Stop Christmas Overwhelm: Find Real Joy
For many of us, Christmas is a season that’s overstuffed with expectations.There are gifts to buy, meals to prepare, events to attend, and people toplease. It can feel like an endless marathon, leaving little time to enjoy themoments that truly matter. Instead of filling every corner of our lives withobligations, what if we made space for joy, meaning, and connection?
1. SIMPLIFY TO AMPLIFY JOY
The original holidays were simple—a moment to pause and celebrate faith,family, and hope. For example, the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah reminds us ofresilience and light amidst darkness, a beautiful parallel to finding joy andconnection in our own celebrations. There were no elaborate decorations, noperfectly curated meals, and yet it was a moment of profound joy andsignificance. Simplify your season by asking yourself what truly matters. Doyou need to bake six kinds of cookies, or will one batch shared with love beenough? Will anyone notice if you don’t hang every ornament, or is it okay toleave some space on the tree this year? Simplification creates breathing roomfor what really brings happiness.
2. LISTEN TO THE RIGHT VOICES
The holidays can be noisy, with countless voices telling us what we “should”be doing. These voices can feel like the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, andFuture, whispering reminders of how things have been, pressuring us withcurrent trends, and fueling anxieties about making this year unforgettable.Take inspiration from A Christmas Carol: instead of letting theseghosts dictate your season, reflect on what truly matters and align youractions with those values. These might come from our past (“We’ve always doneit this way”), our present (“Look at what everyone else is doing”), or ourimagined future (“If I don’t do this, it won’t be a memorable Christmas”). Thisyear, tune out the noise and tune into what matters most. Reflect on the kind,gentle voice of faith that calls us to focus on love, grace, and presence.
3. PRIORITIZE PRESENCE OVER PERFECTION
Often, we feel pressured to make Christmas “perfect.” But the beauty ofChristmas is not in its perfection; it’s in its heart. Choose presence overperfection. This might look like sitting down with your kids to watch afavorite holiday movie instead of fussing over a Pinterest-worthy dinner. Or itmight mean putting aside your phone to fully engage in a conversation with afriend. When we focus on being present, we give the gift of our undividedattention—and that’s priceless.
REFRAME YOUR EXPECTATIONS
Christmas is not about doing everything; it’s about remembering the One whohas already done everything. The birth of Christ was a gift to a world thatdidn’t earn or deserve it—a reminder that grace is freely given. Instead ofstriving to meet impossible expectations, rest in the peace of knowing thatGod’s love is not contingent on what you accomplish this season.
A RESOURCE TO ENCOURAGE YOU
To help you embrace this perspective, I’m offering a free faith-basedresource called the Father Letters. These letters affirm your uniquegifts and strengths while gently releasing you from the pressure to be allthings to all people. Download the Father Letters here and let them inspire aseason filled with grace and purpose.
A SEASON OF PEACE AND CONNECTION
This Christmas, let’s make space—space for what brings us joy, for the peoplewho matter most, and for the quiet reflection that renews our spirits. Bysimplifying, listening to the right voices, and focusing on presence, we cancreate a season that feels meaningful and true to who we are. Here’s to aChristmas that’s not about doing more but about being more present—foryourself, for others, and for the One who made it all possible.
