Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or another holiday tradition during this season, we all want the same thing – peace! How can you put aside the drama, the stress and the excess to enjoy a pleasant family holiday and end 2020 on a high note? Here are 7 ways to make your season merry and bright – all the way from Thanksgiving to New Year’s!

Remember What Matters

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in all of the advertisements, Black Friday deals, and to do lists. But this year more than ever we’ve seen the value of our friendships and family relationships. Even if you’re lucky enough to leave 2020 with your job and your finances fully intact, the thought of spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on holiday gifts and decorations just doesn’t seem as important this year. So whether it’s the religious aspect of the holiday season or the time spent with family and friends, remember what matters most to you, and take steps to honor that.

Prioritize & Cut The Excess

What are the things you absolutely have to get done this holiday season, and the events that you absolutely don’t want to miss? If the thought of untangling dozens of strands of lights and putting up decorations outside just doesn’t sound worth it this year, it’s ok to skip it! If you just don’t have the time to hand-write an annual Christmas card letter to each family member, consider an email or phone call instead. Give yourself permission to drop the things that just aren’t a priority for you and your family. No one says you have to do the same things you’ve always done or the same things your neighbors do. Embrace your own personal Christmas With The Kranks moment!

Plan Ahead

Don’t wait until the last minute – if you know you need to purchase those plane tickets or shop for Thanksgiving dinner, do it early! Get a head start on your gift list and go ahead and get those decorations out of the attic. It will feel so much better once your biggest “to do” items are checked off the list and you can sit back and relax. For those things that require a bit more planning, pencil them in on a calendar or planner and map out exactly what you will do and when. Sometimes, just having things down on paper makes them feel much easier to accomplish.

Be Flexible

While planning ahead is great, you also want to leave room for changes. Being overscheduled is one of the biggest sources of holiday stress. Don’t pack your schedule so full that there is no room for spontaneous fun, last minute invites, or savoring the moment. It’s important to stay flexible, leave some empty squares on the calendar, and be willing to say yes to the unexpected.

Be Intentional

Do you have some traditions that you’ve continued for years even though your heart is not in it? This year is a great time to sit down and reevaluate which ones are working for you and which ones are not. Be intentional with what you choose to be involved in. Include the whole family and write down 1 or 2 key things that each person would like to experience this holiday season – those things where it just wouldn’t feel right without it. This could be as simple as baking cookies together or as elaborate as making the annual road trip to grandma’s house. If it doesn’t make the list? It gets cut! Getting everyone’s input and finding out which things are the most (and least) important to each person can be eye-opening and save a lot of headaches and hurt feelings later. You may also be surprised to find out that the annual family trip to the tree farm or the perfectly posed family portraits you’ve carved out time for each year aren’t really that enjoyable or important after all, and you can drop them off your holiday to do list.

Take It Slow

We all feel the pressure to “do it all”. You aren’t the only one who has spent the entire month of December chasing those perfect holiday memories only to wind up feeling frazzled, frustrated and disappointed. If you’re rushing around, trying to attend 3 holiday parties in the same night – what fun is that? It is much more enjoyable to slow down and really savor each moment of the holiday season. Take the pressure off and you’ll soon find that those precious family memories do a much better job of creating themselves than you ever could!

Consider Gift Alternatives

Whether it’s 8 nights of gifts for Hannukah or piles of presents under the tree for the annual family gift exchange, the tradition of gift-giving can sometimes feel exhausting, excessive and too expensive. Now more than ever, your loved ones just want the gift of your presence – not your presents. If your heart (or your wallet) just isn’t in it this year, consider alternatives to traditional presents such as giving experience gifts, baking some homemade treats, or offering to host a family dinner and movie night instead. Another idea that is trending with many households is the “3 gift rule” for kids. While there are a few variants, the main idea is that each child only receives 3 presents: something they want, something they need, and something to read. If your family is on board, setting up a “Secret Santa” gift exchange where each person gives and receives just one gift is another great way to minimize the gifts.

So all in all, remember to remove the excess and enjoy the memories.

Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season!