How to live in the moment this Christmas

When Christmas dinner is a distant memory, the decorations are packed away and you’re scrolling back through NYE photos, do you ever catch yourself reflecting on the festive season and thinking: “Actually, that was pretty fun - I can’t believe I didn’t realise it at the time?!” That’s something that we at The Know have all found ourselves doing over the years. 

We’ll be the first to admit that living in the moment isn’t easy, and it can become even harder over the Christmas and New Year period.

As well as being a time of celebration and love, the season can often bring about feelings of nostalgia and sometimes sadness. This might be because you’re returning home to the town you grew up in, are seeing old friends for the first time in a while, or grieving the loss of a loved one.

All these emotions - plus the fact that the Chrimbo-limbo period can often be as hectic as it is restorative - means that it’s easy to forget to live in the moment as the year comes to a close. While this is definitely something you shouldn’t feel guilty about, there are steps you can take to help you enjoy things as you experience them - and not just in hindsight. 

So here are our five tips for living in the moment - both during the festive season and beyond:

Remind yourself why you made a particular decision

Do you ever catch yourself debating whether you made the right choice (like, all the time)? If you’re like me, this tendency can worsen over the Christmas period, where the decisions seem even more consequential. Should I spend Christmas at my mum’s or my dad’s this year? Will my in-laws be upset if we don’t go to theirs on Boxing Day? Will everyone be resentful if I don’t serve parsnips and carrots this year? I could go on…

This constant back-and-forth is truly exhausting. So this year, every time you hear that voice of doubt, try to gently remind yourself why you made the decision you did. This could be as simple as saying to yourself: “I decided to spend Boxing Day alone because I need some me-time to unwind” or “I decided to go for a walk because the sun is shining and the pile of washing up can wait”.

Listen to your instincts - and follow them

Listening to your instincts is a crucial way to connect with the present moment. It can feel especially daunting to do this over Christmas, when you may feel the burden of other people’s expectations. But it’s important to stop second-guessing yourself and do what brings you joy in that moment. 

So if you miss someone, text them. If you want to see a new film on Boxing Day, go to the cinema. You get the idea! 

And if you find it hard to express to your loved ones why you’ve made a certain decision (hello, fellow over-explainers), try keeping things as factual as possible. For example, you could try telling your family something like: “I had a great Christmas day with you all yesterday, and I’m joining my friends for a last-minute brunch today.”

Jot down what you’ve loved at the end of every day

Journaling or making a note on your phone of what you’ve appreciated about each day of the festive period definitely beats struggling to remember it in January, when Christmas is already a distant memory. 

These notes-to-self could read something like: “I loved seeing my family today because I’ve been looking forward to it all year”,  “I enjoyed reading the newspaper back-to-back because I never have time for that anymore” or “cooking brought me joy today as I got to try out a twist on the traditional turkey”. You get the idea!

The  added bonus of trying this practice out over Christmas is that it can quickly become a habit, helping you become better at enjoying the present moment in the long term.

Ground yourself

Even the most fervent fans of the festive season will admit that it can be a stressful time. Whether it’s all the travelling you’re doing, the fact you’re cooking a feast for 12 or that you’re having to juggle your relatives’ conflicting preferences for how high the heating should be, there are lots of moments which can trigger anxiety - and anger.

If you feel yourself becoming frustrated or upset (which is totally normal!), ground yourself in whatever way works best. This might look like running your hands under cold water, going for a walk around the block, taking five minutes to do some deep breathing or writing down a worry to come back to later. Whatever helps you clear your mind, do it.

Talk more candidly about how you’re feeling 

This is a big one. If you’re in the company of loved ones and not feeling on top form, instead of worrying that you’re not being your best self, try to express what’s going on.

You could say as little as: “I don’t know why, but I don’t feel great at the moment.” Hopefully your loved one - whether that’s a family member or a friend -  will offer you support, relate to your feelings or reassure you that it’s okay - and all that worry that’s been building inside will dissolve.

We know that the festive period can be a tough one for many people - so if you’re one of them, then we are sending you love and warmth. We hope these tips help you live in the moment and enjoy this time as much as you possibly can.

Season’s greetings!