31 Ways to Create a Simple Christmas will give you some tips and tricks to simplify your holiday season so you can enjoy what really matters.
If you’re looking for more articles on how to have a cozy Christmas, 21 Hygge Christmas Ideas to Warm Your Soul and Creative Inexpensive Christmas Decorations will help you on your journey.
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Here‘s How to Create a Simple Christmas:
1. Make a list. Check it twice.
Making a list of what needs to be done before Christmas can help you stay organized. It will also help with your stress level.
Checking off your accomplishments will give you the satisfaction of making progress and make creating a simple Christmas easier.
2. Store Christmas decorations by room
Keep the holiday decorations for each room in your house in a separate box. Take a photograph of each decorated room and label each box with the content.
When it’s time to start decorating your home, open one box at a time, and decorate your room over days.
The photos will help you remember how you decorated each room, and you’ll save time by not having to search for each item.
3. Wrap gifts as soon as you purchase them
One of the ways to get ahead of the rush of last-minute holiday details is to wrap each gift as soon as you purchase them.
Just wrap the gift and add a tag. You can add a bow and trim when you place the presents under the tree.
You could also assign each person in your house a different colored wrapping paper, so no one knows what gifts are theirs.
4. Prepared quick meals in the freezer
In early December, make double batches of foods you are making for dinner. Chili, soups, stir-fry, and lasagna are just some ideas to make.
If you have family staying with you during the holidays, have a few breakfast casseroles ready to go for a delicious breakfast that just needs to be placed in the oven and served.
When you get in a time crunch closer to Christmas, you have ready-made meals that easily get on the table fast.
5. Keep notes for the perfect gift
Finding the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday list can be stressful, especially when you are still running around looking for something during the Christmas rush.
To avoid last-minute shopping, keep notes throughout the year when your friends and family members mention something they like or wish they had.
The thoughtful gift will touch them, and they will be happy you remembered.
6. Leftovers on Christmas Day
One family decided they wanted to soak in all the special moments of Christmas Day without the time-consuming task of preparing another considerable meal.
They decided to have their holiday meal on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas Day, they graze on leftovers.
7. Holiday Front porch
You don’t have to decorate your entire front yard. Just make your front porch festive.
Add large faux presents in a cute sleigh, add garland and outdoor lights to your railing, a simple Christmas wreath on your front door, a happy holiday sign, or festively decorated small trees.
8. Exchange decorating help
Holiday decorating is more fun when you invite a few friends to help you.
It’s the perfect time of year to catch up with each other’s lives and at the same time check another box off your to-do list.
9. Crushed candy canes to accent desserts
Using crushed candy canes to food is a simple Christmas idea that will make your holiday drinks and desserts look like you spent a lot of time in the kitchen.
Add crushed candy canes to cocktail rims, hot chocolate on top of the whipped cream, mousse, ice cream, cookies, and icing for a gorgeous presentation.
10. Make a breakfast casserole
Breakfast casseroles are a cozy way to wake up on Christmas morning.
To help keep this day stress-free, make the breakfast casserole ahead of time and pop it in the freezer.
On Christmas morning, pop the casserole in the oven before everyone gets up and let the aroma waft through your home.
11. Brew some peppermint tea
If your energy wanes in the Christmas season, make yourself a mug of peppermint tea.
The menthol in peppermint tea is proven to boost energy after a few minutes. It also helps with alertness.
12. Forest ranger
One family I know designates one person to be the “forest ranger” during the holiday season. It is their job to monitor the water level in the tree stand.
That leaves you with one less thing on your to-do list.
13. Make a charcuterie board
Charcuterie boards are one of my favorite ways to serve appetizers to a crowd with minimal effort.
I wrote an entire post on making an amazing charcuterie board. You can find it here.
14. Holiday notebook
After talking to several people who breeze through the holidays effortlessly, I found they all had one thing in common. Their secret was keeping a Christmas journal.
The journal was filled with their favorite holiday recipes – complete with notes on how to improve the dish or specifics on serving the item, notes about the holiday decor complete with photos, the Christmas cookies that everyone gobbled up first, what worked and what didn’t work the prior year.
Every year they asked their family what should they do to improve the Christmas season and noted what were their favorite parts of the holiday.
15. Prepared meals
Set aside a weekend afternoon to make a variety of soups, stews, and chili.
When you have busy evenings ahead like shopping nights, holiday parties, or seasonal school activities, you’ll be ready with a nourishing meal.
16. Have a Christmas movie marathon
The whole month of December can feel like we are rushing from one event to another.
Schedule a simple Christmas movie marathon with your family to wind down and relax for at least one day of the month.
You don’t even have to get out of your pajamas.
17. Simplify Christmas dinner
If you think you have to spend all day preparing a Christmas feast, you’re mistaken.
Preparing dishes ahead of time will cut down on the amount of time you spend on Christmas Eve in the kitchen.
Look for simple recipes to make or buy some of your Christmas menu side dishes from your favorite delicatessen.
18. Add white lights to your home
Framing your windows with white lights can turn a regular home into one that’s truly magical with little effort.
You could also place an electric candle in your window to create the same effect.
Once I moved to the south, I started seeing candles everywhere in the windows during the holiday season. It’s such a beautiful touch.
19. Annual theme gift
I like to get everyone on my holiday list a variation of an annual theme of gifts.
One year I gave out gardening gifts, and the next year was gourmet food.
Instead of going to big crowded stores, I support smaller local businesses and do all of my shopping simultaneously.
This idea also makes buying Christmas presents way less stressful.
20. Simple traditions
Instead of saying “yes” to all the holiday season activities, why not make a list of your family’s favorite ideas and make sure to take the time to enjoy them?
The goal is not to do the most during Christmas. Instead, focus on creating magical memories and traditions that will be talked about for generations.
21. Christmas tree
When I was younger, I loved Christmas trees dressed in all the finery.
As I’ve gotten older, simple Christmas trees decorated with natural elements are what takes my breath away.
Dried sliced oranges glisten like stained glass windows, strings of cranberries, and popcorn remind us of simpler times, and a twig star sits on its perch, looking as beautiful as a diamond.
Your Christmas tree doesn’t have to have hundreds of ornaments or a variety of colors to be beautiful.
22. Photo card
Trying to plan holiday cards can be hectic. The family photos that shine are those that show warmth and happiness.
Some simple ideas for your family holiday card are:
- Everyone wearing Santa hats
- The family sitting on the couch holding up a sign that says “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”
- Everyone looking at the glow of the Christmas tree
- The whole family wearing matching Christmas pajamas
- Picking out the Christmas tree
23. Handmade Christmas Gifts
Making homemade gifts for friends and family can accomplish both a family tradition and crossing gift-giving off your list.
My favorite idea is to take the summer’s bounty and preserve it for gifts for the holidays. Jellies, jams, chutneys, infused honey, and flavored vinegars are just some of the ideas to make.
Coffee sugar scrub and DIY Lavender Linen Spray are two more ideas.
24. Keeping Christmas Simple with Traditions
Taking part in family traditions that your ancestors enjoyed is the perfect way to remember simplicity is best when celebrating this time of year.
Interview your older relatives to find out if there are traditions that you don’t know about that you can add to your holiday.
25. The Reason for the Season
Jesus is THE Reason for the Season. Making HIS birth the real reason to celebrate Christmas a priority will distill your holiday into what really matters.
My aunt used to bake a birthday cake every Christmas day for Jesus.
26. Pockets of quiet
To take in the beauty of a simple Christmas, moments of stillness to take in what you see, hear, smell, and touch should be carved out throughout the day.
Whether that means getting up early and making yourself a holiday drink or sitting next to the Christmas tree basking in its glow depends on your desires.
27. Outside walks
Getting outside and taking in all the holiday decorations that adorn homes is fun to keep your health a priority and enjoy the festive decorations.
Taking family walks together is the perfect way to celebrate the season.
28. Holiday Scents
What scents do you love at Christmas?
Adding peppermint bath salts to your tub will turn it into a holiday spa.
Stovetop potpourri is an easy way to infuse your home with the joy of Christmas when you use fresh orange slices, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and cloves.
Baking gingerbread cookies perfumes the air like nothing else at Christmas time. Today I baked my vanilla pecans recipe, and my house smelled heavenly.
Make a conscious effort to add holiday scents to your home, workplace, and vehicle.
29. Easy Christmas cards
You can save money and stress if you buy next year’s Christmas cards at the after-Christmas sales.
The best part of this idea is that you can address the cards throughout the year, and by Christmas next year, they will all be ready to go.
30. Read a Christmas themed book
A fun tradition for yourself is to read a cozy novel set during Christmas. Whether that book is a romance or mystery is up to you.
It’s the perfect ending to hectic days.
31. Set your table the night before
Whether you have your Christmas dinner on the 24th or 25th, you can set your table for the festivities the night before.
Lay a cloth over the table to keep everything dust-free. Have an evening picnic by the fireplace the night before the big event.
Christmas doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive for everyone to enjoy the holiday season.
By following these tips, you can make the Christmas season more enjoyable for everyone, including yourself.
Just focus on friends and family, and happy memories will be made.
We’ve reached the end of 31 Ways to Have a Simple Christmas. I hope you enjoyed it.
Let me know in the comments below how you liked this How to Make Christmas Easier article and your favorite tips for a stress-free holiday.
Make sure you join our Creating a Cozy Life – Hygge Style Facebook group. You’re not going to believe how amazing it is. Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cabin.
Please pin this simple Christmas article below on your holiday board on Pinterest, so you can refer back to it again.
Thanks for stopping by. I’m so happy you found us!
Wishing you a very happy holiday season.
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- 15 Creative Rustic Christmas Decorating Ideas
- 31 Day Hygge Christmas Photo Challenge
- 55 Old Fashioned Christmas Ideas
- 31 Christmas Aesthetic Pictures and Their History
- The Best 24 Christmas Scents Everyone Loves
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