Earlier this week our Education Lead, Ben, shared his experience of focussing on light in the midst of darkness. He did this as part of our Winter and Wonder self-care resource which is aimed at providing some simple tools to help you to look after your wellbeing through the winter season. Today Ben has given us some practical techniques of how we can do this if we have 5 minutes or if we have 15.
If you’ve not already read Ben’s previous article, have a read of that first to help you to put these techniques in context.
If you have 5 minutes
You will need some fairy lights and a timer.
Sit yourself comfortably and calmly in front of some fairy lights – as you settle, be aware of any tension in your body and wiggle it out.
Set a timer for 5 minutes on your phone so you’re not clock watching, but instead being present in the moment.
Look along the string of the fairy lights and try to bring to mind something you are thankful for for each one of the lights you see.
If you have 15 minutes
You will need either a fire or a laptop, some paper, a pen and a timer.
Sit yourself in front of a fire. If you have a real one, all the better but if not, find one on YouTube.
Make a note on a piece of paper of all the people who care for you and the places where you feel safe. Spend a moment focussing on these feelings and allow the warmth of the fire to represent these positive feelings.
Now tear some small strips of paper or use some post its. Have these ready in your hand; they are going to represent any distractions that might appear as you try and settle and focus.
Set a timer on your phone for 10 mins so that you’re not clock watching, but instead being present in the moment.
Sit in front of the fire and focus on the warmth of the feelings you get from the people and places you identified. Every time your mind gets distracted, acknowledge the distraction and then discard it by putting a piece of paper or a post it ‘in the fire’, bringing your attention back to the warm feelings.
How did this make you feel? Let us know how you found the experience on our Twitter or Facebook.