Branding Ideas℠

Tag: mindfulness

You are currently browsing the Branding Ideas Blog posts tagged: mindfulness

Mindfulness and Gratitude Amidst the Frenzied Thanksgiving Shopping Season

November 21, 2016 Events & Holidays / Promotional Inspirations
No comments

Thanksgivingbrandingideas-thanksgiving-2016 is nearly here, and right after we’ll be observing a cluster of related events—many of which are consumer-focused, some of which are oriented towards social good: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed at this moment, trying to figure out where you should be focusing your attention, don’t feel bad. A lot of people are! Here at branding ideas℠, we’re here to help you make sense of the dizzying area of events that are coming up so you can figure out which ones to participate in, as well as how to stay balanced and centered amidst the holiday frenzy.

 

Black Friday. This annual shopping megathon has become rather notorious for its focus on hyper-consumerism, and each year people get really worked up and stressed out trying to find deals on products they want to buy. It doesn’t have to be this way, however. You can use this post-Thanksgiving period to instead engage in mindfulness and emotionally prepare for the holiday season so that the hustle and bustle doesn’t define your experience. 
shop-small-logo

Small Business Saturday. If you are a small business, then it may be worth your while to participate in the yearly #ShopSmall campaign that encourages consumers to patronize their local businesses, thereby stimulating the local economy rather than sending their hard-earned money off to giant big box retailers. Small Business Saturday has a special appeal in that it fosters a sense of local community, which can be beneficial to everyone’s well-being.

 

Cyber Monday. The online counterpart to traditionally brick-and-mortar Black Friday, Cyber Monday is another massive shopping event. Some major chains are even unveiling their coveted deals a few days in advance, heightening the anticipation around the day. However, as with Black Friday, it’s wise to consider indulging yourself in a different way—with a mindful approach to spending that curbs unnecessary purchases. That way you can be sure that the items you buy will truly add meaning and joy to your life and others’ lives.
giving-tuesday-logo

Giving Tuesday. Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, and Giving Tuesday aims to put that sentiment into action. You can help others by donating your time (as a volunteer), donations, or even goods to a social justice cause of your choice. Here at branding ideas℠, we have a related tradition (going on 10 years strong now!) in which we pick three or four charities each year and ask our clients to vote on the ones they’d like us to donate to. We then donate our charitable giving budget based on the breakdown of the vote tally.

 

Whatever your business or focus in work, this is a perfect time of year to take a brief pause and experience the gratitude of the season, then take mindful steps to express it to others with charitable giving or thoughtfully selected gifts. We at branding ideas℠ are your consultative partners, ready to make the process of choosing corporate holiday gifts smooth and even enjoyable.

 

Are you wondering how your company, nonprofit, school, association, or other organization can reward and acknowledge your staff, colleagues, business partners, clients, or honorees with the right gift this holiday season? Let us help you choose appropriate items for your organization that will thoughtfully express your gratitude and appreciation. Check out our holiday board on Pinterest, reach out to us on Twitter and Facebook, or call us at 877-881-6845. We’ll be glad to advise on ways you can make a positive impression through well selected gifts.

At Thanksgiving, Being Grateful for Our Good Fortune

November 24, 2015 Events & Holidays
No comments

This week we are celebrating Thanksgiving in the U.S., and with the arrival of the holiday many of us have gratitude on our minds. It’s a great moment to pause and share appreciation for the positive things or wonderful people who have influenced our lives over the past year, whether at the dinner table or while taking a quiet walk in the cool autumn air.

In an always-on, sometimes overwhelming world filled with smartphone notifications and a seemingly endless to do list, it’s worthwhile to remember how fortunate we all are and how many instances of beauty and kindness surround us on a daily basis. Interestingly, the act of centering one’s thoughts on gratitude may provide more than just a simple emotional boost—thankfulness has been linked to several positive health indicators as well. In a 2003 study, people who regularly wrote down about what they were grateful for in a journal reported feeling more optimistic and indicated a higher level of self-esteem as well. Such a simple act of reflection can have profound benefits.

Although Thanksgiving is a key holiday when Americans come together to express their thankfulness for the people and aspects of life that have brought joy to them in recent months, it’s not the only time when we can express or focus on a sense of gratitude. And apparently, many of us regularly experience this feeling: according to a new Pew research study, 78% of Americans feel a strong sense of thankfulness on a weekly basis. Perhaps some of this gratitude is under the radar and being kept private rather than being communicated with others.

What makes Thanksgiving unique is that it offers us an opportunity to experience and share gratitude with the people who are important to us. Some people simply take turns naming one thing that they are thankful for on the holiday; others may get creative and create a Thankful Tree, similar to a Christmas advent calendar, on which they place a note of gratitude each day leading up to the event. Sharing thankfulness in such a communal way no doubt multiplies the benefits that gratitude otherwise offers us individually, for it gives us a chance to hear and appreciate what is most meaningful to our loved ones as well.

If you are traveling to be with family or friends this Thanksgiving, best wishes for a safe trip! However you spend your holiday, we hope that it’s a joyous occasion filled with warmth, good food, and gratitude shared by all.

Are you wondering how you can best express your appreciation to someone with a thoughtful gift this holiday season? We’d be happy to recommend some tasteful choices that will make a positive impression. Reach out to us on Twitter and Facebook—or call us at 877-881-6845 and we’ll be glad to advise on ways you can share your gratitude through well selected gifts.