Keeping the Season Simple
It’s officially the holiday season! …Or at least the calendar says it is. But if I’m being honest, I don’t quite feel there yet.
Work is hard. Marriage is hard. Balancing friends, family, expectations, responsibilities, and everything in between feels especially heavy this time of year. Life lately has just been…hard. Not in a dramatic way. Just in that quiet, constant, mentally exhausting way that doesn’t pause just because the holidays show up.
Today, I put up my little Christmas tree downstairs. I added a touch of décor here and there - nothing big or over the top like I typically do. And for the first time, I felt okay admitting that simple is exactly what I need right now! Not because I don’t love the magic of the season, but because my heart and mind need space to breathe.
This year, more than ever, I’m craving peace. The kind that comes from slowing down. From letting go of the pressure to “do it all.” From focusing on what actually matters: Christ, family, and the people who make life feel lighter. If the season feels quieter, softer, or smaller than usual, I’m reminding myself that that doesn’t make it any less meaningful.
Maybe this is what this season looks like for me: fewer decorations, fewer plans, fewer expectations, and more intention. More presence. More gratitude. More room for joy to find me naturally, instead of forcing it.
And maybe that’s enough.
As much as I wish peace just showed up with the first string of lights or a seasonal candle, I know myself well enough now to know it does not work that way. When life feels heavy, I have to intentionally return to the things that make me feel like me. The small, steady choices that help me stay grounded when everything else feels loud.
They are not life changing resolutions or perfectly curated routines. They are simple habits I have been leaning into lately, and ones I plan to continue as the holidays approach. Not to fix everything, but to help me show up feeling a little more like myself.
What I am leaning into this season
Keeping life simple ON PURPOSE
I am giving myself permission to do less this season. Fewer commitments, softer expectations, and a slower pace whenever possible. Not every moment needs to feel magical or filled. Sometimes peace looks like an empty evening or a quiet morning.
Creating calm at home
My small Christmas tree is staying small, and that feels right. A candle lit in the evening, music playing softly in the background, and creating a home that feels calm instead of busy. I am decorating in a way that feels comforting, not performative.
Protecting my mental space
I am being more mindful about what I consume, both online and in real life. Less mindless scrolling and more intentional breaks. More grace on the days I feel behind. More reminders that rest is not something I need to earn.
Choosing presence over perfection
I am letting go of the pressure to do everything and be everywhere. This season, I want to be present. Real conversations, meaningful time, and showing up as I am instead of who I think I should be.
Returning to what grounds me
Spending quiet time in prayer and returning to my faith continues to center me when life feels overwhelming. It helps me remember what matters most during this season, and beyond it.
A practice that has changed this year, and in turn, changed my life
One of the most grounding things I have done this year has been committing to A Beautiful Year in the Bible devotional. When I started, it felt ambitious and honestly a little intimidating. I never imagined I would be sitting here, just weeks away from finishing the entire Bible.
Seeing how close I am to the finish line feels emotional in a way I did not expect. Not because I rushed through it or checked boxes, but because of the consistency it required. Showing up day after day, even on the busy mornings and tired evenings, quietly changed how I approach my faith…and my life.
As the holidays approach, this feels more important than ever. It is a reminder to slow down, to stay rooted in what matters most, and to carry that grounding into the new year. If you are looking for something meaningful to add to your own routine, or even a thoughtful gift for someone you love, I could not recommend the Beautiful Year in the Bible devotional more.
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Faith is not just about reading Scripture, but allowing it to shape how we live, love, and show up each day. This year & this practice of diving into the Word has reminded me that the real work happens quietly in everyday moments. As I carry that into the holidays, I want to focus on slowing down, staying grounded, and prioritizing what truly matters. Letting the lessons of this year guide how I approach the season helps me move forward with more intention, more presence, and a little more peace in the midst of all the noise.
If you are feeling the weight of this season too, I want you to know you are not alone. The holidays can be beautiful, but they can also be overwhelming. It is okay to do less, to slow down, and to create space for what actually matters.
This year, I am leaning into simplicity, presence, and the small routines that keep me grounded. I am choosing connection over perfection, calm over chaos, and intention over pressure. And as I move through the season, I am reminding myself — and you — that it is not about checking boxes or creating the perfect holiday, but about showing up fully for the people and the moments that truly matter.
So wherever you are today, take a breath with me. Light your candle, sit by your tree, spend time with someone you love, or just enjoy a quiet moment for yourself. Let this season be what it needs to be for you — not what anyone else says it should be.
Here’s to slowing down, finding peace, and carrying what matters most in our hearts. I wish you the very best holiday season — whatever that looks like for you.