Turkeys are on sale, holiday jingles have filled commercials, Christmas everything is everywhere, and you, Mom, are on the hook for making magic happen as we steamroll into another holiday season. Are you prepared to find your magic, though?
No, really…read that again. Are you prepared to find your magic this holiday season, Mom?
I don’t know about you, but the holidays always felt magical to me as a child; it wasn’t until I grew up and had my own babies that I realized just how much effort my parents put into the season to make it feel that way. And with that realization, a bit of the shine dulled as I began working on the same tasks of so many parents before me, trying to make the holidays brighter for my kids.
In recent years, I’ve noticed the holidays can sometimes feel more like drudgery than joy, and that’s not really what I want for my Thanksgiving and Christmas. I noticed the moment Christmas came, it felt like both a huge sigh of relief and a distant letdown that it wasn’t as exciting as it could have been. And because the season fills up with so many events, parties, visits with Santa, parades, and any other number of things to do, buy, accomplish…well, it just gets exhausting.
By the time December 26th rolls around, I’m filled with a mixture of relief and regret that I haven’t lived up to my own standards, let alone those of other people whose feeds look like a celebration of a joyous holiday season.
So grab a cup of coffee, and let’s chat about how you can make a point of finding your magic this holiday season. I’ve got a list of some things you can do to make the season less stressful and more joyful so that maybe it begins to shine a bit brighter for everyone in the family.
First, I’d like to tell you to automate absolutely everything you can. Seriously.
We live in a time where you can have practically anything delivered to your door at the press of a button. That’s basically a superpower our great-grandparents could never have fathomed, and we’re able to get shampoo, wrapping paper, and even an entire turkey on our doorstep in an afternoon. Not only that, but there are tools for helping you generate the perfect meal plan for Thanksgiving, update family calendars so no one’s asking what the plan is, and refill any prescriptions in a flash. If you haven’t already set yourself up with faster solutions to simple tasks, now’s the perfect time to test out some you might be interested in.
But if you’re going to automate things, it’s probably a good idea to have a list of things to automate, right? So perhaps this suggestion is a bit out of order, but if you’re anything like me, a to-do list makes you feel a little bit more in control, even if the list is a mile long.
Grab your favorite notebook and a pretty pen, and go ahead and write out all the things you need to get done for the holidays. Yes, it’s probably going to be a long list. Yes, you’ll forget things and only add them later when you remember. But having that list always helps me avoid feeling like a crazy lady as the holidays creep up on me faster and faster. I actually have a cute notebook with separate sections for planning Thanksgiving, Christmas, and separate events that give me a place to put all my stream-of-consciousness ideas like “Get a dog sitter,” and “Refill prescriptions before traveling.”
My next suggestion is the one that really inspired this entire post, and that’s this: embrace your hobbies.
I know that sounds a little crazy, but hear me out. The holiday season gets so busy. We’re running all over creation with our families, trying to wipe runny noses and wrap gifts, prepping food for each family event we’ll attend, and maybe sneaking a few moments for ourselves in the bathroom at a relative’s house just to breathe.
The magic of the season is in finding your joy, and sometimes that means making time to indulge in creative pursuits and hobbies you love, even if it’s only for 20 minutes. Grab a cozy book and cup of cocoa and settle in for a short read. Take a few minutes to journal about all the things your family’s been doing and that silly thing your child did that made you laugh. Pick up your favorite hobby and just let yourself relax for a few extra minutes.
I love this season for coloring in adult coloring books. When I get a few free minutes, I like to pick up my harvest coloring book and add to an in-progress picture. It’s relaxing and gives my brain a break from the to-do list.
My last suggestion is simple but perhaps difficult: learn to say no.
You don’t have to do all the things, visit all the people, and go to all the parties. If it’s going to stress you out, it’s okay to simplify. Find your magic in spending your time and energy on things that will energize you, not suck the life out of you.
