I have been so busy the past few weeks, I haven’t had time to blog, so I apologize for the lack of updates and posting. This time of year I am making gifts and getting ready for the holiday season. I find that homemade gifts are just more fun and more heartfelt. They are time consuming, but I love giving gifts, so I love making them.
This time of year you see so many articles and tips on how to “survive the holiday season” or how to stay sane this time of year. It’s sad this is the thinking, but it doesn’t have to be. Surviving the holidays shouldn’t be our mindset. The holidays are supposed to be a fun time, enjoyable and time well spent with families serving each other. Instead we get overly stressed this time of year, easily frustrated, over worked, short on sleep and even catch some form of sickness because of our bad eating habits and our lack of caring about ourselves first.
This holiday season, I decided we need a little more fun in our lives, and to stop sweating the small stuff. I saw a post on Facebook from Dave Ramsey. He is a wise man when it comes to finances and using our money wisely. It read:
It’s so true. Why do we do it? It only brings more guilt and stress into our lives. We spend so much over the holiday season, and half the time we are regretting the purchases and cringing as we look over the credit card bills. Christmas time becomes a drag and an item to check off of our never ending list, instead of a season to remember what’s really important in our lives. We forget the real meaning as to why Christmas is even celebrated. Instead we are lost in dollar signs and department stores picking up the best gift for so and so.
For me Christmas is more than just presents under the tree. I love to celebrate Jesus birthday and celebrate by giving to others and being thankful. Giving doesn’t have to be monetary either. It can be of your time and talents. So instead of surviving this holiday season, I am going to be having fun!!
Here are my tips for having fun this Holiday season and bringing in the New Year with joy and gratitude, because after all if you can’t find gratitude for what you have now, you never will!! A wise man once said 😉
- Give more this holiday season – It’s true giving is just more fun than always receiving. This is why it’s at the top of my list. When we are generous it not only brightens another’s day, but it gives us more meaning in our every day lives, and we get the joy of watching others light up. Remember it doesn’t have to be an expensive gift. A random cookie and coffee to a stranger, a few dollar bills hid in a store for someone else to find, hand crafted gifts and cards. Give of your time, such as shoveling snow, putting up Christmas lights for the elderly, helping to decorate trees, baking cookies. You don’t have to break the penny bank.
- Make your own gifts – Sure making gifts is more time consuming, but it’s so much fun. The time spent making the gift allows you to appreciate giving the gift even more, and the receiver loves it that much more. It’s a gift that can be kept forever, not a gift that eventually is thrown away. No need to add to someone’s collection of stuff.
- Take more time for you – Yes that’s right, make time for yourself. Feeling stressed out? That’s your first sign you need more YOU time!! Time to enjoy what YOU love to do. Whether its coffee with friends, a good book, a run, a night out. Just Do it!!
- Decorate the tree as a family – Â Sure it takes more time and effort with kids, and the tree may not be perfect, but everyone enjoys the process. You involve the kiddos and the whole family is doing something together. Bring along cocoa and cookies too!!
- Bake cookies or treats for neighbors, teachers & employers – Who doesn’t love homemade cookies or holiday treats? I always enjoy baking for the holidays, using a few of my favorite recipes. Everyone always enjoys the treats and it’s a great way of saying thank you to teachers, bosses & family.
- Start a new tradition or rekindle an old – Traditions are fun during the holiday season. It can be anything from making an ornament as a family, doing a sleigh ride, getting your Christmas tree together, going caroling, seeing a play, taking a family picture in the same spot, a giving tree, secret santa etc.
- Treat Yourself – This might be the only time you’ll hear me say this, but I think the holiday season is a free pass to enjoy some holiday fare. Having a sampler of the holiday favorites isn’t going to kill you, and then you’ll truly enjoy the Holidays, as you won’t feel you missed out. Just don’t gorge yourself. Moderation is key.
- Watch a cheesy Christmas movie – This may be the only time of year I actually sit down and enjoy a cheesy Hallmark movie. They are the best during the holidays. It’s tradition for my sister and I to watch one nearly every weekend together after the kids are in bed. They always make us laugh and they get us into the holiday spirit.
Hope you can find the time to really ENJOY this Christmas season. There’s so much to be thankful for and so much fun we truly can have. The true meaning of Christmas never involved over the top gifts and stress. It was a time for rejoicing, giving of ourselves, and love.
Until Next Time Be Whole and Be Fit
What’s your favorite holiday tradition? What do you love most about the holidays?
Love these ideas! I am similar. What I love most about the holidays in the unhurried time that I get to spend with family and friends.
Love being with family and friends over the holidays for sure