After a November that feels like it aged us all a decade, it’s now beginning to feel a lot like Christmas (like… a stressful amount?) as we suddenly leave November and arrive, smack-bang, into the last month of the year. Here’s how to feel festive, fast.
Normally, November feels like it lasts for about 20 minutes. But November 2024 has felt, emotionally, like a year all in itself. There was a lot of politics, a lot of existential despair and now we have to jingle all the way right into December, which is now knocking on our doors. It’s time to go from zero to 100 on the Festive-o-meter but that’s no problem, because Capsule has been training for this our entire lives.
1. Lower your expectations.
Absolutely nothing about the past few months (and, in fact, years) has gone smoothly, so expecting a perfect Christmas period is a fool’s errand. The goal is to live through this year, feel festive when it’s possible and feel grateful for whatever version of you still exists on December 25th. Keep it simple and keep it kind – and that means kind on yourself as well.
2. Get decorating.
Because life moves so fast, it can be hard to feel any different as we get closer to Christmas. Here’s where you need visual clues to remind you it’s Christmas – dig out the decorations that mean something, put up the Christmas lights… anything that makes whatever space you have feel a little bit special. You know how small children get excited by sparkly things, even if they don’t know what it means exactly? Let that be a trick that works on you as well.
3. Put that tree up whenever you damn well want.
People will get rarked up about many things at Christmas (just bring up Mariah Carey versus The Pogues around this way for a festive debate) but the ultimate line in the sand is real tree versus fake tree. Like in life, you can change your mind along the way – I (Emma) was a fake tree person until recently, then I became a real-tree defender, and now I have a toddler, so it’s a fake tree and the allegedly ‘smashproof’ baubles from Bunnings for me this year. People will tell you that you should wait until later on in December to put up your decorations but time is an ILLUSION. Do what you want!
4. Festive accoutrements.
Tis the season for a little kitsch and boy, are there some great options out there. A Christmas jumper, maybe? Some ridiculous dangly Christmas earrings, perchance? Matching Christmas pyjamas for the family (and the pet)? Merry Christmas to all, and to all a festive outfit.
5. Send some love.
Rest assured that everyone you know is also having a ‘Dear God, it’s Christmas???’ moment, and they need a little loving kindness as well. So write a Christmas card, send a Christmas email, set up a Christmas catch-up with someone who needs it. Schedule in a night to watch a Christmas movie with your loved ones and spend the entire time ranking your Love, Actually boyfriends.
6. Break out the Bublé.
There’s a reason we all associate Christmas with Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey and look, don’t fight it. In the same way that seeing special decorations and twinkly lights are a visual reminder that It Is Christmas, so is listening to the opening bars of Cold December Night. There are so many Christmas playlists on Spotify – maybe you’re feeling jazzy? Maybe you’re feeling a bit emotional? Maybe you’re feeling horny? (there’s a market for everything).
7. Cook something festive.
The particular scents of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg are enough to awaken the dormant festive elf that lives in your brain. Gingerbread, sugar cookies, peppermint bark… there are so many delicious treats that will make you feel festive but also make for wonderful gifts. Need some cooking inspiration? Check out our our past book club pick, The Little Library Cookbook, which covers festive recipes AND reading recommendations.
8. Light a candle (in the darkness).
We have a running joke at Capsule that our tagline could be ‘mental health plus candles’ (possible title of our business memoir?) so we are WELL versed in the best Christmas candles. You can’t go past the OG: Ecoya’s Fresh Pine, $64; but please check out other festive candle stories for some candle highlights.
