Slow Holidays 🕯️

Season's Greetings as we enter the winter landscape of December! As the holiday season kicks into gear, I wanted to share my thoughts on the whirlwind of activities that seem to fill every moment of the calendar and how to navigate this time in a slow and intentional way.

The usual hustle and bustle associated with this season is already becoming apparent—traffic is increasing, and stores are becoming more crowded.

As I move through the extensive to-do lists, I always try to take a moment to remember the TRUE essence of the holiday season: faith, connection, gratitude, and joy.

But how can we carve out moments of calm amidst the chaos? How can we nurture our well-being and find genuine peace in the festivities?

Embracing a slower pace and creating breathing room in our schedules can help us reconnect with what truly matters during this special time of year. By prioritizing self-care and mindfulness, we can transform the holiday season from a source of stress into a cherished opportunity for celebration and togetherness.

Mindfulness is simply the act of doing an activity with your full attention and awareness. It involves being in the moment, right here and right now, while accepting the thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations that come and go.

Mindfulness has demonstrated benefits for overall health. Research suggests that mindfulness-based interventions can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve cognitive abilities, reduce rumination, improve emotional processing, reduce pain, and improve stress management, among other reported benefits.

Here’s my inspiring plan to embrace a holiday season filled with more mindfulness, less stress, and an abundance of peace and joy:

1. Release the notion of perfection and embrace whatever comes your way; flow like water.

I remember feeling embarrassed during my first Thanksgiving dinner at home. The turkey was undercooked, and the pie crusts were burnt and misshaped, ruining the taste of the pies. As I get ready to celebrate the holiday with family this year, I've learned that every holiday gathering has many moving parts that come with challenges, but it's up to me how I handle them. I can choose to relax and enjoy myself. I don’t need to be the “hostess with the mostest.” My intention is to make sweet memories with my family and enjoy good food together!

I don’t have to match the perfect holiday decorations I see on Pinterest. I’m happy to decorate the same tree we've used for the last ten years. I bring out our sweet nativity set the girls have had since they were babies, hang our stockings and favorite pine garland, and the house is decorated just like that.

2. Celebrate Advent the whole month of December.

My family and I enjoy celebrating Advent to emphasize the spiritual essence of Christmas. Most evenings in December, we open an Advent envelope, small bag, or toy, each accompanied by a scripture passage that keeps our hearts centered on Christ. Regardless of how hectic December may become, the simple act of lighting candles and reading together brings a deep sense of peace and connection to our family.

3. Plan, write, and break down tasks.

Check-in with yourself each morning or evening and see what you have coming up or feel is most pressing. Give yourself a place to vent and purge any thoughts holding you back from moving forward or slowing down.

Writing things out slows down my racing mind, helps me organize my thoughts and goals, and allows me to discern what is most important and what can be left off or rescheduled.

Writing also helps provide clarity and peace of mind. The more I do this, the more I can accomplish things and the better I feel about balancing my productivity with my downtime.

I cannot stress this one enough. Saying NO to people/events/commitments is totally okay.

Know your limits and make time for stillness.

4. Create intentional and mindful moments for yourself and your family to do together. Limit yourself to a fair number per week; if one is your max, that's okay. Give yourself downtime on your off days to do absolutely nothing, and don't feel bad.

Here are a few of my favorite intentional ways to connect during the holidays.

• Spa day at home

• Get a massage

• Paint your nails

• Make handmade gifts

• Bake cookies or homemade goods for others

• Create holiday decorations for your home

• Draw, paint, or color

• Handwrite letters or cards

• Brush your dog or cat

• Knit, crochet, embroider, cross stitch, or any handwork

• Fold paper window stars

• Decorate the Christmas tree

• Drive around and look at Christmas lights

• Drink hot cocoa and watch a holiday movie together

• Take a nap

5. Eliminate stress by streamlining where you can

Give the same gift to several people on your list.

Choose five easy meals you like and cook them for your family each week in December.

For holiday dinners, cook the same tried and true recipes year after year.

6. Embrace Simplicity

Rather than hosting a big holiday party, invite one family or friend over for a weekend breakfast or a hearty soup.

Downsize gift-giving by sticking to one or two gifts per family member.

Stay inSpired and intentional!

Merry Christmas!!

inSpirit!