Ditch the Holiday Stress: A Simpler Way to Celebrate Christmas

Life’s pace is frantic for most and busy at a lull. Adding holidays to your list of to-dos can be overwhelming and unbearable at times. But as with life, you choose how you act or react. If you want an uncomplicated season, make it that way. Below are some thoughts on how I have simplified our family’s Christmas to avoid being steamrolled by the overwhelm.

Decor & Celebration 

Christmas music does not fill our home until Thanksgiving has ended. It may sound like a Grinchy rule, but I want to enjoy the bounty of the Thanksgiving holiday and be fully ready to embrace the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas. This rule applies to decor as well. Our family typically does not decorate until early December. It became an accidental tradition to put up a tree on Christmas Eve--preparing and anticipating on the eve as Mary would have contemplated her child. Christmas 2020 changed things, including this tradition when everything was in short supply, and our family struggled to find a fresh tree. In recent years, we get a tree a bit earlier, but our holiday decorating has been scaled back to include more natural elements like pine cones and greenery and less store-bought decor. It's enough to welcome the season without overwhelming the senses. 

Gifts  

Much of the season is centered around gifts, which can create unrealistic expectations and financial stresses. Gift-giving can be skipped altogether if it doesn’t suit you. Who says it is a requirement for a joyful holiday? Our family limits gifts, and this decision makes for a calmer and more joyful season.

Kid Gifts

I want to kiss the person who created the saying “something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read.” We followed this formula for our children during their childhood but eventually went to three gifts just as the Christ Child received three. We have returned to the want, need, wear, and read list because it helps this mama stay in her lane and not overdo it when choosing gifts. 

Family Gifts

Gift-giving is not my love language and is hard for me, but it is my sister’s language. To compromise as an extended family, we create a gift card wreath. We pin gift cards to a simple wreath and play bingo at Christmas time to win cards. It has become an undemanding and entertaining tradition as our children have gotten older and enjoy eating out or shopping for items. As you can imagine, lots of trading cards occur on this day.

Teachers and Service Provider Gifts

A beautifully written note or picture is a cherished gift for any teacher. As a teacher, I keep a special file for those gifts. But I personally buy practical teacher gifts. I have created bags with sticky notes, pens or pencils, expo markers, and a few pieces of chocolate. These are all good things that teachers run low on as the year goes on, and who doesn’t love a treat? And I do not know a teacher, bus driver, garbage person, or mail person who needs another mug or ornament. A delightful student bought me a nice set of markers one Christmas, both useful and considerate. (Coffee shop gift cards were also a favorite among teachers.)  It’s nice to be remembered as a teacher, but skip this if the budget is tight. 

Financial Stress 

A January credit card bill can quickly decimate the remaining joy from December. Overdoing it during Christmas caused me to start the year with a no-spend January to catch up. The merrymaking was not worth the deprivation. (However, a preplanned no-spend month can be fun.) These days, I figure out my budget for the holidays and begin a plan in September to save what I need. Since our family is light on gifts and decor, I do not need the entire year to save up. Begin saving earlier if you have a more lavish tradition--possibly begin saving in January for next Christmas. 

Expectations & Time 

Time is the most precious commodity, and it is okay to disappoint others or find an alternative plan to conserve your time for what truly matters to you. I love to bake but dislike cooking, so I have been known to order a catered turkey or go to a club store and pick up something that only needs to be heated. Shopping isn't my favorite activity. If someone asks me to go with them to holiday shop, I usually say no, and that's okay. What I do have time for is a family night watching Elf and eating snacks, driving around to look at Christmas lights and displays, or giving back to my community--these all fulfill me more than shopping. 

Spirituality 

As part of my faith, Christmas means a lot to me. For much of the Western world, it is a time when people reflect on charity to humanity. Each Advent Sunday, I spend time living in hope and looking toward the culmination of this season at a candlelight church service. During this service, I have childlike anticipation. The dark sanctuary becomes illuminated by a single candle. As we pass the flame, the room becomes emboldened by light. At Christmas time, embolden the world with your light. 

Loneliness & Post-Holiday Blues 

Currently, loneliness is an epidemic, and Christmas can exacerbate the feeling of loneliness and leave you feeling separate from the holiday merriment and those around you. Unrealistic expectations, grief, lack of social support, financial stress, and mental health are all issues that are amplified when the world seems to be enjoying Pinterest-worthy holiday togetherness. During the holiday, I schedule time to talk with a mental health professional and time with a close friend who knows how "un-Pinterest-worthy" my holiday is. Even more, I plan acts of generosity during the season, which deflects the focus from myself and allows me to contribute to those less fortunate and the greater good. Doing good for others is the best gift you can give yourself during the season. Remember, there is no shame in seeking support during this season, and if you need help, please call 988. 

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Perfect decorations, extravagant gifts, or elaborate parties are not what you, your family, or friends will remember after the season is a distant memory. Kindness, comfort, and love are the intangible gifts that remain. When you focus on what truly matters, it creates a more meaningful and less stressful holiday season. Embrace simplicity and its friend's contentment to find joy and peace.