Why can't I settle my mind?

Every season brings it's ups and downs, but winter and Christmas can be particularly stressful months. The darker days, the busier schedule, the pressure to please everyone at family reunions or work parties. And that pressure takes it's toll on our sleep patterns, not to mention eating habits!

Try this little 'rescue tool' when too many things are piling up and you're feeling overwhelmed:

take a cushion and place it on your lap and with the amount of energy that suits you, pummel it and plump it up, then smooth it over with flat palms and then hold the edge of it between your thumb and two forefingers and trace along the edge of the four sides of the cushions pulling it along using the other hand. This should take 5 minutes!

Just notice the sensations of the fabric in your hands, maybe giving a label to the types of thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing this, like "angry comment", "annoying text", "odd feeling" but not working any of it out, just let it go for the moment while you place your attention on the cushion and your hand movements.

This helps to switch the brain from anxious/worry mode to sensing mode, which actually rests that whirring part of the brain and can bring a more gentle, focused attention back.