Can you hear that sound in the distance? Jingle bells, jingle bells, Christmas fun is here! This is officially my favorite time of the year mainly because joy is a requirement. I am quite aware that 2020 has given us some gut punches and we need to be real about that.

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How is Christmas different this year?

Our little family of four religiously celebrates Christmas in Barbados with both grandmothers, tons of relatives and high school friends. That will not be the case this year. I will be honest with you, I was bummed about it for a week or so but I know we made the right call. Safety over everything else.

I know many other people have had to make this same decision which means embracing a different type of holiday. Christmas usually involves certain traditions with the same people at the same house every year. As much as some of us complain, there is comfort in knowing exactly what you’re going to do every year. The sacrifice you are making this year is inconvenient, yes, but it’s also important. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you for putting others’ needs before your own. Now, that we’ve gotten through the sappy stuff, let’s get this party started!

5 Tips to Make Christmas Fun

1. Have an open mind

For someone who loves holidays as much as me, you would think Christmas meant snow (or sand) angels and live trees. You’d be wrong. Christmas for me means being around so much family that I barely have to watch my kids. It’s a true break from being a mom. Go ahead and judge but it’s pure bliss. The icing on the cake is literal icing on cake. SO MUCH GOOD FOOD. If you haven’t been to Barbados, please add it to your list of places to eat. Thank me later.

None of that’s happening this year (insert brief devastation). I’m good now and we have decided to participate in a traditional American Christmas for the first time ever. Are you excited for us? I am too. See? Having an open mind can turn depression into exhilaration. So whatever you’re used to doing, think of this year as a chance to do a remix. Obviously, keep as many traditions as you can but add some new ones to make Christmas fun. What have you always wanted to do that you’ll now have the time and space to try? Now, I’m excited for you. See how that works?

2. Create a plan

This sounds more formal than it is. I’m not trying to give you a whole lot of work here but you should at least have a list of the Christmas activities you want to participate in. Let me give you an example. Let’s say you want to bake Christmas cookies. Now, if you happen to be Martha Stewart, you’ll already have everything you need so you can ignore me. But if you’re a minimalist like me, you either have to purchase cookie cutters or borrow some from a friend. All I’m saying is don’t set yourself up by waiting until the last minute. This is 2020 still, people. Prepare for the unexpected.

3. Don’t worry about perfection

Let me break it to you now. If you’re trying a bunch of things for the first time, it’s probably not going to go as planned. Can we shift our whole perspective on this for just a second? How about we strive for imperfection? Wouldn’t that be more fun. This year has been all kinds of crazy. Why can’t we just cap it off by letting our guards down and patting ourselves on the back for even trying? I’m here for it. If perfection is so important to you, we can pick it back up in 2021. Deal? For now, just focus on how to make Christmas fun, fun and more fun!

4. Capture fun memories

For all you moms out there, I know you will get beautiful pictures of your kids and partner living their best lives. Please prop that phone up on a shelf, window sill or bookcase and get in the picture. There is power in seeing yourself try things for the first time, laughing when you fail and celebrating when you succeed. Your kids will love having those memories too. If you’re feeling fancy, get a tripod. I love this one from Amazon that comes with a remote. Whatever you do, just jump in and snap away!

5. Include family near and far

Yes. We’re trying new Christmas activities because gathering as we normally would is not possible. That doesn’t mean family should be left out just because we can’t be under the same roof. I frequently cook with my mom on Whatsapp especially since her recipes are of the “do not measure” variety. It’s nice to catch up on video and it increases my chances of success in the kitchen. What about hosting a virtual movie night? Since I’ve never done this before, I found this article that walks you through the steps of hosting a virtual movie night with Netflix’s Teleparty. See? Just cause we’re physically apart, doesn’t mean your family won’t be able to get on your nerves this holiday season. Thank you, technology!

Christmas Family Bucket List

To make things easier for you and your family, I put together a list of my own to make Christmas fun this and every year. Our Christmas Family Bucket List is posted up in our kitchen so we can check items off once they have been completed. Click here to get access to the free resource library.

The kids are extremely excited about having planned activities. I don’t know if your kids are like mine but they are constantly asking what we are doing today, tomorrow, the day after that, etc. There is no timeline included but it does take the edge off the questioning (for now) and that’s a gift in itself.

I’m so happy to kick off my favorite time of year with another free printable. If you’d like another free printable, check out this post on Gratitude Journals. I know your family will enjoy the activities because it’s quality time spent with you. My Christmas wish is that even with all the sacrifices, I hope I was able to show you Christmas can still be fun this year. Stay cheerful, friends!