21 Ways to Have a Peaceful, Simple Christmas This Year

Inside: Enjoy a simple Christmas with these 21 tips so the holidays are festive and fun without all the stress.

It’s 11:30 pm on Christmas Eve. I am wrapping what feels like the 100th gift with frustrated vigor, trying to finish it all before going to bed or collapsing on the sofa to watch It’s a Wonderful Life.

All the while, thinking “surely there’s a better way than feeling so rushed right up to Christmas Eve?” And so then the question became, “how do we slow down and have a simple Christmas that is still festive and fun without the stress?”

Then it dawned on me: start with what Christmas means to each of us. This first step helps simplify Christmas and give focus to what matters most for you and your family.

Christmas for me means cozy, festive decor and caroling at church on Christmas Eve. It means watching Home Alone in PJs or toasting with friends in our holiday finest and sharing the Christmas Story with my children.

For you it could mean many other things: perhaps its an annual ski trip, or the local Grinch performance or a special holiday meal on Christmas Eve. The beautiful thing about Christmas is we all have special traditions and ways to celebrate the holiday season.

BE ready for the holidays!

Get the Christmas Prep Timeline to stay organized this holiday season (blank monthly calendars included too!)

However, it takes effort to make the holidays “happen.” That effort can sometimes fall completely on you, making this time of year more stressful then it should be. And no matter how different everyone’s holiday priorities may be, we can all agree this time of year is meant to be joyful, not stressful.

To limit your overwhelm, there are ways to simplify Christmas and make it less frenzied and more peaceful. You want to create the memories and carry on with the traditions, but you don’t want to feel extra stressed while doing it. See below tips for lowering holiday stress and enjoying a simple Christmas.

21 Ways to Lower Holiday Stress and Enjoy a Simple Christmas

What do you and your family love the most about the holidays? Gift exchanging? Traditional holiday meals or sweets? Your family’s annual Christmas party?

Consider what matters most to you and start there for priorities. Everything else can (or not) happen from that point. Identifying what matters most allows you to put things into perspective and enjoy a simple Christmas season.

Have a Christmas mantra

Keep Christmas simple by boiling it down to one main idea. Repeating a chosen mantra increases positive thought flow and decreases the negative helping you keep priorities at the forefront.

Here are a few mantras for inspiration:

Christ is the reason for the season
Joy comes from people not things
Norman Rockwell perfection isn’t necessary
“Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store, perhaps Christmas means a little bit more.” The Grinch, Dr. Seuss.

Be protective of your calendar

Make it a simple Christmas by not over-scheduling you or your family. Plan your “must-dos” (i.e, the neighborhood Christmas sweater party or the kindergarten cookie exchange) then fill in activities as you see fit.

Keep a close watch on your December calendar so it doesn’t get overbooked and overwhelming. Remember, it’s okay to say “no” to preserve your family’s time during the holidays to avoid social burnout plus leave room for spontaneity.

Declutter

Before busting out all the Christmas lights and decorations and definitely before buying all the new things and gifts…declutter. This is an excellent time of year to remove the excess in your home before adding more. In addition to decluttering, staying organized will also help with simplifying the season so things don’t get too out of hand.

Do a toy declutter

If you only do one declutter project right now, that is the ideal time of year for a toy one. Don’t just organize and store them, actually remove excess toys from your home. Even better, donate gently used toys to a local charity with your kids helping out. If you’d love a quick toy declutter strategy, check out the post “Declutter and Organize Toys in 4 Simple Steps.”

Avoid stressful situations

The holidays can quickly become hectic. Avoid situations if they are too stressful and create too much anxiety.

Below are ways to overcome potential stressful situations:

Overcrowded stores – shop online only or during slow retail hours
Long family dinners – suggest a happy hour or dessert and coffee instead
Fancy dinner party – politely decline or just go for apps and tell hostess you need to leave early

There is usually a way to accomplish what you want or feel obligated to do by considering alternate scenarios.

Set social limits

If you must attend a holiday gathering that is not of your choice (i.e., your spouse’s company Christmas party…been there!) agree upon a time limit beforehand or a way to signal you are at your limit. As an introvert myself I know I can only handle so much small talk.

Remember patience is a virtue

English poet William Landland said, “patience is a virtue” but clearly he never met a mom in the checkout line at Target, a dozen shoppers deep, trying to make it to school pick up on time!

I have a tough time with this one. But the quote rings true, especially during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Maintain a simple Christmas by keeping your cool and channel your inner Buddha for patience with long lines, mall traffic, and overworked Starbucks baristas.

Don’t feel pressure to bake or cook

I’m not much of a cook, nor do I really enjoy it (baking is slightly more my thing). If this is you too, don’t feel pressure to pull off the perfect holiday meal.

Use shortcuts for cooking and baking i.e., ready-made side dishes or boxed baking mixes (Trader Joe’s holiday baking mixes are easy and delicious). You can customize them too with add-in ingredients.

Simplify holiday decorating

Only decorate as much as you feel like it, there is no requirement for a house worthy of Joanna Gaines. If all the holiday clutter gives you hives go for a cozy, minimalist look that still evokes the season.

Shop for true joy not deals

Let’s be honest, Christmas shopping and spending money are fun. Especially if your love language is gift-giving. I love giving presents but buying an item because it is on sale or a “good deal” is not as special as spending more on a gift that is truly meaningful to someone. Resist the sales, keep Christmas simple, and only shop for authentic gifts.

Know your limits

Honor your time and energy limitations. If holiday cards take up too much time, let them go this year or send a Merry Christmas email instead. If you love to bake, yet don’t have the energy to make anything from scratch, use a boxed mix (see above). Enjoy a simple Christmas by conserving your time and energy for what’s most important to you during the holidays.

Have a time-saving gift wrapping strategy

Set up a wrapping station with paper, ribbon, tags, scissors and tape. If you don’t have a table or area to keep it set up, use a gift wrapping organizer (I use one like this).
Use a set of three types of paper (a solid and two prints) that complement each other for all holiday wrapping.
Wrap 2 presents (or more) a day; perhaps while you are watching TV or waiting for a laundry load to dry. Avoid late night Christmas Eve wrapping!

Keep gift giving in check

Gift-giving can get out of control quickly, especially if you have a big family. Here are a few ways to simplify your gift list:

Draw names so everyone in your extended family or group gives one, gets one (divide group into adults and kids for age-appropriate gifts).
Agree with extended family members to not exchange gifts.
Agree on only experience gifts, not physical ones.
Be honest about your gift recipient list, gift to those you want to bring joy to, not out of obligation.
Do group gifts for teachers or coaches and go in together for one awesome gift.
I love actual gifts but have realized many people prefer gift cards. Buy a package of cards for Starbucks, Panera Bread or popular spots in your town for mailman, delivery driver, babysitter, etc.

Practice self-care

You matter too! As moms and women, we put so much focus on others and sometimes go to the back of the line. Self-care matters year-round, but especially during busy seasons. Be sure to set aside time for yourself plus a Christmas date night with your partner!

Be honest about what really makes you happy

As mentioned above, if you don’t love cooking, decorating, or a lot of social time, accept that about yourself and focus on what makes you happy. Discover shortcuts to the must-dos that aren’t your favorite activities which allows room for those that are.

Keep traditions simple

This will be a bit controversial but I’m going to say it: I do not like Elf on a Shelf! This modern tradition is one our family (thankfully) has never taken to. For me, it is just too much to remember moving him every night. For others, this is a tradition they can’t imagine going without at Christmas. Traditions are wonderful ways to set memories. But if they become too complicated they can always be adjusted or replaced with something new.

Compromise on family traditions

You grew up having Christmas breakfast before presents, but your husband’s family started opening them at 5:00 am. There is no right or wrong tradition, but trying to do them all can cause conflict. Find a compromise (perhaps only two presents pre-breakfast?), take turns, or start new traditions entirely. Christmas will likely never look exactly like you had it as a kid.

Set realistic expectations

Setting realistic expectations keeps Christmas simple because it avoids disappointment and even burnout. This is just as important for adults as the kids. For example, my kiddos must know just because you asked for a gift does not mean you receive it. And for myself, keeping my expectations for a perfectly happy, peaceful Christmas morning could be a setup for frustration.

Menu and meal prep ahead

Plan ahead. Even if you are just serving Christmas Eve and Day meals for your immediate family, do meal prep beforehand so you aren’t in the kitchen missing out on the fun. I sometimes focus on Christmas Eve dinner and morning breakfast and forget, oh everyone’s hungry again for lunch! Have light meal options in the fridge for those who are overfed by then from all the holiday indulgences (our Christmas planner can help you stay organnied with this).

Remember the reason for the season

Christmas is a religious holiday. If that’s not the case for you, that’s totally fine but remind yourself why you give gifts, host parties, bake dozens of cookies, and decorate your home — what are you celebrating? What brings you joy? How does this joyful season make you feel? Holding these emotions close to heart will guide you in keeping Christmas simple and joyful.

Just be

And finally, try to just be this holiday season. Be present. Put down your phone. Sing carols at the top of your lungs. Watch Home Alone with your kids. Enjoy a Christmas cocktail by the fire.

Ironically, we have turned this into the busiest times of year but I don’t believe that was ever the intention. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle because we want to keep up. We want to do all the things and make memories for our families which is all good, as long as it’s not to the detriment of our own joy or too distracting from why we celebrate in the first place.