How to Create a Haven This Christmas … And Why You Should
Create a haven this Christmas as a gift for yourself … and your loved ones.
Right now, you might be hearing “We need a little Christmas” on the radio ten times a day. But what you really need is a haven to escape from Christmas stress.
The daily messages of What are you planning? Who do you need to buy a gift for … and what are you buying? Can you bring this to this party? What are you giving? build up into a frenzy until December, in fact, isn’t the most wonderful time of the year, but the most stressful, frenzied, and filled with pressure.
If you ever need a haven, now is the time.
You need a place to feel comfortable to be yourself. You need a spot to retreat and find peace. And you need somewhere to refresh, recharge and relax.
Yet creating a haven can feel like just one more thing to add to a towering to-do list.
Stop. Take a breath. And transform your home into a haven with these 5 simple and quick ideas as a gift for yourself – or for the loved ones who live in your home and will gather in your home.
5 Ways to Create a Haven this Christmas
1. Put up Christmas lights.
If you already have lights up on a Christmas tree, use those. Or, hang lights somewhere in your home. At night, turn off the other lights in that room, and enjoy the magical glow of the lights.
Since the rest of your room is dark, it’s easier to forget about everything that “needs” to be done. (Especially if you can’t see it!) Take the time to just sit and think. Twinkling lights can help you look at life with a very different perspective.
2. Crank up the tunes.
Since you’re creating a haven and not a party, choose contemplative Christmas songs.
When I’m trying to wind down and relax, I like to listen to instrumental Christmas songs. (Winterlude CDs are older but are some of my favorites. I also like Jim Brickman or Fernando Ortega.)
3. Add a holiday scent to your home.
If you have a diffuser, add some peppermint essential oil to set a cheery mood.
Or, make your home smell wonderful with an extremely simple simmer pot:
Orange Spice Simmer Pot
Fill a saucepan with water, orange peels, cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves. Simmer over low heat. Refill with water as needed (check and refill with water every half hour).
4. Grab something to drink.
If you’re a hot tea drinker, prepare a cup of flavored tea. (Especially at this time of year, chai’s my favorite!) Brew a cup of coffee. If it’s late at night, you may want to switch to decaf. Heat up a mug full of hot chocolate. Or, skip the hot drinks and wind down with a glass of red wine.
Whatever your drink of choice is, grab a glass. You may be able to sit down and enjoy the atmosphere you’ve created, or you may need to quietly work around your home wrapping gifts or baking cookies or cleaning up after a party.
5. Use a little feeling.
Before you sit down to enjoy your Christmas haven, don’t forget your sense of touch! Curl up with a soft blanket, or put on a toasty pair of socks to keep your feet warm. Literally feel some comfort and joy.
Whatever you do, turn off your electronic devices and wind down by taking in the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches of this holiday haven you’ve created.
What are some things YOU do to create a haven at Christmas?
Disclosure: This post originally was published in December 2016. Links in this post may be affiliate links. This means that, at no added cost to you, I make a commission on products purchased through these links. Thank you for supporting this website!
All images courtesy of Pexels.
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My sister-in-law puts out extra blankets and throw pilows on each couch in her home. After visiting her last week, I hope to try this as well!
Little, simple touches can make such a big difference, can’t they? (Thanks for sharing!)
Love this! And yes, it does feel like the most frenzied time of the year. Even with my preparation and planning, it inevitably feels like my already-long to do list multiplies. The other night I needed to work on a project after the kids went to bed and decided to move it to the living room where I could enjoy the Christmas tree lights and play the movie “Holiday Inn.” It made an otherwise dull task (budgeting) feel festive.