When I’m in the early stages of thinking about decorating for Christmas, before I pull out the bins or lights, faux greens, and ornaments, I usually feel pretty resolved that I’m going to keep things simple. As you may notice if you visit my blog regularly, I’m always busy with something. When Thanksgiving is over, and the calendar turns to December, I’m already looking forward to the post-Christmas slow-down. The glorious lost week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, when I clear the calendar completely, say no to almost everything, and reserve that time for myself, my family, and rest. We binge-watch our favorite series, chip away at a puzzle, eat leftovers, and stay in our jammies all day. Just thinking about that week makes me want to take the ramp-up to Christmas gently.
And, in all honesty, I’ve spent over fifteen years decorating and making things for Christmas as a part of my business, and I still feel some burnout from the years of Christmas photoshoots in February, Christmas tutorials in April, Christmas sales in September, and Christmas blog posts starting in October.
my favorite LED real-wax candles | creative candle trick | dried orange slices
But then, the guys bring up the bins from the basement, we set up the trees, string the lights, and my mind starts buzzing with ideas. I begin to feel that momentum that comes from doing things. I do simple things, the basic foundations of decorating for Christmas, and those simple things inspire me to do a little more, not out of obligation, but out of a love for creating and childlike giddiness for my favorite season.
Now I’m looking forward to decorating as play and experimentation, rather than work. Yes, it’s work, but when it’s done from a place of excitement, it’s easy and joyful. Work that’s done while playing Christmas music and singing along. It’s enjoyable work. I’ve already ordered some supplies for new things I want to make and share for the season.
All of this doesn’t mean I’m not going to keep it simple. So far, I’ve just put up everything the same way I did last year, and have a few new projects planned, but I feel carried along by the momentum that began with the first steps.
Maybe you’re feeling the same way as I did – a little overwhelmed at the expectations, real or perceived, of the Christmas rush. I want to encourage you to take the first few steps and let the momentum carry you wherever it leads. Perhaps decorating isn’t your thing, but this is how you feel when approaching your favorite creative medium – baking, wrapping presents, handmade cards, arranging inflatables in your yard, etc. Maybe you do the basics, and that’s okay, but perhaps you do them with a lighter heart.
Maybe the momentum propels you forward, and you’re inspired to try new things, to make new things, and it’s so fun that you keep going right up until Christmas Eve…
15 Responses
Thank you for this! We’re NOT FEELING IT this year, which is shocking!
Here we are almost a week past Thanksgiving, and I have no Christmas decor up whatsoever. Partly due to family travel/caregiving issues, partly due to the fact that I wrote 1/3 of a full-length novel in the last week (which I did instead of, ahem, being a functional family member), and party because 2025 is just….. ughh.
Anyway, thanks for the reminder than any approach is good, as long as we’re kind to ourselves in our expectations.
Now to head back to the novel…
We are finally getting some decent snowfall today here in the foothills of the Rockies and I’m finishing decorating my living room for winter with Christmas jazz playlist streaming. This is bliss. I am 81 but still climbing the ladder to get the vignette on top of the china cabinet just so and keeping the batteries changed out on the candles on top of the shelf unit. After 13 years of living in this senior housing apartment building I finally got to decorate the lobby Christmas tree and that tree didn’t know what hit it. It is adorned with winter wonderland decor, much of which I made, much of it white, and residents seem to be astounded that it is the same glum tree we’ve had in the lobby for years. What fun. Happy holidays!
I wish we could also see your decorated Christmas tree in the lobby. It’s nice that you’re sharing your talent and enthusiasm with fellow residents.
That’s awesome!!
You keep those seniors hopping!!
Congrats on your spunk. You are inspiring.
Good for you! I hope I am doing waht you’re doing at 81. 🙂
That is awesome
We decorated before Thanksgiving except for the Hoosier and the ornaments on the tree. Now those are done and it’s time to start thinking about baking. Presents for the four grands is about the extent of our gift giving. It feels right! Savoring instead of shopping and donating to the food bank instead.
You have a impressive approach to the holiday. Very well balanced and charitable!
Wishing I could decorate this year, but the doc said to stay off my feet completely until I see him again after Christmas! Makes me sad, but taking this time to heal.
Well, that’s the best thing you can do! I had a year I was recovering from shoulder surgery, so I could only do what I could do. Some years are like that. I hope you find joy and contentment in the season as it is. 🙂
I was slow to get the house decorated this year too. But as I got boxes out, I began to perk up. Now, I don’t put up a big tree, just a table top tree but this year I have a couple trees a little shorter and that’s all. . The rest is a mantle vignette and one for the dining table. I also did a huge thing—I had cards made using a couple of my watercolors, and I’ll do something simple on the envelope. But making 40-50 hand painted cards, nearly all different, was too much this year. I agree with a previous post…2025 was just UGH!!
I think back when I was first married and we had little money. We purchased a little tabletop tree second hand which we decorated with some of my parents Shiny Bight ornaments and tinsel. We broke the bank and purchased a poinsettia for our kitchen and hung a little tinsel on that too. At the time I wished we had money for more decorations. Now we’re back to where we started…..the tabletop tree, my parents ornaments which mean the world since they have both passed away and the poinsettia in the kitchen. Everything else we collected over the years have been donated.
And here I thought I was the only one not having decorated yet this year! I only just began yesterday, the 7th. Once I opened up the ornament boxes, it was such a delight to see my ornaments again, and decorating became play. I put on the Christmas music, and tried out different arrangements, ideas, etc. Today I am working on tweaking things in the bright sunshine. It feels like a giant canvas of possibilities this year, and surrounded by my lifelong treasures, I am painting painting another new picture out of the familiar old pieces.
Yeah, it’s sad that it feels like you’re behind when you’re decorating on December 7! That used to be pretty early.