We all know that bittersweet feeling of longing to re-experience Christmas the same way we did as kids. During childhood, the holiday season was the coziest, most joyful time of the year, and there was nothing so eagerly anticipated as the last day of school before winter break. With growing up comes a loss of some of that magic, as much as we wish we could hold onto it. But this doesn’t mean we can’t still celebrate the holidays in a way that would make our younger selves proud! These are some of my best tips for how to spend the season and bring back that nostalgic Christmas feeling all December long.
The first is to watch a Christmas movie every day of the month. You can find plenty of great lists online of movies to watch leading up to December 25th; some of my personal favorites from my childhood are A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Grinch! Day-to-day schedules can get busy as the year comes to a close, but allotting the time to watch a movie at least a few nights during the week can provide some much-needed enjoyment and amp up anticipation for the holidays! Additionally, I suggest playing Christmas music while doing everyday activities like cooking, housework, or getting ready for the day. Listening to my favorite nostalgic holiday songs always brightens my mood, and I make sure to add new songs to my playlist every year.
Another great activity is to bake and decorate your own Christmas cookies! This always takes me back to my memories of icing homemade gingerbread cookies as a child. It’s always fun to get your creative juices flowing and customize your cookies however you like, and it is a tradition I love to uphold each year.Â
Similarly, I recommend doing Christmas-themed crafts. Building a gingerbread house, making pipe cleaner Christmas trees, or decorating your own ornaments are perfect activities for getting in the Christmas spirit and feeling like a kid again. You can also make your own holiday decorations! Make a quick run to the craft store, and you can assemble your own Christmas wreaths, arrange decorative garlands, and so much more to get your living space feeling extra homey and holiday-ready.
Next up is wearing festive pajamas. Nothing screams holiday cheer more than a colorful fir-tree or candy-cane-patterned pajama set, and these are especially perfect for your Christmas movie nights with family and friends. Last but not least, don’t forget to go for a drive through the neighborhoods in your town to see the Christmas lights displays! There’s no better activity to bring back that childlike sense of wonder and excitement we used to feel at Christmastime.
These are my most effective tips for making the most of this Christmas season and utilizing your free time in fun ways throughout the month. Incorporate as many of these as you like into your holiday activity lineup, and I hope they help this season feel just as magical as the ones from our childhood years.