These slow living tips are honestly my life-saver in having a stress free holiday season, while still creating that magical Christmas atmosphere for my family.
And looking back a lot of these slow living tips are inspired by the simplicity of my childhood holiday traditions growing up:
Every Christmas, I forced my very reluctant little brother to perform in a Nativity play I directed ( Of course, I played the leading role of Mary,with a white sheet covering my head…)
We also spent several weeks making hand made gifts for each of my family members.
It doesn’t seem like much, but these are memories my family and I laugh back on ( and actually still have a few of the Nativity play recordings and some of our hand made gifts!)
We would browse the neighborhoods admiring Christmas lights, visit parades, and simply just be together.
WHAT IS SLOW LIVING FOR THE HOLIDAYS?
1. LIMIT CELEBRATIONS
Where are my fellow introverts?!
Honestly, just the thought of all the baby-toddler Christmas themed parties, and celebrations overwhelms me.
In fact, I’m pretty sure I could find a Santa / Winter Wonderland celebration for almost every single day of December…
My toddler only attends two winter celebrations ( going to see the lights which the whole family enjoy + a small Christmas party run by her toddler play group).
This gives us more down time to do the things that light us up together a family.
SLOW LIVING TIPS #2: SIMPLIFY GIFTS
Firstly,let me emphasize I’m not anti-gifts in the slightest!
In fact, I love looking down the aisles for all cutest girly things for my sweet little toddler!
That being said, I’m also a minimalist at heart and having too much stuff truly drives me insane.
So, merging those two contrasting energies has inspired me to our simplify gift giving traditions.
CREATIVE IDEAS FOR INTENTIONAL GIFT GIVING:
- Secret santa gifts
- Hand made gifts
- Total items bought = Same number of items donated from home
- Every item serves a purpose
- Make toys open-ended & eco-friendly as possible
3. MAKE MINDFUL REST A PRIORITY
Winter is the perfect excuse for my introvert soul to soak up a good book, curled up on my sofa, heating on full blast.
Yet when November rolls around can feel like I’m on 500mg of pure caffeine, rushing from one thing to the next.
That frantic energy goes against our natural human cycle, that calls us for us to slow down and tune inwards during winter.
4. RECONNECT WITH YOUR INNER CHILD
I remember how mystical and exciting Christmas was growing up!
We were big believers of Santa in my household, and the excitement was truly unmatched.
Yet as I got older, ( I know many of us can relate!) we slowly start to lose that childhood wonder of Christmas.
Instead, it just becomes another obligation to do-list to be checked off and money to spend.
Making winter art crafts, baking cookies, building ginger bread houses, admiring beautiful Christmas lights, and spending time with family and friends.