Ways to Practice Slow Living During the Christmas Season (2023)
I LOVE this time of year and I always have. In recent years though, I’ve become less excited about the commercialism that has consumed Christmas and have really begun to yearn to celebrate the birth of Jesus during this season. Don’t get me wrong, I love decorating, putting up the tree, baking cookies, buying and wrapping gifts, watching Christmas movies, and celebrating with my loved ones. However, I’m tired of all the ads, commercials, and emails that barrage me daily, starting as early as August and September with certain companies. It seems like once Memorial Day is over, people already are moving onto Christmas. But that’s not what Christmas is about and my heart hangs heavy when all I hear about is buying presents and waiting for Santa’s arrival. If you’re anything like me, you’ll appreciate these ways to help you practice slow living during the Christmas season.
Commercialism has turned Christmas into an incredibly busy and self-centered season. There are parties, activities, tree lightings, celebrations, gifts to buy, cookies to make, and so much more. It’s no wonder everyone nowadays seems stressed during the holiday season. There is such a sense of obligation placed on Christmas where we feel the need to always be doing more. Friends, this doesn’t have to be the case! In fact, because of how secular Christmas has become, I know of some people who really don’t even celebrate it. Or, they at least refuse to feed into the commercialism of it all, and honestly, I’m kind of growing closer to that mindset.
I do enjoy the secular and commercial aspects of Christmas, but I’m trying to prioritize the true reason behind celebrating Christmas. This includes listening to more Christmas hymns and doing an Advent study this year. I want the holidays to be calmer and simpler. That means scaling back from what I used to, including baking fewer batches of cookies and hosting a simpler Christmas party at my apartment. Join me as I share ways for you to slow down and truly enjoy Christmas this season.
Physically write out your gift lists on paper.
According to statistics from multiple sources, on average, Americans spend between 3 and 4 hours on their phone every day. I was actually surprised it wasn’t higher, but then again, that doesn’t account for other screen time, such as desktop, tablet, and TV usage. In any case, many of us have more apps on our phones than we can count. There are many apps for organization and some of them include apps for your gift lists.
Believe you me, I love organizational systems, but I’m tired of being on my phone. I’ve always gravitated more to pen and paper than to my phone and making lists is no different. There’s just something about seeing my loved ones’ names in my own handwriting that’s comforting. To me, physically writing out gift lists on paper feels more personal. While I do plenty of research using the Internet, I like to hash out my ideas on paper. Then, I can highlight, make notes, and even color code to keep my thoughts and ideas organized.
Shop in a brick-and-mortar store for gifts, preferably local stores.
Each year it seems like online shopping gains in popularity. I get it. It’s easy and you don’t have to go anywhere. But there’s something beautiful about stepping into a store. And I’m not talking about the big box retail stores like Target or Walmart. I’m talking about the local retailers in your hometown. I understand that they tend to be more expensive, but they’re competing with these big, corporate retailers just to keep their stores alive and make a living. My hometown hosts a slew of adorable shops with all kinds of fun items in them.
Like I said, they might be more expensive, but think about how you purchase gifts. If you’re like I was, I purchased excessively and would just end up buying gifts to have something for my loved ones to unwrap. The gifts really didn’t hold any meaning. Recently, I’ve changed course. This year, I’m buying gifts that I know will get used and will have meaning to them. In your local retailers, you’re much more likely to find handmade gifts that hold much more value than cheaply made, plastic items shipped over from China.
Purchase gifts during Small Business Saturday.
Similar to the point above, in a consumeristic world that’s obsessed with material goods, it’s important to find some balance by supporting local businesses in your area. Anyone can hop on the Amazon app and find what they’re looking for, but there’s something extra special about picking up a novelty or handmade item and physically touching it. Small Business Saturday also helps to give back to your local community. Corporate America has plenty of money to go around, trust me!
Use cookbooks to find recipes instead of the Internet.
I love blogs. I mean, I am a blog writer. But sometimes, the Internet is overwhelming, to the point where I just have to shut everything down and unplug for a while. It’s really easy to find myself going down rabbit holes on Pinterest and YouTube, only to realize I’ve used them for more than two hours. Can you relate??
One thing I love are cookbooks and food magazines. I sort of collect them (well, books in general) and use them over and over again. I even print out my favorite recipes I come across. There’s just something about having a cookbook sitting on your countertop that’s different from scrolling on a phone. One of my favorite cookbooks, the Mennonite Community Cookbook, was given to me by my grandmother. In it, it has her notes and other recipes she’s collected throughout the years. It’s so special to me, more special than reading a typed recipe on a blog post. Another benefit to using cookbooks and magazines is not staring at a screen. The more time I can spend away from screens, the more I count that as a win!
Be content with decorations you already have instead of buying new ones.
This year, I bought ONE strand of lights. That’s it. No new ornaments, signs, figurines, or garland. I don’t feel guilty and I’m not suffering from FOMO. I’m content with what I have and I love how my apartment is decorated. I feel like there’s pressure to update decorations every year or create a new “theme” in our homes. Don’t fall into this trap! It’s absolutely ok to keep the decorations you have or even downsize. You could even opt for inexpensive, natural decorations like fruit, greenery, and berries. It adds such a pretty touch and is a fun way to create something.
Limit your spending on friends and family.
Honestly, I’m speaking to myself more than my readers, here. I have struggled with this SO much. This is the first year I’ve actually tracked how much I’m spending on Christmas gifts. If I had tracked in previous years, I’m sure it would total well more than $1,000 during some years. I was in the mindset of buying all kinds of gifts just so my loved ones had many to open. However, many of those gifts went unused and held little meaning and value.
This year I’m buying less. My intention is to buy gifts with meaning and gifts that will add value to their lives. I challenge you to do the same. I’m all for having a free and open market, but with how consumer-driven our society is, we buy stuff just to buy stuff. We end up with so much junk and items that we never touch. Find gifts that your loved ones will truly cherish and finding meaning in, instead of cheaply made items. It’s ok to give just a few well-crafted items rather than a bunch that will just get thrown away.
If you’re hosting, make it a potluck.
I LOVE hosting. In fact, I practically live for it! I love having friends over and hosting dinner parties, but I tend to go overboard. I spend too much in the name of aesthetics, hoping they’ll be pleased with what I’m presenting. It’s a hard reality to admit that most probably aren’t even concerned with that. They’re just happy to be in your presence. Last year, I hosted a Christmas party. It was a lot of fun but there was so much food left over and I spent way too much time making it all appear perfect.
This year, I’m scaling back. We’re having a Christmas movie night. I’m supplying cookies, popcorn with flavors, and a hot chocolate bar. Otherwise, I’ve left it up to my friends to bring food and beverages. And I’m so much less stressed because of it! I’m staying organized by freezing my cookie dough ahead of time so that way I only have to take out what I want, pop them on a tray and bake them the day before and day of! I’m looking forward to my party much more since I’m not doing nearly as much as I usually do.
If you’re hosting, feel free to make it a potluck! It’s taken a lot for me to relinquish control, but I’m learning that it’s not worth the stress to do it all myself. My friends and family want to help and I’m going to start letting them. When you put it on friends and family to bring items, you can sit back a little and not worry nearly as much about preparations. It’s beautiful.
Tune into a local radio station that plays Christmas music or put on a record or CD.
I am an old soul and I love antique and vintage items. Almost daily I place my Zenith FM/AM radio from the 1960s. I also regularly use Spotify, but there’s something about using my radio that creates a sense of peace, especially during the Christmas season. I love hearing ads for local businesses. It’s a lot better than being bombarded by digital ads for big box stores. I also enjoy the idea of being surprised at what song I’ll hear next. Since my radio is old, I can’t digitally scan stations, but it’s fun to turn the nobs to find different stations. Even if you don’t have a radio in your home, take a break from using your phone and tune into a local station while you’re driving!
Another fun idea is to put on a record or CD. Sadly, I currently don’t have a CD player or record player, but they are well worth the financial investments. It’s yet another way to indulge in nostalgia and go low-tech, giving you peace of mind. You can snag a simple CD/radio player at Best Buy for about $30-$40. Keep in mind, buying a quality record player will cost you more, typically at least $150. I recommend this Audio-Technica record player. Don’t buy Crossley record players (which are cheap and very popular), as they can ruin your vinyl records.
Set boundaries and learn to say no.
I was a “yes” person for a long time. In some ways, I probably still am, but I’ve learned how to set boundaries in a healthy way. I still have weeks and months where I overload my schedule, but mostly, I’m learning to enjoy simply being at home. Not only is our society very consumer-driven, we are always chasing something. Busyness is idolized and if you aren’t busy, you’re considered lazy. We have lost the art of simply being. I’d love to see that come back. YOU alone have the power to say no when an invitation comes your way. True, you might miss out on an activity, but that’s ok. You can pick and choose and trust me, you won’t feel bad about it. Your parents and friends will understand that sometimes, you just have to say no.
Donate unused items to a local charity.
I’ve mentioned this a few times, but we have a LOT of stuff and most of it can probably be gotten rid of. My rule of thumb is that I have to get rid of something if I don’t use it within a year. If I have clothes I haven’t worn all season long, it’s probably time for them to go. Take inventory of what you’re actually using and keep what you love and what’s most useful. You will probably find a lot that can be donated. We oftentimes end up with extra sets of kitchen items and gadgets and old electronics sit in junk drawers. Gather up those items in boxes and take them to your local Salvation Army (I’m a big fan of this organization). Another option is to use GreenDrop. They will actually come and pick up your items for you!
Volunteer with a local organization.
Volunteering is like working out. You don’t necessarily want to do it, but when you do, you feel so much better. Volunteering is giving a piece of yourself to someone else in need. We often think that volunteering looks like helping in a soup kitchen or donation center. Friends, I am here to tell you there are MANY ways you can volunteer your time that doesn’t involve either of these if they aren’t your jam. If you love to bake, there are often events and organizations that will need people to make baked goods. You can do physical labor, read at your local library, be a big brother or big sister.
Other ideas include volunteering at 5k races, helping out with Christmas events, and even caroling! This list is endless and it’s important to remember that you can volunteer and still do something you love. Check out one of my favorite local charities, called Blessings of Hope. They do so much good for people in my local area.
Get off (social) media.
I’ve saved my favorite two points for last! Until 2018, I regularly participated in Instagram and Facebook, and even Snapchat for a little while. In February 2018, I simultaneously gave up my smartphone for a flip phone and also got off all social media except for Pinterest. I was on and off Instagram until I officially gave it the boot sometime in 2021. I don’t regularly consume much media or read the news and I don’t have cable, and I have to say, I feel much more at peace without the constant barrage of messaging.
Even if you aren’t willing to permanently part with social media or most media in general, I challenge you to take a break during this season. There is a lot of pressure from companies who want your money. Sometimes, I’ll receive three emails a DAY from one company. It’s a little ridiculous. These companies are trying to sell you anything and everything to make money. You probably don’t NEED that new pair of jeans or those fancy sunglasses. There is also less reason to compare yourself to others by staying off social media. Comparison leads to envy and coveting. These two things never lead to contentment, meaning you will always feel like you need more. Christmas is prime time for companies to make you feel like you need more. You don’t. I promise. You’ll be just fine if you stay content with what you already have.
Spend some time in quiet, especially during the evening hours.
Busy, busy, busy. This is many American citizens. Work 8-5, come home, shove dinner in your mouth, then run the kids off to whatever activity they’re doing that night. Come home, squeeze in homework, and frantically get everyone to bed. You’re exhausted, so you watch TV or scroll social media until you fall asleep. There is little time for rest. And I’m not talking about sleeping alone. I’m talking the idea of being at peace with quiet moments. Americans climb the corporate ladder so they can make more money to buy a bigger house, nicer car, newer clothes, and more stuff. But this comes with a price. We are often left discontented and with a feeling of emptiness. We are left wanting more and unhappy with the idea of just being.
During the evening hours, after watching the 30-minute news segment, my grandfather would read the paper in his recliner and then…just sit. He would often spend hours sitting in a tree stand or on a dock with a fishing pole in hand. No phone, no radio, no one else around. He was the most content person I have ever met. My grandfather lived a simple life and prioritized peacefulness without ever trying to. He never owned a computer and most of his days were spent outdoors, working with his hands as a carpenter.
I strive to be more like him, to be content with just being. This is the point of slow living, to be at peace with your surroundings. I’ve begun to prioritize my evening routine. I turn off one set of lights as the sun goes down and then enjoy dinner in the quiet and stillness. I allow myself about an hour of TV and then I get ready for bed by 8 PM. The devices are stored away and after my nightly routine, I lay in bed and read in the quiet. It has become my favorite part of the day. I long for when I can mirror these slow movements throughout my entire day.
During a season that feels overly busy, take some time and turn off devices in the evening. Write, read, bake, watch the sunset, take an evening walk, drink some tea. Spend at least one night at home just being. Block out a night where you won’t plan any activities and take some time enjoying the stillness around you. Soon, you’ll begin to crave it all the time.
Friends, I hope this post has brought you joy and peace, especially when our world is ever-turning and moving. My goal is for you to have some tangible ways to practice slow living during a fast season of life. Even doing just one of these a day or even week will hopefully bring about some stillness to your life so you can stay present. Peace and blessings.
