Save Your Sanity! Why You Need a December Bucket List!

I love Advent and Christmas, but my goodness, ever since I became a parent, it seems like the month of December flies by, and I’m not really sure where the time or my money exactly went. It’s like, on one hand, I want to recreate all the special things from my own childhood and at the same time I want to make sure I do all the things so that way my kids don’t miss out.

Trust me, I don’t plan it that way. I’m usually the type of person who could care less what others think of me but for some reason, this time of year gets to me. Maybe it’s because one of my family members had a super traumatic event happen on Christmas morning in their childhood, and it has forever labeled them as a “Scrooge” when it comes to Christmas, as they still carry that burden around three decades later.

Either way, I know what it’s like as a parent to not want your kids to miss out on the beauty of this season – because it really is amazing, and they really only get one childhood. However, I also know what it’s like to be pulled in 15 million different directions and to end up on January 6th looking around wondering where the time went and how it went so fast.

Enter The Bucket List

That’s why a few years ago, I started to use a simple system that I also use for the summer for December. We make a December bucket list of all the things we want to see/do during this time. Then I plug them into our calendar, and I can plan our budget around them if they require spending money. This frees up so much mental space and because they’re already on the calendar, I don’t have to worry with missing out on what’s most important. 

Speaking of what’s most important, make sure you prioritize your list of ideas. You probably won’t be able to fit everything in in a single December and that’s okay. It’s important that we do the things that are most important to you in this time. Oh, and don’t forget about asking your family what their most favorite activity is this time of year!

Bucket List Ideas

I wanted to share a few ideas that we have had on our list over the years, but please don’t think you’re supposed to do all these things. We certainly aren’t doing all of these this year but I wanted to give you a jumping off point to planning your own bucket list.

December Bucketlist Ideas:

• Gingerbread house building
• Advent wreath and advent calendar.
• Advent candle making.
• Christmas movie marathon
• Going to see Christmas lights
• Going to see a live Nativity Scene.
• Decorate the tree.
• Donating to help refugees (remember, Jesus became a refugee shortly after his birth when His family fled to Egypt – honor that with donating to help refugees across the world this season).
• Make handmade gifts.
• Bake Christmas cookies
• Go see Santa.
• Write Santa.
• Write a letter to someone in a nursing home or a Veteran.
• Go see the Nutcracker Ballet
• Drink hot chocolate by the fire.
• Celebrate the real Saint Nicholas (his feast day is on December 6th – you can learn more about him and his incredible generosity here).
• Acts of service (such as visiting the lonely in a nursing home).
• Donate toys and clothes
• Take a winter hike.
• Christmas church service
• Caroling
• Read Christmas books together (need ideas? I’ve got you covered here.)
• Have dinner by candlelight.
• Have an afternoon tea by candlelight.

But Remember!

These are just some ideas to help you get the ball rolling. Also, don’t forget to get your family’s input! Ask your spouse and your children what they want to do – you may be surprised at what they want and don’t want to do. Again, your list shouldn’t be insanely long – depending upon the time you have available to you, you may only be able to fit in a couple of things. So pick the most important items and put them at the top of your list. Everything else can just be, “if we get to do it great; if not, that’s okay too.” Remember, this is your life – not anyone else’s. You don’t need to make your Christmas look like everyone else’s.

Then once you’ve made your list, start putting them in your calendar! Then plan your budget around those activities accordingly.

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