The holiday season is fast approaching, but with each passing year it seems to feel less and less festive. Most of us are burned out and exhausted by the end of the year, and it gets harder and harder to feel excited about the holidays.
If you really want to get into the Christmas mood in 2023, you might just need to put in a little extra effort. Simply putting up your tree a week before the big day isn’t enough to feel truly festive – so here’s what you need to do to get your holiday mood in check.
Get an Advent Calendar
Yes, a good old advent calendar! Who doesn’t want to start each morning with a delicious chocolate or some other tasty treat? Some advent calendars even have small gifts to get you excited for the big day approaching. These countdowns are a fun way to get you in the mood and excited for the season of giving and spending time with the ones we love.
You could also try creating a homemade advent calendar of gifts for a partner who’s really struggling to get into the Christmas mood. And just to make sure that the whole family is involved, you can even get a dog advent calendar for your pup.
Plan New Traditions
Perhaps you’re not excited about the Christmas season because you haven’t got any fun and exciting traditions to look forward to, or the ones you do have are worn out and tired by now.
A fun thing to try is planning and implementing some new traditions. You know that fun activity your neighbours always do with their kids? Or that special gift your friend gets for her husband every year? Or the mouth-watering cookies your sister bakes for her children only around the holidays? Traditions like that are what make Christmas special – consider some new traditions for Christmas eve, Christmas day, or even the whole of December!
Create Some Festive Playlists
If your tree is up, the house is decorated, the gingerbread men are baked, and you’re still not feeling it, it might be time for some tunes to add to the mood. Christmas music is one of those things that only come around once a year, and even if you find it cringy, it’s always fun to embrace it.
Put on a playlist of your old favorites from your childhood, or curate your own playlist with some Christmas pop songs to liven up your day.
Daydream About the Menu
We all know that one of the best parts of Christmas is the food, right? So, why not focus on that Christmas dinner menu and start planning ahead!
Whether you’re in charge of the entire meal, or just one specific dish, start scrolling for ideas and new recipes. Coordinate with the other contributors to come up with a menu that will blow everyone away. Practice making a new dessert, or pick a new and interesting side dish for the table that nobody will expect. They’ll love you for it.
