8 Makings of a Merry (and Mindful) Christmas

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Why do we look forward to Christmas all year, but when it arrives, we’re more stressed and overwhelmed than at any other time of year?

What prevents us from enjoying the magic of the season, during the actual season? 

Maybe it’s family (whether we see or don’t see them, both have the opportunity to cause big feelings).

Maybe it’s all the shiny crafts and traditions we see in our social media feed. And the pressure we feel to do them too. 

Or maybe it’s aaaaall the gift ideas we’re bombarded with in our inbox, mailbox, and stores.

It could be due to increased spending, disruption of routines, or a loss of self-care.

And, hey, let’s not forget we’re still in the middle of a pandemic. Shopping is harder. Traditions have changed. Our support groups can’t help as much.

Our minds are so full with things to do and stormy feelings to put on hold, that if we add one more thing, we may bust! 

So how do we swap a full mind with a mindful one? Especially during the busiest time of year? Well friend, from one busy and overwhelmed celebrator of Christmas to another, you may already know the answer. 

I know I do. 

But this year, I need a reminder. 

And since you may, too, how about we accompany each other through this?

Let’s talk about how we can slow down and celebrate a more mindful Christmas.

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1. Remember why you love Christmas.

What does Christmas mean to you? Is it hope? Charity? Celebrating Jesus? Time off of work to relax with loved ones? 

Whatever it is, when we become wrapped up in long to-do lists, we lose that meaning. We forget to enjoy our favorite parts. Or worse: We forget what we love about Christmas.

Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and briefly reflect on the part(s) of Christmas that brings you joy—the parts you don’t want to miss.

2. Celebrate with presents presence.

Can you recall what gifts you received last year? I can’t. I’m sure they rocked. But the memories that come to my mind first are the looks of wonder on my kids’ faces when we plug in the Christmas lights for the first time.

Your presence is the greatest present. When we’re “in the moment,” we fully appreciate what we’ve waited all year to see. So, how can we be more present?

Try doing one thing at a time. Stop multitasking. Will you get less done? Surprisingly, no. By dedicating more of your energy to one thing, you’re likely to accomplish it sooner and more thoroughly.

3. Connect with the season.

Connect with Christmas by engaging your senses and noticing the season. And no, I don’t mean notice the red and green decor in the retail store. 

Tuning into what nature provides this time of year is a calming way to experience Christmas. Bring the outdoors in by displaying a poinsettia, Christmas cactus, or a real tree or wreath.

Take a mindful walk and notice how your feet connect with the ground. Do they sink in the snow? Splash in puddles? Crunch over dry leaves? Paying attention to little details like this pulls us to the present.

4. Don’t sweat the sweets.

If you’re like my husband and me, this stressor gets ignored until we step on the scale on December 26th.

Many of us indulge for an entire month in decadent, seasonal treats. Then make a new year’s resolution to deprive ourselves until we reach our goal. Mindful eating offers us some peace.

When we’re present while eating, we’re more apt to notice when we feel full. We’re more aware of how food makes us feel. We experience the flavors and textures of our food more intensely. Rather than beating ourselves up on the day after Christmas, let’s try to eat mindfully throughout the season.

5. Fine-tune your finances.

The pressure of giving the best gifts, having the best light show in the front yard, donating enough, having an extravagant meal—it’s overwhelming.

Thankfully, some gifts come cheap and are even free. And decorations, while fun, are up for a month, not the entire year. Shop mindfully and ask yourself if you really need or want the item. 

This year, in an attempt to have a mindful Christmas from a financial perspective, we prepared in advance. We put money into a holiday fund every month so at the end of the year, we have a Christmas budget. 

6. Know when to bow out.

There’re a lot of cool things about Christmas: charity drives, new traditions, parties, new ideas for presents… But it’s OK to do less. It’s OK to say no. 

Our time during the day is limited. When we decide how we want to spend our time, and that we want to truly be present for it, how much time that’s leftover becomes clear.

You’ll know when it’s too much and time to bow out. By saying no to some things, you make more room to say yes to the parts of Christmas that matter most to you.

7. Put yourself first.

Chances are, you take care of a lot. Around the house, with the family, at work. And that’s on a normal day. During the holidays, you take on even more. 

When you give so much of yourself, eventually you’ll run out of gas. Find something that fills your tank. Exercise, journal, read a book, watch a Christmas movie. 

Whatever it is that you enjoy doing, permit yourself time to rest and recharge before you return to conquering the world.

8. Practice mindfulness for peace.

Inevitably, there will be stressful moments during the season. When these moments hit, strive for a mindful Christmas by practicing mindfulness to come down from the heightened feeling of overwhelm. 

This isn’t meant to add another item to your to-do list. Sure, mindfulness is something you can set time aside to practice (like with meditation, for example). But you can practice being mindful while you go about your daily tasks, too.

Call on your senses to get in touch with the world around you. Notice the sights, smells, and sounds. Become aware of your breath throughout the day. Allow yourself a few deep breaths and pause to feel the rising of your chest as you do.

You Can Have a Merry—and Mindful—Christmas

Do you think you can be more mindful this year? 

More present for the moments you hold most dear?

Even with the anxiety of a pandemic?

Consider this. You’ve watched enough Christmas movies to recall how they always slow down at the meaningful parts. (Like the ending of Home Alone. The snow falls behind Mrs. McCallister as she stands in the front door beholding her son, Kevin, after accidentally leaving him alone on Christmas.)

Now imagine your Christmas memories being as heartwarming as one of those movie scenes.

Picture all the joy of the season going on around you, and you actually notice it. The sights, the smells, the sounds. Time stops while you bask in the glow of the moment. 

With your family. Your friends. And even yourself.

Let’s promise each other to catch and cherish those moments. 

Have a merry, mindful Christmas,
~Chelsea