The holidays are officially here, and the countdown to Christmas is on. Though some have already hung their stockings, and others are just now realizing the Halloween decorations need to go, everyone can benefit from a little extra holiday spirit. Whether or not you love Christmas time or you’re beginning to feel the seasonal blues, there are ways to fully feel and embrace the holiday cheer.
Play Holiday/Christmas Music: Whether you’re in the car, working out, cleaning, etc. turning on some classic Christmas music will help give you some Christmas cheer. Some of my personal favorite Christmas albums are by Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé.
Fill Your Environment With Christmas Scents: Aromas can create and trigger strong memories. Fill your space, for example where you do homework or lounge, with scents of peppermint, cinnamon, evergreen, vanilla and other delicious Christmas scents. Bath & Body Works’ “Snowflakes and Cashmere” and “Sweater Weather” are fantastic options for this season.
Get an Advent Calendar: Advent calendars are a great way to get yourself in the holiday spirit. By opening a little gift each day leading up to Christmas, you keep yourself excited for the big day. Advent calendars can range from $1-$1000 and can also be handmade, so there’s no excuse to not participate. Target carries tons of advent calendars with themes ranging from 12 days of Harry Potter socks to 24 days of beauty items.
Decorate with Your Family: Whether you and your family go all out for decorations or prefer to keep it simple, spending time with family is what the holidays are all about. There’s something very nostalgic and special about hanging up stockings and putting lights on the tree with your family close.
Volunteer/Donate: It’s easy to get lost in the wishlists and wants of Christmas, and hard to remember the holidays are supposed to be about giving back to others. No matter your situation, it’s possible to help others this Christmas season. Whether you volunteer at a soup kitchen on Christmas Eve, participate in organizations like Angel Tree and Toys-For-Tots, or even just saying something kind to someone, you are single-handedly spreading Christmas cheer.
Read a Holiday-Themed Book: There are so many fun rom-com-type books on the shelves during the holidays. Pick up a few festive favorites like One Day in December by Josie Silver, We Met in December by Rosie Curtis or In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren to get started. These page-turners all celebrate the magic of the season and will make you feel like you’re living out your own Hallmark movie fantasy.
Bake a Holiday Treat: Allow yourself some time to decompress in the kitchen this season and bake a fun holiday treat. I steer clear of gingerbread houses as I get more upset with them year after year, and who wants to make something that’s hard to eat? Regardless of expertise, there are a variety of treats such as sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies and peppermint-inspired items that can be made and digested.
Start Making/Purchasing People’s Gifts: If you’re anything like me where gift-giving is your love language, then this one is probably a no-brainer, but for others who wait until the last minute, getting or making someone a gift will for sure help get you in the spirit. Wrapping up a gift and knowing the person will love it makes me feel as bright as Rudolph’s nose!
With these ideas, you are sure to be the jolliest of them all, and if you still aren’t feeling the spirit, you might just be the Grinch.
