The world is a chaotic place. Things are changing at an unprecedented speed, and our lives are changing with it. The Christmas season has become increasingly commercialized and secular, making it difficult for some people to feel at peace and get into the Christmas spirit at this time of year.

Even those who do celebrate Christmas tend to do so with a heavy heart for the pressures we feel to meet someone else’s expectations of the Holiday. But fear not! There’s hope yet again. And you can help bring back that love, joy, and magic of the season all on your own once again by following these 5 simple steps to get into the Christmas spirit.

5 steps to get into the Christmas spirit

Step One: Keep Santa on your mind

Truthfully, it’s very easy to lose track of the true meaning of the holidays in the face of all the commercialism and secularism. You may be thinking about how much you “love” Christmas, but you may be completely overlooking the important things about the season that got you excited in the first place. You may also be living in fear of what’s expected of you, so you don’t truly feel like celebrating. Fear of expectations, shame, and guilt may be stopping you from truly enjoying the holidays.

Allow yourself to take a mindful moment and remember the true meaning of the holidays, especially Santa. Sit and imagine what it would be like if he were real. What would he look like? Where would he live? What would he do all day? What would he eat for lunch? What would he use as toys? Allow yourself to fantasize a bit. Remember, this is a time to reconnect with your imagination.

Step Two: Re-immerse yourself in the season’s meaning

The Christmas season is filled with many beautiful and meaningful traditions. Many of these have been practiced for centuries to remind us of the true meaning of the season. You may have grown up experiencing some of these, but others may be new to you, and that’s okay too. What’s important is that you feel welcomed and welcomed back.

Visit relatives, attend carol services, visit with friends, and make it a point to read or listen to some Christmas-themed material. Start small, but make it a goal to do a little more each day. You may also want to consider reading something positive and inspiring. There are many great works that can help you re-immerse yourself in the true meaning of the season.

Step Three: Be kind to others this time of year

In many ways, it is easy to be kind to others during the holidays. We spend so much time with our loved ones during this season that it is an easy way to show how much we care. It’s also an excellent opportunity to get someone you may have grown apart with to reconnect with you. Be kind to others this time of year by extending the same kindness you would to a stranger.

At home, be kind to your loved ones by not putting them down or making them feel inferior. Make sure to give them the attention they need without putting them down. Outside of the home, be kind to others by giving them a smile and holding the door for them if you see them coming. Add a few kind words to conversations throughout the day if you see people being overlooked. This will have a huge impact on how you feel when you leave the season.

Step Four: Celebrate more than one holiday

Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays in the world, and there are many good reasons for this. In many ways, it is a secular holiday that has been infused with so many beautiful traditions that it almost feels like “our” holiday now. But celebrating any holiday more than once is one way to keep the magic alive throughout the year.

Celebrate two or three different holidays at once, and you will feel like you are celebrating many holidays at once. There are many holidays around the world, and celebrating them together will keep the magic alive in many ways. Some examples include Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, Diwali, Hannukah and Christmas. Check out our article on Winter holidays around the world for more inspiration.

Step Five: Stay connected with loved ones

Christmas is a time for family. You may have found yourself feeling disconnected from your loved ones because of the pressures of the holidays, the pressures of life, or even out of pure negligence. If you’ve been neglecting your family or friends during the holidays, this is a great time to make amends.

Re-connect with the people who mean the most to you, and who you may have let down during the season. Make amends with them when you can, and show them you care. You may also want to make a new tradition of calling your loved ones at least once a day during the holidays. Making these small, daily investments in your loved ones will have a huge impact on how you feel as the season winds down.

Conclusion

The holidays are a time for family and friends, for merriment and for celebration. If you feel afraid or pressured to do things out of a fear of what others may think, or if you feel like you have to be something you’re not, then this is a great time to reconnect with those who are most important to you and who love you the most. Christmas is a great time to be with family and friends and to celebrate in the season’s true spirit. Follow these steps, and you’ll be on your to get into the Christmas spirit again.

Giveaway

To help you get into the Christmas spirit, we’ve teamed up with Shinesty for a chance to win a $50 gift card (that’s £42.26) to spend on some Christmassy threads to get you in the mood for the season.

Enter on our giveaways page here

The post How to get into the Christmas spirit and fall in love with the season again + win appeared first on Motherhood: The Real Deal.