TL;DR:
- Stay present during the holiday season by not counting down to winter break, spreading acts of kindness, and creating a winter break memory book.
- Living in the present moment comes down to the mindset we hold, the language we use, and the actions we take.
As Eckhart Tolle states, “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make now the primary focus of your life.”
Every year, this quote resonates with me more and more. I’ve learned that when I shift my mindset and change how I define the time available to me, I am able to stay present in each moment. I now recognize how important it is to become crystal clear on the present moment, and knowing this, I have been able to capture moments of time and turn them into powerful, impactful, and memorable memories.
This time last year, I started to do some personal reflection and inner work on how I could implement this mindset shift during a time of the year that was often difficult for me to stay present: The Holiday Season!
I don’t know what it is, but as soon as the holiday music starts playing and the movies come on TV, it’s like everything I know about staying present goes out the window. Or so it did. Last year, I made a decision that I was no longer going to live the holiday season on autopilot. I made a commitment to stay present even during the hustle and bustle of the season. And I’m happy to report, I did it. I was able to stay present, stay connected, and had one of the most memorable holiday seasons that I can remember.
So, what did I do? Here are the steps I took to stay present during the holiday season!
Step #1: I stopped the winter break countdown.
Yes, I did it. I stopped counting down to break. What I found with counting down is that I was missing the magic in each individual day. I was looking ahead to a future date and missing the moments that I was able to experience that day. Some of our students don’t look forward to the breaks from school. A daily reminder of how many days are left, for some of our students, is difficult for them. Instead of counting down to break, I increased the gratitude I shared each day. I kept my focus on the present day by sharing 1 thing I was grateful for every hour of the day!
Living in the present helps to clarify all that is going on around us. And it helps us focus on what is most important: remembering to help make memories with those we are connected with! Click To TweetStep #2: 12 Days of Kindness
For the 12 days prior to break starting, I made a list of 12 acts of kindness I could do for people. And then I did them! These ranged from paying for the person’s coffee behind me in the drive-through line, spending the afternoon with a student doing all student-led activities, and surprising my daughter with her favorite snack when I picked her up.
One day, I sent a text each hour of the day to a different person expressing my thanks and gratitude for them. These 12 days helped to keep me focused on the present in the simplest way possible! This is an easy activity that could be tied into your classroom too! And a great way to spread cheer and joy during the holiday season!
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Step #3: I created a winter break memory book.
There is nothing worse than having two weeks off school for winter break, and then returning to school and the first words being, “I want more time” or “I want a redo.” Knowing each day is the present moment we get to experience, I wanted to make sure each day counted on my break. And not only for me, but also for my daughter. My goal was that by the end of the two weeks, we had so many amazing memories that we were ready to return to work to share our memories with others.
To keep our mindset focused on each day, I created a template that we completed each night together. We listed three activities from the day and then my daughter drew a picture of her favorite part of the day. After two weeks, the book was filled. It’s a great memory book of our two weeks together.
I believe that living in the present moment comes down to three steps.
- The mindset we hold.
- The language we use.
- The actions we take.
Last year was the first year in a long time that I didn’t need a vacation from my vacation. It was the first year that I loved every minute of break. It was the first time that I could remember returning to work excited after time off. And I know these three steps helped with that result. Living in the present helps to clarify all that is going on around us. And it helps us focus on what is most important: remembering to help make memories with those we are connected with!
As you enter into this holiday season, focus on the moment. It is possible, and I hope these three steps help you embrace a holiday season of warmth, comfort, and peace!
About Lindsay Titus
Lindsay Titus is a K-12 Behavior Specialist with a license in behavior analyst. As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Lindsay coaches and trains educators on the study of behavior and how to implement evidence based behavior principles in simple and easy ways! With experience as a classroom special education teacher, and behavior specialist in public schools, residential placement, and private settings, Lindsay enjoys working with all educators looking to reignite their passion for education, connect with all students, and conquer challenging behavior in any classroom setting.
