How To Get Into The Christmas Spirit
Have you wondered lately, how to get into the Christmas spirit when you’re just not feeling it, this year? Christmas will be here before we know it and for some reason, I’ve heard so many people echo this same sentiment. I’m not sure why this is, but I go through the same feelings, periodically. I hate feeling this way, because Christmas is truly my favorite time of the year.
For many, stress may have a lot to do with sapping our Christmas spirit, whether it’s our finances, too much to do, having to be around people we may not enjoy being around or the weather. I find the weather has a lot to do with my lack of spirit. Living in southeast Texas, our weather is very unpredictable. Some years, we may experience cooler temperatures, but more often than not, December is pretty warm. As of this writing, we’ve been in the 70-80 degree range for a couple of weeks, now. Not Christmas(y) at all.
Whatever the reason, it doesn’t have to be this way. I’ve come up with a list of activities that I do myself to try and capture the Christmas mood and I’d like to share them with you. Maybe doing some or all of these might help you to get into the Christmas spirit, too!
*This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you buy a suggested product, I will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. For more information, see my disclosure page.
Here’s How To Get Into The Christmas Spirit and Enjoy The Season:
Listen Christmas Music
I start doing this early…and I do mean early. I’m a decorative painter and I start painting for Christmas at the end of the summer. I need some motivation when I’m painting Jolly Old St. Nick and Christmas music will do it. You see, it really does work. I like to use Pandora and pull up the Classic Christmas tunes.
I know summertime is way too early for most folks, but any time around Thanksgiving would be acceptable to start trying to get into the Christmas spirit.
Try listening to Bing Crosby’s White Christmas, Burl Ives’ Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer or Holly Jolly Christmas or Johnny Mathis’ Sleigh Ride. Singing along will almost ensure a happy, Christmas mood!
Make Your List and Set Your Budget
This time of year, a lot of stress comes from waiting until the last minute to figure out what to give your loved ones. Even more stress is added when you don’t have the funds to pay for everything you’d like to or you over spend because you failed to plan for it.
Take some stress and worry off of yourself by writing out your gift list and setting a realistic budget for each person. You don’t have to spend a fortune to give a thoughtful, meaningful gift. If you’re making gifts this year, give yourself time to do it. If your budget is tight, look around for sales, whether at the store or online.
Make a plan, stick to it and work on completing it early. Don’t wait until the last minute.
Once you have planned and set your budget, you may find that the Christmas spirit will flow freely from you.
Watch Christmas Movies
Our family’s number one Christmas movie is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It’s become tradition that we watch it on Thanksgiving night. It kicks our season off and signals the official start to Christmas for us. We look forward to it as a family.
Other movies that help to get us into the mood are Elf, A Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life and a Dicken’s classic…A Christmas Carol. My favorite is with George C. Scott.
Watching the classic Christmas shows that come on TV, like “How the Grinch stole Christmas”, “Santa Claus is coming to town” “Frosty the snowman” and “Rudolph the red nose Reindeer” are yearly traditions that I still can’t wait to watch. If you miss them on TV, check them out on YouTube or DVR them, so you don’t miss them. I watched these as a kid and I still feel the need to watch them as an adult.
This is a great way to lift spirits and wind down in the evenings. Here are some great choices below!
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Decorate
Get that tree up! There’s nothing that’ll get you in the Christmas mood more than putting the tree up and decorating it! I usually put it up the weekend after Thanksgiving, but there have been times that I’ve done it the weekend before. If you know you’ll have a ton of things to do post- Thanksgiving, there’s no shame in getting it up a little earlier, especially if you can take a little pressure off yourself and mark it off the to-do list. Besides, you’ll have a little longer to enjoy your hard work.
If your budget’s tight, you don’t have to go all out or spend a fortune on Christmas decor. Decorate the tree and your mantle, if you have one, and be done.
You can add a few pops of Christmas around the house by adding some festive touches, like pillows, hand towels, a pretty and a simple centerpiece for your table, all without breaking the bank. Let’s face it…sometimes less is more.
Look For free or Inexpensive Activities Close By
The number one FREE Christmas activity sure to get you in the mood for Christmas is filling up a thermos with hot chocolate and heading out to look at Christmas lights! Some of the best memories I have, as a child, is driving through some of the more affluent neighborhoods in Houston, with my sweet Daddy at the wheel, ooohhh-ing and ahhh-ing at the Christmas lights and decor. My Dad enjoyed it as much as my Mom and I did.
Many towns also have home tours, which is what we do the first weekend in December. It’s an opportunity to see some beautiful homes all decked out for the holidays.
You can also check out local craft shows and festivals. These are the perfect places to go to get your creative juices flowing. You can also enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the season.
We have an acting theater in our town that puts on plays year round, but they always have a Christmas play in December.
High schools and colleges also put on Christmas performances, sometimes for free. If they do charge, it’s usually minimal and the talent is second to none.
Check out what your area has to offer and make the best of it! All you have to do is look around a little to find some great, affordable entertainment that will surely get you into the Christmas spirit.
Wrap Gifts
This really helps me to get in the mood. What’s more festive than beautiful presents under the tree. I think the presentation is almost as important as the gift. The prettier the better.
Baking!!
Not only can baking Christmas delights leave you feeling more festive, but a batch of homemade cookies makes a great gift as well! Just be sure not to bite off more than you can chew. (Pun intended). You don’t have to make 14 different cookies or candies. I opt to keep it simple with 2-3 of our favorites.
If you’re low on cash for gifts, baking is a wonderful way to show someone how much they mean to you and food is usually a one size fits all. Most people love to eat. The only thing you need to take into account is if you’re giving away your treats as gifts, make sure the recipient isn’t allergic to what you’re giving.
Have a Get Together With Friends
I love getting together with special friends this time of year. You can opt for a potluck or just serve cheese, crackers, summer sausage and a beverage of choice. You can go as fancy or as simple as you like or your finances allow. Play a little Christmas music in the background and let the party begin!
Volunteer or Give to Someone In Need
The holidays are a time of giving, not only to family and friends, but to those who are less fortunate as well. Whether you donate old coats, toys, food, or give of your time, look for charities to support, either in your area or online.
Samaritan’s purse runs Operation Christmas Child that sends shoeboxes packed with essential items to children around the world that have been affected by war, poverty, disaster, and disease.
There are so many that are less fortunate and this is a perfect time to open your heart and your wallet, if possible.
Cut Your To-Do List Down
I think one of the main things that takes the joy out of the holiday season is we try to cram to much into a few short weeks. We strive for that perfect, magical season. Sometimes our expectations are unrealistic. Striving for perfection is a recipe for disappointment.
Write down what you need to get done, followed by what you’d like to get done. Prioritize your list and let some things go. Once you do this, it’ll free up more time to enjoy the season.
Remember…
This is a great time of year to reflect on our many blessings. I encourage you to try and not get caught up in the commercialism and remember what the season is truly about. It’s about giving, caring, loving and appreciation. We need to remember this not only during the Christmas season, but all year long.
I believe our Father in Heaven is working in the world every day, but a lot of times we don’t see it; we miss it because we are so busy, overwhelmed and caught up in our own day to day lives.
So if you’re wondering how to get into the Christmas spirit, even when you’re not feeling it, try and remember, God is near and all we have to do is open our eyes to see his work and the blessings that surround us.
The season isn’t about the weather, how much money we spend on gifts or rehow perfect our Christmas decorations are. Enjoy the season and keep the spirit of Christmas alive, all year long.
What are some ways that help you get into the spirit of the season? I’d love to hear from you. Also, be sure to subscribe to Love To Frugal so you never miss a post!
Also, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Instagram & Facebook for more money saving, frugal living tips
Great list! I used to love going out with the family looking at Christmas lights. We did it last year but haven’t had a time when everyone was home to do it this year. Baking Christmas cookies is great, of course, and we always put the decorations up the weekend after Thanksgiving. We delayed the tree a bit this year due to the presence of 2 kittens in the house, but they’ve actually been good (fingers crossed!), so that went better than expected!
Thank you, Dawn! Some of my most fondest memories of childhood Christmas’ were doing the most simplest things, like many of the things listed.
I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and I’ll keep fingers crossed, too, that the kitties will continue to be good! :)))
Kimberly
Linda Raedish’s “The Old Magic of Christmas” is a book I read every season. It’s a really interesting book and really gets me in the spirit. I highly suggest you at least give it a look.