Simplifying Your Holiday Season

Holidays are meant to be joyful, meaningful, relaxing, and fun. Typically, the holidays represent a time for loved ones, a time for us, and a time of giving and generosity.
Holidays are NOT meant to be stressful, shallow, or hurried. Yet, many feel the holidays are a hassle and a time they must go to great lengths to fulfill obligations to relationships they no longer experience as meaningful or healthy. Unfortunately, some still view the holidays as a time for “getting” as well. All in all, the holiday season can be overwhelming for most anyone.

Simplifying in several areas is possible while still managing to maintain some tradition (if that is important to you) and enjoy yourself!

When decorating, remember less is more ~ no overkill or cramming everything you have into your yard or living room is necessary. This actually can take away from the beauty of it all. Artificial trees are no maintenance, safer, and environmentally kind. Choosing a theme each year may be easier ~ nativity sets one year, snowmen another, etc. instead of setting out everything you own every year. Every family member could be in charge of decorating one room. Kids can do more than people generally think. Another option is to host a decorating party ~ you feed everyone and the group helps decorate!

Speaking of parties, decide BEFORE the season is upon you how many gatherings are realistic for you to attend and commit to no more than this number. Purposefully leave one weekend evening free for yourself every weekend during the season, so you have penciled in your own time. Be intentional about the amount of church attendance will work as well by examining how much or little is truly meaningful to you during the season. If possible, save some vacation time for this period or after to incorporate a true rest and recovery time.

If you are hosting a gathering, consider buying food all ready prepared or having potluck style. Make and freeze food ahead of time or arrange a party room at your favorite restaurant. You could also host your gathering at times not typical for a full meal to be served, but instead just appetizers or desserts. Announce your gathering is “gift free” and clean only the rooms your guests will use, like the living room and one bathroom.


If gift giving is part of your plans, here are several ways to make the shopping much simpler. Purchase family gifts versus individual gifts. Decide on a theme for your gift giving; for example, everyone gets a book or a scarf this year. Make a list of everyone and 1-2 gift ideas for them and map out a shopping plan or path to take to hit all the stores you need in the most timely and convenient manner. (I have done this and generally spend six hours or less shopping for everyone on my list – about 20 people!)

You can also choose to shop at stores that will wrap for you. If you prefer to wrap yourself, use bags instead of paper. Always have a well thought out budget ahead of time and stick to it. Gift certificates/cards are widely popular these days or you can even give the gift of donating to your favorite charity in someone’s honor. Make it easy and fun for yourself to give without breaking your bank account, and the holidays will feel better than ever!

Sending out holiday cards is another “chore” that can be simplified in several ways. First of all, REALLY examine the list of receivers and cut out all people you truly do not associate with anymore or don’t care to associate with anymore. Just because someone sends you a card year after year (even though you never see or speak to each other in between) doesn’t mean you need to reciprocate. Shaving the amount of people you send to is your starting step to simplification.

Then you can choose many forms of cards ~ e-cards, photo cards, postcards, and cards all ready personalized are available everywhere and most likely fit your budget. Use address labels to cut down on time and effort and write one letter you send to everyone sharing what you want to about the year you have had. You are still connecting with people no matter what form the correspondence takes.

Financially people get overwhelmed very quickly at holiday time and sometimes end up regretting the spending and take months to pay off their bills. This only adds to the dread of the next holiday season. Preparation and thought will eliminate these issues. Decide on an amount of money to donate during the season ahead of time and stick to it no matter how many charitable opportunities come your way. Feel free to choose one charity versus several and give all you can to it. Limit your gift giving to those most important to you or those respectful “have to” gifts. Think about the intention behind the giving not the dollar amount. Is it REALLY important to spend $25 on everyone? It’s appropriate and okay to recommend NOT giving gifts among groups of people or putting a dollar limit on each gift. “Let’s spend $15 or less on each other this year.” Even better, “Let’s all go out to lunch and a movie together instead of gifts.” What a concept!

Holidays are often about traditions, whether they work anymore for our situation or not! Ask yourself: What traditions do I want to keep? What traditions do I want to alter or eliminate? What new traditions do I want to create?

Some people have found eating out instead of cooking wildly simple and delightful. Some groups travel away from home and have their gatherings in a hotel, cabin, or retreat center instead of all plowing into someone’s home. Some even have the nerve to hold their holiday traditions another time of the year! Being able to think differently can add simplicity to any aspect of our lives.

Throughout holiday time just as anytime of the year, maintaining good self-care is important. Remember the basics by exercising regularly, sleeping/relaxing regularly, and keeping normal eating habits despite the additional temptations of the season. Surround yourself with the people you truly enjoy and love and that affirm you as a human being. Stay safe and smart during your travels. With these simple reminders, you will not require so much “holiday recovery time” after all is said and done.

Above all, treat your holiday season as a time for “giving” instead of a time for “getting.” If we think and act as if it is just a time for getting, than we are “forgetting” the whole point of special times. A time for “giving” means being generous with others, but it also means “forgiving.” This time of year represents endings and beginnings. We reflect on our accomplishments vs. unmet goals. We can begin again with a vision for a new year!


Copyright 2007 by Cindy D. Whitmer