With the holidays approaching, I know many of you have only one thought. “Hold on.” I’ve heard so many complaints about the hustle and bustle of the holidays.
- The utter lack of peace and quiet
- Late nights
- The excess
- The spending
If you ever thought about the holidays as complicated or disruptive, you are not alone. For some the holidays are a reminder of not measuring up. Maybe you don’t have the best gift wrapping skills, get invited to the best parties, or out bake your neighbors.
For others, the holidays are overwhelming, time-consuming and expensive.
Even if those things, or some of them are true for you, holiday simplicity and experiencing the true joy of the holidays is possible. It all comes down to intention and purpose.
How to Enjoy Holiday Simplicity
1. Identify the 3 most important things to you during the holidays. It could be anything from:
- Time with family
- Watching The Christmas Story for the 84th time
- Finding the perfect present
- Hot cocoa
- Sleigh rides
- Holiday cards or newsletters with goofy family photos
- Baking for neighbors or co-workers
- Silent nights
- Volunteering
- Attending an annual holiday get together
- A festive lunch with friends
- Christmas music
- Eggnog
- Twinkle lights
Even if you love all of these things, choose the 3 most important.
2. Write them down.
3. Commit to them every day, every week or if it’s a date specific event, highlight it on your calendar.
4. As other invitations or obligations come up, see how they fit with your top 3. Not important? Say no thank you.
You’ll likely do more than 3 things over the holidays, but when you turn your attention to the 3 most important, you can really enjoy them instead of trying to fit them in.
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31 Days of Gifts You so Deserve
I want to help you fully embrace the simplicity and meaning of the holidays with purpose and intention. 31 Days is an advent calendar in your inbox designed to deliver the gifts you so deserve. Gifts like joy, music, solitude, dance parties, gratitude and love notes. Advent calendars are usually 24 days, but I want these 31 gifts to see you into the brand new year.
Gentle reminders and joyful recommendations will guide you through December with wonder and simplicity.
Each day, beginning December 1st, you’ll receive your advent gift via email. It will include everything you need to direct 5-10 minutes each day to simplicity and how you want to experience this glorious month. Gifts will include audio messages from me, simple tasks for full engagement, music and more.
Enjoy gifts of love, joy, solitude and silent nights as you move through December with simplicity and grace.
I hope you’ll join me in finding daily holiday goodness through December and take away lessons for the new year.
What is your favorite thing to do during the holidays?
I’m a little confused about how to do this as a gift, since the payment request comes with the email confirmation. I’ve signed up for myself but would also like to sign up for my mom.
Hi Jennifer,
I just updated the gift instructions. I thought it would be simpler, but if you email me the name and email address of the recipient, I can invoice you and then add them to the list. Sorry for the confusion and extra step!
xo,
Courtney
Courtney,
what a great idea! it’s my first time this year purchasing something online but i think it’ll be worth it! Looking forward to my gifts!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope you love it Paula and that it adds joy to your holiday season. xo
What a nice idea! Years ago my husband I decided to ‘opt out’ of a lot of the holiday hoopla – namely gift giving, especially for adults. Youngs kids get something meaningful and we each get an ornament that represents something from the last year. Other than that our holidays are decorating the house and spending time with loved ones. With a new baby now I’m looking for lasting holiday traditions for our family that won’t be money related.
Thank you for always having something worthwhile to read!
Sarah
The holidays have never been a central part of my adult life. The inspiration in this article though is prompting me to see how I can make this period of time a meaningful way to connect with friends and spread joy and love! I love this creative idea of 31 days of gifts!
What a great idea! Thanks!
Hi Courtney,
I have an additional suggestion for you and your readers and I hope it’s okay to share. More than 20 years ago, my sister and I wrote a book to help families wait during Advent, celebrate Christmas, and rejoice at the revelation of Jesus to all people.
My nephew recently re-published our book in Kindle format. And right now, your readers can get it FOR FREE. Check out Get Ready, Celebrate, Rejoice at Amazon for a totally free copy of a book that will help keep the focus on the spiritual elements of the season.
I assume that if this is inappropriate, you won’t publish it. Thanks for all your good thoughts and ideas.
Sally Wilke
Thank you so much! I just signed up for your 31 days of gifts. I have gained so much from your blog since discovering you several months ago; I’m excited to see what the advent calendar will be about. What a thoughtful idea!
I am confused. I see no link on this page to find out how much this service costs.
thanks, Karen
I love watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” and listening to Christmas Music.
I can’t find a link to buy this year’s 31 gifts either. LOVED them last year and I’m looking forward to this year’s version. 🙂
Hi Rose, I haven’t posted a link to this year’s 31 days, but will soon. If you are subscribed to the blog, you’ll get notice.
I am looking for the link, too.
Gayle, I haven’t posted a link to this year’s 31 days, but will soon. If you are subscribed to the blog, you’ll get notice.