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Practicing Mindfulness in Midst of the High Holidays

By Mackenzie Haun, ISJL Education Fellow
 
​The Jewish month of Tish’rei can overwhelm us. It can feel like as soon as one holiday ends, another begins (because they kind of do!). While spending time with family and the larger Jewish community is fun and fulfilling, it also leaves very little time to stay in-tune with ourselves. The High Holidays are supposed to be a time of self-reflection and spiritual connection with God, but to remain centered, we have to avoid letting the busyness of the month overpower us. It is essential to take care of ourselves not only physically, but mentally as well.

​Here are some tips for maintaining your equilibrium during Tish’rei:

1. One technique that works really well for me is using a breathing exercise in a particularly stressful moment. There are a lot of amazing exercises that work for different people. One of my personal favorites is to use your finger to trace your opposite hand slowly, breathing in while moving up and breathing out while moving down. I enjoy this one because of the tactile aspects. Here are three other breathing exercises that could be useful for you.
2. Another useful tool for mindfulness is meditation. There are many forms of meditation including but not limited to silent, mantra, movement, and guided (both auditory and written). While most people picture meditation as being sitting still and silent, which is one option, that does not have to be the way you experience it. Meditation through movement, whether that be yoga, purposeful walking, or any other repetitive motion that allows you to focus elsewhere, can be very meaningful. Isabella Tabarovsky shares tips on how to create a Jewish meditation experience here. Meditation can seem inaccessible to children, but there are books and online resources that can help. This is one that my mom got for me as a kid, which is helpful either read aloud or silently to oneself—depending on what works best for them.
3. Staying mindful and present during longer-than-normal prayer services can be a struggle. One thing that can help with this dilemma is personalizing the way you pray. In most Mach’zorim (High Holiday prayer books), there are readings that your community will not read aloud. Every person’s prayer experience is different, even within the same community. If you are having trouble staying focused and ensuring a meaningful experience, finding readings that resonate with you could be a helpful tool. Allowing your mind to wander and focus on different things throughout the service can make the time you spend in services all the more personal and meaningful.

I hope some of these tips will be useful for you in having a mindful and meaningful holiday season!

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