The Joy of Holiday Simplicity

The Joy of Holiday Simplicity

     Over the last several years, Christmas decorations, gifts, and celebrations have become extravagant and somewhat excessive. The hectic activity that surrounds the holiday season often causes physical exhaustion and emotional stress. Frequently, the Christmas season causes financial strain. Given the current state of the economy, Christmas could be even more stressful this year than in previous years. Perhaps this is the perfect year to celebrate Christmas in a simple, family oriented, intimate manner.
     Christmas decorations can be bright, flashy, and sometimes overdone. There’s nothing wrong with bright lights, lively music, and festive holiday trimmings. However, this might be the year to welcome simplicity. When decorating your home, keep it simple. As much as possible use items from nature such as evergreen branches, berries, and pinecones. Decorate with softer colors, such as blue, silver, and mauve. Play Christmas music but make it the soft, soothing, inspirational type. Create a simple holiday theme in your home that provides you with a relaxing and inspiring atmosphere to come home to. A quiet holiday season spent at home where you can rest your body, relax your mind, and enjoy closeness with family can provide the rejuvenation your spirit needs. Instead of entering into the new year in a state of exhaustion from excessive holiday activities you will be prepared to start the new year rested, relaxed, and less stressed.
    Rather than add to your financial stress by purchasing gifts that you can’t afford, give non-material gifts or eliminate extensive gift giving. Many of your family members and friends may also be dealing with financial issues and would welcome the opportunity to be relieved of reciprocating gifts. When giving gifts, share your time or skill as a gift rather than purchase gifts that may strain your budget or end up in storage.
     Attending and hosting holiday celebrations can be both expensive and time consuming. This year, rather than over-extend your time and budget, limit your holiday celebrations to one or two small gatherings with your closest family and friends. Keep the menu, decorations, and activities simple. Consider hosting a pot luck type brunch or dinner for a small number of people. This takes some of the financial burden off of you and instead of having to attend numerous gathering, everyone can actively participate in one event.
    Keeping your holiday schedule simple gives you more of an opportunity for family time. Together, as a family, take a nature walk to search for holiday decorations. Bake some cookies or make candy together. Potato candy is a good choice. Watch holiday movie classics together.
     When keeping your holiday simple, make it an intimate holiday by designating as much time as possible to sharing quiet moments with the special person in your life. Create a new tradition that involves just the two of you. One of the best gifts you can give each other is your totally undivided time to reconnect, heart to heart, with each other.