Inside: How to simplify the holidays for a more meaningful season. Here are 23 of my best tips to have a simpler holiday season this year.
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I am going to start this post with a fun little exercise.
Are you ready?
Ok, good! Now let’s close your eyes.
Are they closed? Ok!
Now, think about your favorite holiday season, ever. It could be when you were 12, or it could be last year.
Now, ask yourself if you remember exactly what gifts you received or all the parties you went to or what crafts you did. We are all different, so maybe you do remember these facts! But I sure don’t.
But what I DO remember is how I felt. I remember the people I cherish and those I spent the most time with. And I remember running around my grandparents’ home with my cousins.
I challenge you to think about your favorite holiday and then remember that feeling as you read through this post.
I am not advocating not buying any gifts, not going to any parties and not putting up any decorations.
Where is the fun in that??
What I am recommending is to not focus so much on these things, and instead focus more on cherishing this special time with our families and friends. And remembering how we felt during our most favorite holiday season will help us to focus on the true meaning of the holidays: memories not things.
Does that sound like a plan?? Ok let’s get to it! 🙂
The rest of this post will discuss my best tips on how to simplify the holidays for a more meaningful season. We will look at how to simplify the holidays in the areas of decorations, gift giving, traditions, parties and events, and finally holiday food.
Simplify the Holidays: Decor
When I think of simplifying the holidays, the first thing that comes to mind is the holiday decor. I have followed The Nester for a while now (if you don’t know this blog, you must check it out later!) and one of the things the author talks about often is how to be a “cozy minimalist.” She often says that you can have “more style, with less stuff” and I just love that philosophy!
You can read more about her minimalist decorating philosophy in her books:
Cozy Minimalist Home: More Style and Less Stuff
This season I encourage you to think about how to add a simple holiday style to your home, without adding a ton of decorations all over the place.
Here are a few tips to help you decorate your home this year, while still maintaining a simple style that is all your own.
- First, remove some of what is already out in your home (for example picture frames, vases, and any fall decor) to make breathing room for the new holiday decor.
- The Nester encourages you to decorate your home by using things you can find in nature. This allows for a slow decorating process as nature slowly unfolds around us. Consider gathering a few branches or pinecones to place in a vase on your mantle. Bonus – you don’t have to store these homemade decorations in a box the rest of the year!
- Only display what you truly love. Don’t display out of obligation or habit and consider donating what you don’t end up using this year. If you didn’t want to display something this year, the chances you want to display it next year are pretty slim!
- Think about heirlooms you’ve inherited or future heirlooms you want for your kids – remember, fewer pieces mean more meaning for the items that you choose to keep and display.
I think the bottom line is trying not to keep up with Pinterest! Focus on what you like and what makes you happy and enjoy the simplified holiday season. 🙂
Simplify the Holidays: Gift Giving
The next area to simplify this holiday season are all the gifts! Like I said above, I am not saying don’t exchange gifts. What I am saying is, be intentional with what you buy and for whom you are buying for.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind this year:
- Set limits on what you buy your kids. I saw a great article about using the 4 gift rule. Essentially, you buy something they need, something they want, something they wear and something they read. I love this idea and it will definitely help cut down on clutter since these gifts are things that they truly need or value.
- Focus on giving experience gifts over things. Some examples include movie tickets, passes to a museum, or swimming lessons. These are wonderful gifts that will be used up and won’t add more stuff to your home.
- Cut down on the number of people you buy gifts for. This may seem harsh, but I encourage you to really challenge the mindset that you need to buy a gift for everyone this year. Marie Kondo says that the act of giving is what brings the giver joy. So if you aren’t super excited about giving the gift you picked out for someone, then perhaps you can skip that gift this year. Or, if you can’t think of something personal or something besides a generic gift for someone, then maybe you don’t need to give that person a gift this year. Of course, this can change from year to year, and that is totally ok!
- Declutter toys and books ahead of time. I love this tip because it helps to make some space for the new things coming into your life. You can also use this as an opportunity to teach your kids about the importance of giving to others, especially during the holidays.
If you need some great ideas for gifts that won’t add more clutter to your life, I have a great roundup of simple and clutter-free gifts here. Remember, focus on spending time with the person, rather than the stuff under the tree.
Simplify the Holidays: Traditions
Ahh, traditions. We all love them right?? And, if we did something last year, that must mean it’s a tradition that we need to do this year too, right?
Well, maybe not.
Remember those memories we thought about earlier in this post? Keep those in mind during this step.
Then, read through these tips to help you decide if a tradition is worth keeping this year or not.
- First, make a list of all the traditions your family has done or is thinking about doing this year. Then circle only the traditions that light you and your family up. Cross out the rest.
Did you just gasp??
Perhaps you crossed off the tradition you did as a kid, but it doesn’t really fit with your family now. That’s ok! You have good memories but that doesn’t mean you need to force the memories on your family too. Don’t continue to do something just because it’s a habit or something you always did. We get to be the boss of our time and what we want to be our family’s traditions.
- Sometimes the simplest traditions are the most memorable.
For example, making a paper chain to count down until Christmas, is super simple, but also super fun for children.
- Once you have your list pared down, write down you must do’s and then guard that list. If you don’t plan your holiday other people will for you.
If you are not sure where to start on the traditions front, this is a great post that walks you through the steps to develop your own meaningful holiday traditions.
And this post offers 15 simple holiday traditions that you can mix and match to fit your family’s interests.
Simplify the Holidays: Events and Parties
This area can be simplified both in terms of the sheer number of events as well as how extravagant the parties are that you host, if any.
Here are a few tips to help you simplify holiday parties this year:
- Put everything on the calendar that you could do. Then cross off the ones that you just dread, that give you that uneasy feeling in your stomach. It’s ok to politely say no to a party that you have always gone to in the past, just like it’s ok to say no to traditions that you have done in the past. Things change and circumstances are different. Don’t feel guilty for taking care of you and your family first!
- If you are invited to a friend’s or neighbor’s party where you want to see some of the attendees, but you probably won’t know most of the attendees, think about setting up a smaller more intimate get together with the one or two families you are closest with. This could even be after the holidays so you are more relaxed and have more time. You will be able to actually talk to the people you care about and not have a million other things on your mind.
- In terms of hosting a holiday party, keep it simple!! I love The Nester’s advice to only make TWO homemade dishes. The rest can be store bought or made by others. This reduces your stress level so much when you are hosting an event!
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help! And when someone offers to help, always say yes!
“When you prioritize the three main ingredients of any gathering : the people, the mood and the food, you can allow yourself to not worry about the rest. Your guests will follow your lead and focus on what you focus on. You have a lot of power when it comes to the direction of your gathering. A Cozy Minimalists creates memorable gatherings by considering how people will feel in her home, not by wondering if her stuff is impressive enough.” -The Nester
Simplify the Holidays: Food and Treats
The holidays are usually surrounding by an abundance of food, sometimes to excess. And usually, foods that are not super healthy for you. What is the best way to balance this fun time of year with maintaining our health and avoid food waste?
Here are a few tips to keep in mind this year:
- Are there foods that you always have on your menu that you can cut out this year? Think about some of your past holiday dinners. Were there foods that you always made, but always ended up throwing half that pan away? Skip that dish this year!
- Think about healthy alternatives. This is a great website for healthy alternatives for your favorite holiday dishes!
- I try to keep things in moderation, even during the holidays. I am not a nutritionist by any means, but I say it’s ok to indulge in treats just a little bit! But I try to keep the sweets to a small portion of my food intake and fill up the rest of the time on healthy, nourishing foods.
- Now is also a great time to invest in learning more about how you can take baby steps to improve your overall health. 15 Days to a Healthier You is a great place to start. Click the button below to learn more and get started.
General Tips To Simplify the Holidays
Phew! Now that we have simplified 5 of the bigger areas for a more meaningful holiday season, I wanted to offer a few last tips for a simpler season.
- Start planning early! I know this is easier said than done, but try not to wait to the last minute for shopping, cooking and planning for travel. Thinking ahead will help cut down on so much stress!
- Have one location to store everything. This can be digital or a physical binder, whichever makes you happy! I personally use Trello to store gift ideas, menu plans, and other details related to the holidays. You can sign up for your own Trello account here. If you are brand new to Trello, I highly recommend this beginner Trello course. They even include a holiday template you can use right away!
- Set a simple budget. Dave Ramsey has a great article on setting up a budget specifically for the holidays.
- Don’t forget about yourself during the holidays. It’s usually a time where we give and give a give and burn the candle at both ends of the stick. We alllll know where that leads us. It’s not pretty. Take some time each day, even just a few minutes to breathe, meditate or practice mindfulness. Don’t get so wrapped up in the season that we forget to enjoy it and make those lasting memories with our families.
Keep it simple and focus on the meaning of the holidays: memories not things.
Want to simplify your holidys with a digital tool this year?
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What is one tip that you can implement to simplify the holidays this season?
Let us know in the comments below!
Photos by Anton Darius | @theSollers, Element5 Digital and Monika Grabkowska on Unsplash.