The line that officially marks the Christmas season has been blurred thanks to retailers bombarding us with Christmas décor since September and the classic Mariah Carey “All I Want for Christmas” playing since after Halloween. Either way, December has quickly arrived so let’s try to savor it!
Typically when I think of December I think of comforting treats like eggnog and cookies, running to the mall for last-minute gifts, and busy social calendars, but not every Christmas season is cheerful. Plenty of challenging times happen during “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Last December my family was digesting news about my father’s health, and the uncertainty of it all made it one of the most difficult Christmas seasons.
Many of the Christmas songs that we have all grown to love are nostalgic for time passed and heartbreak. Creating a Christmas Season Bucket List can give you ownership of your December, and grant you gratitude for the present. Every December will look a little different. There may be seasons of happiness, sadness, boredom, stress, loneliness, and busyness. Whatever season you are in, you can create experiences that will boost your mood, help you feel more festive, and provide comfort.
Here are a few activities I enjoy to lean into the holiday season:
1. Decorate for the holidays mostly with things you already have
Christmas decor is a collector’s dream! It can be collected over years and when you put the items together each season, it still feels like a fresh take. Sometimes I like to get a couple of new Christmas decorations such as fresh garland, a balsam candle, an ornament, or just a random decor piece I find at Home Goods, but for the most part, I go into my Christmas storage bins and just remember what all I have. Often it is more than I remember.
It also helps to switch things up. Moving our Christmas tree to a new location this year is a completely different experience.
We also have two small miniature faux trees, and I changed the look by draping them in a little tinsel this year. You don’t have to feel pressure to impress anyone with holiday decor but just decorate in a way that gets you excited for the season. Come January when we take everything down, if you are like me, you’ll feel a little empty because seasonal decor brings such a homie warmth to a space.
2. Actually attend the holiday party
So often we are invited to holiday events and we just emotionally or physically do not feel up for it! Maybe it sounded good when we got the invitation, but now that the event is here you are considering flaking.
The holiday season can often be a season of over-committing. There are work parties, gatherings with friends and loose acquaintances, church functions, and neighborhood events. Certainly, don’t overextend yourself, but it can be nice to just get out of your comfort zone and attend some of those events. You never know the encounters you will have or the friends you might meet.
Just commit for one hour, and see how it goes. You may be surprised at how once you are there you enjoy yourself more than you thought you would!
Holiday parties can be awkward for me because I’m not always socially extroverted. But have fun and participate in the activities, you might accidentally have a great time!
3. Get creative and start a craft
After I put up all my holiday decorations I felt like something was still missing so I added a touch of whimsy! My house doesn’t need to look like we hired a professional to decorate for Christmas. I don’t consider myself particularly artsy or crafty, but I considered doing a craft. There is something about this time of year when it is cold outside that you may enjoy doing something creative.
There isn’t one particular craft that everyone needs to do. Try to find something fun that fits your needs. If you are having multiple people over, you could decorate gingerbread houses.
I got inspired by some friends to make dried orange slices. I followed these instructions for dehydrating orange slices. It took longer than expected for them to dry out fully, and I probably could have used a few more oranges, but it was a fun way to add more color variety to my Christmas decor. This year I didn’t buy garland, but I used some leftover Christmas tree scrap limbs to make a garland for the mantle. This paired nicely with the dehydrated orange slices.
Painting Christmas ornaments, hanging paper snowflakes, or making paperchains can all be fun crafts for people of any age!
4. Go to a cozy restaurant known for Christmas decor
During both challenging and celebratory moments, sometimes you want to eat and indulge in an inviting space. Seek out restaurants and even bars around town that have festive holiday decor.
5. Bake Something
Last weekend I called my mom and she said she was baking cookies! I asked her for the recipe and I realized I had all of the ingredients to make these chewy ginger molasses. We had family over and these cookies were a huge hit! I even walked over some extra cookies to neighbors.
Cookies, rice crispy treats, bread, and pies are all fun items to bake when it is cold and dreary, and afterward, you have an excuse to spread holiday cheer.
6. Visit with old friends
Making plans with old friends is typically always worth it! As time passes, we likely don’t know the ends and outs of our friends’ lives like we used to. Intentional hangouts are great for reconnecting friendships, such as a double date, or even hosting a weekend at someone’s home!
One friend who visited last December I’ve known since grade school, and our husbands are so impressed we have such a good childhood memory. I think we just kept telling each other the same stories repeatedly! Trips down memory lane, and laughing about old times are good for the soul!
Also don’t underestimate a spontaneous meet-up. You can invite people alongside you to do mundane tasks like running errands and getting your gift wrapping done.
7. Grab a blanket and hot beverage and head to the fire
If you have access to a firepit, fireplace, or even a restaurant or bar that has one, enjoy time fireside. Gathering around a fire is a way to unplug and relax, and may even spark introspective thoughts and deep conversations.
Hanging out by the fire also is the perfect excuse to roast marshmallows and make s’mores!
8. View neighborhood lights or go to a holiday light show
There are a variety of ways to enjoy holiday lights. Local botanical gardens may offer a holiday light show where you pay an entrance fee and can wander the garden of lights. This is a fun date night idea or bring family and friends along.
The other night I was turning around and realized I was in a beautiful neighborhood filled with magical Christmas lights on nearly every house.
There are even some houses that have their Christmas lights synchronized to a radio station song.
9. Watch a holiday movie
I am not particularly into movies, but I do love watching Christmas classics at home this time of year like Home Alone 1 and 2 and Elf. I also love rewatching the early Harry Potter movies! Naps are perfectly acceptable during movie nights!
Public parks often offer movie showings where you bring a lounge chair and snacks while watching a Christmas movie outside.
Do you have any holiday traditions that get you in the spirit? Let me know in the comments! If you want to learn about keeping your Christmas tree fresh this season check out that post here. Thank you for reading!
Things I love to do during the holidays: bake, decorate, make festive cocktails to share, sit on the couch with a comfy blanket, throw pillows, and watch Christmas movies or read. But the very best is sitting alone in the early morning with the tree lit and a cup of coffee and total silence. Absolute Christmas bliss. Parties/gatherings are fun too, for short periods, but coming home to my family and being in my cozy Christmas home is the BEST! I love all of your ideas and your home is like a cozy Christmas cottage. Merry Christmas!