How to Have a Happy Christmas

Christmas can go by so fast and we are left having felt stressed and rushed the whole time. This year have a happy Christmas and focus on what’s important instead of the busyness. 

Year after year I see people turning into the Grinch. They say Christmas is too commercial now and it’s just too stressful. As someone that loves Christmas, this always has broken my heart.

Christmas can be stressful, I’ve had my own fair share of holiday stress but I love the season too much to let that become the norm.

The internet is a great tool for making Christmas less stressful but it also can make us feel like we aren’t doing enough and our Christmas needs to be perfect.

I can fall down the hole on Pinterest of seeing everyone’s perfectly decorated homes and think I need to buy all new decorations because my house doesn’t look that perfect. And clearly, I should be spending many more hours on my decorating.

I love Christmas decorations but does it really matter if they are perfect? As long as you like them they don’t need to look like they could be in a magazine. Even a strand of Christmas lights can make a room look magical.

And while gifts are nice and fun to give, ones from the heart are the best and they don’t need to cost a lot of money. The gift of time spent together is the best gift of all.

Have a Plan

A lot of Christmas stress comes from not being organized and not having a plan. If you know what needs to be done and by when it can help you remove a lot of stress.

You can plan in a simple notebook or even on your computer but often a paper planner is best. It also gives you some direction so you don’t have to figure it out all on your own.

I created a Christmas planner that is printable so you can start using it right away and use just the sheets you need. I like to set mine up somewhat right after Christmas and fill it out over time. It’s nice to get something down while what worked and what didn’t is still on your mind.

Even if it’s already December the planner can help. Having everything in one place will help put your mind at ease so you can focus on having fun.

Focus on Creating Memories

I’ve gotten some wonderful gifts over the years but what I remember the most is the things I did with the people I love during the holidays.

Waking up really early with my brother on Christmas morning to see what was in our stockings. It would still be dark out and we loved playing together with our new toys. It was a special time that was just me and my brother.

As an adult, I love going to my parents on Christmas morning for waffles and mimosas. It’s a great newer tradition for us and one we all look forward to.

My husband and I take a trip to Branson, Missouri each year shortly before Christmas and that’s another favorite tradition. Everything is decked out for the holidays, Christmas music is playing everywhere, and it’s a really special time for just the two of us.

Learn to Say No

This one is hard for me as a people pleaser but it’s something I have had to learn. You can’t go to every party and event. Be careful with your time and what you say yes to.

When you say yes to something you are saying no to something else. You want to be sure things that truly matter to you don’t get pushed off the list because you said yes to something that didn’t really matter to you.

Be Present

Cell phones and the internet are wonderful things. They can be used to make the holiday season better or they can distract us from making real memories.

Try to put your phone on silent and away during special times. If you have to put it in a different room. Don’t have the tv on for mindless watching. Find a Christmas movie to watch with ones you care about or turn it off and do something else together. If you want background noise turn on some Christmas music.

If you really must share what you are doing on social media, do it after. I used to check in on Facebook everywhere I went basically. Now I rarely post anything and usually, I share photos on Instagram after the event.

Consider even deleting social media apps from your phone and turning off all notifications during the holiday season. There are also steps you can take to make your Facebook feed more enjoyable if you don’t want to delete it. However, it can all wait, making memories and enjoy the season is more important. 

Helpful Christmas Resources