At The Peaceful Press, we believe that a calm, connected atmosphere is the foundation for meaningful learning — especially during the busy holiday season.
Children thrive when their parents are happy and calm, but Christmas expectations can derail this peaceful atmosphere.
However, when we take some time to think about what is important to us for the holidays, and to prioritize peace and connection, we can resist the stress and busyness and create something cozy instead.
🎄 4 Ways to Create a Peaceful Rhythm at Christmas
Have a Vision
Before you start planning your holiday activities, create a vision for what is important to you. Is it important that everyone you know gets to unwrap a gift? Is it important that you have quiet read aloud times with your kids? Is it important to attend every holiday social engagement?
Before committing to activities or expectations for the holidays, ask yourself: Is this activity life-giving or life-draining? When you evaluate your commitments through that lens, it becomes easier to protect your family’s peace — and to say no to what doesn’t serve your season.
Schedule Fewer Activities
During the years with little ones, I learned to limit our outings to just a few times a week. Loading car seats, nursing babies, and managing naps can be intense! Fewer outings mean fewer meltdowns — and more margin for peace.
This means being thoughtful about how many activities you sign your children up for in the fall, because invariably, activities end with Christmas pageants and parties, and multiple of these events can lead to sick kids and stressed out moms.
Plan Ahead
A peaceful day begins the night before. Prep lunches, soak oatmeal in the Instant Pot, and pack the diaper bag ahead of time. Evening routines can give you clarity for the day, so evaluate what is needed in advance. Our Peaceful Press Planner includes a Week at a Glance layout so you can map meals, outings, and lessons for smoother weeks.
Create a Time Cushion
Even with fewer commitments, I used to cram too much into the time before leaving home. I would try to do a full day of school, plus some chores, which didn't leave me time to prep my kids to leave.
Instead, schedule a full hour just to get ready—to feed the baby, gather shoes, and calmly load up. Your transitions will feel lighter and your voice gentler.
🎄 Extending Peace into the Holidays
Before buying decorations or signing up for another Christmas program, pause and reflect on which traditions bring life — and which leave you drained.
This reflective activity is part of our Unearthing Wonder Advent Guide, and it’s one of the most valuable exercises for creating a joyful, Christ-centered season.
You might feel like family expectations and childhood traditions are non-negotiable, but if buying a gift for every extended family is taking time from being with your children, maybe you will opt for making hot cocoa mix with your kids and handing it out with a cozy Christmas story.
Perhaps you will skip the four Christmases and opt for one big event a few days before or after the actual day of Christmas. Or maybe for your family, doing it all is worth it, and you will plan accordingly.
You don’t have to run your family ragged this Christmas. With a bit of planning and honest reflection, you can make space for rest, wonder, and connection.
🕊️ Try This: Your Peaceful Holiday Audit
List all your holiday activities — shopping, wrapping, hosting, baking, attending performances, visiting family, and more.
Label each as “Life-Giving” or “Life-Draining.” Think back to last year’s feelings to be truly honest.
Eliminate or simplify anything that consistently steals your peace. (Try drawing names to reduce gift stress!)
Download our free Christmas Planner and add your chosen activities to your peaceful holiday plan. The planner gives you space to plan what gifts to purchase, handcrafts to make, cookies to bake, and activities to do so you can enter the Christmas season full of peace and preparation.
✨ Create a Joyful, Christ-Centered Christmas
If you want a season filled with meaning, connection, and calm, explore our Peaceful Press Holiday Book Flood.
It includes 25 days of cozy read-alouds, meaningful crafts, and heart-warming activities—designed to help your family slow down, savor the season, and make memories that last.
👉 Grab your Peaceful Press Holiday Book Flood here.
Want to learn more about creating a peaceful Christmas? Check out these posts!
Best Christmas Books
Christmas Plans
Easy Christmas School