This Holiday season, we’re in for more heart, less hustle. Are you in? Read on for principles and practical tips for a richly connected holiday. And play ‘Slow Down’ Bingo with us, to put these things into practice!
The holiday season is many things.
It is wonderful, full, and rich. It can be an invitation for deep connection, re-connection, and gratitude. It can be full of grief, loneliness, or a reminder of loved ones lost. And most commonly, it can be busy, hurried, and stress-filled. The joys of hosting gatherings and meaningfully connecting with loved ones can be swallowed whole by sheer holiday taskery – the cleaning, the grocery shopping, menu prep, cooking, managing expectations, navigating social dynamics, financial concerns, and more cleaning. And then there’s the gift brainstorming, shopping, buying, and the wrapping.
It’s a season that may feel more marked by obligation than enjoyment. . .more frantic and haywire than connected and present. Are you feeling a desire to slow down and welcome more connection and heartfelt giving this holiday season? We are.
In an effort to cultivate more heart and less hustle this holiday…
…we have assembled a list of thoughtful and creative ways to nurture connection, fun, and presence. You’ll find 5 principles for slowing down – and a list of ways to prioritize connection. We’ve even created a BINGO card for some fun and actionable ways to put these principles into practice! Join us this season in playing ‘More Heart, Less Hustle, it’s a Bingo!’
Download a printable BINGO card (link below) for your families fridge! If you participate, we’d love to know about it! Tag or DM @mademarket.
5 Slow Living Principles
- Set Intentional Priorities: Identify what truly matters to you during the holidays—focus on these priorities and let go of less important tasks…some things can wait.
- Subtract & Simplify: When it comes to connection and an enriched holiday season, less is more. Is there one (or two) scheduled holiday things that you can omit this year? Check in with your energy levels and consider if simplifying would suit you in this season.
- Invite Others in on the Responsibilities: Share responsibilities with family members or friends, and simplify tasks where possible. This could mean inviting help with cooking, shopping, or decorating. This requires a relinquishing of control, expectations, and an ‘ideal.’ Consider – is it better to go part of the way together, or reach ‘perfection’ alone?
- Limit Screen Time: Reduce your exposure to social media and/or digital distractions. This can help you stay more engaged in the moment and reduce feelings of comparison or stress.
- Schedule Down Time + Practice Gratitude: Create a cozy spot in your home and schedule some down time! Read a book, listen to music, keep a gratitude journal, or write a note of appreciation to a family member.
Creative Ways to slow things down and connect with loved ones:
- Enjoy Simple Traditions: Embrace low-key holiday activities that bring you joy, such as baking cookies, watching classic holiday movies, or taking a leisurely walk to enjoy festive decorations.
- Rethink Gift Giving – Return to the heart of giving and gifting…take a pause and refocus on the meaning behind your giving. Consider the following ways to gently redirect the way you and your family engages with giving and receiving.
- Buy handmade! Support craftsmanship and artisanry in your city by making purchases from creative small businesses this season. When we buy quality handmade, we tend to keep these items for longer, and treat them as objects to care for and not quickly discard.
- Buy smaller, thoughtful gifts for stockings stuffers, and then draw names for one family member to buy something with an agreed upon budget.
- Gift experiences instead of physical things. Dinner together, a concert, a workshop with a Maker, a weekend away.
- Create a Rhythm of Wellness Activity with a Family Member(s): Incorporate gentle exercises like yoga, stretching, or walking into your holiday routine. Physical activity can help reduce stress, improve well-being, and provides time for conversation and connection. Try a nightly post-dinner neighborhood walk with hot cocoa, stretching in pajamas, or a sauna session with the whole family!
- Make New Traditions: All traditions start somewhere! Doing something new and out of the norm can create a fun environment of laughter and memory-making. (Take a peek at our BINGO card for some fun ideas!)
Slowing down during the holiday season is not always easy. The colder weather usually slows down travel in some regard, but we can still be busied bodies! Intentionally slowing down the pace is a practice, and it doesn’t always come easily. Sometimes, the rewards of slowing down are hidden – but injecting some playfulness and space for depth can allow us to experience the benefits.
Cheers to more heart and less hustle this season. Our Made Market team is wishing you and your loved ones a holiday rich in connection and heartfelt giving.
We can’t wait to be with you at our markets this month! Until then 🙂
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