Savor The Season With A Christmas Bucket List

Savor the Joy of the Christmas Season with a Festive Bucket List

Soft lights twinkling in the windows, steaming cups of cocoa being passed from hand to hand, boots dripping with fresh snow piled on the welcome mat, little faces bright and rosy cheeked from romping in the cold yard. Christmas music swirling in the background while angels glisten on the evergreen tree in the corner and gold wrapped packages sit expectantly underneath.

These are the little moments of the Christmas season. The moments that we want to savor and cherish while they are happening. The moments that gladden the heart and remind us of the simple beauty within the holiday celebrations and family traditions.

How easy it is to miss the joy in the special moments, especially during the busy times of year, such as Christmas. As moms, we can become quickly overwhelmed with all the expectations of the holidays. We cook, we clean, we host, we shop, we decorate. There are gifts to buy, presents
to wrap, cookies to bake, stockings to stuff and volunteering to do.

We can race from one project to the next, trying to get everything done before December 25th and making sure our families have the perfect Christmas. Or we can take a deep breath and slow down, enjoying the moments as they happen and simplifying our own to do lists.

We can be intentional about what we choose to do to celebrate Christmas, letting go of some of the busy work to create more space for family traditions and merry memory making. We can plan ahead and give ourselves time to tackle our Christmas to do list early so that we are not overwhelmed at the last minute. We can gift our families with a peaceful holiday season this year by being a joy-filled, intentional mom with a plan.

Having a game plan to celebrate Christmas is one way to be prepared for an exceptional holiday season. The goal should be to find ways to savor the season instead of rushing through the season. What better way to do this than with a festive bucket list that highlights all the important Christmas moments?

A list gives you a simple way to plan ahead for holiday activities and is a visual reminder to focus specifically on those events. Schedule them into your December calendar and then make sure you actually slow down and savor each activity while it is happening. Cross each one off and make a new treasure chest of family memories. Here are suggestions to get you started:

+Decorate the House
+Use an Advent Calendar or Christmas Countdown
+Make Cookies
+Watch a Christmas Movie
+Take a Walk and Breathe in the Cold Fresh Air
+Play in the Yard at Twilight
+Attend Church on Christmas
+Read a Christmas Book

+Sing Carols
+Donate to Charity
+Go Christmas Shopping
+Visit Santa
+Drink Hot Chocolate by the Christmas Tree
+Attend a Christmas Party
+Make a Gingerbread House
+Light Candles at Night and Dim the Lights
+Do a Christmas Craft
+Attend a Christmas Show
+Play a Family Board Game
+Go Window Shopping at the Mall
+Snap a Family Picture
+Enjoy a Holiday Drink
+Drive Around to See the Christmas Lights
+Set Up a Nativity Scene
+Snuggle in Blankets on the Couch
+Exchange Presents
+Watch the Snow Fall

If some of these activities seem more like a chore or a hassle, try to shift your perspective to recognize the fun you can have or to see the opportunity for quality time with others. If you can go into the holiday season with the “savoring Christmas” mindset, you will be more likely to really enjoy this time of year and feel a sense of satisfaction after Christmas is over. At the start of the new year, you can look back and say you truly savored Christmas with your family and made every moment count.

Download this Christmas bucket list or create your own with the included customizable printout.

Hannah Christensen is a wife and mom, sipping cups of coffee between loads of laundry and organizational projects. Most days you can find her working from a home office with two curly-haired little girls serenading her with Disney Princess songs. Her favorite days are ones where she is relaxing with her husband and best friend. She blogs about faith, marriage, homemaking and motherhood at lovelylittlelives.com. If you are looking for Christmas gifts for your daughters, this is her Disney Princess Gift Guide.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lovelylittlelives
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/lovelylittlelives
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/lovelyglimmers
PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/lovelylittlelives/