Tips for keeping the Holiday Spirit alive all year long

‘Tis not exactly the season for holiday cookies and Christmas spirit, but that doesn’t mean you can’t engage in practices of seasonal holiday joy. Oftentimes, we save all of our holiday spirit and joy for a select few months of the year, when really, we could choose to celebrate whenever we wanted. Here are some tips for keeping the Holiday Spirit alive all year long.

Find reasons to celebrate with friends and family.

If you really think about it, there’s always something to celebrate. And you don’t need a calendar holiday to get into the holiday spirit. Celebrations don’t have to be massive and cumbersome. From new jobs, graduations, engagements, promotions, pregnancies, or moving, to little victories as well, like learning a new hobby, a dance recital, completing an online or in-person course, or tackling a big home cleaning or renovation project. Getting together with friends and family to celebrate any type of accomplishment genuinely makes you happy and cheerful, so make time to do it more often.

Spread joy to the world!

To really make the most out of getting your dose of holiday spirit, think of what happy holidays really means. Spread joy to others. Pay it forward. Give the gift of your time and energy.

Do nice things for your friends and neighbors – not all gift-giving needs to be tangible, and you can feel good while you do good. Focus some of your energy on being grateful, and sparking joy for yourself, and for others, can also help reduce stress.

Buy clearance holiday staples.

The holidays can be costly, for more reasons than just buying Christmas gifts. Many of the things that go into making the holiday spirit feel magical come with larger price tags, such as holiday decorating, cooking that festive meal, or buying wrap for gifts. Keep your eyes open in spring and summer months for holiday items such as décor, cards, gift wrap, batteries, tape, ribbons, gift bags, cookie cutters, and ornaments to help you save money down the road. Another good thing to consider is any of those truly unique personal gifts, that you purchase off a site like Etsy, or from another independent creator… ordering it now gives you more time, reduced stress, and helps you beat the holiday rush and feel the Christmas spirit long before the holidays start.

Start making your list, so later, you can check it twice! 

Starting to put together your holiday shopping gift and décor list early will help you save time and avoid stress during crunch time. Having a game plan also helps you take advantage of specific seasonal items that your loved ones may be asking for on their list for Santa.

Shop sales this summer!

Since you never know what’s going to end up on someone’s list for Santa, it’s important to keep your eyes peeled year-round for great deals on off-season gifts to save yourself some time, stress, and money. Good thing you started making that list early this year, right? You might not be giving the gift right now but buying things that you know will make others happy is a great way to boost your own holiday spirit. Knowing that you’re giving the perfect gift to someone you care about is a timeless feeling.

Listen to Christmas Music!

You don’t have to wait until November to start playing Christmas music, especially if you are alone at home, or in your car. You can put on your favorite holiday playlist, while you’re driving, or when you’re at home looking at old photos from previous Christmases. That spring and fall cleaning goes a lot smoother when you’ve got some comforting tunes to listen to. You can rock around the kitchen island any time!

Practice new recipes

You might be someone who thrives under pressure, or you might be someone who folds. Why not go through your favorite recipe books and websites early this year, make a short list of things you could make for your Christmas meal, and try your hand at practicing them, to make sure you work out any issues before December 25^th? It helps maintain your Christmas spirit when you aren’t elbow deep in a turkey, while worrying about your side dishes and whether or not you remembered to buy gifts for everyone on your list. Worst case scenario, you might mess up a small family dinner, and have to order a pizza – but you won’t be the grinch who ruined Christmas with a burnt elaborate casserole and a visit from the fire department.  

Grab early bird tickets to your favorite holiday event.

Like with many ticketed events, purchasing tickets to a holiday show early often comes with discounts and other special offers. Remember to sign up for your favorite holiday traditions’ mailing lists, if they have one, to take advantage of members-only ticketing offers, contests, and special advance notification. Then you can start your official holiday countdown, which will certainly fill you with some extra Christmas spirit.

Remember all those other holidays!

It’s very easy to get focused on Christmas, since it’s one of the biggest holidays around, and easily the one that many people get into the full holiday spirit with. President’s Day, Canada Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Long Weekends, Valentine’s Day, and St. Patrick’s Day are a few others where you can put a bit of time, effort, and holiday spirit into celebrating. Decorate for these holidays – as little or as much as you want to celebrate the special occasion, or host small gatherings to bring your friends and family together to mark the day(s).

Utilizing just some of these tips is sure to fill you with holiday spirit and delight. Remember, it’s okay to get excited and celebrate anytime – because it’s never too early to be filled with pure joy.

If you’re looking to get a head start on planning some of your holiday festivities or shopping, check out a show in a city near you.