“Don’t get caught up in the wrapping paper and forget that the gift of the Christmas season is simply love.” (Toni Sorenson)
While the holiday season has the potential to be peaceful and joyful, our experience is often quite the opposite. We become so accustomed to celebrating in the same way year after year that we don’t pause to consider whether our traditions are truly adding to the joy and peace of the season—or if they’re simply overwhelming us.
Holiday traditions can be held to the same standard as the physical items in our homes—are they useful and/or loved? If your traditions no longer spark joy, or worse, leave you feeling overwhelmed and frazzled, it may be time to declutter.
Follow this step-by-step process to simplify your holiday traditions to meet everyone’s desires and create a more joyful, stress-free experience!
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Make a list of holiday traditions:
- Write down all the activities you’ve done in the past and all the ones you’re considering for this year (e.g., decorating, cooking special meals, hosting or attending parties, gift-giving, etc.).
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Declutter your traditions:
- Clutter is anything that’s not loved or useful—aim for what you truly love!
- Go through your list and circle the traditions you love.
- Cross out (declutter) any traditions that no longer bring you joy.
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Address loved ones’ traditions:
- Ask your partner, children (if they’re old enough), or anyone else essential to your holiday to do the same exercise.
- Compare lists to identify which traditions shine as the most loved by everyone.
- You may be surprised by how much overlap there is!
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Resolve differences in traditions:
- For traditions where there are disagreements, dig deeper to understand the core value behind them.
- For example, if a sit-down dinner is important to you but not to your partner, explore what you love about it: Is it the food, the company, or the atmosphere?
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Edit and organize based on shared values:
- If being together is what matters most, consider eating out instead of cooking.
- If the holiday atmosphere is cherished but meal prep is overwhelming, consider ordering food.
It can feel incredibly freeing to create a celebration that reflects our unique, authentic selves. Choosing to be present and mindful, rather than busy, stressed, and rushed, allows for a more meaningful experience. We have the opportunity to shed expectations, let go of perfectionism, and, if necessary, amend or edit longstanding traditions. This year, we can take the risk of embracing simplicity and trust that we, our loved ones, and life itself are more than enough.
