If you’re not in the mood for Christmas yet, or you know you usually struggle to do so, we’ve compiled a list of ten things to help lift that Scrooge-like mood.
Busy lifestyle? Grow old? Do you feel stressed at work? Are you finding it difficult financially?
There are so many reasons why you might not be feeling the Christmas spirit this year. There is nothing worse than December passing by without that magical feeling of Christmas excitement.
So here are ten things you can do to help you feel Christmas.
Make some Christmas baking
Even if you’re not a baker and don’t like to cook, why not lock the doors, turn on some Christmas music and try to make something distinctly festive? Mince pies are a great place to start and are surprisingly easy.
It’s probably too late to make your own ground beef (writing this in mid-November), as it needs some time to mature. But you can buy cans of mincemeat for less than £1 these days. If you don’t feel like making your own pastry, buy it ready-made – you’re looking for sweet shortbread. All you have to do is roll it out, cut it and add the mince.
Then you can sit back and relax while the unbeatable aroma of mince pies fills your home.
Watch a Christmas movie
If there’s one thing that should help you feel Christmas cheer, it should be watching a Christmas movie. Whether you want to see something old or something new, something big budget or a budget TV movie, a Christmas movie can transport you into a festive wonderland.
Do you need help choosing? Check out our page with Christmas movies.
Go to some Christmas markets
There is something unmistakably festive about going to Christmas markets, whether you do it in the UK or somewhere in Europe. Those chalet-style wooden booths sparkle with glitter and lights, while the aroma of grilled bratwurst and mulled wine makes your mouth water.
If you’re on a budget, find out where your nearest market is and spend just an hour walking around it at night. Even in rain or bitterly cold weather, there is something incredibly alluring about Christmas markets.
Lock the doors and enjoy some downtime with Christmas music
Sometimes Christmas comes so quickly that you just don’t have time to enjoy the run-up to it during December. You work all day, come home and spend a couple of hours cooking, cleaning, sorting the kids or whatever.
Well, time to make yourself a little Christmas holiday. One evening, preferably a weekend, take time to get your chores done and then lock the doors, put on some Christmas music and enjoy a festive moment. If you want a piece of mulled wine or mince pies, it’s all the better for it. Make it as festive as possible with few distractions. Maybe do some Christmas shopping on your computer while you’re at it, read a good book or start thinking about your Christmas Day menu!
Do some volunteer work in the community
Christmas is the season of goodwill, so if you have time to spare, why not spend a little helping people less fortunate, or even just helping a local good cause. It could be volunteering at a local homeless shelter, putting up some decorations in the local community or helping an elderly member of the community do their Christmas shopping.
Sharing the goodwill at Christmas, or in the lead up to it, will not only help you feel Christmas spirit, but it will help brighten someone else’s life too, and that’s what it’s all about.
Put up some new decorations
Maybe your lack of Christmas cheer is due to the lack of Christmas decorations in your house, or even because you put up the same decorations year after year? Well, time to review your decoration!
If you don’t have many decorations, skip out and buy some new ones. You don’t have to spend a fortune either, your local thrift store or pound/dollar store will have lots of little things that can transform your living room for just a few quid/dollars.
Maybe you use the same decorations every year, or have the same Christmas tree theme? Again, try moving things around or freshen up the decorations you have by buying some new ones. Check out our inexpensive Christmas decorations article for more ideas.
Also consider going retro. If your memories of fun Christmases include shiny foil garlands and paper chains, go buy them again – or rather make them. Even if a room in your house has a retro Christmas feel from the 1980s, no one is judging. Make it what it needs to be to make you feel Christmas.
Take the festive edge at work
Some workplaces are good at Christmas, but there are probably more that are absolutely not. Dreary office cubicles, drafty building yards and non-descript reception desks everywhere will remain unchanged and unloved come December. If this is your workplace, it’s time to drive change.
Don’t worry about offending people, but suggest a program of festive activities or decorations. Send an email to your boss, a