Christmas has come to be synonymous with excess. Overindulgence! Overspending! Overscheduling! Sound familiar? It doesn’t have to be that way. Make this the year you say no to all the stress and focus on what matters. In today’s post, I’ve got 12 tips for a simple Christmas that will bring the peace and joy back to your holiday season.

A perfect Christmas

In the past, I’ve been guilty of trying to do it all. Over the last few years, I’ve changed my view of what an ideal Christmas looks like.

Last year, because of the pandemic, we spent Christmas at home as a family of four for the first time ever. On Christmas Eve, we enjoyed a wonderful walk through the neighbourhood to enjoy the lights and decorations. On Christmas Day, we watched Christmas specials, enjoyed a delicious turkey dinner and just spent time together. Mother Nature even cooperated by delivering us a perfect Christmas. It was fabulous!

With things looking better on the pandemic front, it will be tempting to jump right back on the treadmill this Christmas. Pause and ask yourself what kind of celebration you want to have. If a simple Christmas is what you’re looking for, here are 12 ideas to help you achieve it.

12 tips for a simple Christmas

Reduce your gift list

Do you really need to buy gifts for everyone you know? And, does everyone in your house need a pile of presents to open on Christmas morning?

Instead of buying gifts, suggest to friends and extended family that you plan a fun outing, make a charitable donation, or volunteer as a group.

For family, consider reducing gifts to just stockings. If you need stocking stuffer ideas, check out my lists for adults, kids and teens.

Make time for the simple things

Take time to enjoy fun things like reading a Christmas book together, going for a skate on a local pond or community rink, or just walking around the neighbourhood enjoying the Christmas lights. For a change of pace, drive to a different neighbourhood and enjoy their lights.

Plan some “me time”

Set aside some days on your calendar to do things that make you happy. Reading, watching the snow fall, or just doing nothing. It’s called “me time” for a reason. Do what you want to do!

Buy your baking

Martha Stewart be damned! Decide not to spend hours—or days—in the kitchen baking. Find a local bakery and buy your goodies. You’ll be less stressed and you’ll support a local small business at the same time. Win win!

Over the years, I’ve simplified my Christmas baking to two or three favourites and I buy the rest. No one even notices!

Participate in a cookie exchange

If you enjoy baking and want to have an assortment of baked goods without all the stress, get together with friends and organize a cookie exchange. If you’ve never done one before, it’s simple. Everyone bakes a dozen of their favourite cookie for each participant. In return, you get a dozen cookies from each of the other participants. You get a great variety with a much smaller investment of time.

Just say no

Don’t feel like you have to accept every invitation. It’s a busy time of year and it’s easy to overschedule yourself. Instead of feeling guilty for saying no, suggest a get-together in January or February after the holiday rush. Having something to look forward to is a great way to beat the winter blahs.  

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Plan some fun “at home” activities

Get creative. There are so many awesome activities that you can do without leaving home. Here are some ideas:

• Set aside a night to watch old Christmas movies.
• Get out the old board games and play them.
• Make a Christmas puzzle together as a family.
• Build a snowman.
• Look through old photo albums.
• Gather around the piano for a family carol sing. Or find some karaoke tracks on YouTube.

Do a recycled gift exchange

If money is tight, do a recycled gift exchange where everyone re-gifts something from their home. You could even turn it into a fun game.

Make some DIY gift certificates

Sometimes the best gift you can give is a gift of your time. Make some gift certificates for child care, pet sitting, dog walking, snow shoveling, or anything else you can offer, and give them to the people on your list. You can package them with an inexpensive gift like chocolates or tea, or a handmade card.

Simplify your wrapping

Wrapping is one of my least favourite holiday chores. Even putting on Christmas music and pouring a glass of wine doesn’t take the stress away. To me, gift bags were one of the best inventions ever. Not only are they reusable, but they’re a huge time saver.

And, if you’re a new parent, did you know that Santa doesn’t wrap gifts? By the time I learned this from other parents, it was too late for Santa to change his routines. It could have saved me a lot of time over the years.  

De-stress your Christmas dinner

Great food is synonymous with Christmas but pulling that meal together can be a big source of stress. Here are some tips for a simpler Christmas dinner.

• Think beyond the traditional. Who says you have to have the same thing every year?
• Look for dishes you can make ahead and reheat.
• Simplify meal prep by using your slow cooker. My festive dinners always include my sweet & simple slow cooker glazed carrots, and easy & delicious slow cooker stuffing.
• Make it potluck. If you’re having guests, ask them to contribute to the meal. One way to do this is to look after the main meal yourself, and ask your guests to bring appetizers and dessert.

Shop local

While it may be tempting to shop at the big box stores, or to order online from national chains, why not visit some local small businesses? Chances are they’ll be less crowded, and you may just find unique gifts for those hard-to-buy-for people on your list.

Focus on what matters—to you!

Ultimately, the best way to simplify your Christmas is to focus on what really matters to you. Make a list of everything you need to do and categorize everything as “must do”, “nice to do” or “no-one will notice”. It will help you decide what’s worth your time and what isn’t.

This is my older daughter’s last year of college, and we have no idea where she’ll be this time next year. I’m really looking forward to having two weeks at home over Christmas to enjoy some family time.

How do you keep your Christmas celebrations simple? Tell us your tips below.