5 Important Things To Remember This Christmas

This is a list of 5 important things to remember this Christmas that I believe will help in making this a fun and memorable holiday season. I encourage you to take your time as you read through this list, and really try to focus on how you can apply these things to your own life. Write down examples if you need to, be specific with it, and make a plan to truly enjoy this Christmas with family and friends.

I also encourage you to capture memories as they are. There is nothing wrong with wanting some nice family photos, but the pictures I’ve included in this post remind me of how things really were. Not dressed up, no special poses, just a quick snap of the camera. I think you’ll appreciate these types of pictures in the years to come.

Things To Remember This Christmas

1. There Is No Right Agenda

Do what feels right to you and stay away from what doesn’t. Basically- just because the majority of people do something, doesn’t mean you have to. If you don’t like to send Christmas cards, don’t send them. If you don’t care if your kids take a picture with Santa every year, don’t make the trip. If you are perfectly fine eating a bowl of cereal on Christmas morning, don’t stress about making a big meal.

There are so many things we think we need to do, that we actually don’t need to do. So instead of stressing these last few days before Christmas, take a minute and decide what you really care about doing, then ditch the rest.

2. Take It All In

I hear people say this all the time, but it can be really challenging to ‘take it all in’ and appreciate things in the moment. What helps me is when I actually take the time to think about our upcoming plans and then figure out what would make them most enjoyable. I know we can’t predict every scenario, but we can certainly make sure we have a realistic mindset.

For example, if I want to enjoy Christmas morning with my kids, I need to remember that they are kids, lol. They might whine, they might be needy, they might not love a gift I thought they would. Being realistic with my expectations will help me appreciate this stage of life I’m in.

3. It’s Okay To Not Be Joyful All The Time

Several people experience grief and hard times over the holidays. We need to be mindful of this when we are around others, and we also need to allow ourselves the freedom to not be joyful all the time. I’ve had a few sad moments thinking of our dog, Champ, and how I wish he could be with us during Christmas.

Being able to express how I feel to family and friends helps me deal with these feelings of sadness, without the pressure of having to be constantly happy. Let yourself feel how you want to feel.

4. Try To Find Balance With Your Diet

I’m certainly not going to give specific health advice because I don’t know what every person is going through, but I have found that balancing my diet through the holidays works well for me. Most of us are will be attending family gatherings and Christmas parties over the next week and there will be a lot of food and drinks.

I try to balance things out, instead of give things up. If I know I’m headed to a get-together in the evening, I’ll try to eat lighter throughout the day. I also try to stay hydrated, which always makes me feel better.

5. Don’t Make It A Competition

The older I get, the more secure I feel about my life, but I know that’s not the case for many people. We might find ourselves competing with others or falling into the comparison trap. When this starts to happen, I do three things to snap myself out of it.

One- I take a break from social media. Two- I think about how blessed I am for the life God has given me. Three- I ask myself if I really care about having the things others might have or if I even want to do the things they’re doing. I think most of us are perfectly happy, until we shift our focus on the world around us, which then makes us feel like we aren’t.

We’ve already started the Christmas celebrations with family in Ohio, and so far things are going well. We’ve talked, laughed, played games, ate yummy food, opened presents, and spent good quality time together. I’ve been in loungewear for the majority of the time, taken a nap on the couch, visited my grandma, and watched Home Alone three times, lol.

Nothing about this trip has been extravagant, but it’s been perfect for us. I hope you’ll take this list of things to remember this Christmas and enjoy the little moments with your loved ones this holiday season. Merry Christmas!

And if you’ve never made a card house, or it’s been a while, I highly encourage you to do so. The last picture in this post is of me and my brother when we were younger. We had the most fun building these!

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