Avoid the stress of the holidays, and enjoy yourself, by being present and thankful.

Let’s face it, the whirlwind of Thanksgiving and the winter holiday season can be a stressful time of year. Between trying to pull off a seamless Thanksgiving dinner that accommodates everyone’s food allergies and preferences, to shopping for holiday gifts and making homemade treats for everyone on your list, the time between Halloween and New Year’s just flies by–and often without us taking the time to smell the fir trees.

Get off the Christmas cookie  treadmill this year and take the time to enjoy your holidays by being more present and appreciating all that you have for which to be thankful. I know it seems like idealistic, but it is simple to slow down and make each moment of this joyous season count.

Need some inspiration? Of course, you do. We all need some inspiration to unwind, de-stress, be present in the moment, and grateful for the good in our lives. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind, so take a look at our suggestions for being present and thankful this season.

How to Be Present and Thankful This Thanksgiving

1. Share Your Daily Gratitude – Some folks make a point of sharing one thing they are grateful for every day on social media. It’s a great exercise for pushing out the negative in our lives and helping to focus on all the positive.
2. Giving Thanks at the Thanksgiving Table – The Thanksgiving table is an obvious place to share your thanks. Take turns sharing things about which you are thankful while eating the Thanksgiving meal. It’s also a great way to avoid those awkward politically charged discussions at the table!
3. Mother Nature Mindfulness – Getting out in nature is a wonderful and proven way to get yourself to be present and mindful. Whether it is a walk in the woods, along the waterside, or just a bike ride down to the local park, nature has a way of helping to bring perspective into our daily lives.
4. Journal Your Thanks – If you aren’t into sharing what you are thankful publicly on social media, jot down your daily affirmation in a journal instead. You don’t have to share it with the world to make it meaningful.
5. Avoid the “Perfection” Trap of Social Media – Remember that most of those seemingly perfect pies, tablescapes, and recipes you see on Pinterest and Instagram are carefully curated. Don’t beat yourself up when your pie doesn’t turn out just like the picture. It’s not the destination, but the journey that counts.
6. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – Sometimes, this seems to be easier said than done, but remember to keep perspective. If the gravy doesn’t turn out, have a laugh about it and move on. Spending time with your family should be the focus.
7. Schedule Time for Yourself – Don’t forget to schedule some time for yourself this season. Whether it’s a hot bath, a long run, or a good book and some tea, remember to give yourself quiet time. You can’t appreciate the good in your life if you are always on the go.
8. Give Back – This time of year is busy, but do make some time to give back by volunteering at the local food bank, being a mentor, or for supporting another good cause. Sometimes taking care of yourself means taking care of others.
9. Get Outside Your Comfort Zone – It’s easy to get in a rut with your daily routine and feel like you are just going through the motions. Be more present by trying something new to shake you out of your rut. Take a class, volunteer, take up yoga, learn a new language, but do something outside your normal routine.

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Image: Thanksgiving Dinner via Shutterstock

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The term “gratitude journal” has been casually bandied about ever since Oprah announced that is was part of her daily practice to sit down and list all of the things for which she is grateful. The concept of reflecting upon and writing down what we appreciate is one we’d all like to carve into our regular routine, but the actual practice is often eluded as the day slips away and our heads are finally able to hit the pillow (while journals remain closed in bedside bureaus).

Here are some easy tips that will really help get you started on writing a gratitude journal. And since practicing the art of gratitude is a simple way to boost both mental and physical health, the sooner we get started, the better!

First things first – Get a Journal! Some people (self included) are intimidated by fancy, new journals because they don’t want to mess up their pristine pages. So choose a journal that you feel comfortable writing in. I love Ecojot’s collection of 100 percent recycled paper journals. There’s a wide selection of vibrant, cheery styles, in varying sizes that will make your practice fun and convenient.

List one, not ten things you’re grateful for. Many are daunted by the task of sitting down at day’s end to summon up a long-ish list of ten things throughout the day that they are grateful for. So start small, and write down one thing you’re grateful for. If doing so has a domino effect and you can happily add to your list, keep your session going. If not, be happy with your mindfulness for that one moment, close your journal and go to sleep with a smile on your face.

Write in your gratitude journal any time of day, throughout the day. If nighttime isn’t the right time, take your journal off your nightstand and place it in the room in your home in which you spend most of your time, or tote it in your bag for on-the-go easy access. This way, you’ll be able to reach for it and write in it at will as gratitude dons on you – and you can avoid scratching your head in the evening when you’re tired and trying to recall all of the day’s events.

Think outside the pages. Is the thought of cracking open an archaic paper journal a laugh to you, given your prowess in the digital age? Don’t feel obligated to hand-write your thoughts across paper. As the new saying goes, “there’s an app for that!” iTunes offers a program called Gratitude! Journal Positive Thoughts, so your iPhone can double as your gratitude journal, and you won’t have to worry about its whereabouts!

Accentuate the positive. If you’ve had a particularly crummy day, don’t bail on your gratitude session. Bad days are when we’re most in need of the perspective that being appreciative has to offer. Do your best to accentuate anything positive in your life, even if it doesn’t relate to anything that happened that day. It can be as basic but as vital as, I’m grateful for my beating heart!

Image: Space Amoeba, EcoJot

The post Start a Green Gratitude Journal to Improve Your Mental Health appeared first on EcoSalon.

During a particularly frustrating period of my life years ago, I was told by a mentor, “It is virtually impossible to be grateful for a lot until you can be grateful for a little.” She went on to suggest I begin searching for the willingness to want what I have.

At first I didn’t get it. What’s the point, I wondered? What I wanted was relief, an explanation or concrete solution for my chronic discontent, not some silly ethereal quote on which to pontificate. But desperation breeds willingness and those of you who’ve had it, well, you know of what I speak.

Fast forward many years and I indeed am profoundly grateful for what I have, the small and big, trivial and tremendous, despite what is lacking.

This dainty Gratitude Necklace from VivaTerra reminds me of that time. The designer got the idea when melting down leftover gold scraps and a hole randomly formed. She engraved “thank you” on the back and threaded it with string.

Voilà! A recycled reminder to be thankful for all things, the Gratitude Necklace is available in gold with a red silk strand ($219) or silver with black ($149).

What are you thankful for today?

The post Grateful for a Little…Is a Lot appeared first on EcoSalon.