It’s the most wonderful time of the year or the most stressful, depending on your disposition. If you need a little boost to get into the spirit of the season, here’s a wide variety of things you can do. We included our favorites, which is why the list is so long, but the more choices, the better!
- Put on your favorite holiday tunes. Do you have some preferred music that puts a little extra jingle in your bells? Turn to your voice-activated assistant like Alexa or Google, and you don’t even have to put down the hot cocoa! Playlists from Pandora and Spotify have made it easier than ever to get your selected artists and tunes on demand. And you’ll gain a bonus mood boost if you sing along. (It’s a proven fact!)
- Light a seasonal candle and trigger fond memories. We associate memories with scents, so picking one that brings you comfort or cheer can move you from Scrooge to Buddy the Elf faster than you can say fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la. Filling your home with scents of the season sets the mood for other things you can do to get into the spirit. Essential oils are another option.
- Give to a charity that warms your heart. Even if you already do this each year, pause an extra minute to reflect on the gift. And how your gift will help someone you may not even know. When it’s a chore on a checklist, it loses its meaning. And isn’t it truly better to give than to receive?
- Decorate your favorite room in the house. Pick only one room and make that your goal. You may be surprised how excited you are to do more than one room once you get started. But even if you run out of time or enthusiasm, you’ll still have your favorite room decorated. Success!
- Design and order holiday cards. By making a list and not checking it twice, you can get a jump on your holiday cards or New Year greetings. With so many custom card companies, it’s a huge time saver to jump online, upload a photo, and boom! (You can then do the addressing while you enjoy that movie later in the month!)
- Tackle a craft. This one definitely takes some time, but it doesn’t have to be a full-day adventure. Grab some brown pipe cleaners, red pompoms, and googly eyes, and turn your favorite longneck bottles into reindeer. For other ideas, check out Pinterest. (Just be careful not to get sucked into hours of looking at ideas instead of actually doing something you’ll love.)
- Stroll downtown or around a mall. Even if you don’t need to shop, strolling around a mall with decorations, lights, holiday music, and fellow humans buzzing about is an excellent way to start feeling jolly.
- Bake for joy. Making the time to bake a beloved family recipe or something you know others will love is a gift in and of itself. You can always turn this activity into a party and invite friends to help. It’s sure to be a snickerdoodle of a time!
- Paint your nails red! This is the easiest one to do, and you can listen to holiday music while you get pampered. And if you’re feeling bold, get sparkles, glitter, or even candy cane stripes!
- Watch a traditional movie. You don’t have to agree on the movie or the snacks! Pick a flick and grab popcorn, candy canes, queso and chips, pretzels- you name it; it works like magic to jump-start the holiday spirit.
- Join in a local holiday event. There is no shortage of holiday events, and you’ll find that the music, decorations, and other patrons will offer a mix of excitement and joy. If you don’t know where to go, we have suggestions; just sign up for our monthly newsletter here.
- Drive around and look at the lights. You don’t even have to leave your neighborhood to do this, but why not? By yourself, as a couple, as a family, you can make it into a “Who did it best?” competition. This is also an excellent way to check out new neighborhoods if you’re thinking about selling/buying. (We can’t help it! We eat, sleep, breathe, and dream Real Estate!)
- Grab some seasonal treats. What’s your favorite? Pumpkin? Gingerbread? Eggnog? Candy canes or sugar plums? Even one bite can snap you into holiday spirit.
- Read a traditional holiday book. Reminding yourself of the true meaning of the holiday is definitely an easy way to focus on what’s most important.
- Reduce your “to-do” list. Are there things that you feel like you struggle to do each year? What would happen if you didn’t do some of them? Most likely nothing. Look for things that you don’t need to do this year and reduce the pressure. Think of it this way: If you don’t manage December, December will manage you!
The object of the holiday is to have a prepared heart, not a prepared everything else in the universe. That’s good advice for each of us, even if we’re already decking the halls! Happy Holidays!
