Slowing Down

Hey kind krafters!
       Hope you are all doing well and enjoying these last few days of November, before heading into the crazy month that is December. December is for most of us a busy, all over the place time of the year. For students it marks the end of term, the time of exams and final projects and assignments. It is the busy holiday season of parties, get together’s, family gatherings, and celebrations. All of that excitement and activity can be fun and heartwarming, it can also be hectic and stressful.
        Midst this stress and excitement, it is important to take time to slow down, breathe, and spend a little bit of time caring for yourself. Trust me, I know this is easier said than done. I’m about to move into a 6 day a week schedule of working retail in the holiday season, while also preparing to move across the country in a month to live on an island for 4 months. BUT the time is there for us to breathe and step back a bit, and trust me that it is incredibly important that we ensure we do so, both for the health and peace of ourselves, and those loved ones surrounding us. 

Taking a step back to enjoy the beauty of nature on a Sunday hike to Duncan’s Cove 

Tips for Slowing Down When Things Get Crazy

• Wake up 10 minutes earlier, and use that bit of extra time to meditate or stretch
  I do this every morning with the Stop, Breathe, Think Meditation app and it’s essential to keeping my mind and mood at ease

• Do yoga, anytime, anywhere, once a day
  Before bed, first thing in the morning, for 5 minutes at lunch, or an hour in a class after work, it will help calm your mind and ease some of that stress and excitement out of your muscles

• Be in nature!
  As your know this is always my go to and number one recommendation and it really helps, even if you can only spare 10 minutes to walk your block

• Turn off the screens and try a book for a few minutes, or an hour before bed
  You’ll sleep better and feel a bit calmer, which will help with the hectic time of year

• Enjoy the holiday sweets and treats, but make sure you still get a good fill of staples like veggies, fruit, and whole grains to help sustain your energy and keep you happy

• Try to take at least 10 minutes a day to do something you love
  Yoga, walking, drawing, reading, painting, watching that awesome new Netflix show you just love and makes you giggle, whatever it is take as much time as you can

• Enjoy your morning cup of coffee or tea, and don’t start anything until it’s done
  This one is tricky, and I’ll admit I only manage it on the weekends, but taking time to fully enjoy my cup of morning coffee while I sit with a book, and not starting my daily task list until I’m done makes a giant difference for me

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• Spend time with family and friends doing whatever makes you all happy together. I try to spend at least one night a week just relaxing with friends, usually it means just sitting on a couch in comfy clothes watching a good movie or Netflix show, it slows me down, lets me be with people I love, and is a perfect pause to a crazy week of work, events, and commitments

Nature breaks at Duncan’s Cove

I hope these tips for slowing down help you in the coming weeks of business, whether they be holiday, family, school, or anything other way related. I hope you all can find the time to step back, breathe, and take some time for yourself. And as always, please feel free to let me know some of your tips and tricks to slowing down, so we can all spread the love and have some self care.

Stay Kind,
Niki 💙
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