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Enjoying a peaceful christmas
The Christmas season is supposedly a time of peace and tranquillity, yet the opposite is nowadays so often the case: the constant hubbub in the shops, the hustle and bustle at the Christmas markets, or the hectic last-minute shopping for gifts.
Is there still such a thing as a quiet Christmas season? Or, rather, how can we really ensure that this period is one of serenity? Discover our five tips for a wonderfully slow and peaceful Advent!!
Is there still such a thing as a quiet Christmas season? Or, rather, how can we really ensure that this period is one of serenity? Discover our five tips for a wonderfully slow and peaceful Advent!!
#1 ESCAPE THE STRESS OF GIFT-GIVING
Giving gifts is a pleasure, yet the road to the perfect present is sometimes marked by pressure and stress. What could he or she possibly want? Just how many shops will I have to look in? What if, for reasons of sustainability, I don’t want to buy online? Yet I want to avoid the crowds?
It is often small, homemade gifts that truly come from the heart and bring genuine joy. What about a hand-knitted scarf? A photo album that you’ve designed yourself? A personalised playlist, or Christmas biscuits baked with loving care, or a voucher for spending time together? There are countless ways in which you can be creative when it comes to giving gifts. You can find a whole range of sustainable gift ideas here.
And, if you simply want to give your loved ones a break this year, browse through our voucher shop. Vitalpina stands for high-quality, natural, sustainable holidays in South Tyrol – with downtime guaranteed! You can easily personalise the vouchers and print them out yourself.
#2 SEEK OUT PLACES FOR WELLBEING
Does it always have to be the crowded Christmas market? There are so many places to enjoy serenity during the Advent season. Try the smaller Christmas markets in the neighbourhoods or villages around you: things are usually much “slower” and quieter there. Or, invite your best friends and relatives to where you live, prepare some homemade mulled wine, and decorate the room in festive style. You’ll see how much Christmas spirit can be conjured up in even a small circle.
#3 MINDFULNESS + TOGETHERNESS
Mindfulness at Christmas also means shifting down a gear and consciously taking time to achieve inner peace. Lighting candles with your family on an Advent wreath, reading Christmas tales together, singing or baking: sharing a quiet Advent season with others is a way of doubling our happiness. Children in particular can affect us with their eager anticipation, and delight us with their joy at the magic of Christmas. The Christmas spirit is contagious, even from afar – so why not give a dear friend a call, or even write a letter – “just like in the old days”?!
Giving gifts is a pleasure, yet the road to the perfect present is sometimes marked by pressure and stress. What could he or she possibly want? Just how many shops will I have to look in? What if, for reasons of sustainability, I don’t want to buy online? Yet I want to avoid the crowds?
It is often small, homemade gifts that truly come from the heart and bring genuine joy. What about a hand-knitted scarf? A photo album that you’ve designed yourself? A personalised playlist, or Christmas biscuits baked with loving care, or a voucher for spending time together? There are countless ways in which you can be creative when it comes to giving gifts. You can find a whole range of sustainable gift ideas here.
And, if you simply want to give your loved ones a break this year, browse through our voucher shop. Vitalpina stands for high-quality, natural, sustainable holidays in South Tyrol – with downtime guaranteed! You can easily personalise the vouchers and print them out yourself.
#2 SEEK OUT PLACES FOR WELLBEING
Does it always have to be the crowded Christmas market? There are so many places to enjoy serenity during the Advent season. Try the smaller Christmas markets in the neighbourhoods or villages around you: things are usually much “slower” and quieter there. Or, invite your best friends and relatives to where you live, prepare some homemade mulled wine, and decorate the room in festive style. You’ll see how much Christmas spirit can be conjured up in even a small circle.
#3 MINDFULNESS + TOGETHERNESS
Mindfulness at Christmas also means shifting down a gear and consciously taking time to achieve inner peace. Lighting candles with your family on an Advent wreath, reading Christmas tales together, singing or baking: sharing a quiet Advent season with others is a way of doubling our happiness. Children in particular can affect us with their eager anticipation, and delight us with their joy at the magic of Christmas. The Christmas spirit is contagious, even from afar – so why not give a dear friend a call, or even write a letter – “just like in the old days”?!
#4 GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF TIME
What about giving yourself the gift of a quiet Christmas? There’s space for that too in December. Perhaps you can take a day off and turn your back on the everyday just for a few hours. It’s particularly good to spend time in the great outdoors – on quiet hiking trails, in the glistening snow or in the forests surrounding the city. Or you can make yourself comfortable at home with a favourite book, a cup of tea and a cosy blanket. You can find some small, but highly effective tips for feeling good at home here.
#5 WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY...
...shouldn’t be put off until tomorrow! Who doesn’t know this old pearl of wisdom, one that contains so much truth? The very fact that we want a peaceful run-up to Christmas can mean that we leave it all until the last moment. Things get stressful just before the present-giving: Where are the winter roses? Have we got everything for Christmas dinner? Have the presents been wrapped? Do the neighbours have time to exchange Christmas greetings?
A little preparation can save a lot of stress. At the start of the Advent season, write a list of everything you’d like to get done by Christmas, then take the time to get everything organised. There is also no reason why you shouldn’t start baking biscuits earlier, have an aperitif with friends a few days beforehand or shop for the Christmas dinner items a little time before Christmas Eve.
A mindful approach to Advent often requires no more than consciously taking some time, listening to yourself, arranging matters and having the courage to take a step back. Practising this at Christmas will also make it easier to switch off in everyday life.
We wish you a truly quiet and peaceful Advent season, and may you still feel the magic – just as you used to!
What about giving yourself the gift of a quiet Christmas? There’s space for that too in December. Perhaps you can take a day off and turn your back on the everyday just for a few hours. It’s particularly good to spend time in the great outdoors – on quiet hiking trails, in the glistening snow or in the forests surrounding the city. Or you can make yourself comfortable at home with a favourite book, a cup of tea and a cosy blanket. You can find some small, but highly effective tips for feeling good at home here.
#5 WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY...
...shouldn’t be put off until tomorrow! Who doesn’t know this old pearl of wisdom, one that contains so much truth? The very fact that we want a peaceful run-up to Christmas can mean that we leave it all until the last moment. Things get stressful just before the present-giving: Where are the winter roses? Have we got everything for Christmas dinner? Have the presents been wrapped? Do the neighbours have time to exchange Christmas greetings?
A little preparation can save a lot of stress. At the start of the Advent season, write a list of everything you’d like to get done by Christmas, then take the time to get everything organised. There is also no reason why you shouldn’t start baking biscuits earlier, have an aperitif with friends a few days beforehand or shop for the Christmas dinner items a little time before Christmas Eve.
A mindful approach to Advent often requires no more than consciously taking some time, listening to yourself, arranging matters and having the courage to take a step back. Practising this at Christmas will also make it easier to switch off in everyday life.
We wish you a truly quiet and peaceful Advent season, and may you still feel the magic – just as you used to!