previous steps, you will be giving to yourself in many ways which is why it is SO important to make these a habit…not just for this time of year, but all year round!

When asked what is important, women rarely even put themselves on the list…let’s start putting ourselves first more so that we can best serve others and encourage self acceptance, self worth and self love for all around us, the greatest gift of all!

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