7 Simple Habits for a Happier Holiday Season

Inside: Practice these seven simple habits for a happier holiday season with less stress.

The holiday season is a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. But for many of us, it’s also a time when stress and overwhelm creep in.

Between giving gifts, preparing meals, decorating the house, and attending gatherings, the season can feel more like a marathon than a celebration.

But the holiday season doesn’t have to leave you feeling frazzled and exhausted. By adopting small, repeatable habits, you can shift your mindset, streamline your routines, and create space for joy and meaning.

Habits are the foundation of how we live our daily lives. They shape how we spend our time, how we feel, and how we interact with others.

During the holiday season, cultivating mindful and intentional habits can help you stay focused on what matters most. Then you can spend your time creating lasting memories and meaningful connections with friends and family. 

Here are some simple habits to practice this holiday season to make it your happiest and most intentional one yet.

7 Simple Habits for a Happier Holiday Season

Practice these simple habits for a happier holiday season. You’ll feel more balanced and less overwhelmed regardless of what you have going on this month.

1 – Start each day with a little gratitude. 

Gratitude is one of the simplest yet most impactful habits you can adopt during the holiday season. By starting each day with a small moment of appreciation, you can set a positive tone for the day ahead.

Gratitude can shift your focus away from stress or unmet expectations and help you appreciate the little things that make the holidays special.

Each morning, take a moment to write down or make a mental note of three things you’re grateful for. Those simple joys can be things like the warmth of your coffee, the comfort of your bed, or a kind word from a loved one. 

Creating a habit of gratitude can have a big impact on your perspective and mood.

2 – Find a way to incorporate movement into each day.

Staying active during the holidays can boost your mood, reduce stress, and keep your energy levels high – and help you find balance when indulging in your favorite holiday treats.

Incorporating movement doesn’t have to mean hitting the gym. Instead, you might be surprised to see how much of a difference small, consistent actions can make.

A few minutes of stretching or a walk around the block are great ways to move when you can’t commit to a more intense workout session.

Making sure to do some form of movement each day is a good habit to have in your life. It’s good for your physical health and can provide mental clarity as well.

3 – Focus on your priorities. 

For many, the holiday season is the busiest time of the year. With holiday gatherings and get-togethers, community events and obligations, decorating, buying presents, planning events, and traveling, it can be a lot.

With so much going on, it’s easy to see how you can quickly find yourself overwhelmed. 

A simple habit to prevent overwhelm involves keeping your priorities front and center. Every evening, spend a few minutes thinking ahead to the following day. What do you need to accomplish?

Write down the three top priorities you need to tackle and make a plan to accomplish them.

By staying focused and approaching the tasks on your list with intention, you can rest easier and get the most important things on your to-do list done. 

4 – Practice mindful eating and drinking.

Holiday gatherings often revolve around food and drinks, and it can be easy to overdo it.

By practicing mindfulness as you eat, you can savor the season’s treats without going overboard. It’s a healthy habit that allows you to enjoy your favorite dishes while staying in tune with your body’s needs.

To put mindful eating into action, take a moment to pause and appreciate your food before diving in.

Eat slowly and with intention, seated at a table whenever possible (as opposed to snacking on the go or grazing as you make your rounds at the party). And stop when you feel satisfied – not overly full. 

5 – Say “no” to overscheduling & overspending

One of the biggest contributors to stress during the holiday season? A packed calendar.

Parties, potlucks, school performances, and other seasonal events can be fun, but they can quickly become overwhelming as they fill up every blank space on your schedule. 

Making a habit of saying “no” to the events you’d rather not attend can help you protect your time and energy, ensuring you can be present for the moments that matter most and find a little time to breathe in between. 

Similarly, the holiday season is a time when many overextend themselves financially. Avoid holiday debt this year.

Opt for a simpler holiday instead. Focus on practical gifts, experience gifts, or simply not exchanging gifts if your budget doesn’t allow for it.

6 – Wind down each day with some screen-free time. 

With the constant barrage of holiday ads on television, endless promotions in your email inbox, and the steady stream of updates on your social media feeds, it’s easy to feel overstimulated.

The habit of setting aside screen-free time in the evenings allows you to unwind and connect with loved ones without distractions. 

Set a time each evening to turn off the screens and tune into yourself or your family instead. Enjoy an undistracted dinner and wind down for bedtime with a good book, a journaling session, or a good old-fashioned conversation.

Not only will you feel less overwhelmed, but you’ll find it easier to fall asleep if you can keep screen usage at a minimum before bedtime. 

Practicing self-care during the holiday season is essential for keeping yourself feeling good physically and mentally.

7 – Consider how you can bless others.

In the busyness of the holiday season, it can be easy to become self-focused.

But if you want to find more joy, one of the best things you can do is look for other people to bless.

The holidays can be a sad or stressful time for people for a number of reasons. Look for ways you can help brighten someone else’s day.

Something as simple as a smile, a kind word, or donating your time or money to your favorite organization can make a big impact.

And while we don’t do these things to benefit ourselves, in the end, it does feel good to do good in the world.

Bonus Habit – Find time to declutter. 

Decorating for the holiday season can be a great way to get into the spirit, but it can also create visual clutter if your space is already full.

And beyond the decorations, chances are some new items will enter your home – things that will ultimately need to find a space to go.

Keep clutter at bay and under control by dedicating a few minutes each day to tidying up your space. It doesn’t have to be long – even five or ten minutes of dedicated effort can make a big difference.

By tackling the task little by little and addressing the mess as it appears instead of letting things pile up, you’ll ensure your home feels relaxing and peaceful instead of chaotic and cluttered.

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Which of these habits for a happier holiday season do you plan to do? Leave a comment and let me know which one will make the biggest impact for you!

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