It is almost December and already the feeling of Christmas is in the air! Shopping centres are decorated and Christmas music is playing. I have even seen Santa and we aren’t finished with November yet!
With this feeling I’ve also noticed people looking stressed already as they prepare for the Festive Season and what should be an enjoyable time.
I was talking to a friend the other day who was stressing about Christmas and I thought how sad it was that we feel pressured at a time of year when we should be feeling happy.
If you read my blog, you will know that since returning from Japan, I’ve let life overwhelm me. In particular, the project of decluttering and preparing my MILs home for sale early in the New Year.
Christmas time is my favourite time of year.
I love everything about it and especially having our family Christmas celebration where the grandchildren open their Santa Sacks and we have all our family together for probably the only time each year. This year we are actually hosting two functions one on 23rd and one on 25th December.
I want to enjoy this magical time of year with my family, especially the grandchildren and friends. However, like many of you I don’t want to feel worn out by the time the Festive season arrives.
Whilst discussing how I was feeling with my daughter, we came up with a new twist on using the Advent Calendar. Instead of the 24 days of Christmas as the theme I will be using the Advent Calendar for the 25 days of Happiness.
I’ve never had an Advent Calendar but I found the perfect one at Target. I love the design and it will become a keepsake for me to use each year. Perhaps I will make the 25 days of Happiness my own Christmas tradition.
How will it work?
Each day starting December 1st, I will open my Advent Calendar and discover one thing to do that will make me feel less stressed, happy and sometimes just whimsical.
Some things might only be small that I can fit into my day and still continue with life, but for at least a few moments each day I will be putting the focus on my health and wellbeing by doing something that brings me happiness each day.
This is not a challenge but rather an exercise in making time each day to focus on myself , whether it is five or 30 minutes.
Won’t you join me?
I would love you to join me so I’ll be posting each day on Instagram (here is my link Instagram) and in my Facebook Group, Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond – Let’s Thrive! . The idea is just a quick post with the theme of the day plus I’ll also be updating my progress each week on the blog, including photos.
I know I could give you the theme for each of the 25 days now, but isn’t it more fun and exciting to find out when I open the drawer each day?
Let’s give the gift of joy and health and well-being to ourselves during this magical time of year!
If you join me you could also post your photos to Instagram and use the hashtag #My25daycountdowntoahappychristmas
61 Comments
Hi Sue, I love this idea and look forward to joining in! The gifts of joy, health and well being are so very precious, much more so than gifts under the tree. Thank you and your daughter for taking the time to do this. X
Hi Chris, it is just a bit of fun and I suppose the point I’m making to myself is to find some happiness during each day. Hopefully you will enjoy the prompts and try some of them as well. xx
Hi Sue, this sounds like fun! I’ll try and join you 🙂
Hi Deb, I hope you can join me for some of the prompts if not all. We all can do with some happiness and less stress during this time of year, can’ we? xx
What a great idea – I may have to jump on, fun! 🙂
Lori Jo – 50 With Flair
I hope you can join me for part, if not all, Lori. It will be fun. xx
Keeping our stress under control during the busy holiday season can be a challenge, and you’ve come up with a unique way to celebrate each day. Looking forward to seeing your daily posts. 🙂
Hi Candi I’m hoping that by concentrating on what brings happiness, even if only for 5 minutes each day, my Christmas preparations will be joyful rather than stressful. xx
Count me in!
Hi Theresa! Will look forward to having you join me xx
Sue – I’ll be following on facebook and jump in when I can. I love the idea!
Thanks Janet. It is something we can really do anytime but I thought using the Advent calendar was a fun way to try to be more mindful during the month. xx
Sue, you brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart!
I used to make my daughters advent wreaths with scraps of Christmas cloth, ribbons and such and small brown envelopes filled with all manners of things. They insisted on my making them each year! I’ve never had an advent calendar, always wanted one, and now, you’ve given me the permission to have one… it had never occured to me before. Thank you so very much! And I look forward to seeing what brings you happiness each day ?
Oh Lea I’m so pleased you felt joy and hope they were happy tears. I’ve never had an Advent Calendar or gave one to my children so this one I’m sharing with my daughter who helped me with the idea. The one I purchased will be a lovely keepsake xx
Hi, Sue – I love your joy and enthusiasm. I look forward to following your ’25 Days of Christmas’ posts!
Hi Donna, originally I was going to write a post each day but then I thought that would take the fun out of the project and add pressure. So I’m posting to Instagram and Facebook and doing a weekly roundup on the blog. It should be fun! xx
What a great use for an advent calendar. When I saw the photo on Facebook I thought, “Ooh, I want one too!”, However, I already have one and not sure I can justify a second. But if I use one for the kids (I usually put a candy in each day and they take turns opening them), I can use the other for a neat project like this! Not sure this fits in with my decluttering goals, but I do have a thing for advent calendars.
I hope you enjoy the project and it helps you stay calm and grounded through the season.
Of course you can have one Kristin! I waited 61 years before I had an Advent Calendar and I’m looking forward to my happiness project.xx
What a great idea – especially with all the stress that comes in the lead up to Christmas. To take a moment or two each day to stop and do some “me” time is a great idea. I’ll be following along on FB since I don’t do IG. It will also be interesting to see what others do with each day’s idea xx
Hi Leanne, it will be fun hopefully and not stressful! I’m writing a wrap up each week on the blog and have decided to make it a link party for those who want to join in the countdown with me. xx
Hi Sue – just popping back to say – Yay! for another #MLSTL party and I’ve shared your post on my SM 🙂 xx
Looking forward to the launch of your 25 days of Christmas countdown soon!
Thanks Leanne and most of them were on topic this week in #MLSTL x
This is a great idea Sue. I’ll join when I can. Christmas doesn’t really interest me anymore so it would be nice to focus on something other than Carols and stress
Join in when you can Jen, no hard and fast rules just hopefully something fun for December 🙂
Looking forward to finding out what’s inside.
OOh just like waiting for Santa to arrive and wake up on Christmas morning to see what our presents are 🙂
This sounds like a fabulous idea. The festive season can be incredibly stressful so trying to positively combat this is brilliant!
Thanks Rachael, I thought it was a novel idea to try and hopefully enjoy the lead up to the Festive Season rather than being stressed. xx
Hi Sue,
I’m in! It sounds like fun and a way to focus on happiness and gratitude during the holidays. It’s even inspired me to start an Instagram account which I have been postponing!
Let the merriment begin!
Nancy
Great Nancy! I’ll have to follow you on Instagram! xx
Hi Sue – You’ve got a very nice advent calendar, and a great idea to focus on joy, health, and well-being. I look forward to reading your roundup posts. #MLSTL
Hi Natalie, hopefully it will be some fun for December x
Sue, what a fabulous idea! You may be on to something big – instead of the usual calendar every month, you could create 30/31 days to unstress this month.
I’m not a big Christmas person but I am enjoying knitting for the family this year. I never know what to get the children, and the grandchildren seem to have so much… so I’m finding fun and special knitting projects this year!
Happy Stress Free Month to You and Yours!
Thanks Agnes, who knows I might try something in 2019 I’ll see how this project goes. x
Hi Sue, I love your little happiness idea. I think happiness often comes in the little moments, not just the big things. I do hope that you can enjoy Christmas. I love it to. I have to wait to decorate because I am heading to Mexico this week for my daughters wedding and I fear the cats would destroy the decorations in my absence.
I know how life can overwhelm you. I have written a blog post in awhile because I have been overwhelmed. That was my topic this week!
Hi Michele, your post certainly resonated with me although you seem to have so much more going on in your life! Have a wonderful time in Mexico and best wishes to your daughter. Enjoy xx
I’ll be following on Instagram!
Thanks Michelle!
What a great idea, and I can’t wait to be inspired by what you do. I shall follow along on Insta, and I’ll be watching from the sidelines and taking note . Thanks for making me think a little more deeply about the lead up to Christmas and how it should be a time of joy and not stress. I do believe that it’s outside forces and pressure from the media about how we should ‘do’ Christmas, and not at all necessarily how we really feel. Shared on SM 🙂 x
Thanks Jo! I just think that Christmas has become so huge and stressful that we all forget what is really important to us and the true meaning. I’m hoping to get back to basics and hopefully encourage others to share in a stress-free lead up to the season. xx
I don’t have an Advent Calendar, but actually, I have a December calendar of days that will be posting tomorrow. Daily steps that people can take to ensure they enjoy the holidays.
Hi Jennifer, that is a great idea for a post so I’ll need to check that out. I think we all make too much of the season and forget that it is all about love, family and friends rather than stress and anxiety. Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely weekend. x
HI, Sue – Thank you for all the work that you and Leanne have done for this LinkUp. You have built an incredible (and generous) community here. I have shared this post on my SM and look forward to following your updates on FB and Instagram…as well as your round-up posts. #MLSTL
Thank you Donna for your continued support of the #MLSTL and also my blog, I truly appreciate your friendship. xx
I love some Christmas fun and I remember doing a countdown to Christmas on IG which you followed. Yes, I will be up for this, but I need to remember to check in!! Denyse #MLSTL
Hi Denyse, you can get an email reminder if you would like there is a link in my latest post. I’d love to have you join in. xx
What a neat idea! So how does the calendar work? Are the drawers already filled? I am definitely intrigued!
#mlstl
Hi Bethany, I have come up with 25 prompts and printed each one off to be placed in the drawer. I actually can’t remember which is in each drawer now so that will be a lovely surprise and make me put my thinking cap on. I hope you can join in with me. x
I wish I could Sue! But I am not on social media. But what I fun idea!
Sue, I’ll be watching FB for the prompts. (and can you make them sharable?) This year I’ve decided not to decorate much at all. We are traveling Dec 10-17 and then leaving again Dec 27. I just cannot get excited to decorate for that short a time at home. I might regret it later, when I struggle with being in the Christmas spirit. But your ideas on happiness might be the best thing for me those days! I do love so much about the holidays. Visiting from #MLSTL this week.
Hi Pat, I can’t make a share button in the FB group 🙁 but you should be able to share from the Facebook Page. It is hard to get into the spirit when you are travelling. I remember one year we were the same and I didn’t have any decorations at home. When I was there it felt like something was missing. Enjoy your travels and hope you can take part occasionally during the month. xx
Done! I’ve just followed you on IG (I’m Blaze, btw).
I love this idea. I’m one of those people who becomes overwhelmed with all the ‘stuff’ associated with the holidays and so I end up not enjoying it until it’s all over. The idea of a small ‘reboot’ everyday sounds like it could be just the right medicine ?
Hi Joanne I’ll follow you back unless I’m already following you! It is just a fun idea that might help people feel less stressed. Glad to have you onboard. 🙂
I LOVE this idea, Sue, and I would love to join in the festivities. Christmas is also my favorite time of year – and we are also holding family events on the 23rd and 25th 🙂 For me, the stress of the holidays will be doing final grading for the semester. I could use a dose of daily happiness to help motivate me. Looking forward to the Advent Calendar.
Hi Molly, I hope it will be successful but even if I just find some happiness for 5 minutes a day and can inspire others then that will be my project completed. 🙂
Camp Quality make one that’s for families and the activities are ‘play a game outdoors as a family’ or ‘craft with nature’ etc. I like the idea of a grown up focused one….
Oh that is a lovely idea Lydia. I just wanted to do something to help me focus on happiness rather than the hurly burly of Christmas shopping and preparing for the big day. Have a great week and thanks for stopping by xx
Hi Sue, Really enjoying this series and so glad you popped this instalment on #MLSTL…..I have shared this on my regular PainPalsBlog feature “Monday Magic – inspiring blogs for You!” this week, Claire x
Thank you so much Claire for sharing and I hope you have a beautiful week. I popped over to your blog as well. Take care. xx
That’s such a great idea Sue….
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thanks Jodie it has been fun putting it together. Have a great week x