The holidays are officially here – and adopting an attitude of gratitude can help you better cope with the upcoming season. Plus, being grateful will ensure you safeguard your recovery and take pleasure in all of the little and big joys ahead.Okay – so even if you know that being grateful is important, how do you incorporate it into this busy time? Here are a few ideas:
- Start a gratitude journal. Write down one or two things you’re grateful for each day – and keep an ongoing list so you can count your blessings this holiday season and beyond.
- Meditate. Take a few minutes of quiet time each day (when you wake up or before lights out) to give thanks for all the small gifts in your life.
- Shift your mindset. It’s natural to dwell about what we don’t have or what we want to have in life, but you have the power to shift this mindset. Think about all that you do have and be grateful for the little treasures found in daily life. The holidays are filled with them.
- Think about tough times. Recalling any bad times in your life – and how far you’ve come since then – will help you during those times when it feels like you have nothing to be grateful for. Similarly, you can think about what your life would be like if you didn’t have the gift of sobriety.
- Make time for loved ones. The holidays can often bring upon loneliness and making time to check in with your loved ones can help combat this emotion and make you feel grateful for your supports. Even if it’s a quick phone call or text, take time to check in with your friends and family members this season.
- Volunteer or help a fellow recovery peer. Giving back to others is a great way to become more grateful for all of the positive things in your own life. What’s more, volunteering has been linked to a host of general health benefits, including decreased depression and increased overall happiness.
Minding Your Mental Health Year-RoundAt NorthStar, we offer general wellness programming to help clients develop healthy habits and routines to restore emotional balance. To learn more about our health and wellness programs, call us today: 303-558-6400.
