Why Less is often More during the Holidays

Last weekend, I struggled with feelings of overwhelm, which led to an important reminder.

December hadn't even begun, and I had already hit my holiday stress limit. Without planning to, I'd completely maxed out on my gift-buying budget and patience.

To celebrate the 1st Advent, I was busy decorating our house for the holidays with my 4-year-old daughter, who was eager to help. However, many decorations were delicate (some are family heirlooms), and my daughter isn't exactly careful, especially when she gets excited. So, I started feeling overwhelmed and annoyed with the whole situation. Even worse, I felt the pleasure of my favourite holiday season begin to drain from me. And it was only the month of November.

So, after winding down with a cup of tea and homemade cookies, I told my husband that I was done with shopping and planning for the holidays. Our daughter is still young, and this time of year has always been especially meaningful to me—I want to make it just as magical for her. Therefore, I decided that my mantra for the rest of this holiday season would be "less is more."

What I mean by that is less time spent shopping (in malls or online) and more time with my family. Less worrying about what presents to get and more time sharing personal stories and anecdotes that are relevant or relatable to my family and friends. Less cleaning, prepping, and organizing and more outings, adventures, and experiences together. Less time in the kitchen and more time celebrating with the people I love.

For me, "less is more" means trading in my worries about how the house is decorated for the experience of decorating our home with my daughter, even if that means that some ornaments may be sacrificed in the process.

It's so easy to get caught up in the desire to find the perfect gift, cook the most delicious meal, or host the most memorable party, but do any of these things matter if the journey isn't just as enjoyable? When you operate from a mindset of "less is more," you don't worry about buying a second gift or making that extra side dish, just in case. More than likely, sticking to your initial plan is already more than enough.

The holidays can quickly become a time of excess, which often causes anxiety and results in resentment. This is a gentle reminder that you don't need excess to have more than enough.

That's why I'm prioritizing the experience over the result this holiday season by focusing on what the holidays mean to me and the traditions I'd like to continue. This means being truly present with my daughter and my family. I'm choosing to take on less this season so that I may experience more of it.

Happy holidays, my friends! I wish you and your family many warm and joyful memories made together.