It's the Most Mindful Time of the Year

 The German's have a single word to describe the feeling of joyful anticipation; Vorfeude. 

With the holiday season upon us many may be experiencing vorfeude. The reality of this time of year is that while many feel joyful anticipation, many do not. In fact, our brains have a natural tendency toward a negative bias. Our brains are programed to fear the worst. 

Statistics show:

85% of American's celebrate Christmas. 

16.9% of children in the US live in poverty

15-17.9% of Michigan children live in poverty

Songs tell us that this is the most wonderful time of the year, and for many of us it can be, but for some it's just another month of the year. 

During the month of December I challenge you to make mindfulness a priority. Studies show that we can help our brains shift focus with mindfulness. Studies also tell us that repetition deepens our desire to do mindfulness and benefit from it's positive effects. 

Use mindfulness to break up long days, long lessons, or provide a much needed calm down time. Use mindfulness to shift focus when you observe difficult moments.

Not all of our students will celebrate a holiday this December. Some will celebrate a holiday different than our own. Mindfulness can help you connect during a time in which students may feel disconnected from others due to having a different celebration, or no celebration at all.

One of my favorite winter time mindfulness activities is Hot Chocolate Breathing. You could even suggest other hot beverages if students don't like hot chocolate. There is always tea, cider, and coffee.

Hot Cup of Mindfulness Breathing

Author Kira Willey has new book out called, Hot Cocoa Calm which you can see and hear on the YouTube link.

It is a cute book for our younger students. 

Once you teach this breathing you could have a hot cocoa day and play this video while practicing the breathing and enjoying some hot chocolate. 

I would also encourage you to take some time to check out Kira Willey's Website to learn more about her books, yoga, and music. If you need some upbeat music to play while students have indoor recess, are cleaning up, or just need a movement break check out her songs on Spotify or YouTube. 

I would also encourage you to take some time to watch Kira's TedTalk called Bite Sized Mindfulness. She shares about how all kids can do mindfulness and how when you make it enjoyable they like it and want to do it. She also shares that no matter the background of a student (or adult) all of us can do mindfulness. She also reminds us that consistency is key. This goes back to our beginning thought about repetition deepening the ability and desire to do mindfulness.

Let's take time this month and as we close out 2022 to put a new focus on mindfulness. Open yourself up to a mindfulness practice and then share it with students. Make this the most mindful time of the year.