I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Christmas isn’t about the big presents and the fancy decorations. It also isn’t about cramming as many holiday activities and festivities in during the month of December as you possibly can. It isn’t about having the biggest Christmas party, or the biggest tree. Instead, Christmas is about spending time with loved ones, exchanging meaningful gifts, and enjoying each other’s company. And let’s not forget about the spiritual aspect of this High Holiday that often gets lost in the hustle and bustle of our commercialized holidays.

Slow Down This Year

Start by slowing down this year. It’s hard to enjoy this very special season when your calendar is so full that you’re simply rushing from one event to the next. Instead of aiming to fit it all in, do it all, and go all out on everything from decorating the house and yard to hosting various Christmas parties, slow down. Take a breath and look around you. Enjoy this time with your family. Snuggle up on the couch and watch a favorite Holiday movie. Make some macaroni ornaments with the kids. Take a nap or sip a cup of peppermint mocha. Slow down and soak it all in. If you take the time to make meaningful memories, you have something that will last a lifetime.

Scale Back On Everything

The biggest problem with doing too much and having too much is that it all loses meaning. This is particularly true around Christmas. “Go big or go home” doesn’t really work well. A couple of well-chosen presents is much more memorable than a big pile of 25 to 30 things that looks impressive at first glance.

Instead of going all out with the decorations, do a few things well and chose items that have meaning to you and your family. Instead of buying more and more gifts, set a limit and spent both time and money on quality instead of quantity. Instead of hosting huge Christmas dinners, fix something nice for the people that mean the most to you.

Focus On The Truly Important Stuff

In other words, force yourself to focus on the truly important stuff. What do you want to remember come February? Who are the people you want to spend this special season with? What holiday events and gatherings are most important to you and your family? Focus on the truly important stuff, be it spiritual or just for fun and enjoy this holiday season.