10 Ways To Get Into The Christmas Spirit
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It’s almost Christmas! If you need a bit of joy and lightness right now, here are 10 ways to help you get in the Christmas spirit!
Sometimes, the preparation and bustle of Christmas can steal away our festive cheer, leaving us feeling more “Ho Ho Humbug” than “Ho Ho Ho!” It’s such a shame when this special season turns into a stressful one.
That’s why I’m sharing 10 simple ways to bring a little jingle back into your step and some Christmas joy into your heart! Whether you’re already the happiest of Christmas elves or need a nudge to embrace the holiday spirit, these ideas will help you celebrate this magical season with joy.
Listen To Christmas Music
Nothing sets the mood for the season quite like Christmas music! When I’m cleaning, decorating, or trimming the tree, I love upbeat and fun holiday tunes to keep me energized. While cooking, I turn to Michael Bublé or classic Christmas standards for a cozy, festive vibe. And when I’m working and need to focus, my go-to is Pandora’s Peaceful Christmas Music station. It’s the perfect mix of calm and holiday cheer.
Pandora has so many wonderful Christmas stations to explore!
Christmas music is such a special treat because most of us only indulge during this time of year. So, crank up those holiday melodies and soak in the joy—it’s an instant mood lifter!
Fill Your Home With Christmas Scents
Aromas have a magical way of creating and triggering strong memories. This Christmas, let your home smell as festive as it looks with scents like peppermint, cinnamon, cloves, evergreen, and vanilla. These delightful fragrances instantly evoke the warmth and joy of the season.
One of my favorite ways to fill a room with holiday cheer is by diffusing essential oils. It’s such an effortless and natural way to fill your home with Christmas aromas. I also love making simmer pots with simple ingredients from my kitchen. As these beautiful, mood-lifting scents waft through our home, they lift our moods and trigger our happy Christmas memories.
Recently, our grown son walked through the back door while a Christmas Simmer Pot was gently bubbling on the stove. He paused and said, “Mom, your home smells like Christmas!” Oh, my heart melted. He remembered the way our home smelled at Christmas when he was growing up!
For a hands-on approach, try making your own Scented Pinecones! They’re incredibly easy to craft, can be refreshed year after year, and add a charming decorative touch while infusing your home with that quintessential Christmas scent.
Cut Down On Your To-Do List
Friend, let’s have a quick heart-to-heart. The holidays come with busy schedules, and if you’re anything like me, you might find yourself piling on chores, parties, and responsibilities until your to-do list resembles a scroll. Don’t do it!
The real goal of the Christmas season is to have a prepared heart, not a prepared everything else in the universe! When we take on too much, we end up with empty emotional tanks, exhausted bodies, hot-glued fingertips, glitter in our hair, and bags under our eyes. I know this because I’ve been there… often. A few years ago, I took a serious look at my holiday routines and decided to simplify.
Did I really need to bake 15 kinds of Christmas cookies? Absolutely not. Now, I stick to just a few family favorites—it’s so freeing! And do I really need three fully decked-out Christmas trees at the Tanglewood house? Nope. One thoughtfully and joyfully decorated tree is more than enough.
Please, hear me out on this: Focus on what truly matters to you and your family. That’s it. You’ll feel happier and more at peace, and your family will appreciate having a calm, joyful version of you.
Christmas doesn’t need all the extras to be meaningful. Charlie Brown had it right!
Ask For Help
My grandmother lived with her mother-in-law, my great-aunt lived just down the street, and Nani’s next-door neighbors were like family. They worked together, proving the truth of the old adage: many hands make light work. We can learn so much from their approach to teamwork, especially during the busy Christmas season.
If you love baking cookies, why not barter your sweet creations for help with a holiday chore you don’t enjoy as much? Or, if you’re a decorating elf but cleaning and organizing aren’t your strong suits, let others know you’re ready to trade tasks.
For me, having help with Christmas decorations is a lifesaver. My friend, who also works with me, will help put everything away this year, and I can’t even begin to describe the Christmas-tree-sized weight that will lift off my shoulders! Normally, I dive right into January’s blogging schedule the day after Christmas, and my “de-decorating” window tends to fall between 1:00 PM and 3:00 AM—a time already reserved for much-needed sleep. Katie truly is a godsend in my life!
The key is to delegate. You don’t have to shoulder all the Christmas work yourself. If you share your home with others, divide the responsibilities and make the season more fun by working together.
Do what makes your life easier and the Christmas season more enjoyable. Ask for help. Seriously, do it! You’ll be amazed at how much more you can cherish the season when you share the load.
Decorate Something For 20-Minutes
Decorating for Christmas can sometimes feel overwhelming, but what if you focused on a project that only takes 20 minutes? How fun would it be to pour your creativity into something quick and beautiful?
Most of us can find 20 minutes in our busy day to create a little holiday magic. Taking that time to concentrate on just one simple task can give your mind a much-needed break and help you get into the Christmas spirit.
If you’re looking for inspiration, the blog is packed with easy Christmas arrangements that can be made in under 20 minutes. Check out 9 Easy Last-Minute Christmas Decorating Ideas for some of my favorite fast and festive projects!
Read The Real Christmas Story
Give yourself some grace, friend. It’s perfectly okay if you’re not feeling the Christmas spirit just yet.
The truth is, how we celebrate Christmas today looks quite different from the very first Christmas. To truly connect with the meaning of this season, take a moment to read the story in the Bible, Luke 2:1-20. Or, you can read my post The Real Christmas Story, it’s one of my most popular posts!
This post strips away all the tinsel and reindeer to reveal the raw sights, sounds, emotions, and profound meaning of that holy night. It’s a powerful reminder that Christmas isn’t about decorations or traditions; it’s about how God came to us with His plan of salvation. Now that is something to celebrate!
Whether you’re the jolliest of Christmas lovers or feeling a bit like the Grinch this year, take time to read the true Christmas story. It’s good for the soul and a beautiful way to embrace the real Christmas Spirit.
Read A Christmas Book
Take time to read a few Christmas books! The ones on the list below are simple yet poignant.
Just saying “The Best Christmas Pagent Ever” makes me giggle… every time!
- THE GIFT OF THE MAGI
- UNWRAPPING THE GREATEST GIFT
- THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER (I just finished reading it to my grandchilden)
- THE LITTLEST ANGEL (this one, too, and cry buckets)
- THE CHRISTMAS WISH
- AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS
Watch A Christmas Movie
Grab a bowl of popcorn, some candy canes, and the family, and settle in for a cozy Christmas movie night!
In our family, Friday night has always been movie night—a tradition that continues to this day. Now, my grown children have carried it into their own homes with their little ones.
Recently, we all watched Elf together (with a few parts fast-forwarded), and the boys absolutely howled with laughter! Moments like these are such a sweet reminder of the joy and magic this season brings.
Make time to gather your loved ones, pick a favorite holiday movie, and enjoy the simple pleasure of being together. It’s a surefire way to get into the Christmas spirit!
Take A Drive To See The Christmas Lights
This is one of my absolute favorites!
Just last night, on our way home from a family birthday dinner, Bobby and I started planning which homes to visit on our annual Christmas lights tour. We made a mental list of the good, the bad, and the oh-my-goodness-what-were-they-thinking displays. I have to admit, I enjoy a “train wreck” of a display just as much as a breathtakingly beautiful ones. It’s all part of the fun!
There’s something undeniably magical about Christmas lights. Bundle up, turn on some holiday tunes, and make the experience even sweeter with a thermos of hot chocolate and maybe a cookie or two. It’s a simple, joyful tradition that brings the holiday spirit to life!
Paint Your Nails Red
Get a manicure and paint your nails Christmas red. And if you are daring, add sparkles. Enough said!
Go For A Walk
Remember to exercise during the holidays. We tend to drop our exercise routines when we get busy, but exercise will help your mental outlook and make you feel better, too! I swim, and it’s such good medicine!
Spend time in the fresh air. Get outside. Even if it is cold.
Oops! I think that was 11 ways to get into the Christmas spirit! Here are a few other things that might put a little jingle bell in your step!
- Stay away from the mall (Only go to see Santa. The rest can be life-sucking at Christmas!)
- Order online
- Visit local shops
- Buy a small real evergreen tree (If you have a big artificial tree, get a small tree or at least a bunch of real greens right before Christmas)
- Send Christmas cards and write them yourself
- Drink hot chocolate ( Here’s an easy slow cooker peppermint hot chocolate I love)
- Give to your favorite charity- Christmas is about joy, hope, love, and peace
- Go to church
- Volunteer if you can
- Find out what local events are happening in your area and go
- Wrap gifts as you get them
- Eat lots of cookies (and make sure you follow the last tip- get those walking shoes on!)
- Make gifts/cookies for friends and drop them off at their front door
- Hang a wreath on your front door with a big bow
How do you get in the Christmas spirit! Please share. Here’s hoping you have the merriest Christmas ever!
You always make the Hollidays so festive. I love your list of ten things to help get in the Christmas spirit!
Love all the wonderful Christmas inspiration! Can you please let me know where you purchased the big white vase (in the first photo) with all the pine branches in it? I would love to recreate this beautiful centerpiece! Have a magical and blessed Christmas ❤️
I do not have a source for the vase. Sorry Cathy. Here is one that is similar. I have it and love it! https://rstyle.me/+adEFgK_GEfgWZJBTTUNoCA
Again..a greatly timed post. And these great words of wisdom….
“The object of getting to Christmas day is to have a prepared heart not a prepared everything else in the universe! ”
Meray Christmas to you Yvonne
Susan
Thanks, Susan! Merry Christmas!
Thank you Susan,
Still unsure how this article showed up in my device tonight(Christmas 2022) yet it is what I am reading just settled at home by the wall heater at sunset from a sunny yet open space hike in a very populated San Francisco Bay Area suburb reservoir loop. So very much in the Christmas spirit myself this is a wonderful read right now. I am feeling bright and mentally checking off this list all the wonder of the day. Just for fun may I add:
11.Praise Baby Jesus Christ Lord Our Savior in your own radical expression of self.
12.Enjoy the moments all day, dance through life noodling at what makes you revel in joy as your personal trainer, whether entertaining or being entertained, Todo La Vida with Jesus, our birthday boy.
I love when headlines remind us that Jesus is even why we have “Christmas” at all. So using the Christmas birthday in the social media way to educate the masses aught to maybe mention Jesus Christ. The story and writings of his life are what can save us all from Satan’s power when we may go astray. Tidings of comfort and joy, God rest ye ?
God bless you Susan I sure appreciate this contribution to my day as I write this Christmas night ✨
Elizabeth Robinson
God bless you Elizabeth and thanks for leaving such an uplifting and God glorifying comment! Merry Christmas!
Hi.
This is what I like to do in order to make things easier. I make a list of what each person can do to help out around the house. For example one member of the family is responsible for doing the food. Best wishes to you and your family. We are a baking family. Our family don’t really like to cook.
Another person is in charge of all the decorations. I’m supposed to oversee the invitations and create a party feeling too. The other two family members are tasked with the finances and checking deals. Other tasks include attending family meetings and finding details. Yet more responsibilities are planning simple games and picking movies. We have a task for the entire family in addition. Merry Christmas. We have a diary for planning.
You should be blogging! Very good idea, Thara! Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas! Loved you post this morning!