Struggling to Stay on Track? These Two Simple Things Can Help

If you’re starting to feel burnt out and struggling to stay on track as the holidays approach, you’re not alone. Between wrapping up Q4 and preparing for holiday festivities, projects and to-do’s seem to be piling up for everyone. As we approach the New Year, juggling priorities can become more and more difficult—that’s why we recommend taking a moment to refocus on mindfulness and gratitude.

Prioritizing mindfulness doesn’t have to become another project on your list; a few simple steps can help you become more mindful:

• Practice breathing deeply each morning. Become aware of your body, its capabilities, and its pain points.
• Remember: multitasking is a myth. Focus on one project at a time, giving yourself breaks between different tasks in order to recharge and refocus.
• To really make mindfulness a habit, turn to an app like Headspace, which is designed to help you find calm and clarity in small steps. 

Once you take the time to focus on mindfulness, you’ll realize that gratitude, too, comes more easily. If nothing else, think of building gratitude as getting a leg up on listing what you’re thankful for around the Thanksgiving dinner table!

• Be aware of what brings you joy, and take a minute to write those things down. Stay centered on the things you’re grateful for, and turn to this list for a pick-me-up in moments of stress.
• Tell the people around you that you’re grateful for them. Whether it’s a coworker who brought their A-game to a project or a friend who lent you a sympathetic shoulder, you’ll find that there’s a lot to be thankful for.
• Don’t forget to pay it forward. Hold doors open, pay the toll for the car behind you—even a smile can make a big difference.

Mindfulness and gratitude alone won’t suddenly make your to-do list disappear, but focusing on these two things is sure to make the transition to the New Year a little more seamless and a lot less stressful.