Unwrap Joy: Delightful Holiday Activities Beyond Gift-Giving

I love the holiday season, and for the first time in my 35 years I am foregoing the gift giving, for the most part.

I know a lot of people opt for the “homemade gift” but to be honest, unless you are under the age of 12 or an amazing artisan, I will have no idea what to do with your “made with love” craft. Sorry not sorry.

So how do we create holiday cheer if in the past you focused on shopping and gift giving? It can be hard to get into holiday cheer if you used to spend your holidays at the mall, fighting for parking, and stressing over tracking information?

Here are 5 ways to step away from the wrapping paper and explore these five delightful alternatives that focus on connection, meaning, and creating lasting memories.

1.     Host friends for apps & wine – give the gift of delicious food & beverage, and connection. I love getting together with my girlfriends, our neighbors, our families, or other friend groups. Bonus tip – the month of January can be tough. Send invitations now for a January get together to give people something to look forward to after the holiday.

2.     Give yourself and others the gift of your intentional attention - Do the thing you’ve been wanting to do all year. Finally finish that book. Check out the mom & pop-whole-in-the-wall you drive by every day. Call your aunt Cindy.

3.     Embrace all the corny holiday things –Have a festive movie night. Create a cozy space by the tree to learn to knit or cross stitch. Buy a festive candle, set it next to a seasonal flower centerpiece, and dim the lights for a special meal.

4.     Choose a charity that means something to you and make a donation in the name of loved ones - Take a moment to consider what a younger version of you could have used help with – is there a charity with a mission to provide such help? Is there someone you love who has been supported during a time of need and you want to pay it forward? Giving is the reason for the season – give in ways that expand and excite you!

5.     Get creative – listen I know I said I don’t like homemade gifts, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love to create! A few years ago Alex and I painted ornaments of our cats and surprisingly they turned out great! The trick here is to create without expectation of perfection. Simply create from a playful place. If its crap, toss it after you’re done. If it turns out you love it, find a place for it!

And for the cherry on top, for the best holiday ever, prioritize your growth and self care! Every year people spend THOUSANDS of dollars on material items only to forget what they bought within a few weeks or months.

Want lasting joy? Invest in you. Invest in creating a life built on the foundation of radical self-love. I can help!