There’s no getting around it – this Christmas is likely to be different from last year. COVID restrictions and worries about health and money are causing extraordinary stress for many of us. 

But stress isn’t inevitable and there’s still so much you can do to prioritize your wellness for a joyful holiday season! With a few smart tactics, it can turn into a year to remember for all of the right reasons. 

Let’s talk about some of the ways you can close out 2020 with joy, connections and gratitude!

1. Keep up with your self-care

The holiday season can be hugely hectic leaving hardly any time for yourself.

Reserve time for yourself

Keeping up with your usual self-care rituals is so incredibly important for stressing less at Christmas. If you normally log big workouts, or practice affirmations, meditation, or take long soak in a hot bath, don’t skimp on your routine! These practices can help you stay centered, grounded, and calm. 

2. Switch up your thinking

It’s easy to focus on what you can’t do this Christmas, especially if COVID restrictions take the shine off your “normal” festive celebrations. I was starting to get down with the thought of missing out on celebrating with my sister’s family this year. Getting stuck in this negative mindset can make Christmas hugely miserable!

That can all change with one simple mindset trick 

Reframe your thinking to consider what you can do. Look for as many creative ways to enjoy Christmas as possible. The celebrations may be completely different but they may also be totally fun! I decided to schedule time on Christmas Eve to watch a virtual pageant and and a virtual holiday service with my father, my daughter and her dad. The pageant is hosted by a family minister from our childhood church in Southborough, Massachusetts who I haven’t seen in years.  Bonus memories that we wouldn’t score in normal times!

There’s always pressure to have the “perfect” Christmas but in 2020, it’s totally fine to be “good enough” instead. For example, I found relief by not going “all out” on the decorating since we won’t be hosting guests….. Just enough to look beautiful and make us happy but half the stress!

3. Take the focus off the presents

There can be a ton of stress to spend money over the holidays and sometimes, it can take away from the true spirit of Christmas. If the pandemic means that money is tighter than normal this year, approaching the holidays from a fresh perspective can be a game-changer. 

Liberate yourself from Christmas stress by taking material aspects out of the equation. Plus, it can totally make future holiday seasons a lot less expensive since it sets the tone for later on!

Instead of worrying about not having a big Christmas, put the focus elsewhere so it doesn’t matter as much. A smart move is to put attention on meaning instead of expensive gifts. Think quality over quantity for presents and go for experiences and memories as the main treats.  

You can still heap tons of meaning on the idea of expressing love and kindness over the holidays and getting involved in the local community. You can teach your little ones how to show these qualities and appreciate the less material parts of the holidays. Addison told me she wants to give toys to children less fortunate, so we are looking into ways we can safely share our good fortune with others. 

4. Go for gratitude

Even if COVID restrictions mean you can’t physically see all of your family and friends this Christmas, being socially distanced can help you appreciate them a ton more. Let them know you’re thinking of them and that you’re thankful for the moments you’ve been able to share together (Amey, are you reading this??!!). 

Creating a handwritten card or note can feel special for the recipient. These days, we don’t receive many handwritten items and it can feel a ton more personal than an email. 

The benefits aren’t limited to the people you send them to – according to a study in the Journal of Writing Research, writing letters of gratitude can give you a happiness boost too. 

You can go even further than this to reap the effects of gratitude. 

Writing down what you’ve been grateful for this year and hanging the notes as Christmas decorations can be a strong visual reminder. Bonus points if the notes aren’t linked to material things!

The great thing about gratitude is that it teaches you to appreciate what you have instead of what you don’t. And from a Christmas perspective, it can help you avoid dwelling on the negative aspects of this year’s celebrations and find things to boost your mood. 

5. Create new traditions

Some of your usual Christmas traditions may be no-go this year so why not make some brand-new ones instead? 

This is a great time to do things that will have a positive effect on other people. With many people hurting after a traumatic 2020, these new traditions can be helpful and spread genuine happiness over the holidays. Plus, you’ll get a ton of fuzzy feels for doing good deeds!

A few ideas:

• Make up packages for older people in your neighborhood 
• Help out at a local food bank 
• Deliver handmade Christmas cards to a local nursing home
• Roam the neighborhood and take video of your favorite holiday lights. Combine the clips and send to somebody who is bed-bound or house-bound this year

You might even decide to keep some of these traditions going strong for future festive seasons!

From my household to yours, please enjoy a warm and healthy holiday season full of joy and prosperity!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ~Priscilla

The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others’ burdens, easing others’ loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of the holidays.

W. C. Jones