Let’s all go on a mind holiday!

Yesterday I posted the image below on the blog’s Facebook page with a comment about how everyone is so exhausted at this time of year, and that hopefully everyone will get a nice break over the Christmas period before their battery runs out!

Last year, only 1 day later than today (25 November 2015), I wrote about this phenomenon and called it ‘Endofyearitis‘.  What causes this ‘Endofyearitis‘ do you think?   Sometimes I think that when we are getting near to something (in this case – Christmas and the end of the year), we start to ease off on the accelerator and this allows us to truly feel.  We feel how tired we are – physically, mentally and sometimes even spiritually.  Add to this that the temperature had suddenly become much hotter as we race into summer and this can add to our energy drain.  Throw in busy shopping centres and Christmas shopping, parties and so on and give it all a good mix … and voila … ‘Endofyearitis‘.  I wrote on a similar topic just recently in my post ‘Tips for managing Christmas stress‘.

I’ve felt it myself this year!  I may not live the corporate life any longer but I live a full and busy life and my mind is constantly busy and there are always things to be done.  I think what we all need is a ‘MIND HOLIDAY‘.  Yes – that’s it!  It doesn’t mean that we’ll be walking around like brainless zombies.  No – it means giving our busy and cluttered minds full of thoughts and things to be done a well deserved break!  No more planning, strategizing, analysing, and researching.  No more striving (see here and here).  So how do we do this?  Easy!

1. Take a holiday!  It helps if you get away somewhere (away from the usual domestic chores).
2. Digital Detox – we need a good break from social media, regularly.  It’s great and it’s fun but it is like falling into abyss.  It’s time consuming.  It fills our brains with So.Much.Stuff.  It keeps our minds switched on way more than they should be. 

While your mind is on holiday, why not spoil it rotten and do whatever you can to make it a happy and healthy mind so you can come back to normal life strong, refreshed, happy, resilient and peaceful!  Here’s some ways we can do this:

• Remind your mind of all the things you’re grateful for and happy about
• Eat nice fresh and healthy food – there’s heaps of it that is so delicious!
• Keep active – do what you enjoy – swimming, walking, running, dancing!
• Don’t over indulge with the alcohol
• Enjoy meeting new people and engaging in interesting conversations
• Self acceptance – can you love yourself as you are?  It’s a hard one but a worthwhile thing to work on for a truly happy mind. I’ve got to admit – this is one I am still working on.
• Explore new places – there is nothing like a change of scenery and exploring places you’ve  never been before to light you up
• Meditate if you like to meditate but if not – go sit somewhere lovely and take some time to just be
• Relax.  Read a book.  Have Naps.  Go swimming.  Have fun and laugh.  Play games. 
• Media – avoid the news.  It’s always bad these days.  Have a break from it – even if for a short time.
• Nature. Nature. Nature.  Get outdoors and let nature help balance you out.

So who’s planning a MIND HOLIDAY this silly season?  Mine is in less than 2 weeks!

Ciao for now,

 Link up here at WOTM or with another of us in the Lovin’ Life Linky team:
Leanne of Deep Fried Fruit, Johanna of Lifestyle Fifty, Lyndall of Seize the Day Project,
Kathy of 50 Shades of Age, and Deb of Debbish
It doesn’t matter where you link up as it will magically appear on all six blogs