It’s the Little Things…

Holidays, bad weather, school, work and just life in general often become stressful and overwhelming. We get caught up in everything we need to do and quickly become exhausted and burnt out! In this mode, we often forget to take care of ourselves throughout the day. Taking care of ourselves might even seem impossible when stress and responsibility are in the driver’s seat. Stress can be a motivator but too much stress catches up to us. Having regular relaxation techniques, like exercise, reading, or socializing with loved ones, are helpful and needed, but the tricky thing about stress is that it sometimes doesn’t leave much time or room for these things. With all that being said, let’s think small scale for a minute.

Is there anything in your life, a small thing, that provides you with uncomplicated joy and relief? Some small, everyday thing, that instantly fills your senses and lifts your mood?

Something like. . .

• A soft blanket
• Sitting on the couch after a long day
• The sound of rain on the window
• Putting on your favorite t-shirt or favorite pair of socks
• The smell of a pumpkin-spice candle
• Taking a walk
• Laughing at a good joke or funny meme
• Hearing your favorite song
• The smell of fresh coffee
• Fresh clean sheets
• Getting into PJs or comfy clothing
• Taking a bath
• Playing with a pet
• Writing down your thoughts

If any of these resonate with you… then you understand what I mean! Every time I step outside my mood instantly lifts. Recognizing the shift in mood, I decided to pay closer attention. Instead of a quick walk to get to my destination, I decided to slow it down and take in as much of that good feeling as I could.

Try to sit fully with these small things and focus on the feeling they provide within that moment. When life gets out of hand, these small things give us an opportunity to mindfully connect to our senses and be present in our bodies. If only for a brief moment, everything is okay.