25 Festive Ways To Get Into The Christmas Spirit

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Christmas is almost here! If you need a little joy and lightness right now, here are 25 simple ways to help you get in the Christmas spirit.

Sometimes the preparation and bustle of Christmas can steal away our festive cheer, leaving us feeling more “Ho Ho Humbug” than “Ho Ho Ho.” It is such a shame when this special season turns into a stressful one.

That is why I am sharing ten easy ways to bring a little jingle back into your step and some Christmas joy into your heart. Whether you are already the happiest of Christmas elves or need a gentle nudge to embrace the holiday spirit, these ideas will help you celebrate this beautiful season with joy.

Listen To Christmas Music

Nothing sets the mood for the season quite like Christmas music. When I am cleaning, decorating, or trimming the tree, I love upbeat and fun holiday tunes to keep me energized.

While I cook, I turn to Michael Bublé or classic Christmas standards to create a cozy, festive atmosphere. And when I am working and need to focus, my go-to is Pandora’s Peaceful Christmas Music station. It is the perfect mix of calm and quiet holiday cheer.

Pandora has so many wonderful Christmas stations to explore.

Christmas music is such a special treat because most of us only enjoy it during this time of year. So turn up your favorite Christmas melodies and soak in the joy, it is an instant mood lifter.

Fill Your Home With Christmas Scents

Aromas have a wonderful way of creating and triggering strong memories. This Christmas, let your home smell as festive as it looks with scents like peppermint, cinnamon, cloves, evergreen, and vanilla. These cozy fragrances instantly bring on the warmth and joy of the season.

One of my favorite ways to fill a room with holiday cheer is by diffusing essential oils. It is such an easy and natural way to make your home smell like Christmas. I also love making simmer pots with simple ingredients from my kitchen. As these beautiful, mood-lifting scents drift through our home, they lift our spirits and stir up happy Christmas memories.

Recently, our grown son walked through the back door while a Christmas simmer pot was gently bubbling on the stove. He paused and said, “Mom, your home smells like Christmas!” Oh, my heart melted. He remembered the way our home smelled at Christmas when he was growing up.

For a hands-on idea, try making your own scented pinecones. They are so easy to put together, can be refreshed year after year, and add a charming decorative touch while filling your home with that classic Christmas scent.

Cut Down On Your To-Do List

Friend, let’s have a quick heart-to-heart. The holidays come with full schedules, and if you are anything like me, you might find yourself piling on chores, parties, and responsibilities until your to-do list looks like a long scroll. Let’s not do that to ourselves.

The real goal of the Christmas season is to have a prepared heart, not a perfectly prepared everything else. When we take on too much, we end up with empty emotional tanks, exhausted bodies, hot-glued fingertips, glitter in our hair, and bags under our eyes. I know this because I have been there more times than I want to admit. A few years ago, I took a serious look at my holiday routines and decided to simplify.

Did I really need to bake fifteen kinds of Christmas cookies? No. Now I stick to just a few family favorites, and it feels so freeing. And do I really need three fully decked out Christmas trees at the Tanglewood house? Not at all. One thoughtfully and joyfully decorated tree is more than enough.

Please hear my heart on this. Focus on what truly matters to you and your family. That is it. You will feel calmer and more at peace, and your family will enjoy having a rested, joyful version of you.

Christmas does not need all the extras to be meaningful. Charlie Brown had it right!

Ask For Help

My grandmother lived with her mother-in-law, my great aunt lived just down the street, and Nani’s next-door neighbors were like family. They helped one another and worked together, proving the truth of the old saying, Many hands make light work. We can learn so much from that kind of teamwork, especially during the busy Christmas season.

If you love baking cookies, you can barter your sweet creations for help with a holiday chore you do not enjoy as much. Or if you are a happy decorating elf but cleaning and organizing are not your strengths, let others know you are willing to trade tasks.

For me, having help with Christmas decorations is a lifesaver. My friend, who also works with me, will be helping me put everything away this year, and I cannot begin to describe the Christmas tree-sized weight that will lift off my shoulders. Normally, I jump right into January’s blogging schedule the day after Christmas, and my undecorating time tends to fall between one in the afternoon and three in the morning, when I really need sleep. Katie truly is a blessing in my life.

The key is to delegate. You do not have to carry all the Christmas work yourself. If you share your home with others, divide the responsibilities and make the season more fun by working together.

Do what makes your life easier and the Christmas season more enjoyable. Ask for help. Truly, do it. You will be amazed at how much more you can enjoy the season when you share the load.

Decorate Something For 15 Minutes

Decorating for Christmas can sometimes feel overwhelming, but what if you focused on a project that only takes twenty minutes? How fun would it be to pour your creativity into something quick and beautiful.

Most of us can find twenty minutes in our busy day to create a little holiday magic. Taking that time to focus on just one simple task can give your mind a much needed break and help you slip into the Christmas spirit.

If you are looking for inspiration, the blog is full of easy Christmas arrangements and ideas that take under 20 minutes to make. Be sure to check out Christmas Decorating Ideas You Can Do In 15 Minutes and 9 Easy Last-Minute Christmas Decorating Ideas for some of my favorite fast and festive projects.

Read The Real Christmas Story

Give yourself some grace, friend. It is perfectly all right if you are not feeling the Christmas spirit just yet.

The way we celebrate Christmas today looks very different from the first Christmas. To really connect with the meaning of this season, take a few minutes to read the story in the Bible, Luke 2:1–20. You can also read my post, The Real Christmas Story, which is one of my most popular posts.

The Real Christmas Story post pulls away all the tinsel and extras and lets us see the raw sights, sounds, emotions, and deep meaning of that holy night. It is a powerful reminder that Christmas is not really about decorations or traditions at all. It is about how God came to us with His plan of salvation. Now that is something to celebrate.

Whether you are the jolliest of Christmas lovers or feeling a bit like the Grinch this year, take time to read the true Christmas story. It is good for the soul and a beautiful way to welcome the real Christmas spirit.

Read A Christmas Book

Take a little time to read a few Christmas books. The ones on this list are simple and so touching.

Just saying The Best Christmas Pageant Ever makes me giggle every single time. I just finished reading it to my grandchildren, and we laughed our way through it together. The Littlest Angel always makes me cry buckets, in the sweetest way. These kinds of stories are such a gentle, cozy way to slow down and enjoy the season.

• THE GIFT OF THE MAGI
• UNWRAPPING THE GREATEST GIFT
• THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER
• THE LITTLEST ANGEL
• THE CHRISTMAS WISH
• AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS

Watch A Christmas Movie

Grab a bowl of popcorn, some candy canes, and the family, and settle in for a cozy Christmas movie night.

In our family, Friday night has always been movie night, and that tradition continues even now. My grown children have carried it into their own homes with their little ones.

Recently, we all watched Elf together, and the little boys absolutely howled with laughter. Moments like that are such a sweet reminder of the joy and fun this season brings.

Here are a few of our favorites. We love old movies…

• It’s A Wonderful Life
• The Best Christmas Pagent Ever
• Home Alone, 1 and 2
• Elf
• White Christmas
• The Man Who Invented Christmas
• Polar Express
• Red One
• An Affair To Remember
• Falling For Christmas
• Chrismas In Connecticut
• Last Christmas
• A Boy Called Christmas
• Miracle on 34th Street
• A Christmas Carol
• Last Holiday
• The Bishop’s Wife

Make time to gather your loved ones, pick a favorite holiday movie, and enjoy the simple pleasure of being together. It is a sure way to get into the Christmas spirit.

Take A Drive To See The Christmas Lights

This is one of my absolute favorites.

Just last night, on our way home from a family birthday dinner, Bobby and I started planning which homes to visit on our annual Christmas lights tour. We made a mental list of the good, the bad, and the oh my goodness, what were they thinking displays. I have to admit, I enjoy a “train wreck” of a display just as much as a breathtakingly beautiful one. It is all part of the fun.

There is something so magical about Christmas lights. Bundle up, turn on some holiday music in the car, and make the ride even sweeter with a thermos of hot chocolate and maybe a cookie or two. It is a simple, happy tradition that really brings the holiday spirit to life.

Paint Your Nails Red

Get a manicure and paint your nails red for Christmas. And if you are daring, add sparkles. Just do it!

Go For A Walk

Remember to move your body during the holidays. We tend to let our exercise routines slide when we get busy, but staying active helps your mindset and makes you feel better physically, too. I swim, and it is such good medicine for me.

Spend a little time in the fresh air. Get outside, even if it is cold. A short walk can clear your head, lift your mood, and give you a quiet moment to enjoy the season.

More Ideas To Get Into The Christmas Spirit

Here are a few more ideas that will get you in the Christmas spirit this year…

Happy December, friends…