How to Simplify the Holidays: The Art of Doing Less

A Little Discovery | Holiday State of Mind

The decorations need to go up. The cards need to go out.

There are presents to wrap, cookies to bake, and approximately 47 things happening next weekend.

And somewhere on that list, we’re supposed to enjoy the holidays. Funny how that works.

We plan the perfect holiday season. Then spend most of it trying to keep up with the plan.

Maybe this is the year to simplify the holidays.

Why It’s Okay to Simplify the Holidays

Think about the holidays you remember. Was it the perfectly wrapped presents? The decorations that matched? The fact that every single tradition happened right on schedule?

Or was it the night everyone stayed longer than expected? The drive to look at Christmas lights? That one afternoon when you had nowhere to be?

Maybe a holiday state of mind has less to do with everything we do and more to do with what we actually enjoy.

Easy Ways to Simplify the Holidays

Cancel one thing. Not the thing you love. The thing you do because you’ve always done it. See if anyone even notices. It’s the easiest way to simplify the holidays without missing a thing.

Keep one little tradition. The holiday movie you’ve watched 20 times. A drive to see the lights. Hot chocolate from your favorite place. Whatever makes it feel like the season has officially arrived.

Leave a little room for the unexpected. An invitation you didn’t see coming. An extra hour with friends. A spontaneous outing.

What Christmas with the

Kranks Gets Right

One of my favorite holiday movies had a message we can take with us.

The Kranks try to skip Christmas altogether. Then their plans change, the neighbors get involved, and nothing goes according to the plan. And yet, Christmas happens anyway.

Sometimes when you simplify the holidays, you make room for the moments you’ll actually remember.

Maybe the holidays aren’t about picture-perfect homes with matching Frostys on the rooftops.

Sometimes it’s family, friends, and a flying Volkswagen.

How are ou going to simplify this holiday season? Tell me in the comments.