Simplicity in Holidays
Focusing on What Matters During Busy Seasons
The holiday season is often described as the most wonderful time of the year, but it can also feel like the busiest and most overwhelming. Between endless to-do lists, packed calendars, and the pressure to make everything picture-perfect, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most—faith, family, and gratitude.
The truth is, the holidays don’t have to be chaotic or complicated. By simplifying traditions and cutting through the busyness, we can reclaim the joy and meaning of the season. Let’s pause, reflect, and focus on what truly matters this year.
Choose Intentional Traditions
Holiday traditions should reflect what’s meaningful to you and your family, not what culture or comparison says they should be. Take time to evaluate your current traditions. Ask:
Does this bring joy and connection?
Does this point us back to faith and gratitude?
Are we doing this out of habit or because it matters?
Choose to keep the traditions that foster togetherness and let go of those that only create stress. Perhaps it’s a simple Advent reading each evening, a family baking day, or writing handwritten notes of gratitude instead of buying elaborate gifts.
Simplified Tip: Start one new tradition that aligns with your family’s values—like gathering to share prayers and blessings before opening gifts.
Resource: “Unwrapping the Names of Jesus: An Advent Devotional” by Asheritah Ciuciu is an excellent guide to focus on Christ during the season.
Simplify Gift-Giving
The pressure to buy the “perfect gift” for everyone can overshadow the spirit of giving. Simplify your approach to gift-giving by focusing on thoughtfulness over quantity.
Try the 4-Gift Rule: Something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.
Give gifts of time and presence instead of material items. Plan experiences like a shared meal, a game night, or a simple outing.
Consider handmade or meaningful gifts, such as a family recipe book, a photo album, or a heartfelt letter.
Simplified Tip: Reflect on the gift of Christ—the ultimate gift of love—as the foundation of this season.
Create Space for Rest and Reflection
The holidays can feel like a whirlwind of events, but true peace is found in slowing down and making room for rest. Be intentional about creating quiet moments to reflect on God’s goodness and to savor the season.
Set aside time each day for Scripture reading and prayer. Consider reading the Christmas story as a family (Luke 2).
Practice a weekly Sabbath, even amidst the busyness, to pause and reconnect with faith and family.
Embrace simple, peaceful activities—like a walk in nature, a candlelit dinner, or an evening of carols by the fire.
Simplified Tip: Leave blank spaces in your calendar. Not every event or invitation needs a “yes.”
Resource: Explore “Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives” by Wayne Muller for inspiration on creating space for rest.
Focus on Gratitude
Gratitude shifts our perspective, especially during busy seasons. Focusing on what we’ve been blessed with makes it easier to let go of expectations and unnecessary distractions.
Start a family gratitude jar: Each day, write down something you’re thankful for and read them together on Christmas morning.
Share a time of gratitude during meals or gatherings by inviting everyone to name a blessing from the past year.
Reflect on the greatest gift of all—God’s love and faithfulness.
Simplified Tip: Instead of chasing perfection, find joy in what is already present.
Resource: “One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are” by Ann Voskamp beautifully explores the transformative power of gratitude.
Simplify Your Schedule
When your schedule is packed, there’s little room for connection and rest. Simplify by being intentional with your time:
Prioritize gatherings that nurture relationships and faith.
Say no to events that create stress rather than joy.
Plan simple, meaningful moments at home, like sharing stories, playing games, or cooking together.
Simplified Tip: Remember that the quality of your time is far more valuable than its quantity.
Resource: For help setting boundaries, “The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands” by Lysa TerKeurst offers practical advice on simplifying commitments.
The Heart of the Season
At its core, the holiday season is a celebration of love, joy, and hope. It’s an opportunity to draw closer to Christ, cherish the people we love, and reflect on the blessings that surround us. By choosing simplicity, we can move beyond the noise and busyness to focus on what truly matters.
This year, may we embrace the gift of slowing down, sharing moments of gratitude, and creating space for faith and family. After all, the beauty of the season is found not in perfection but in presence.
Live simply. Love much. Focus on what matters.