5 Ways to Make Space For Wonder This Holiday Season

I crammed my winter clothes into the carry-on suitcase, pressing with all my might to create space for the adventure ahead. Pursuing the concept of “less is more” is much easier said than done, especially during the holiday season when it’s natural to pursue a “more the merrier” mentality. After all, there are so many good things; how can we say no? Yet, if we aren’t careful, we will cram the merry and bright into the following days at risk of losing the wonder of it altogether. Allow these tips to help you pursue a minimal yet full Christmas, making space for wonder through it all.

Find Your Focus

As with anything, if we do not plan how we intend to go, we may miss it altogether. So, each holiday season, I find it helpful to ask our family about one thing they are looking forward to this season. If I don’t seek their input, chances are I will scurry around to find meaningful memories in the areas that don’t translate to wonder. Therefore, the person they are left with is the weary mom, not the peaceful mom.

It’s equally helpful to take inventory of my own heart. What is my capacity this Christmas, and how can I keep the holidays festive without completely wearing myself out? As we desire to make space for wonder, focus on three ways you want to chase it this month. To help, ask yourself—at the end of the month, what is one thing that would help you feel like it was a special season? Then, allow your yes’s and no’s on your calendar to reflect that intention and proceed ahead with confidence.

Simplify Your Serving

Hospitality continues to be a significant part of the holidays, but if we aren’t careful, our commitments can drown our energy quicker than a cup of hot chocolate on a snowy day. Whether it’s simplifying what you serve at gatherings or rethinking what you wear, this will help you find joy in the moment.

If there is one thing I am notorious for, it’s hosting people in our home and creating chaos for my family while preparing for their arrival. From cleaning the bathrooms to creating a sufficient spread with proper attire, I tend to snuff out the joy before friends and family arrive. This year, extend the invitation and remember that our guests’ expectations are always less than our own. So, join me in asking how to serve others while keeping it simple, from food to décor.

A few things I’ve found helpful over the years are to ask for help, allow your guests to bring something to contribute, encourage your children to participate in the cleaning and preparation process, and create a menu that helps keep you and your family calm with advanced planning or simple recipes. The more we simplify our serving, the more we create space for wonder.

Treasure Your Traditions

Traditions keep us rooted in meaningful moments, connect us to the past seasons, and build a bridge for future generations. They are important for wonder-building but still require a bit of planning. As my children get older, they help me clarify which traditions still serve our family and which do not. It’s okay if your traditions are changing. Not all traditions are for all seasons, especially with changing family dynamics or holiday travel.

Traditions help us keep things simple because they tend to be one less decision we need to make in a season of endless options. So, sit down now and decide how you can incorporate meaningful traditions this year, allowing yourself the freedom to adjust if life calls for it. Is it a family recipe, certain dishes, or a special book that only appears around Christmas? Traditions don’t have to be complicated. In fact, the traditions that last are the ones that are the most accessible no matter what our stage of life is and create a large helping of wonder.

Refresh Your Rhythms

Often, we associate wonder with expensive. Money adds up quickly during the holidays, so it’s important to pursue wonder wisely. A few ways our family has discovered to awaken wonder without overextending the budget are to change our regular rhythms. With more time in the days, as school and regularly scheduled activities are on break, there is an opportunity to keep simple things fresh and fun. Consider watching a movie one morning instead of the evening or going out to breakfast, just because. Host a sleepover in the living room under the Christmas lights. Use holiday napkins and eat by candlelight. Wrap up your favorite picture books and allow your kids to unwrap one each day. Wrapped gifts don’t always have to be new, and they are fun ways to add some “magic” to your everyday life. No matter what, you don’t need to wait until January to refresh your rhythms and, in turn, refresh your wonder.

Enjoy Your Experiences

As our children grow older, I abide by this principle more and more. After all, how much more stuff do we all really need? I find that what makes the memories we find meaningful each year are less the gifts under the tree and more the experiences we create together. So, this year, accept a list of wishes from your family members, but consider gifting experiences over stuff to keep this holiday season full of wonder.

In fact, experiences help us discover wonder throughout the year, not simply at the holidays. Museum memberships, family trips, and group activities are all wonderful ways to find lasting enjoyment and discover something new. If you are like me, you still value a wrapped gift, so print out the concert tickets, present a map with a pin on it, or create a booklet of activities to be enjoyed each month of the year. Without a doubt, these remain our family’s most treasured gifts each year. Allow your creativity to soar and create wonder while enjoying the experiences over the stuff.

If we are honest, as followers of Christ, it can be tempting to miss the wonder of the simplest yet most significant gift this holiday season. I’ve found that when I scale back on the commitments, simplify the serving, focus on the main things, and enjoy the experiences, it also helps me keep Christ central to it all. Use these tips to help you create space for wonder, but all the while, remember you don’t have to create the wonder Christ offers you this Christmas. Sometimes, all we need to do is open our hearts and our minds to receive what God is inviting us to experience as we center our minds on Him drawing near. May we continue to seek Christ, allowing Him to create the greatest wonder in us all this holiday season.