Enjoy the holiday season more by focusing on family and faith. Here are 10 helpful tips from a Christian family counselor.
How do you best enjoy the holidays?
The holiday season is upon us! Do you feel behind already? Rushed and busy?
The closer we get to Thanksgiving, to Christmas, to the end of the year… it can start to get a little crazy.
That’s why today, I wanted to share 10 ideas for how we can be INTENTIONAL during the holiday season. Ideas for how we can slow down, enjoy the time, and create meaningful memories with our families.
Ready? Let’s jump in!
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Why is it sometimes hard to enjoy the holidays?
Let’s face it: the holidays are LOADED with emotion.
Some of us have great memories from our childhood and from past holiday seasons. Others of us cringe and try to ignore them as long as possible.
Wherever we come from, we all are in the same boat today: Every mom wants to create special memories for her kids and for the whole family!
But plenty of things can get in the way. There are extra events to add into the calendar, gifts to plan and shop for and wrap, more baking, more cooking, more traveling… the holidays are a lot.
Add in all that emotions stuff… and it can be hard to actually enjoy the holidays with your family.
10 Tips To Help You Enjoy The Holidays
If you want to truly enjoy the holidays, you need to be intentional about them. Slow down, pay attention, and make the most of this special season.
These 10 tips will help.
1. Clarify your priorities ASAP for this particular season
Every mom and every family is in a different spot for the holidays. So before they really start, take a moment and think about your biggest priorities. Gathering the whole extended family for a visit? Getting a special baby-with-Santa picture? Think it through so you are clear about what you really want.
2. Talk about the holidays ahead of time.
Maybe you’ve thought through the top priorities… but what would your family prioritize? Talk about Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years. What are their favorite things? What do they want to avoid? Have conversations now to get in the holiday spirit and make sure everyone has a wonderful time.
3. Consider how you will incorporate Scripture, prayer, worship, and church activities into these next few months.
For the holidays to be truly meaningful as a family, the holiday season must stay focused on the true reason for our celebration: Jesus! Here are a few ideas for how to keep Jesus at the center of how you enjoy the holidays as a family:
- Read 1 chapter of the Gospel of Luke every day in December. It takes you through Christmas Eve!
- Find an Advent or Christmas Devotional to use for yourself or with your family.
- Share something you’re thankful for every day of November, maybe around the breakfast or dinner table with your family.
- Use an Advent calendar with your family.
- Pick your favorite Scriptures and talk about them with your family this season.
- Listen to favorite Christmas songs and talk about what they really mean.
4. Live in the moment.
So many things will try to distract you during the holidays. Yes, take some cute pictures, but don’t live behind your camera. Sure, share on social media, but don’t get lost in the scroll. Try to be fully present with your family if you want to ENJOY the holidays!
5. Ask meaningful questions during the holidays.
When you’re spending time with your family, make those conversations special. You might share favorite holiday memories, ask not just what they want for gifts but why, or spend time reflecting on what they’ve learned over this past year. Talk about gratitude, Jesus, relationships, dreams, or anything else! Make conversations meaningful.
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6. Focus on gratitude.
The holidays is a very natural time to start thinking more about what you are thankful for in your life. (Even though Christians should be thankful every day!) But this is a great chance to really shift your attention toward the blessings and gifts that God has given you. Then, you’ll definitely enjoy the holidays!
WANT MORE? Grab my 30-day Gratitude Challenge to dive deeper!
7. Know your people’s love languages and try to emphasize that during the holidays.
Are you familiar with the 5 love languages? It’s basically the idea that every person has a way of receiving or experiencing love that is very powerful for them. Which means that if you want your family to enjoy the holidays, show them love in the way they most notice it! Here are some ideas:
- Is their love language Quality Time? Plan activities with this person even if it’s special time at home watching a holiday movie.
- Gifts is another love language. Well, that’s easy during the holidays! Give meaningful gifts, but also extra goodies all month long.
- Physical Touch is a common love language too. So aim for more hugs, high fives, back rubs, or snuggling under a cozy blanket together.
- If your loved one has a love language of Acts of Service, be purposeful to do some chores for them or take care of extra projects around the house, so they can enjoy that during this season.
- Words of Affirmation is also a love language. Write a note, give compliments, and share your gratitude with them out loud.
8. Take time for yourself.
If you are one stressed out mama during the holidays… will you actually enjoy it? Probably not! Allow space for self care. Get your own time in the Bible and in prayer. It’s okay to say no to special events or even some family things if you need to sneak away and get a breather. Grab my 51 Self Care Ideas List if you aren’t sure where to start.
9. Allow some white space in your calendar.
Your family cannot enjoy the holidays if it is too busy, too rushed, or too stressed. So practice saying no sometimes! Maybe it’s avoiding travel or maybe it’s scheduling downtime so that it’s protected. Keep some time available to simply enjoying being WITH your family.
READ NEXT: The Ultimate Guide To How A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
10. Pray for the holiday season.
Prayer might be last on this list, but it is the most powerful thing you can do this holiday season. If you want to ENJOY the holidays, pray over them! Pray for your events, special time together, big family dinners, and everything else. Ask God to show up and bring joy and peace into your family relationships.
READ NEXT: The Incredible Power Of Becoming A Woman Of Prayer
Listen to Episode #150
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Listen to Episode #151
Friday Faith Follow-up Episode
In this short podcast episode, I’ll share 3 things that are important during the holidays, to keep your family focused on the true meaning of the holiday season.
COMING SOON.
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Disclaimers: I am a licensed therapist but my podcast, blog, and resources are not professional or personal advice. I am an affiliate for many of the resources that I link to, and may earn a small commission if you purchase through my link. Read my full disclaimer here.
