Help me get the Christmas spirit

[Howmanysleepsnow]

I love Christmas, but this year I’m not feeling it. I’ve been busy with house renovations, then straight into decorating for Christmas. DH is recently out of hospital. For the first year, none of the dc are young enough to believe (but they’re still excited, even teen DD). Normally they help with decorating the tree, but this year I bought and decorated it alone. I’m fast approaching skint (with a third of my presents left to buy), I’m tired, I’m full of cold. I’m just not in the mood and I desperately want to be.
Is anyone else not feeling it yet? Does anyone have any tips to get out of this slump?

I don't think you need to spend all month worrying about feeling Christmasy.
It really is only a couple of days.

There is and will be tons of stuff online/ in the shops before during and after Christmas so presents will fine.

DH and I went to Barcelona once the week before Christmas, That was an eye opener. No panic buying, manic streets or stressed people. Lots of pretty lights, beautiful shops and lovely food. They do their son the 6th but it was nothing like the horrible relentless build up we have here. We spoil it for ourselves.

Take a breath and think about which Christmassy things give you pleasure and plan to do those (for me it’s music and baking, they lift my mood). Take the pressure off yourself, find the little things you’re grateful for. If your husband is recently home from hospital, I hope that means his health is better and will spend Christmas with you. Enjoy that.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed with everything, especially when you’re tired. Plan some time to catch up on sleep, do what actually gives you joy.

That makes sense and I know there’s no NEED to feel Christmassy, but I’d like to and I usually do. This is the first year in over 40 that it’s feeling like work rather than pleasure and I’m not sure I am ready to give in to that feeling!

I’ll definitely try music! And sleep….
Both are good starting points.

OP, take some positives from this as @Caffeineismydrug35 says: your DH is home from hospital and I'd add that you've got 2/3 of your shopping already done. I would also harness the enthusiasm your children are displaying as it's contagious - the tree's now up, but what other activities could you do with them in the run-up? There was a thread here the other day on advent calendar of activities with kids, low or no-cost. I had such a low-key Christmas last year that the day effectively passed me by; I'm feeling more festive this time and have now put up two trees, built a wooden candlebridge stand and bought a Christmas jumper-dress, lol!

@Gummibärchen Your Christmas last year is exactly what I’m afraid of! 😂
Me and DD17 are late night shopping on Thursday. I’m hoping we can make it an event rather than a chore. DS11 and DS12 can probably be tempted with mulled apple juice, mince pies and a Christmas movie at the weekend.
I’m torn between low-key to try to regain a bit of energy and upping the ante with activities: Christmas markets and ice skating are always lovely but I’m dragging my heels this year.

Though, I may need a Christmas jumper dress…. Do you have a link?

Mine was an M&S charity shop find @Howmanysleepsnow - it's a Scandinavian-looking soft woollen thing. I'd low-ball with activities until you build up enough energy and momentum to tackle the big-ticket ones like ice skating. Starting with shopping this Thursday is the way forward.

I'm not feeling it this year at all. Only got my few decorations out of the loft on Monday. Still haven't put up tree or outside lights. Just can't get going.

It's early days yet, this is what I'm telling myself! Not feeling Christmassy at all can't decorate yet as having all downstairs new flooring at weekend.
Next week will throw myself into it, remember last year not feeling it at all but my youngest is two and a half so need to go for it this year.
Going to visit local church as they have a Christmas tree festival is there anything like that organised in your area might help put you in the mood?

It's super early still OP. Even if this year is low key, that's okay!

For me I like to do more things about cosying up for winter rather than it being about Christmas all day long. I light more candles, have twinkly lights around the place, enjoy hot spiced apple juice in the middle of the working day rather than a coffee or something. I'll have it on the hob with cinnamon etc so the house smells delicious. We studded oranges with cloves the other day and I plan to decorate a wreath this weekend, bringing some greenery into the house. Every year I look forward to the amarylis flowering, I'll make bird feeders and have fire pit dinners outside in the garden on dry nights. It's a whole season, enjoying the dark and different ways of lighting it. Yes there are also certain songs on the sonos, festive jumpers, socks and dresses etc which are December specific, and certain signs to look out for (for me Christmas begins when I hear Fairytale of New York on the Radio, or when I was younger and watched more tv it was the jolly sound of 'Holidays are coming' which did it), but most of the things in our house could stay well into the new year. Sometimes we keep the lights and candles around until the snowdrops pop through.

Just to second the music suggestions above. I really like some of the more modern 'pop' stuff - and Bublé! - which really gets me in the mood, even if I'm just listening through headphones!

Something I've done a few times this year also is popping a YouTube video on of crackling fire and Christmas music (there are loads) on the TV in the background of whatever else I'm doing. Makes me feel nice and calm 🙂

I'm not feeling it this year either, have had a horrible time at work, money worries etc etc. Haven't booked any Christmassy activities.

I slammed the tree up, slung the decorations at it, still have the boxes out as can't be bothered to finish the extravagant paper chain decorations I planned and then realised that my children aren't that bothered whether their mum is feeling Christmas's as long as they see the hallmarks of Christmas and spent time with me, so I've decided to let myself do the minimum this year.

Instead I'm just focusing on keeping warm and feeling cosy, and accepting what I need this year is to just slow down.