Ah, December. The month where we’re all suddenly expected to become professional shoppers, expert gift-wrappers, Michelin-level holiday cooks, and part-time elves—while also staying merry and bright. It’s a tall order, especially when the group chat is firing off gift exchange reminders, your email is drowning in “FINAL SALE (for real this time)” messages, and your to-do list looks suspiciously like Santa’s.
But here’s the thing: December is not meant to be survived. It’s meant to be savored.
This is your sign—yes, yours, the one speed-walking through a mall with a peppermint latte you didn’t even want—to slow down and enjoy the season. Because buried under the glitter, transactions, and minor existential crises about whether you bought enough stocking stuffers, there is a very soft, very sweet, very magical month begging to be lived.
So, let’s talk about how to make this your best December yet.
1. Romanticize the Easiest December Activities (Because Why Not?)
One of my favourite ways to enjoy December is by doing the simplest thing in the entire world: going for a drive to look at Christmas lights.
It costs approximately zero dollars, requires little to no planning, and instantly makes you feel like you’re inside a Hallmark movie—minus the questionable plot lines.
Grab someone you love, a warm beverage (bonus points if it leaves your tongue slightly scorched), a snack you definitely didn’t need, and just… cruise. Put on your favourite album, your favourite Christmas playlist, or that one artist who owns your entire winter personality. It’s cozy, it’s easy, and it brings you back to the whole point of this season: doing small things with big joy.
2. Make December a Ritual, not a Race
December is the Olympics of self-imposed expectations.
We’re sprinting, wrapping, planning, budgeting, hosting, attending, and somehow still forgetting tape every single year.
But one of the best ways to reclaim the month? Ritualize it. Slow it down on purpose.
For me, that means putting on a good movie, wrapping gifts at my own pace, and drinking a nice cup of tea like a Victorian woman who has absolutely no emails to answer. It turns a task into a moment. A chore into a vibe.
And honestly? December is 10x better when you give yourself permission to soften your edges and treat the season like something to sink into—not something to get through.
3. Remember Why We Actually Give Gifts
Let’s address the candy-cane-striped elephant in the room: Gift giving can get a little chaotic.
We all have that moment where we wonder: Did I buy enough? Did I buy too much? Did I accidentally buy for the wrong Joanne?
Listen. December is about gratitude. It’s about showing love—not proving it with your Visa statement.
As a self-declared gift-giving enthusiast (who maybe, possibly, definitely goes overboard four times a season…), I’ve learned that intention matters more than quantity. I love thinking about where I’m spending my dollar—supporting my favourite local shops, makers, and small businesses who pour their heart into what they do. It feels like giving twice: once to the person you love, and once to the community you love.
I also find joy in making gifts that feel like experiences—a date night kit, a cozy “slow down” evening, a restaurant gift card to support our seriously amazing culinary scene, or a themed little bundle based on something the person mentioned once in March.
It’s the thoughtfulness.
It’s the meaning.
It’s the “I see you” energy that makes gift giving sparkle again.
4. Unplug From the Noise & Plug into the Season
We spend so much of December in our heads—thinking about what we need to do, buy, cook, wrap, attend, RSVP to, and panic-clean—that we forget to actually experience the month.
So here’s your permission slip to:
- Say “no, thank you” to at least one thing
- Say “yes, please” to something you actually want
- Take a snow day just because
- Wear the festive socks
- Drink the silly holiday drink
- Watch the cheesy holiday movie
- Make memories instead of just making lists
December doesn’t ask for perfection. It asks for presence.
5. Add a Few More Cozy Little Joys to Your December Toolkit
In case you need more ideas to fill the gaps of “how to have your best December yet,” here’s a few:
- Start a tiny December tradition—even something like Sunday night hot chocolate counts.
- Host a low-stakes festive night where everyone brings a snack and shares laughs.
- Buy yourself a small treat (a candle, a pastry, a silly ornament) to mark the moment.
- Go for a winter walk just to hear the snow crunch and feel like a character in a movie.
- Send a handwritten card to someone who wouldn’t expect it.
- Make one evening a “no plans, no pressure” night—lights low, movie on, vibes immaculate.
December Is Meant to Be Lived, Not Managed
This season isn’t about out-doing, out-giving, or out-shopping anyone.
It’s about connection.
It’s about warmth.
It’s about slowing down long enough to remember why we love this time of year in the first place.
- So choose joy on purpose.
- Create softness where you can.
- And let this December be the one where you actually take a breath, look around, and think: “Yeah… this is the good stuff.”
