The holiday season is a time of joy, but it can also bring its fair share of stress. From shopping to cooking to decorating, the to-do list can seem never-ending. This year, let’s focus on creating a stress-free holiday by embracing the traditions that bring us the most joy and discarding or adapting the things that you really don’t enjoy or aren’t that important to your family.
Years ago I used to send hand-made pottery bowls to my friends and relatives. Each bowl had to be double-boxed to ensure it wouldn’t break in shipping and the cost of shipping was high as a result. Meanwhile, my minimalist clever cousin simply sent everyone a gift voucher. Why was I making so much work for myself? I’m sure my family appreciated the personal touch, but some years you simply may not have the time, energy, or resources to do your usual. This year, with recovering from a hip replacement, I definitely need to scale down my expectations of what I can do and get in more help so I can actually enjoy the holidays myself!
I’m sharing a few of our favorite stress-free holiday traditions and how we’ve tweaked them to save money and have more fun:
Bake and Decorate Cookies as a Family
One delightful tradition that warms the heart and the home is baking and decorating cookies together as a family. Gather your loved ones in the kitchen, don aprons, and let the creativity flow. Use cookie cutters to make festive shapes, and add a touch of holiday magic with colorful icing and sprinkles. The sweet smell of freshly baked cookies will fill your home, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
One year instead of cookies, we made a big gingerbread house and decorated it with candies. The kids were allowed to take pieces of it off and eat them after Christmas—they loved that!
Finding the Perfect Holiday Tree
Choosing and decorating the perfect holiday tree is a cherished tradition for many families. Whether you prefer a real tree from a local farm or a beautifully crafted artificial one, the process of selecting and adorning the tree is a moment of togetherness that sets the stage for holiday cheer. Let each family member contribute their unique touch, from ornaments passed down through generations to handmade decorations. We make the selection of the tree a family decision. It takes quite a bit of deliberation before we can all agree on what makes the perfect tree!
Spreading Joy Through Carolling
Bring the spirit of the season to your neighborhood by organizing a caroling outing. This heartwarming tradition not only spreads joy to others but also strengthens the bond within your family. Select your favorite carols, bundle up in cozy layers, and hit the streets with smiles and songs. (Here in England the tradition is to offer carollers a drink.)
Crafting Your Holiday Greeting Cards
Instead of buying generic cards, consider crafting your own personalized holiday greetings. Gather art supplies, family photos, and heartfelt messages to create unique cards that reflect your family’s personality. This creative endeavor not only adds a personal touch to your greetings but also provides an opportunity for fun family time.
Simplify and Save Money on Gifts by Playing the “Grinch Game”
Not only does this game save a lot of money, it’s actually more fun than traditional gift-giving. I’ve copied it from my blog post, “Simplify Gifts for the Holidays, Save Money and Have More Fun!”
What’s the Grinch Game? If you have a large family or a group of people to get gifts for, instead of doing the standard Secret Santa gift, play the Grinch Game instead. It’s much more fun!
Start by setting a dollar limit that is affordable for everyone (i.e., $5-$25). Then, everyone buys and wraps a gift and brings it without a gift tag or name.
Next, place numbered slips of paper in an opaque container (note: one number for each person playing). Then everyone draws a piece of paper. The person who draws number 1 gets to pick first from all the wrapped gifts and opens their gift for everyone to see. Then number 2 can either ‘steal’ the unwrapped gift that number 1 opened, or any of the wrapped gifts.
If number 2 picked number 1’s opened gift, then number 1 gets to pick a new gift. Then, number 3 can pick any of the opened gifts or a new wrapped gift. If number 3 picks an opened gift, say from number 1, that person, now without a gift, gets to pick a new gift. Or, they could take the gift from number 2. And on it goes. The game ends when the last wrapped gift has been picked and opened.
The more “stealing,” the more fun! You can’t take back from someone who just took a gift from you, but you can take from any other person.
We did this for a neighborhood block party and someone brought a very old bottle of scotch whiskey. It was worth way more than the $15 limit we had imposed. So, it was a big favorite among the men and was “stolen” multiple times.
The key to making it work with mixed ages is to make sure you bring a gift that you’d like to take home yourself. That way, a five-year-old might bring a teddy bear and a 55-year-old might bring a bottle of wine. In the unlikely event the five-year-old somehow ends up with the wine, swap afterward!
You could put an eco-friendly spin on this theme by suggesting that everyone do their shopping at a second-hand store. Or, have everyone shop their own home for a treasure of that same value. This works for all age groups.
Delegate and Get Extra Support
To truly embrace a stress-free holiday, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Consider hiring a house cleaner to come once a week throughout the month, ensuring your home stays tidy and welcoming. Arrange playdates for your children to have fun and socialize. They will enjoy it and it gives you precious time to wrap presents, finish shopping, or simply take a well-deserved nap.
In the end, the key to creating a stress-free holiday is to focus on the activities that bring your family the most joy and meaning. Embrace traditions that resonate with you, and let go of any obligations that feel burdensome. This season, prioritize togetherness, creativity, and relaxation, and you’ll create cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
Wishing you a joyful and stress-free holiday season filled with love, laughter, and meaningful traditions!
