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3 Mindful Holiday Traditions to Start This Year

3 Mindful Holiday Traditions to Start This Year

Think about developing some mindful holiday traditions for your family this season to further explore and encourage togetherness, thoughtfulness, and a more natural (and less commercial) holiday.

Well, here we are.  The holidays are well underway, and I don’t know about ya’ll, but my calendar has been book-bookity-booked since December 1.  There’s a constant batch of icebox cookies in the oven and and I’ve tripped over the same roll of wrapping paper four times today.  With all the hullabaloo, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the idea of redefining tradition, especially since Important Media began its More Love, Less Stuff series, and I’m loving on the idea of establishing some more mindful holiday traditions for my family.

This post is part of Important Media’s “More About the Love, Less About the Stuff” holiday series. This year, we’re talking all about redefining holiday traditions to focus on compassion over just more stuff.

Three New + Mindful Holiday Traditions to Start Today!

1) Crafts!

How harmful are ornaments really?  They’re not, in the grand scheme of things, but they do = just more stuff, so take a peek at Crafting a Green World’s tutorial on making your own ornaments using mostly found objects.  They’re easy, cheap, and you could pretty effortlessly involve the kiddos.  An intentional approach to decorating keeps your blood pressure down (less money to spend, less unnecessary expectation) and it provides a really nice mindful holiday tradition especially if you involve others.  Get your family, friends, co-workers, etc. to join in on the fun and activity!

2) Baking!

This beauty of a mindful holiday tradition has a two-fold end-result: you get to taste-test your delicious creations and gift or share them as well.  Throw together your favorite batch of cookies, brownies, or any other tasty treat.  Then sample and share to your heart’s content.  The gift of food is consumable, which is a plus, and you can, again, pull together a gang of friends and family to tackle these delicious projects.  My kids are big fans of baking so plan to put your little ones to work too!

3) Giving!

This year my oldest punk and I picked a local food bank to which to give, shopped for food together, and donated it.  This mindful holiday tradition is just good, good, good on so many levels.  Not only does it keep charity and giving at the forefront, but it is an activity in which the whole family can participate, and it’s a good reminder for everyone involved.

 

Image credit: Holiday baking via Shutterstock.

Written by Leah Gehlsen Morlan

lives and works in Iowa City, Iowa. She has a film degree from the University of Iowa, and her interests include: watching & writing about film, chasing her kids around, childbirth, healthy cooking & living, and DIY body & baby products. Find me on Google+.

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