How to Slow Down and Savor the Season

The holidays can be a notoriously stressful time—juggling the seemingly endless tasks of gift buying, gift wrapping, party planning, and more can get overwhelming fast. It’s all a bit ironic, considering that this time of year is meant to be one of joy, spending time with loved ones, and pausing to be grateful for life’s many blessings. 

Redirecting the focus on the season can be as simple as starting a conversation. Gathering your family, children or loved ones to have an intentional discussion about each of your hopes for the holidays and what matters most to you is a helpful way to find calm amid the frenzy—especially when it comes to choosing to spend more wisely during a time when everything around you is pushing you to spend more. 

Meaningful Conversations

For a fun way to kick off your meaningful conversations, these printable conversation starter cards are a great way to come together and be honest about the season’s expectations—and to be reminded about meaningful aspects of the holidays outside of gift-giving. Aside from being a fun family activity, these conversation cards can help encourage your children to think deeper about what this season means to them and what things (aside from gifts) bring them joy. Win-win! 

Perhaps you want to shift the focus away from gifts this season altogether—a bold move that has great reward. Instead of overspending on material items, consider gift alternatives that encourage quality time spent with those you love most. These printable gift coupons are a great way to create more quality time as a family—one of the best gifts you could ever give your children! 

Coupons

Give your kiddos the chance to cash in for a family game night, earn a few extra minutes before bedtime, or have dinner at their favorite restaurant. You can use these coupons with your partner, too! Your honey can redeem a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows on a chilly evening or a relaxing back massage. Or, use the blank cards to fill in your own gift coupon ideas! 

Gift Giving

Of course, if you plan on buying gifts (no shame, gift giving does have its own love language, after all!), it’s important you have a way to keep track of them all without going over budget. While you might be tempted to buy an expensive gift for everyone on your list, remember it’s the thought that matters most, not how much you shell out on a gift. To help you stay on track with your spending limit, use this printable gift planning checklist and budget tracker to stay on top of your gift ideas and spending target. 

No matter how you choose to spend the holiday season, we could all benefit from a reminder that it’s who we share our time with that matters—not what we give each other. Quality time is one of the best gifts someone might receive this year, and keeping this in mind is the best way to stay grounded in peace and thankfulness during a time when the rest of the world feels like it’s in overdrive. Whatever you choose to do, if it’s rooted in love, you can count on increasing the joy of this season!