3 Stress-Free Holiday Traditions to Start This Year

POPSUGAR Photography | Dean Lipoff
POPSUGAR Photography | Dean Lipoff

The holidays can be a hectic time. Between the shopping, the school performances, the parties, and family and friends visiting from all corners, the magic of the season could pass you by without you even realizing it. Some of my best memories were those spirited traditions my family created just for us. Whether it was gifting our neighbors with thoughtful edible treats, singing carols on Christmas Eve, or dancing after our big family dinner, these are the inviting moment's we'll look back and cherish during the holidays and hopefully pass on to our little ones, too.

Here are three ways you can start your own authentic holiday traditions that exchange moments instead of gifts.

Make Meal Prep a Family Affair

Make Meal Prep a Family Affair

Rather than plopping the kids in front of the TV while you cook, give them their own "jobs" for meal prep and get in on the cooking fun. This not only encourages social conversation but learning, too — measuring ingredients is an inviting way to get familiar with math!

Get Active

Get Active

The weather outside might be frightful, but there's nothing like the pure joy that comes from playing in the snow or rain to bring out your inner child! Bundle up, throw on some boots, and take a walk through your neighborhood during the day, or mix things up by checking out the holiday lights at night.

Be Grateful
The Whole Tara

Be Grateful

The holiday season is about giving thanks for the gifts you receive all year, not just the ones you get under the tree on Christmas morning. Make gratitude part of your holiday tradition by creating a gratitude tree. Every day, have someone from your family write what makes them feel fulfilled and what they're thankful for on a leaf, then tie it to the tree. On Christmas, read through each of them as a reminder that we should be giving thanks for more than just one day a year.


Looking for more? See how POPSUGAR Select Latina Bloggers find their happy during the Holidays!

Be Grateful
The Whole Tara