Are you getting in the holiday spirit yet? I am, and it feels good. I must admit, however, the season kind of crept up on me this year. Sure…I have been thinking about the holidays since Halloween weekend. So December didn’t really come as a surprise. But with two birthdays, Thanksgiving, a busy work schedule, and all the kid’s extra curricular activities, I have to start getting ready for the holidays in early November if I want any chance of peace on December 25th.

But this year some unexpected things have already popped up…as they always seem to do during this time of year. Some of these unexpected things caused me to take a last minute trip to Michigan, and bring my Mom back here for an unplanned visit. Good choices all the way around. But certainly spending three days driving, two entire days away, and five days with an overnight guest in my home…well, some of my normal holiday prep time was allocated in different ways this year.

So I’m feeling a bit behind this year—at least behind where I usually am. Things won’t happen quite as early as they normally do, but there is still plenty of time to get the important things done. The trouble has been this:  when I feel behind, it’s harder to really feel in the holiday mood. But, I woke up this morning realizing there is still plenty of time to get the important things done, and there is still plenty of time to enjoy myself in the process.

The last couple of days I have been doing a few things to rev up the holiday feeling. But I’d love to know which activities or preparations put you in the holiday spirit. Is there any particular event that triggers that holiday feeling? Or do you have any coping strategies you use to keep the spirit alive when things start to get crazy? I’d love to know what works for you.

Here’s what works for me.

1.  Remembering what matters.

Gift My focal point during the holidays is joy. I truly believe that the most important gift I can give my family throughout the holiday season is a joyful, happy me. Sometimes this is easier said than done when staring down a twenty mile long to-do list! Subtle reminders about my intention really help me.

Earlier this year, as part of my preparation for my holiday online workshop, I created a decorative gift box. I pulled this out on Sunday with the rest of my holiday decorations, and placed it prominently on a cabinet in our dining area. I can see this little package at every meal, and any time I walk into the kitchen. It sits there reminding me to lighten up, enjoy the journey, and give my family the gift of a relaxed and joyful Mom.

2.  Distinguishing between must dos and want-to-dos.

This morning Jay and I had a talk about our holiday plan and to-do list. We distinguished between the must do tasks, and the want-to-do tasks. Doing this provided an instant sense of calm. The must-do list is really pretty short—buying and wrapping gifts, painting Kailea’s bed / dresser / bookcase thing, and making some food. All quite manageable given that it’s only December 3rd! If you start to feel overwhelmed by your to-do list, I strongly encourage you to put your to-do list through this thought process. Decide what is a necessity and what is a nicety. After all, it’s really hard to get in the holiday spirit when you feel overwhelmed and stressed out!

3.  Drinking hot chocolate.

There is something about a hot cup of cocoa with whipped cream on top that makes me happy and puts me in the holiday spirit. Simple but true. It works for me.

4.  Having a creative outlet.

This one goes on my “want to do” list, but right at the top. I truly enjoy the process of creating during the holidays. It energizes me and relaxes me all at the same time. From knitting scarves, to wrapping gifts, to documenting the holidays via a scrapbook project, making stuff makes me happy.

5.  Making a daily grateful list.

When I spend five minutes early in the day making a list of what I’m grateful for, I feel better all day long. This holiday season, I’m making the commitment to make a daily list of what I’m grateful for that day. I won’t worry about repeats. My family (and hot coffee) makes my list nearly every day. And that’s okay. Because my family and hot coffee…well, they just plain make me happy.

I’d love to hear what puts you in the holiday spirit. Please share your thoughts in the comments section. Thanks for sharing.