Feel the Magic: Simple Ways to Infuse Your Holidays with Christmas Comfort

Dec 4th 2023

When the weather outside is frightful (or even if winter where you live is rather delightful) we still can’t seem to shake the urge to create a Christmas vibe that’s warm and snuggly.

More than ever, as temperatures dip, we long to gather around the fireplace or bury ourselves under fleece blankets.

While the Christmas season often is the busiest time of year, it’s also the perfect time to settle down and appreciate a slower pace, if only for a few moments.

That said, we’ve come up with a number of simple ways to level up with little luxuries to create a cozy Christmas atmosphere this holiday season.

candle lanterns and fairy lights under a Christmas tree

Shine a Light in the Darkness

Winter nights are long and dark, but there are plenty of beautiful ways to shed a light in the darkness. You can create a soft, magical glow by tucking warm white fairy lights just about anywhere. Twine them around the garland on your mantel or stairs. Arrange them around Christmas decor on a bookshelf. Drape them from the ceiling in a hallway.

Candles are another lovely way to add coziness to your space. Set tea lights in votive holders on end tables and dining tables. Place pillar candles in decorative lanterns to accent your hearth or Christmas tree with a soft, warm glow. Use flameless candles as a safer alternative, especially with children or pets in the house.

Find Your Cozy Spot

Between Christmas shopping, social engagements, school recitals, work and family responsibilities, you could use a little time for yourself! Try to carve out a few minutes each day to find a quiet spot and relax. Get comfortable in your favorite sweats or fleece pajamas and fuzzy slippers. Snuggle under a fluffy blanket with a good book. Or just close your eyes and practice deep breathing. Taking even just a little time to decompress helps improve your ability to cope with any extra stress the holiday may bring.

Enhance the Feels with Fragrance

Studies show that scents are strongly linked to emotion and memory. During the holidays, for instance, the smell of a freshly cut Christmas tree or cookies just out of the oven can take us back to happy holiday times past. Scents like pine, cinnamon, vanilla and peppermint are among those that commonly evoke a comforting holiday aura. If you love baking, now’s the best time to turn on the oven and let the scent of your favorite homemade Christmas treats fill the air. In the absence of a live Christmas tree or homemade Christmas cookies, fake it with good quality scented candles, sprays or oils.

hot mug of tea with gingerbread cookies

Enjoy a Hot Cup of Cheer

Sipping hot cocoa, tea, coffee, mulled wine or another favorite warm beverage by the Christmas tree or fireplace is an easy way to create a warm Christmas mood. But since Christmas is a time for indulgence, you deserve to take things up a notch. Elevate your cocoa with cinnamon, whipped cream, marshmallows or peppermint. Splurge a little on seasonal creamers for your coffee and special holiday teas meant to be sipped and savored.

Watch Christmas Movies

Sure, they’re formulaic, but there’s comfort in stories with happy endings. Whether you cue up a favorite animated holiday special from your childhood, revisit a Christmas classic or indulge a guilty pleasure on the Hallmark Channel, you can always count on a Christmas movie for the warm fuzzies.

Play and Sing Christmas Carols

Know why radio stations and retail stores start playing Christmas music even before the Thanksgiving turkey has been carved? Christmas music gets us in the mood for the holidays. These days, we have plenty of listening options, from streaming apps to Christmas CDs to popping your worn LPs onto an old turntable.

Don’t resist the urge to sing along! Singing helps relieve stress, stimulate our immune system and has even been shown to temporarily decrease pain. Belting out a familiar Christmas tune is a sure way to introduce a little happiness into your day.

Become a Volunteer

Volunteers commonly say that helping others lifts their spirits. It’s also a great way to add a spark when your own life might seem drab or unfulfilling.

Non-profit and community agencies go all-out during the holidays to assist as many people as possible. There likely are dozens of places in your community that would welcome your help, including food pantries, nursing homes, churches and community centers. Check online to find “where to volunteer during the holidays” in your area. Focusing on improving the lives of others truly is the way to warm holiday hearts.

It really doesn’t take much to add a little Christmas spirit to your day. In the end, the warm, cozy Christmas feeling is not so much a state of being as it is a state of mind.