Your Guide to a Cultivated and Joyful Holiday

Like many things in 2021, the holidays might look a little different this year. That doesn't mean they can't be peaceful, joyful, and cultivated, though! Our team put together this Wildcard page just for you: to help you focus on what matters this season, and let go of the rest. It might be just what you've been looking for!

After you've identified your priorities, there's a space on the worksheet to list a few action items for the season ahead. This isn't meant to be an exhaustive to do list, but instead a way to highlight what is most important to you! If you need a few ideas of what to add to your worksheet or Tending List, we gathered a few below - and would love to hear your ideas in the comments, too!

Preparing well for the holidays:

• Order holiday cards
• Update your address book
• Plan your calendar, accounting for travel plans/guests, activities, events, and babysitters, if necessary
• Choose a devotional or faith focus (have to recommend our Write the Word™ Advent bundle!)
• Draw names for family or friend gift picks
• Coordinate holiday plans with family or friends
• Make a gift plan (Emily on our team likes to use a Google Doc - one sheet for each year, so she can easily go back and look at what she gave in past years!)
• Buy tickets for special holiday activities
• Gather your gift wrapping supplies and put them in an easy-to-access location
• Make a budget (include gifts, activities, events, and extras like decor or pajamas!)
• Brainstorm holiday food (big "event" meals and smaller ones, too!)
• "Clear the decks" before adding in holiday decor. Tidy trouble spots, throw away trash, and remove extra items from surfaces.
• Make a plan for generosity and service

Enjoying the holidays:

• Pay for the person behind you in the drive-through line
• Donate toys to a local organization
• Bake treats and gift them to friends or neighbors
• Work on a puzzle
• Read favorite holiday stories
• Drive (or walk!) to look at houses with their holiday lights
• Make a homemade wreath with live evergreen branches
• Host a holiday movie marathon

What holiday items have you added to your November or December Tending List? We'd love to hear!