Doing Less This Holiday Season
It’s December 10, 2025, and we are alive and that is enough. So this holiday season, I am imploring you to do less. Let go of something that’s not bringing you joy this year. For me, it’s holiday cards. We’d meant to do pictures in October to celebrate the new house, but we didn’t. Then we were scheduled to do pictures at P.S. 81’s Winterfest, but then half the family was in a thankfully injury free fender bender so those didn’t pan out. I could do a last minute timed portrait and still get out some New Years cards, but I’m not going to. Instead, I’m baking cookies for my kids’ teachers. Grabbing dinner with visiting friends. Using the limited free time we all have to do more things that energize me, versus feeling beholden to traditions.
Last year, I still got the cards out, or at least half of them. I think they were full of pictures of the kids, I truly don’t remember but know I have about 50 copies somewhere from when I finally ran out of steam sending them. Last year, it seemed really important.
Our decor’s a little more low-key this year too, and that’s ok. We have a tradition of decorating the house on Christmas Eve after the kids go to bed, and I even managed to continue it in our AirBnB in Seattle where Santa wrapped the stair bannister, built a cardboard tree, and threw up twinkly lights. This year, we’re lucky enough to have a tree up in our new home, and a good amount of decorations to be certain, but nothing like what I’m seeing in my Instagram feed. I know we have more lights and decor, but maybe saving it all for Christmas Eve will mean more to them than living out December in a Hallmark movie set.
Or not, kids can be unappreciative assholes. But this feels right for me, and it’s nice to listen to my internal compass instead of what’s been marketed to me as the right way to be. So, if you were feeling guilty about doing less this holiday season, not having the energy for Elf on a Shelf or holiday cards or hosting a big gathering, please take this as your sign to let that shit go. Do less. Live better. Happy Holidays.
