At the heart of it all, Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy and reflection. For many of us, it’s a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We seem to have a hurried pace during the holiday season, making it difficult to enjoy this special time.
We’re frantically checking off Christmas lists and rushing to meet work deadlines; sending Christmas cards, holiday baking, and Christmas parties with friends and family can leave us exhausted.
What if we decided to spend this season focusing on the reason for the season? What if we slowed down and decided to really enjoy it?
How to Slow Down During the Holiday Hustle
1. Spend at least 15 minutes reading scripture and writing in a journal in the morning.
I like to get up early; even when my kids were young, I would get up before them to have my quiet time. I like to read my bible, drink a cup of coffee, and write in a journal. These 15 to 20 minutes of quiet moments can help to set me up for a great day. Even if I’m dealing with difficult things, I try to look for blessings and write them down.
During the month of December, I’ve been reading Emmanuel: An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always, and it’s really good. I will use this devotional every Christmas!
If you’re not a morning person and can’t get up early, have your quiet time before bed. The main thing is to have some quiet time.
2. Pick out the traditions you love.
Pick out the traditions you and your family love, and prioritize them above all else. Don’t be afraid to say “No.” It can be tempting to say yes to every invitation to gather and spend time with friends and family, but we don’t have to accept every invitation to enjoy the season.
Creating memories with my grandkids is always a high priority for me!
3. Create a cozy environment and spend time doing relaxing activities.
This doesn’t mean every room has to be decorated but adding lights and some greenery makes any room feel cozy. I love diffusing essential oils, and I have several diffusers in my home. Here are some essential oils that smell like Christmas:
- Cinnamon, clove, and orange
- Peppermint, grapefruit, and spearmint
- Ginger, cinnamon bark, and clove
- Peppermint, wintergreen, white fir, and cedarwood
Take time to read a book, play a board game, work a Christmas puzzle, color in a Christmas coloring book, play with kids, watch a Christmas movie, bake some cookies, etc.
4. Cybershop
Use the gift of online shopping to find your Christmas presents. This helps you save on gas and time by skipping the mall shopping altogether, and everything is delivered right to your door.
5. Get Some Sleep
With all the holiday activities, we often put sleep on the backburner. But a lack of sleep can catch up with you, so make sure you get plenty of good sleep. Go to bed early if you need to, and ensure you get at least eight hours of sleep.
This Christmas, let’s choose to slow down and celebrate the gift of Jesus. Let’s not feel pressured to do everything but enjoy the season’s simple joys.
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about : His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25
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Amen! Love this post. We should all remember the reason for the season.
This relates to your Saturday e-mail (couldn’t figure out how to comment there) : such a cite photo of you with your grandchildren! I want to make the Christmas Trash but have a questions about the 3 CUPS Chex Mix. Is that the seasoned bag that’s labeled Chex Mix or is it a mixture of cHEX cereals (corn, wheat, rice, etc)?
Thank you! That’s the chex mix cereals
I’m slowing down to take the time to comment! Yes, December is overwhelming. It’s always a crush for me even though my kids are grown and I have no grandkids…yet, and no significant others for my sons…yet.
I think, as you said, we try to make everything perfect for everybody else, so that THEY have a great Christmas. My husband has a December birthday, so I’m always working on that first! It all eventually gets done, but your reminder is great. We all want to enjoy the season and have to do what speaks to us!
Very good advice. My grandkids are now of the age that they want cash or gift cards. I don’t have too much stress anymore about gift buying. I like to buy stocking stuffers of products they like and need like lotions and lip balms in addition to cash. Christmas has been too commercialized for many years. Now they don’t even want to say Christmas only Merry.
I read your blog almost every day. I really appreciate your hard work dedication and especially how you don’t shy away from sharing your faith. You truly let your light shine! I have a hard time with the push to shop online. I feel It’s so important to support local businesses. Many of them have wonderful websites, great personal costumer service and offer curb-side pick up. In the end, it may not be more inconvenient than ordering online if you end up having to return something you’ve ordered.
I really enjoyed this post. I plan to order this book to put in my living room whenever it gets finished. (Our living room was destroyed in Hurricane Laura in August 2020. Insurance, mortgage companies, etc. make things take forever to complete.) But I digress. It’s so hard for me to get up early as I am naturally a night owl, but I do love the quiet stillness of the early morning. Oh! I bought the “baking spirits bright” mixing bowl last night! We are making a hot cocoa dip for our oldest’s band Christmas party tonight. I think the elf measuring cups and spoons are at a store in the next town over. I might need to make a trip. 😉 I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Blessings.
I like to get up early too, Cyndi. I enjoy coffee, prayer and devotional time. I go to bed early (usually) especially in the winter. I get up really early two days a week in order to take our granddaughter to preschool that starts at 7:45.I need to leave the house by 7:25. I sometimes do my devotional in the car after I take her bc I don’t have to be at work until 9:00 and we live in the country. Anywho…Not that anybody cares about my routine, but, the whole point is, if there is a will, there is a way. God Bless you all and Merry Christmas!
This was perfect. I was feeling so overwhelmed and I took your advice and sat quietly listening to my favorite Christmas songs and I’m feeling more relaxed today than I have. I also scheduled “my time” into my calendar so I actually do it. Hapoy holiday!
Thank you for all the good ideas, fashion posts, and ways to slow down, but most of all for always sharing your faith and reminding us of the true reason for the season.
Remembering that there are many who don’t have a reason to “slow down” but instead don’t have lots of activities, parties, or family to celebrate with but are alone or have suffered loss or have limited resources. Praying God will be near to those.
Your Grandchildren are adorable!
Merry Christmas ❤
Speaking from a friend across the border our thanksgiving is in October so it does allow for more of a break between two big holidays. I always try to have my Christmas decor and tree up and done by the middle of November so myself and family can enjoy it for a longer period… besides the white lights and Christmas decor makes me happy so why not🤷♀️I also did about 95% of my shopping on line as really the stores had less than what was being offered on line and it saves the headache of driving, gas prices, and crowds! I always set a goal to finish up by end of November and yes there is always a few last minute things to be done. Once December rolls around I just want to take it all in. To just do Christmas! And enjoy! I don’t say yes to all the gatherings either! That’s ok! I want time with my family and now with a granddaughter it’s so important to create those memories for her! Christmas will come and go whether we are ready or not! And truly the real meaning of Christmas is the celebration of Jesus birth! We start our Christmas Day with the reading of the Christmas story before we get to involved with the gifts! Thank you for a reminder to slow down it’s so important especially this time of year! And keep exercise and quiet time a priority it does make a difference 💕
Ps I leave baking cookies to the end as a fun day with my daughter and now granddaughter no rush no fuss just fun!
This year it worked out because of my adult kids schedules, that I didn’t host Thanksgiving and I won’t be hosting Christmas either, as one of my adult daughters just moved and wanted to host in their new home. This means we drive 4 hrs. over a snowy mountain and my other daughter 6 hours, but my son lives 25 min. from her. So, I’m amazed how much its freed me up to not have to meal plan and grocery shop for 11 people coming to my house for multiple days for multiple meals on top of the gift shopping and holiday baking etc. etc. etc. I’ve had plenty of time to do my regular bible study I do weekly with ladies and also I’ve been listening to David Jeremiah’s daily radio messages preparing us for Christmas and the docudrama “Why The Nativity” is out through David Jeremiah’s Turning Point ministries and its in 3 parts, so watching that too.(Its based off his book named the same thing) I have only watched Part 1 so far, but its good. They worked very hard for a long time on this movie. Just go on his website and all the information is there. I’m so glad I shopped and decorated early, as that helped to now be able to relax and enjoy. I’ve been sick too, so that will slow you down…….not recommended, but you can’t hustle and bustle sick. LOL So much going around and it will be a Christmas miracle if my whole family will be well to celebrate together. Thanks Cyndi for reminding us all to slow down some, which I’ve been focusing on for many years now and it truly is the best way to honor and celebrate our Savior.
Thank you for the essential oil Christmas combos! Merry Christmas!
My church offered an Advent Bible study and we are doing it via Zoom. It’s so nice to be at home, have dinner, clean up then put on my pjs and get set up to participate. I am learning and getting my focus on the real meaning of our celebration.
Thank you, Cyndi! I enjoy the holidays. On line shopping is a game changer for me. I have an advent book that I’ve used for years, Pursuing the Christ by Jennifer Kennedy Dean. This book helps keep my heart and mind on the true reason for the season. We will be traveling to visit our family. I’m so excited about being with our grandsons on Christmas morning.♥️
Wonderful post, as always, Cyndi! You are absolutely right. Amen sister! 🙂
Wonderful thoughts, as always, Cyndi! You are absolutely right! Amen,sister.
Thank you for re-focusing on the reason for the season and sharing your faith, as you always do. Your encouragement is uplifting.
Thank you for pointing us back to the real reason for the season, Jesus.
In our world today, it seems like He is forgotten and all the glitter and glitz have become the focus. Those who don’t know Him as the Messiah need to see us celebrating His birth. Spending time with Him daily draws us closer to Him and encourages others to do the same.
I agree! Jesus is the reason for the season, let’s keep the main thing the main thing Amen! I appreciate all that you do Thank you so much!
This was much needed! I always enjoy your posts and this one was just very soothing – have a wonderful day, and a wonderful Christmas!! Thank you
I agree! Jesus is the reason for the season, let’s keep the main thing the main thing Amen! I appreciate all that you do Thank you so much!