How to Get Yourself Into the Christmas Spirit

Co-authored by Anna Svetchnikov

Last Updated: December 11, 2024

When you grow older, family pressures, work commitments, loneliness, or other things can make you to lose the wondrous spirit of Christmas. When money is tight and time is as well, you can end up feeling disappointed, sad, or just dreading Christmas altogether. Everyone deserves the opportunity to feel special at Christmas. Restoring your Christmas spirit is worth your focus and you will feel better for it after.

Part 1

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Creating Christmas Spirit in the Home

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Great songs such as "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Andy Williams and "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole are great examples, and they will help you lift your spirit.
2
Make a batch of Christmas cookies. Make sugar cookies, and decorate with frosting, sprinkles, etc. They'll smell wonderful while baking and are sure to help out the Christmas fun.
- Have the kids decorate their own cookies for something to do.
- If you can't make cookies, but want your house to smell nice, you can get some scented candles or some christmas-y scented room spray. It makes your house smell like the holiday season, but without the mess!
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3
Hang up Christmas ornaments. When you focus on the ornaments, and just on getting it done, it's not fun. But when you have fun, dance with the Christmas music, put a garland up, put little trinkets of Santa Claus, angels and whatnot. You will see, you will have fun.
- Have other family members help with the tree.
It doesn't matter if you put it up after you read this article, or in a few days, just get it up early. That way, you can decorate the tree and have fun with it, expressing your creativity and feeling like you are really into the spirit.
Print it off the internet and sing the verses quietly to yourself at work, or at the store. Create your own Christmas song if you like.

Part 2

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Feeling the Christmas Spirit in Company

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Go to stores like Macy's and Target and shop in the Christmas aisles. Have fun picking out what stuff you could possibly need. When you see other spirit around you, you're more likely to have that special feeling once again.
2
Spend time with family and friends. This probably is the most important way to feeling happy. Make some cookies, and invite a few friends over, and watch a Christmas film like "White Christmas".
- See if you can find a party to go to this year instead of organizing it all yourself. It makes for a nice change.
But take time and thoughtfulness with the gift, wrap it, and make your own card, add a special poem or heartfelt Christmas greeting. giving a great gift to someone is a great way to get into the holiday spirit.

Part 3

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Caring for Yourself

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1

Realize that some of your lack of feeling the Christmas spirit may be related to feeling overwhelmed and stressed by the seasonal festivities and preparations. Take time out. Go and do things for yourself now and then, to relieve the pressure of always preparing and being around frantic activity. You cannot please all of the people all of the time, so do not even try; by taking breaks, you will feel refreshed and able to cope with difficult people all the more constructively.
2
Have reasonable expectations of the Christmas season. If you expect too much, you may feel disappointed. Instead, expect things to be low key and easy and you will feel a lot calmer and happier about the season, being able to enjoy the experience more.
- Realize that the commercialized version of Christmas is the marketer's dreams, not yours. Don't try to live up to that version and don't fall for thinking that you can buy happiness at Christmas time. Enjoyment does not mean expense.
Laugh more, see the funny side of things, even more so when things don't go to plan. Be genuine in your mirth; forcing jolly feelings will feel artificial. That might just mean watching something that makes you laugh for real or taking time out to watch a frolicking puppy or your children at play.

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My presents are wrapped really messily, plus my gifts seem lame. But if they come from the heart, and are meaningful, does it matter?

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No, not at all! This time of year is a time to be kind and grateful. I'm sure your family will appreciate them all the same.

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What can you do if these methods are still not working?

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Decorate (while listening to holiday music), go on a wintry vacation in late fall, watch Christmas movies, invite family and friends over for a fun, casual Christmassy meal, or anything similar to those. Don't become so fixated on getting into the "Christmas Spirit" that you forget what the Christmas Spirit is all about! December 25th is about spending time with those you love and enjoying the season, not pressuring yourself to get in the mood, then ending up frustrated.

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How early should I start celebrating?

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In most cases, starting any earlier than late November will result in strange looks and eye-rolling. But there are no set rules, if you just can't restrain yourself.

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Tips

Don't focus on getting the spirit, just have fun. In time, you will see just these simple things will give you what you want.

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Help others this season. When you volunteer / donate at your local soup kitchen or charity, it makes you feel happy as well.

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It is possible to get into the Christmas spirit, no matter how hopeless it may seem.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Sit by the Christmas tree with a family member or friend and talk about your favorite Christmas things. My friend was over and we couldn't sleep so we went upstairs and sat by the tree and just talked about it the whole time. :)
Put on a Christmas sweater, pop some popcorn, make Christmas cookies, and watch a Christmas movie! And maybe drink a cup of hot cocoa!

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Warnings

Don't overdo it with the spending. Stressing about how much you spend can ruin the fun.

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Be careful during the holiday season. It may be icy on the roads.

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