The holiday season is well-known for its ability to take one of the most joyful, holy times of the year, and turn it into a stressful, overwhelming experience. So in order to remain mindful of the season and all that it is supposed to represent, I've compiled a list of a few ways that you can make your holiday season more intentional and Christ-centered.

Meet With A Friend For A Hot Drink

Catching up with old friends (or new friends!) will almost instantly warm your heart. Meet at a local coffee shop, cozy up, and spend some time in conversation.

Volunteer

There are dozens of opportunities to volunteer in any community this time of year. Salvation Army needs bell-ringers, Meals-On-Wheels needs delivery people, the homeless community is cold and hungry, there are thousands of children who will go without gifts (and perhaps even without a hot meal). Giving back to your community will keep your heart centered during the holidays.

Get Crafty

Something about working with my hands and creating something beautiful always brings me joy. Craft a few Christmas gifts for your family and friends this year or make some new decorations. Bonus points if you turn it into a family night, girls night, or date night!

Bake Treats To Give Away

Bake a few dozen of your favorite Christmas treats to package up for those around you. Giving these treats to mail carriers, post-office employees, neighbors, and friends who need a little extra love this year. Spread some cheer. Besides, who doesn't love a good Christmas cookie?

Take Time To Be Meditative During The Rush

While it's easy to get caught up in the craziness, and it's okay to be busy and rushed as long as you're enjoying it, taking some time to really pause and reflect is so helpful. Set aside a little quiet time every day to think about your day and how you could be more intentional.

Set Your Intentions

By knowing exactly what you want to get out of the holiday season, I can guarantee that it will be at least 10x less stressful. Sit down at the beginning of the season and journal out what your true intentions are for the holidays. If you want to focus on hosting the most wonderful Christmas party for your friends, or if you want to bake hundreds of cookies to give away, or if you want to completely forget about gift-giving and focus on really taking in the time you have with the people around you, these are all intentional choices.

My suggestion is to choose a word to meditate on and focus on throughout the season. This word will sum up your intentions in a way that can serve as a reminder for you when you lose sight of what your intentions are.

Presence, Joy, Warmth, Hospitality, Comfort, Reflection, Giving, Kindness. These are all good options.

Remind yourself that in ten years it won't be the Black Friday Deal you remember, it'll be the memories you made with the people you shopped with.

And you won't remember whether you got your fiance the blue pajamas or the red, you'll remember how goofy and fun it was to take silly holiday pictures in your lame matching pajamas.

Choose joy this season. Choose intentional living. I promise it's worth it.