In this article: Learn six practical ways to simplify Christmas when you don’t have the time or energy to do everything.
I’ve been enjoying New Year posts from some of my favorite bloggers and I’m preparing to write about the new year myself. Before moving on, I wanted to finish sharing thoughts on the Christmas season. This year taught me a lot about simplifying the holidays and focusing on what truly matters.
Earlier I had planned a full “12 Days of Handmade Christmas” series, but I ran out of time and energy and had to stop short. I wrote many posts in my head that never made it into draft form. Life often gets in the way of our best-laid plans, and this past season that reality showed up in a big way for me.
I took a part-time job at the local jewelry store before the holidays and loved the experience — helping people choose meaningful gifts felt rewarding. But the extra hours left little room for ambitious handmade projects or elaborate decorating. My original plans gradually became simpler and simpler, and for the sake of my own sanity (and the whole family’s), I learned to let go of the small details and embrace a more straightforward approach to Christmas.
Here are 6 ways to Simplify Christmas
{Christmas Made Simple} The Tree: Get one. String on lights and use ornaments you already own.
I abandoned my lofty idea of a perfectly coordinated black-and-white tree with buffalo-check garland. The priority became getting a tree up before our oldest boys came home. My husband walked into the woods and brought back a charming little tree for the living room corner.
As many cut-your-own trees are, ours had gaps and some thin branches that couldn’t hold heavy ornaments. Rather than stress, I gathered every lightweight decoration I could find — paper garlands, handmade paper feathers, lightweight balls — and filled it in. To hide a big gap in the middle, I wired a few doilies and pine cones to the trunk. It wasn’t a magazine-ready tree, but it served its purpose beautifully: it was a symbol of the season and a source of delight for the kids, who loved clapping to turn the lights on and off.
{Christmas Made Simple} The Decor: Add a few Christmas items to what you already have up.
This was the quickest I’ve ever decorated for Christmas. Instead of removing neutral fall decor, I simply nested a few festive pieces among what was already on display. A couple of ornaments in a lantern, a holiday pillow, or a small wreath added cheer without a major overhaul. This approach saved time and made packing away decorations afterward much easier.
{Christmas Made Simple} The Food: Don’t stress over baking everything from scratch.
My plan to fill the freezer with homemade treats fizzled when time became scarce. Instead, I used my bread machine to prepare a few Swedish tea rings ahead of time and froze them for Christmas morning. That small convenience made a big difference — it preserved the tradition without the exhaustive prep. Store-bought bakery items and a few family favorites kept the holiday sweet without turning cooking into a chore.
We discovered we didn’t miss having piles of homemade sweets around the house. A couple of candy bags from the grandparents and a few select baked goods were more than enough to satisfy guests.
{Christmas Made Simple} The Gifts: Skip the mall and shop online where possible.
Shopping online was a lifesaver this year. With very little time to make in-person shopping trips, we ordered most gifts online and, though we pushed timelines in a few cases, everything arrived on time. Buying online also helped us stick to our budget and avoid impulse purchases associated with crowded stores.
{Christmas Made Simple} The Meal: Don’t overthink the holiday dinner — enjoy cooking together.
Preparing a turkey dinner for five with my husband proved to be a simple and joyful experience. We didn’t do any elaborate prep ahead of time; instead we cooked together on the day, enjoyed music in the background, and kept the meal straightforward. Stove-top stuffing, a few classic sides, and an easy dessert were perfectly satisfying. A fresh bouquet we received became a lovely centerpiece, and it lasted long after the meal as a reminder of that day.
{Christmas Made Simple} The Family Photo: Forget perfect matching outfits and professional shoots — just capture the moment.
I love taking a family photo each year, but coordinating outfits can become stressful. This time I simply asked everyone to come outside and take a few snapshots. No fuss, no matching required. The result was real, relaxed, and full of personality — even the neighborhood donkey wandered into one shot. A remote shutter release became a small gift under the tree and made it easy to get several candid and meaningful images.
These simple approaches — choosing a modest tree, layering a few festive touches onto existing decor, using convenient baking methods, shopping online, enjoying an uncomplicated family meal, and snapping real family photos — allowed us to focus on what matters most: being together. I treasure the memories this season brought and hope you find a few ways to simplify your holidays without sacrificing meaning.
Merry (very belated) Christmas and warm wishes for a peaceful new year!
