The holiday season is a time for family, celebration, joy, making memories, traditions, school programs, church programs, gift exchanges, packing, unpacking, repacking, driving….. And just like that it is so easy for stress and anxiety to creep in!

With the pressures that go along with gift-giving, travel plans, and social obligations, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and lose sight of the magic that is the holiday itself. In the midst of all the activity and commotion, we often forget to truly savor the moments that make the season so special, and sometimes even forget why we are celebrating in the first place. Anyone else guilty? Or is it just me?

This holiday season, join me in making a conscious effort to stay in the moment. By slowing down, we can reduce stress, enjoy the season, and deepen our connections with those around us. Sounds pretty good doesn’t it?

In this blog post, we’ll look at why it’s important to stay present during the holidays, how to practice gratitude, and tips for cultivating a peaceful and joyful holiday season.

The Importance of Staying in the Moment During the Holidays

The holidays are often seen as a time to reflect on the year gone by and to create lasting memories with family and friends. However, for many people, the season can become overwhelming, quickly. Between work deadlines, holiday shopping, and preparing for family gatherings, it’s easy to get distracted and lose sight of what really matters. Our focus can easily shift from the holiday itself to the never ending to-do list. At least this has been my experience the past few years. Instead of rounding out the holidays feeling like my cup is overflowing, I have often felt regret. Regret that I didn’t do enough even though I never sat still. Turns out, through some thoughtful reflection, I realized I have been focusing on the wrong things.

When we’re not fully present, we miss out on the joy of the moment. Instead of savoring a delicious meal with loved ones, or an opportunity to include our children in baking, we might find ourselves distracted by the tasks still left to do. Rushing through the motions, forgetting the true meaning of why we do them in the first place. All of this can lead to stress, exhaustion, and burnout. Honestly, I am feeling the stress build as I write this and the holiday season has barely even started yet, which is WHY this piece is so important. So important for me to write and so important for me to share.

Staying in the moment can help us reconnect with the true spirit of the season, the spirit of Christmas. It allows us to appreciate the small joys — the twinkle of holiday lights, watching your children enjoy the magic of the season, the warmth of a cup of hot cocoa. It also helps us maintain better mental and emotional health by reducing feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. By focusing on the present, we can better connect with ourselves and the people around us, creating more meaningful and fulfilling experiences.

6 Tips for Staying in the Moment This Holiday Season

I have done some research and found some practical tips to make the most out of the holiday season, and out of life in general. I have summarized into my top 6 below that I am going to strive for this season – Join me!

1. Set Intentions for the Season

Instead of getting swept up in the rush of holiday preparations, let’s take a moment to set our intentions for the season. What kind of holiday experience do you want to have? How do you want to feel? Setting a clear intention can help you stay grounded and focused on what truly matters.

I have set an intention this holiday season to not rush. Not rush myself and to try to not rush my kids. This is going to take a lot of effort! With 3 kids, we are notoriously running (at least a little) late. My kids and I talk and reflect often on our days, what we liked and what we didn’t. One area that keeps getting brought up is how when we are rushed, even the best activities are not fun.

Setting this intention for the upcoming season has already made an impact. Just last week there was a big tree lighting ceremony in our little town. The event is very well attended (chaotic almost) and lands right over supper time. My oldest had practice right up until 30 minutes before the countdown to light the tree. Getting there in time would have required a lot of rushing, frustrations and stress. Leaving with an overly hungry toddler would have resulted in just as much rushing, frustrations and stress. Instead, I decided we would go home after practice, enjoy a favorite family meal, and all sit on the living room floor while my oldest kids took turns going through their math flashcards. It felt slow. It was relaxing. It was wonderful.

Set your intention! It will serve as a reminder to stay present and mindful throughout the season, even when things get hectic. It will help make decisions and drive your actions during this holiday season.

2. Focus on the Present Moment

The holiday season is full of beautiful moments, but we often overlook them because we’re thinking about the next thing on our to-do list. To stay in the moment, try to fully engage with each experience as it happens. Whether you’re decorating the tree, enjoying a cup of coffee by tree light, sledding at the local hill, or exchanging gifts, focus all your attention on the activity at hand. Engage your senses: notice the sights, sounds, smells, and textures around you. This will help you create lasting memories and savor the experience.

If you need an example of what this looks like, watch an infant/toddler. These kids live in the present. Just this morning while drinking my coffee, I watched as my 16 month old observed our newly decorated tree. She paused at each ornament, looking, touching, comparing her hand to her sister’s handprint from 2018. She was taking it all in and so was I. We were in the moment and I didn’t want to leave it. Unfortunately, it was a Monday and I had 2 kids to get up and on the bus!

3. Practice Gratitude

Gratitude is a powerful way to stay in the moment and appreciate the good things in life. During the holiday season, take time each day to reflect on the things you’re grateful for. It could be something as simple as a clean kitchen in the morning, a phone call from a friend, or the warmth of your home. You can choose to just simply pause for this reflection, or be more intentional and write it down.

I will often write things in the corner of my planner. For me, my planner is something that I have on hand most days, and something I keep from year to year as a reminder of all that took place that year, as well as my thoughts – like what I am grateful for. I keep these planners in our home office, creating a library of our past if you will. They have become a treasure.  

Gratitude helps shift our focus away from what’s missing or what we still need to do. It encourages us to appreciate what we have right now. By making gratitude a daily practice, you’ll cultivate a deeper sense of joy and contentment throughout the season. And while I am a huge advocate of practicing gratitude for yourself, encourage your family to do the same. It can be quick. Maybe even just a quick question in the car aimed at your children, friend or spouse to name one thing they are grateful for that day. They only have to name one, but more than likely through conversation, they will realize they have a lot to be grateful for!

4. Take Breaks to Recharge

While the holidays are a time for socializing and celebration, they can also be draining. If like me, you find yourself in moments where you feel overwhelmed or exhausted, it’s important to take breaks and recharge. This might mean taking a quiet walk outside (or on the treadmill), sitting watching the fireplace (either real or on YouTube), or simply doing a puzzle by yourself or with your kids. By taking time to rest, you’ll be better able to stay present and enjoy the festivities.

One of my favorite ways to recharge (that my kids don’t even realize) is doing a puzzle with instrumental Christmas music playing low in the background. While I may start alone, I quickly have my older kids joining in. We listen to the music and quietly work. It feels magical, a special non-verbal bonding time together, and as a result I feel so much better. We all do.

I am learning to say no more so that I can say yes when I really want to. Remember, it’s okay to say no to invitations or to decline activities that don’t align with your values, needs or intention for this season (Tip 1). Prioritizing your well-being allows you to show up fully for the moments that matter most, even the moments that are happening during your recharge.

5. Let Go of Perfectionism

Many people (me, I am talking about me) set high expectations for the holiday season, and the pressure to make everything perfect can lead to stress and anxiety. Whether it’s baking super cute holiday treats, buying the perfect gift, or decorating every inch of your home, trying to meet these unrealistic standards can take away from the enjoyment of the season. I am SO guilty of this – I do not want to just bring a gift, but to bring the favorite gift. I don’t want to just bake holiday treats, I want to bake the cutest, most unique treats. So unnecessary, and yet I do it year after year. Spoiler, I don’t actually enjoy the process because of this mindset.

Instead of striving for perfection, join me this season in an effort to focus on doing things with love and intention. The holidays are about connection, not perfection. Let’s embrace the imperfections and allow ourselves to relax and enjoy the process. This season I am going to try to worry less about buying the perfect gift, and more about how I can be intentional with my nieces and nephews outside of the 30 minutes we are opening our gifts. Maybe we will play a new game and giggle the afternoon away. Maybe I will make sure to have my snow gear so we can go on an adventure through the woods at my in-law’s house, stopping to make snow angels and snowmen of course before heading back inside for some hot chocolate.

6. Create New Traditions

One of the joys of the holiday season is the opportunity to create new memories and traditions. Instead of getting stuck in old routines, take time to experiment with new activities that allow you to stay present. This could include cooking a new recipe, going on an evening family hot chocolate walk, or finding ways to help out a church during these busy days leading up to Christmas.

This year our family is gearing up to try something new, thanks to a very thoughtful suggestion from my 7 year old. As part of Christmas dinner, for dessert we will be having a ‘Happy Birthday Jesus’ cookie cake. It will double as both a birthday cake for Jesus and Santa’s cookie. Pretty awesome idea huh?! It’s a magical way to connect Santa with the true meaning of Christmas. I am hoping this little change sticks, because I think it is so wonderful.

New traditions help break the cycle of stress and bring a sense of novelty and excitement to the season. They also give you an opportunity to connect with others in a meaningful way, especially children as they grow and their personalities and ideas develop.

Conclusion

This holiday season, make a conscious effort to stay in the moment and savor the joys of the season. By practicing gratitude, setting intentions, and focusing on the present, you can reduce stress, deepen your connections with others, and create meaningful memories. Maybe even start a few unanticipated traditions. Remember, the holidays are about more than just gifts and parties — they’re about connection and joy and most importantly, Jesus! By staying present, you’ll experience the true spirit of the season and make this holiday one to remember. I hope you found this helpful, if so, I would love to hear how they worked for you this holiday season. Please leave a comment below!

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