Why Mindfulness Matters This Holiday Season

“Try to relax!”

That’s easy to say for one of the busiest times of the year. Parents, we know you’re hustling and bustling to ensure the holiday season is full of joy, which can come with late nights and fried nerves.?

Unfortunately, your neurodivergent children may also be feeling the pressure of the holidays. If they’re off for school, their routine is about to change drastically. They’ll likely be attending holiday parties that feel overstimulating and unfamiliar. And if you’re feeling stressed and anxious, chances are your children are picking up (and internalizing) that energy.?

Because of this, it’s imperative that you find a way to fit mindfulness into your (and your child’s!) day. Here’s why:?

• Avoid Burnout: Burnout is a worst-case scenario for both your and your child’s mental health. 89% of adults reported feeling burnt out in the last year, and autistic burnout can last for a few days or months to even years. Mindfulness and relaxation are worth the time to avoid such a drastically negative experience.?

• Stay Grounded: Staying grounded means different things to different people. It could be breathing slower, finding a sense of stability, or feeling more self-aware and present. These feelings will temper the nervous system’s tendency to panic or spiral.?

• Reduce Overstimulation: You don’t have to be neurodivergent to experience overstiumlation. Taking some time to rest in a quiet space will help reduce intrusive outside feedback and help you and your child find stasis.?

• Boost Your Mental and Physical Health: Rest and relaxation are undoubtedly helpful for reducing anxiety and offsetting depression-related fatigue. But it also plays a key role in minimizing chronic pain and lowering your blood pressure.?
• Connect with Your Child: If you and your child take time for mindfulness together, it can help build a stronger connection with your child. You’ll both be able to recognize when it’s time to take a break and how each other likes to re-ground themselves. Not only that, but you’ll be building mindful habits that will only help them more as they grow.?

Sensory Items to Help Mindfulness?

It’s likely easier for you to calm your mind than it is for your neurodivergent child. That’s why tools like sensory swings or trampolines can be helpful! Using these items, your child’s body can more easily divert its attention to swinging or bouncing motions, which have been proven to relax the nervous system.?

If you’re looking for more exercises to use on sensory tools like these, check out the MOTOR PLANit app!

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