As we move further into Fall, you may notice the impacts of less daylight and perhaps an increase in social engagement, especially with the holidays season coming up.
As our commitments increase, it may feel more challenging to be intentional about slowing down and checking in with ourselves. Whether our commitments are on a personal or professional level, you may begin to feel more overwhelmed. Here are a few tips on how to stay grounded during this season.
Check In With Your Emotions
During this busy season, it is important to take a moment and check in with yourself. When we get busy, we tend to forget ourselves or our needs. One helpful way to do this is by journaling or identifying what emotions you may be feeling. Perhaps you are feeling stressed about the amount of commitments you have. Ask yourself what you may be needing in this season. Perhaps you need to say no to events or schedule in down time for yourself. Your emotions are messengers and they give you information about your internal, external, and relational experiences.
Prioritize Your Tasks
It may feel as if everything that you are needing to accomplish this season is high priority on your to-do list, which may lead to you feeling burnt out or overextended. One helpful way I like to think about tasks is by using the analogy of plastic vs. glass. Imagine you are holding a plastic cup and a glass cup; if you drop the plastic cup it will likely just bounce, but if you drop the glass cup, it will shatter.
Think about your tasks in this way. What is plastic and could be moved to another day and what is glass and has to be done today or this week? Explore if there are any tasks that you could remove from your list even. This is a way to intentionally slow down and it will help your nervous system not feel as if everything is an emergency.
Choose a Compassionate Word or Phrase
As you enter into this season, it may feel helpful to choose a word or phrase that can be a reminder of what you want your focus or intention to be during the Fall. Perhaps the words authenticity, groundedness, peace, gratitude, acceptance, or patience resonate with you. Or phrases such as, “May I treat myself with kindness,” or “I am doing the best I can and that is enough.”
I invite you to find a word or phrase that fits best for you and that will be an anchor for you during this season.
My hope for you is that your word will guide the decisions you make and serve as an anchor when your life experiences become difficult or the waves feel overwhelming to you.
Use this word as a gentle guide to come back home to yourself. Even when our decisions don’t feel aligned with your choice of word during the holiday season, practice curiosity over judgment.
Ask yourself: What there may be to learn from an experience? Nurture yourself by asking: What would I like to do differently in the future?
Friend, remember that you don’t have to face the hardships in this changing season alone. We are here to support you along your journey to peace and joy.
Compassionate Affirmation: “I am present in this moment and I deserve to feel at peace.”
Additional Resource: The Book of Awakening – This book written by Mark Nepo has daily reflections that focus on reclaiming aliveness, liberating the self, taking each day one at a time, and savoring the beauty offered by life’s unfolding. You can buy the book here.
Becoming Anchored in Hope,
Laura
LPC-MHSP, CEDS-C, ACS, NCC
Owner + Director
Laura is committed to guiding individuals along their path to mental wellness and has carefully gathered a team of skilled, knowledgeable, and committed therapists at Anchored Counseling Co. to assist in this mission.
The professionals here create an environment that is supportive and affirmed, informed by an understanding of trauma. At Anchored Counseling Co., there’s a shared belief in the fundamental worth of each person, and therapy is delivered with warmth and empathy. The therapeutic philosophy here is built on the premise that every client has the natural ability to enact meaningful and enduring change in their life.
To connect with a therapist who aligns with your unique needs, please contact our office at 615.510.3797 or contact us here.
