10 Ways to Create a Joyous Holiday Season

“Love is what’s in the room with you over the holidays when you stop opening presents and listen.”

~ Unknown

Are you starting to have memories of last year’s holiday season that give you chills? This Christmas season can be different! All it takes is for you to make a conscious decision about how you want to celebrate. You have the choice to accept the crass commercialism of the season or redefine what it means to you.

How can you do this?

Sit down, take a deep breath and calm your mind. While sitting, just go deeper into your breath. Put your mind at ease and create a vision of what a joyous holiday season looks and feels like.

Taking steps – Once you’ve created your vision, think about the steps you need to take to make it a reality.

Here are some steps to contemplate:

give of yourself– Instead of focusing on what material things you can give to your loved ones and friends, think about how you can give of yourself. What could you do to be fully present in the lives of others throughout the year? Perhaps you could commit to reading a story to your child every night, scheduling an appointment on your calendar with your husband or partner, or shopping for your aging parent once a week.

Volunteer– To reconnect with the meaning behind the holidays, volunteer at a local food bank., shelter, hospital or visiting an inmate.

Limit commitments- To lessen vacation burnout, decide how many events and celebrations you’re willing to attend. Only you know what your saturation point is. If the family is involved, hold a family meeting and make a joint decision. If you’re having trouble saying no, start memorizing some quick responses you can give. For example, “Thank you for the invite, I’ll be there in spirit but I won’t be able to make it.”

Dealing with family members in difficulty– Before visiting difficult family members, consider how you want to react to them. You can’t change their behavior, but you can decide how you want to interact with them. If you have had unpleasant experiences in the past, think about because they were nasty and what you could do to change the dynamics of the situation.

Sending cards- If you find sending physical cards overwhelming, you can switch to electronic vacation cards or decide to send cards to a select number of family and friends.

Reducing your time in the kitchen- If you’re hosting a large holiday gathering, ask guests to bring their favorite dish. To avoid duplication, allocate select dishes to go. Consider buying pre-made foods or preparing some dishes ahead of time and freezing them.

Online store – If you still feel like giving some presents, the days of fighting the Christmas crowds are over.. Now you can shop online from the comfort of your home and send your gifts directly to someone else.

Stick to budget – Before you go holiday shopping, figure out what your budget will be and stick to it. Remind yourself of the meaning of the holidays.

gift wrapping–To cut down on holiday wrapping time, use gift bags or shop at stores that offer free gift wrapping.

Find reasons to be thankful. Studies show that gratitude creates inner joy. During the holidays, think about what you have to be thankful for and focus on that.

Creating a joyful festive season is possible in this day and age. All it takes is for you to slow down and connect with your Inner Being. The answers are within you. Honor them, celebrate them, and savor the joy of the holiday season!