Realistic and doable Christmas season to-do list for a slow, cozy, creative and stress-free December. 

The Christmas season can feel overwhelming — a rush of plans, expectations, and shopping lists. But it doesn’t have to be that way. A gentle, meaningful December is possible when we focus on moments rather than milestones.

This is my version of the perfect Christmas-season to-do list: simple rituals, cozy home ideas, and small creative joys that make the holidays feel softer, slower, and more magical.

Whether you're decorating a cottage-style home, embracing slow living this season, or simply craving a calmer December, this list is for you.

1. Light a Candle Every Morning

A quiet ritual that anchors the day. Let the soft glow bring a sense of stillness before emails, errands, or social plans. It’s a small but powerful way to start the season with intention.

It's traditional in Denmark, where I live, to make a decoration with a special holiday candle, that we light each day of December until Christmas Eve. It's a small and cozy way to count down the days of December.  

2. Bring Nature Indoors

Gather pine branches, dried oranges, foraged leaves, or winter berries. Add them to a vase or make a small decoration for the table. 
Natural textures make your home feel warm and grounding — perfect for cozy winter decorating.

3. Make a Cup of “Christmas Tea”

Choose your own blend: black tea with cinnamon, herbal tea with cloves, or something citrusy. Drink it slowly. Let it become your daily pause. My personal favourite is Indian-style Masala Chai. When I have the time I like to make my own blend of spices and roast them in a pan before I bring them to a boil to make a cup of tea, this brings the most magical smell to the entire house. 

4. Write a Single Heartfelt Card

Not a stack — just one. Think of someone who shaped your year and write them a sincere note. This small act carries more meaning than any gift.

5. Refresh a Corner of Your Home

It doesn’t need to be a full makeover.
Rearrange a shelf, switch out a lampshade, hang a new print, or add a warm throw. Tiny changes can completely shift the atmosphere.

(Especially lovely if you enjoy cottagecore interiors, folk-inspired art, or seasonal textures.)

6. Put on a Festive Album You Loved as a Child

Let nostalgia slow you down. Let it reconnect you to the season’s softness rather than its pressure.

I'm currently listening to Jamie Cullum's Christmas album: Pianoman At Christmas on repeat on my record player - it's the coziest thing ever. 

7. Bake Something Simple & Forgiving

Not a six-hour gingerbread project.
Something cozy and achievable: banana bread with spices, cinnamon cookies, or a loaf of sourdough. Let your home smell like December. 

8. Create One Handmade Gift

It could be:

• a small drawing

• a baked treat

• a handwritten poem

• a little ornament

Handmade gifts carry the heart of slow living: intention over perfection.

9. Take an Evening Walk to Look at Lights

Bundle up, step outside, and breathe the cold air. Notice how magical everything feels when you slow down enough to see it.

10. Spend Time With The People You Love

To me the most important thing about Christmas is spending time with my loved ones. Wherever possible invite someone you love to join you when you want to do one of these little rituals on this list. 

11. Choose One Thing to Let Go Of

The holidays often bring pressure — to host, to decorate perfectly, to make everything special for everyone.
Ask yourself: What can I release this year?
Let that be your gift to yourself.

12. Create a Small Ritual for the Winter Solstice

Light a candle, journal, or simply sit for a moment of stillness.
Solstice traditions help us connect to nature’s rhythm — a grounding counterpoint to December’s pace.

13. Do Something Just for Joy

Paint, take a walk (in the snow preferably ;D), read, take a long bath, dance in your kitchen, play an old movie… anything that reconnects you to yourself. I have already watched The Holiday twice ;D 

A Slower, Softer December Is Possible

The Christmas season doesn’t need to be perfect — only meaningful. I hope this to-do list inspires a December filled with warmth, intention, and little moments of magic.

If you enjoyed this list and want more slow-living inspiration, nature-based creativity, and cozy home ideas, you can join my newsletter — I’d love to have you there.