A couple weeks ago I wrote about why holiday traditions are important to us and how this year is going to look different without some of them. I know a lot of us rely on certain traditions to get us into the holiday spirit and without them we might be feeling a little less than holly jolly right now. So I put together a list of things I’m planning to do in December to make sure things stay merry and bright!

• A festive morning beverage! I happen to LOVE eggnog lattes, so I bought a carton of eggnog and have been putting a splash in my coffee instead of creamer. If you are a tea drinker, think about switching to something with peppermint or cinnamon.
• Get winter plants for inside! Some people love to get live poinsettias to decorate, but the past several years I’ve gotten an amaryllis bulb. Watching it grow and flower brings me so much joy when everything outside is dead and dreary. (Please note: poinsettia, amaryllis, and paper whites are all toxic to pets…so be aware!)
• Put out your favorite Christmas decorations. If you aren’t quite in the mood…don’t feel like you have to put out all of your decorations right now. Pick and choose the ones that you like the most and just stick with those for now. You might decide to go back and get the rest of your decorations or you might end up keeping things small this year. Just because other people are going big doesn’t mean you have to.
• Read a Christmas book! Christmas movies are great, but they only last so long. Books can be enjoyed over several days or weeks! I found this list from The Oprah Magazine recently and there’s a few I’m going to hunt down this month, like Mr. Dickens and His Carol and Christmas in London.
• But also…watch all my favorite Christmas movies. I mean, of course I’m going to watch White Christmas and Muppet Christmas Carol and Love Actually and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and The Holiday and A Christmas Story and Elf and…I won’t keep going.
• Do a Christmas puzzle. I have been doing a lot of puzzles this year while being stuck at home. They are such a great way to keep your hands busy and also challenge your mind. I grew up in a household where Springbok Christmas puzzles reigned supreme, but recently I’ve been enjoying Galison puzzles as well.
• Wear a holiday mask. Seriously, if we are wearing them anyway why not make it festive? Throw on a candy cane mask and some jingle bell earrings for your weekly grocery run!
• Try out a new holiday recipe. Or ask your family members for their classic recipes and recreate traditional meals yourself. I’m going to try my hand at homemade eggnog this year. And maybe a bouche de noel!
• Take time for daily reflection. If advent devotionals are your thing, prioritize that time every day. Or spend time journaling about something that brings you joy. Talk about your favorite childhood holiday memories. Just do something that reminds you of what gives this season deeper meaning in your life.
• Give yourself something to look forward to. If your favorite things about this year aren’t happening (fancy work parties, school concerts, church pageants, breakfasts with Santa, traveling back home, big family dinners, etc…) put something on the calendar that you can get excited about. It could be a night that you plan to decorate gingerbread houses with your spouse or a family game night with your immediate household or a fancy meal where you dress up and drink cocktails at home. Or maybe you need something small every day…don’t underestimate a good chocolate advent calendar!

In a year where every week seems to bleed into the next and it’s hard to keep track of what day it is…making this season merry and bright might take a little extra effort. But if you make it, I think it can be as joyous as you want.