3 things you can do to make your holiday a little easier
3 things you can do to make your holiday a little easier
3 things you can do to make your holiday a little easier
If you follow me on social media, you’ve joined me for the 31 Days of Letting Go Challenge. We’ve been talking a lot about how important it is to let go of habits that may no longer serve you. The habits you adopt can be just as important.
We are entering the holiday season, and as magical as it can be, the holidays can also be a source of stress.
Remember to give yourself and others grace, practice self-compassion and kindness, and try these three habits to make your life just a little bit easier:
1. Ask yourself why
If you celebrate Thanksgiving, it is a great opportunity to share gratitude with the people in your life. It gives both you and the person on the receiving end a boost of happy hormones. When you think of something that brings you joy and gratitude, ask yourself, “Why am I grateful?” This helps you internalize it, which embeds the habit into your brain. This trains you to look for what’s right and offsets your brain’s negativity bias. Make a conscious effort to communicate gratitude to others.
2. Make today easier
Want to make your life easier? Ask yourself this question: What can I do to make today a little easier?
Take something off your to-do list or add something that brings you joy, watch a funny video, call a friend, or take a short nap. There are a million things you can do to make your day and life better. This is one of my favorite ways to bring more joy into my life.
3. Listen to your body
Tap into the power of your nervous system and recognize how you’re feeling. Your body will tell you what to do. Recognize and name your emotions and pay attention to sensations, thoughts, and tension in your body. This brings you back to the present moment and is the basis for mindfulness. Any time you feel yourself getting stressed or overwhelmed, breathe deeply. Remember, your feelings and thoughts are not facts. They are just information for your nervous system.
When we are stressed or overwhelmed, we take shallow breaths, and this deprives your brain of the oxygen it needs to think clearly. Reset your nervous system by taking three deep belly breaths, making the exhale longer than the inhale. This stimulates the calming response.
Remember to focus on the delicious moments, celebrate what’s most important, and be kind to yourself. I hope you have a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving!
Stay brave and resilient,
Anne
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Happy Good Friday from the ranch! ☀️
We can take back control of our energy, but FIRST, we have to be aware that we are running on fumes. Here are five subtle signs to look for before you burn out:
1️⃣ You Feel Snappy, Judgy, or Overly Critical (Even Over Dumb Stuff)
2️⃣ You’re Drowning in Decision Fatigue
3️⃣ You Feel Guilty for Resting (So You Never Fully Do)
4️⃣ You’re Scrolling to Numb, Not Connect
5️⃣ You Keep Thinking: ‘Once I get through this week…’
If even one of these sounded familiar, that’s your sign. You don’t need to wait for burnout to make a change. This is your permission slip to pause, reset, and breathe. 🎥
Speaking for one of my favorite clients @assaabloygroup to celebrate their best customers in Napa – savoring so many delicious moments! 🙏
Have you ever had to schmooze at a networking event? You find yourself in some awkward situation, fumbling around for the right words when you land on “How are you?” or “What do you do?” Two of the most boring, uninspiring, uninteresting questions in the world.
Fortunately, there is a conversation starter that works better, is way more interesting, and makes you more memorable. This question is so powerful that it activates the pleasure center of the brain.
Here’s the question: “Working on anything exciting lately?”
That simple conversation starter makes people light up and feel good. And the best part? When they leave the conversation, they connect you with that good feeling.
If you want more tips, tools, and strategies like this one, sign up for my weekly Resilience Reset newsletter! ⬇️ https://www.annegradygroup.com/strong/
A couple of fun facts about gratitude:
🙏 Just looking for something to be grateful for drops cortisol by 23%.
🙏 A gratitude practice trains your brain to search for and find more good stuff.
🙏 Gratitude improves mood, memory, focus, immune function, and heart health.
What will you look for this week? #mindfulmonday
Overthinking is just self-doubt pretending to be productive. Give yourself permission to take a nap.
📷: @newyorkermag
Anne Grady is a Speaker, Author, and #TruthBomb Dropper.
Anne shares practical strategies that can be applied both personally and professionally to improve relationships, navigate change, and triumph over adversity. And she’ll make you laugh while she does it. Anne is a two time TEDx speaker, and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fast Company and Inc. magazines, CNN, ESPN, and FOX Business. She is the best selling author of 52 Strategies for Life, Love & Work and Strong Enough: Choosing Courage, Resilience and Triumph.