Happy December! Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, I feel ready to embrace the Christmas season (I know there are mixed opinions on when this is appropriate)!

If you are reading this, you are probably just as excited for all of the fun seasonal activities that accompany this time of year!

What is your favorite part of the holiday season? Please let me know in the comments.

The last thing you want is to get to the end of the holiday season and realize you missed out on one or more of your favorite activities!. This is why I love planning. Making a plan is such a great way to ensure you do the seasonal activities you want to. 

Firstly, I want to make sure to address that seasonal plans and bucket lists SHOULD NOT BE RIGID. Full disclosure, I often don’t complete all the items on my bucket lists. And that is 100% okay! 

It is simply fun and inspiring to daydream and plan these activities. If I don’t get around to everything, that just means those activities were not as much of a priority as I thought they would be. Which is okay. I suggest you take a similar, laid-back approach to your seasonal plans. You don’t want to make yourself feel stressed and overwhelmed over activities that are supposed to be fun.

Okay, I’ll step off my self-compassion soapbox now and get into the holiday season inspiration. Some of these are small, simple acts. Others require a little more effort and planning. I wanted to share a variety of options, and you can pick what works for you!

Photo by Sweta Meininger on Unsplash

Holiday Season Bucket List

Decorate

Decorating your space can help you feel cozy and festive all season long. You don’t need to buy a bunch of expensive decor either. Check out Dollar Tree, the Target Dollar Spot, and even thrift stores for some affordable options. Making a few simple DIY decorations is also a great way to add some holiday cheer on a budget.

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/coffee-in-white-coffee-cup-221082/

Drink Holiday Beverages

There is nothing like a seasonal beverage to put you in the holiday spirit. Check out your local coffee shop to see if they have any yummy seasonal drinks. Or make your own holiday coffee at home (try Pinterest and TikTok for inspiration). If you are of age, getting a seasonal cocktail is also a fun and festive activity.

Burn Holiday Candles

Just like a holiday beverage, holiday scented candles will put you right in the holiday spirit. I love keeping a candle burning while hanging out at home and enjoying the cozy vibes and holiday scents.

Photo by Element5 Digital: https://www.pexels.com/photo/gold-christmas-ball-decor-712320/

Watch Christmas Movies

Watching holiday movies is one of my favorite family traditions. Growing up, we would always watch the classic claymation movies, like A Year Without A Santa Claus, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. I love how wholesome and nostalgic these are. We still watch those every year. And now we also watch the Hallmark Christmas movies, which my abuela loves.

Host a Holiday Party

Hosting a holiday party is a first for me. I wanted to host more events, so I decided to throw a party for my friends. We will see how it goes. I hope this inspires you to get some friends together and celebrate. We are doing a White Elephant gift party, which is a good option for an affordable gift exchange, since everyone just needs to purchase one gift.

Go Ice Skating

When was the last time you went ice skating? I haven’t been in a while, but this is a fun winter activity! I am excited to go to the outdoor ice skating rink near my parents’ house this year. You should find out if you have a rink near you. If you have an outdoor ice skating rink, that is even better!

Image by Chris Spencer-Payne from Pixabay

Look at Christmas Lights

Christmas lights are so pretty. If you have a neighborhood or shopping center near you that goes all out with holiday decor, it is definitely worth spending time walking/driving around and enjoying the holiday vibes.

Practice Mindfulness

I get very emotional around the holidays. I love how beautiful and cozy this season is, and I love getting to spend time with my family. But I can also get in my head and start ruminating about things like how far away I live from my family and returning to my normal routine once the holiday season is over. 

Please join me in using mindfulness to stay grounded and enjoy this time of year as much as possible. My action plan is to actively remind myself every day, as often as needed, to enjoy the moment and not worry about the past or future (I know it is easier said than done).

Photo by picjumbo.com: https://www.pexels.com/photo/clear-long-stem-drinking-glass-196648/

Spend Time With Loved Ones

How many times can I say I love spending time with my family in one post? But seriously, I am very excited to see them. I love spending cozy, quality time with my family.

Plan Family Activities

If your holiday season also involves extended time with family, try planning some fun activities to do together, like puzzles and board games.

Photo by Jonathan Borba: https://www.pexels.com/photo/greeting-cards-3358727/

Make a Holiday Craft

I mentioned in this post about Simple Tips for Planning Your Holiday Gifts, that I am making a few simple DIY gifts.

Do you have plans for this holiday season? I hope this post inspires you to create your own holiday bucket list and try out some of these activities! And make sure to send this post to anyone you know who also would enjoy some holiday inspiration.

Let me know what you have planned in a comment! And make sure to subscribe to my email list and follow me on social media to stay connected and receive more positive lifestyle content! I am so grateful you are part of this cozy community of people passionate about self-improvement and living your best life!