How to plan for a peaceful, prayerful Advent

While the stores are hawking “bigger and better” versions of everything, I’m craving a peaceful, quiet, and reflective December preparing for Our Lord’s birth.

You, too? Let’s do this together. Here’s my plan to (hopefully!) have a peaceful Advent this year.

Do you get overscheduled and overcommitted way too easily? I know I do.

So if there’s one thing that will make my Advent more peaceful, it’s prudently saying “No, thank you” to overextending myself — however fun it might sound. 

Maybe this isn’t the year for a Polar Express train ride or Nutcracker ballet performance or going to every single holiday party. 

Instead, I’m asking myself: What can I simplify? 

Maybe the kids can do a Secret Santa with their cousins this year, instead of figuring out a gift for every single family member. 

Maybe we can watch the Nutcracker ballet at home this year, instead of splurging on tickets (check your local library for DVD options!). 

Maybe I’ll ask guests to bring a side dish for the big festive dinner, instead of doing all the cooking (and party prep, and cleaning …) myself.

You get the idea. Let’s look for ways to change things up so December doesn’t add more stress than we’d like.

And included in saying no, we might look for a small sacrifice to make this Advent to prepare our hearts for Christmas, just as we sacrifice during Lent to prepare for Easter. 

I gave up social media for Advent last year, and it was honestly incredible how much more peaceful it made my December. So maybe add social media to the list of things you’re saying no to. I plan to do it again this year!

Whenever we say “no” to one thing, we open up the space in our lives and schedules to say yes to something else. 

So let’s ask ourselves: What actually is worth saying yes to?

Maybe that does mean splurging on those Polar Express or Nutcracker tickets or gifts for every cousin, because you just love those traditions! 

For me, I am saying “yes” to a picture book Advent calendar. I’ve made one for my kids the past few years, and we all really love this tradition. It’s worth the time and effort for me. (And the first year I did this when my oldest was two, I used books from the library because my kids didn’t know the difference. So don’t feel like you need to run out and buy 25 books to pull this off!)

I’m saying “yes” to making homemade cookies — I love to bake, so this tradition is fun for me.

I’m saying “yes” to sending Christmas cards — it makes me so happy to see my friends' faces, and I love hanging the cards we receive in my kitchen to brighten the winter months.

I’m saying “yes” to daily Advent prayer time. I haven’t decided what devotional I’ll use, but I’m looking at these for inspiration, as well as these books. 

Your “yes” will look different from mine, but let’s think about what we love enough to say “yes” to this year. 

Let’s really consider what will add to our joy this Christmas, rather than leave us staggering into the holiday stressed out and overwhelmed.

One of my friends finishes all of her Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving. While I’ve never been able to pull that off myself, it’s a great example of a thoughtful way to prepare earlier than we're usually inclined to do.

In general, the more we prepare ahead of time, the more peaceful things will be later. (True for life, not just for Advent!)

Whether it’s making and freezing cookie dough now to bake later, getting your Christmas shopping done early in the season, or ordering your cards before Thanksgiving, we can look for ways to prepare ahead of time so that Advent itself is more peaceful and calm. 

My early prep? I’m aiming to get my Christmas cards ordered, Advent candles found, godchild gifts bought, and books wrapped for my picture-book Advent calendar before Advent starts. If I really get my act together, I might make and freeze sugar cookie dough for Christmas baking too — fingers crossed!

That’s my plan for a peaceful Advent: saying no to some things so I can say yes to the things I care about most, and getting as much done as I can earlier than I usually do.

But what does any of that have to do with preparing for Christ’s birth?

I think the most important thing to have a peaceful Advent is to clear space in my schedule — for prayer, for quiet, for listening to God’s voice — and for really enjoying this time with my loved ones. Time spent with Jesus is the most important thing I can say yes to. 

What might that look like in practice? 

Maybe this Advent, we can get to daily Mass a little more often, or make time to pray the Rosary with friends or family more often. 

We might set a reminder to pray for 10 minutes every morning before checking social media, or read a cozy storybook with the kids after school before watching TV or doing homework.

We might take a moment to pray for each person on our gift list as we choose what to give them (thanks to this Advent countdown guide for this sweet suggestion!).

Let’s look for ways to make a little extra space in our days — space for reflection and real connection — so that our hearts are truly ready when the great feast of Christmas arrives.