All is Calm & All is Bright – Making Christmas Enjoyable

Set the tone for a joyful holiday season by embracing calm, creating space, and preparing with these practical tips for navigating the busy Christmas season.

Christmas is always a time of “extra things”. It is a level of busyness that is unmatched in any other part of the year. 

Multiple family gatherings, performances, school events, finals, and major tests, decorating the house (inside and outside), making special meals, baking goodies, church events, a tree making a mess of the living room, work Christmas parties, gifts to purchase and wrap, potlucks and luncheons, an elf that creates mischief each night, and lots of sweets. 

Just thinking of all that goes into the space between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is exhausting. 

As the mom, homemaker, and master of holiday vibes, I know I set the tone for the season. If I’m rushed and grumpy, it spreads faster than glitter on a Christmas craft. But when I embrace the season with joy, preparation (and maybe a few deep breaths), the whole atmosphere in our home shifts.

I feel compelled to capture what has worked for me and share it with anyone who might need it. This month can feel different from the rest of the year.

I hope something here sparks a little inspiration for you to celebrate in your own fun, unique, and beautiful way—without losing your sanity!

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making room for margin

My first step is to clear off the calendar. I remove anything that does not urgently need to be there.

For me this looks like:

• letting go of some household projects, to-do list items, and deep cleaning tasks.  
• No regular doctor checkups or dental appointments
• refusing to add extra homeschool projects or planning
• opting out of extracurricular activities for the month
• saying “no” to some Christmas events and parties
• condensing errands and shopping trips
• blocking out space on the calendar for time at home

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preparing my heart

For this category, I have two areas of inspiration:

#1 – books read while snuggled on the couch with a coffee or hot tea

• The Little Book of Hygge – a must-read introduction to hygge, written by Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen.
• The Greatest Gift – Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas by Ann Voscamp
• Wintering by Katherine May
• Calm Christmas by Beth Kempton
• Christmas-themed novels from the library – each year I try to read a different one
• Devotionals in the free Bible App – there is a long list with all kinds of themes and time lengths (6 days, 2 weeks, etc.)

#2 – audio inputs that make any chore more enjoyable 

I listen to an audio devotional or podcast while doing the many hours of preparation that Christmas calls for.  Washing dishes and wrapping gifts is way better with a digital friend in my ears.

Listening to podcasts reminds me what I care about this season.

Podcast Episodes that have impacted me:

• Schole Sisters – SS #16: Don’t Be the White Witch
• Read Aloud Revival #36, #117 – and so many more..
• Homeschool Highschool #141 “Handling Difficult People During the Holidays”
• The Next Right Thing #62 “Sit Down on the Inside”Photo by Erwan Hesry on Unsplash

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scheduling key preparation days

To make room for the holidays, I start by scheduling key preparation days—like decorating, putting up lights, and cleaning—rather than trying to squeeze them into random moments. I’ve set aside specific times to clean the house, put away fall decor, and bring out the Christmas decorations. We usually set up lights as a family, marking the day on the calendar so it’s not a rush.

Baking is also a big part of our holiday season, so I plan ahead: first gathering recipes, making a grocery list, and then setting aside time to bake together. Even the cleanup becomes its own event, with a quiet kitchen and a good podcast to make it enjoyable.

Finally, I plan Christmas cleanup and transition into the New Year based on what feels right for our family. This approach gives me the breathing room I need to enjoy the season instead of feeling overwhelmed by it.

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doing the Christmas-y things with my kids

I focus on the Christmas activities my kids and I enjoy the most and make time for those special moments together.

I’ve created a family bucket list that reflects our favorite traditions, making sure to include a mix of fun things to do at home, free events in the community, and activities the kids can enjoy on their own.

Here are some ideas for a bucket list you can create with your family:

• Gingerbread houses
• Unwrapping books and reading them to the kids
• Decorating the tree and telling stories of each ornament
• driving around to see Christmas lights in pj’s
• attending a Christmas parade, performance or play happening in your town
• filling up a box or two for Operation Christmas Child (early November)
• making goodies from old family recipes
• putting together a jigsaw puzzle (add in cookies and a music for the extra cozy factor)
• watching movies together snuggled on the couch with fuzzy blankets
• hot coco on the front porch while you listen to an audio book (Classics of Childhood, Vol 3 by Blackstone Audio, one of my favorites – click here for more ideas.)
• Homemade muffins for breakfast while listening to Michel Bublé
• Wrapping gifts with the kids – this needs several planned time slots through out the month
• Serving at church and attending the Christmas Eve candle light service.
• Hiding candy canes around the house for the kids to find in the morning
• Make homemade muffins, cookies, and simmering soup. Enjoy the season with dishes that remind you of home.

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I want to allow this month to be different than the rest of the year. I want to slow down in some ways but also prepare to enjoy the season. There are no right or wrong answers for any of this. Do as much or as little as you are comfortable with.

In recent years, my Decembers have been slower and much more enjoyable. I have set the intention to make space for the extra activities and, more importantly, for the celebration of Christmas. I’ve been able to relax and truly enjoy the season.

I hope that with these tips you can find a way to slow down and enjoy the holidays too.

🎄⛄Merry Christmas! – April

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