holiday – Success Strategies

10 Uplifting Ways to Embrace the Christmas Spirit

The Christmas Spirit is a feeling of joy, generosity, kindness, and goodwill toward others often evoked by holiday traditions like decorating, gift-giving, music and spending time with loved ones. It’s also associated with fostering a festive, charitable, and warm atmosphere, often seen in acts of service and connecting with family, friends and even strangers during the winter season. (wikiHow)

Depending on how your year has been, you may have come into contact with individuals who complain of not experiencing that Christmas feeling. It is that spirit associated with past customs. Many force themselves into that feeling or pretend to get into the Christmas spirit. Some don’t bother and succumb to being depressed after suffering the loss of a loved one, familiar surroundings, or even a job.

Here are some uplifting, practical, and non-financial ways to help you or a colleague, get into the Christmas spirit. The season may feel heavy, disappointing, or overwhelming. So let’s see what we can do to overcome that feeling.

Ways to Get into the Christmas Spirit (Even When Life Feels Heavy)

1. Create a Simple “Good Moments” Ritual

Even during a difficult season, one meaningful moment a day can shift your emotions. These cost nothing yet helps your mind anchor in peace.

Light a candle at sunset
Make a cup of peppermint tea
Play one Christmas song you love
Sit quietly for 3 minutes and breathe

2. Revisit a Favorite Memory

Nostalgia is scientifically calming. Take 5 minutes to try these simple tips which will reconnect you to joy without requiring money or big plans.

Write down your favorite Christmas memory
Look at an old holiday photo
Re-watch a childhood Christmas movie clip
Make a dish that reminds you of home

3. Serve or Encourage Someone

When life feels disappointing, purpose restores hope. Here are some non-financial ways to give back. Remember, helping someone else elevates your own spirit.

Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while
Write a handwritten encouragement note
Volunteer for 1 hour at a community event
Help a neighbor carry groceries or decorate
Read a Christmas story to a child or senior

4. Declutter One Small Space

A clearer environment creates emotional room for joy. Try any of these which will give you a sense of renewal going into the new year.

Cleaning one drawer
Tidying your desk
Freshening your bedroom with a sheet change
Hanging a single string of lights or placing one ornament in a meaningful spot

5. Start a Personal Christmas Gratitude List

Write down 12 things you are grateful for this year, even if they are small. Focus areas could be:

Growth
Lessons Learned
People who supported you
Unexpected blessings

6. Create a New Tradition (Simple or Free)

Traditions don’t need to be expensive. New traditions can help you reclaim the season in a way that fits your life now. For example, my own tradition started with hosting Christmas morning breakfast with family and close friends. That way, family members were available for evening dinner with the in-laws. We exchange gifts and more. As the kids grew, budget became an issue (hint – teenagers). We then adopted a young adult gift exchange as is done in corporate jobs.

Eat by candlelight for the month of December
Go for a night walk or drive to look at neighborhood lights
Read one uplifting quote or scripture each morning
Bake something simple like Christmas cake or banana bread
Host a zoom or phone call “Christmas check-in” with a friend group

7. Limit the Noise and Protect Your Peace

Sometimes, the best way into the Christmas spirit is finding quiet. Give yourself permission to slow down without guilt.

Turn off the news for a day
Unfollow accounts that drain your emotions
Say “no” to events that overwhelm you

8. Play Christmas Music or Ambient Sounds

Music is emotionally powerful. Let sound create the atmosphere.

Free playlists on YouTube
Gospel Christmas songs
Instrumental Christmas Jazz
Nativity meditation music
Fireplace or snowy cabin ambience videos

9. Journal Your Feelings But End With Hope

Disappointment is real. Letting it out helps you move forward. Take a look at these prompts, then end with one hopeful expectation for 2026.

What has been hard for you this season?
What do you need emotionally right now?
Where have you seen God’s hand even in small ways?
What’s one hopeful expectation for 2026?

10. Connect Spiritually

The holidays are the perfect time to reconnect with faith. Spiritual grounding brings meaning beyond the festivities.

Read a daily advent devotional
Join a free online Christmas service
Mediate on peace, hope, joy and renewal
Take a quiet prayer walk

These 10 tips were non-financial ways. With the commercialization of the season, Christmas can attract expenses. Here are a few that comes with financial input.

Buy one symbolic ornament that represents growth
Support a small business with a small purchase
Treat yourself to a cozy candle
Gift a coaching session or buy a session for someone in transition
Attend a low-cost community concert or holiday market

Essentially, getting into the Christmas spirit is not about perfection, money, or big celebrations. It’s about small, intentional choices that bring warmth, connection and hope back into your day.

Here’s hoping these tips will help boost your spirit this holiday. Now it’s your turn. Are there annual customs that you would like to add? Is any missing that you plan to implement as a new tradition? Please share. We would love to hear!

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

The Top 7 Christmas Towns In America…

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! . The air has changed. The hustle and bustle brings smiles and Plans are up in full swing. If you are thinking of what to do this year, here’s Trending Trenz top 10 list of holiday towns in America. For sure a writer’s dream getaway. I like seven and share them here. You can view the details of the full top 10 Christmas towns.

Leavenworth Washington
Ail, Colorado
Franklin Tennessee
St. Augustine, Florida
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Grapevine Texas
North Pole, Alaska

Any of your favorite missing? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

20 Holiday Book Promotional Ideas For Authors…

The 4 Benefits Of A Holiday Beach Escape As The Cold Descends…

Success Strategies

Ever wondered how even the thought of the beach makes you feel relaxed? I reflect on a holiday when my family and I spent some time in the islands with a getaway at the beach enjoying the beautiful sunrise and sunset while avoiding the thought of the icy snow. It was a relaxing feeling that I wished could be brought to many during the Christmas snowy season.

I pondered more and decided to reflect on the reasons the beach is an answered prayer. Here I share 4 benefits as gleaned from Christina Heiser.

The Blue Color

The color blue is associated with feelings of calm and peace while staring at the ocean puts us into a mild meditative state that enhances creativity. The perfect place for me as I write. The book My Safe Place serves as evidence

2. The Sound’s Ebb and Flow

The quiet sounds that the waves…

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It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year…

Success Strategies

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas! The Holidays! Whatever you call it… to me its the most wonderful time of the year! People are kind, joyful, generous, smiling, pretty-all dressed up for those office parties, and family gatherings! There’s sumptuous food, Folly jolly chocolate delights, gifts and so much more! Yes, I know there’s always the Grinch but they’re just a few, so let’s not let them spoil it for us too.

Music of the Season

The season kicks off with holiday music… and today I would love to share them all! Hey, I’m just kidding! I will just share 11 of my favs!

All I want want for Christmas is you (Mariah Carey)
It’s the most wonderful time of the year (Andy Williams)
Holly Jolly Christmas (Burl Ives)
Feliz Navidad (Jose Feliciano)
Mary did you know (Pentatonix)
Silent Night (Temptations)
Last Christmas (Bing Crosby)
Let it Snow…

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Ring In The Cheer With These Holiday Games…

Success Strategies

To laugh and play is to Love during the Holidays

Want to spice up your holiday with friends, family or foe (yikes)? Here are two Holiday Games to help squeeze the giggles. Simple prizes make the laughs sweet. Can’t be together? Try it virtually. Be creative, change ideas to match your mood and enjoy!

What’s your favorite holiday game? Do share. We would love to hear.

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Avoid The Grinch Syndrome This Christmas…

Avoid The Grinch Syndrome

The president for one of the biggest and most successful companies called a zoom meeting and fired 900 staff all at once- just before Christmas. When the media asked why (he was so mean at Christmas) he said they all work 2-hour days and report 8. Hmmm… Yea, the boss may have a case but it’s in the how he did it and when he did it. No matter the logic, he will still be seen as a Grinch.

So who is a Grinch? A person who spoils the fun of others. A spoilsport. A drag. A party pooper. That’s the Miriam Dictionary’s meaning. So here are 7 Suggestions on what you can do to avoid being a Grinch this holiday season

Do something kind for someone you don’t know
Watch your favorite holiday movie
Get festive. Decorate your home
Give a Gift to someone in need
Get social. Hang out with friends and family
Give of your time
Volunteer for a good cause

Personally, I love the holidays and wouldn’t mind celebrating all year round. But yes there are always those who are sad and down at this time. Reach out and lend a hand. Give a word of encouragement. Try any of the 7 ways shared and give love this Christmas.

How do you combat the Grinch Sydrome during the holidays? Do share, we would love to hear.

Cheers!

Sell More Books This Holiday. Here’s How…

Writers write. Readers read. Together they are one.
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The holiday season brings many opportunities for authors. Families, co-workers, friends, networkers and even the Grinch shop for the perfect Gifts for book-lovers. From fiction, non fiction, Poetry, Sci-fi and sweet holiday romance for those hallmark enthusiasts who dream not only of movies but to curl up in the warmth of Christmas bliss. Their goal? To get lost in the world of the ideal relationship.

Marketers go crazy to capture the holiday magic for those on the naughty or nice list. So why shouldn’t authors…well author-preneurs participate? It’s become a common trend for non-traditional publishers to want to optimize the sweet fruits of their labor. They want to see their hard work nicely wrapped under the Christmas tree or at minimum, stuffed into Christmas stockings.

So how can authors prepare? I was chatting with a group of self published and traditionally published authors who long to boost their holiday sales. Why have the books gathering dust on Amazon’s platform or even yours? It seems the practice is to write it, publish it, and forget it, with the hopes that writing and publishing the book will attract sales. Not so. It does not work that way. Not for any type of author. The point is, after your book is published… unfortunately that’s when the hard work begins. You have to make the world know that it exists. So here are a few simple tips to help get you started. Don’t be overwhelmed. Choose one, two or a few and prepare for the most wonderful time of the year.

Create That Holiday Plan

Create a plan for the holidays. I am a firm believer in the saying if you are not planning you’re just practicing.

Evaluate where you are now and where you would like to be at the end of the holiday period. For example, you could include factors like doubling or tripling your year-to-date sales. If you are an experienced author with several books, take a loo at your past holiday sales. Project an increase in sales over past years.
Plan to up your Marketing and Promotional strategy. Sometimes just a little effort goes a long way from doing nothing at all.
Update your book covers. Make it festive (easier if you’re self-published) but whatever you do, make sure your cover looks professional.

Your Holiday Author Platform

Become more visible
Get your website holiday ready
Update your Amazon Author Central profile
Get more amazon reviews
Make your book covers more festive
Update your book description
Update your author bio. It’s a good idea to edit and review often on your amazon page. You would be surprised when you look back you seem to be looking at a stranger who essentially is a person you hardly recognize. Think of this like a resume. Update frequently.
Get a professional photo done and spread it across the different media networks

Build That Strategic Audience

Set up or expand your mailing list
Write blog posts
Create a newsletter… if that’s on your agenda
Find and connect with your audience. Engage, engage, engage them
Offer free holiday shipping

Get Social

Update your Social Media Profile
Do a holiday-themed hash tag search
Dig a little deep and find out who your followers are
Create images of your books in holiday settings on instagram
Create your own 12-Days of Christmas

Show. Don’t Tell

Increase your book reviews. Aim for 25 which means you have to go after many in order to get this done. You will receive promises but usually only lower percentage will come through
Create gift bags and other swags for giveaways
Create holiday videos. Already doing that? Do some more
Have a series? Make the first book FREE
Prep your own 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways

Holiday Party Connect. Collaborate.

Collaborate with other authors in Holiday Book Events
Participate in Holiday Book Guide
- Gifts for the Poetry Lover
- Gifts for the Sci-fi lover
- Gifts for the child reader enthusiasts
Invite your fans to an “ask the author” virtual Holiday party on social media
Get involved in local festivities (holiday markets, local fairs etc.)
Contact local independent bookstores

Hope these few tips will help get you underway. There are tons more but these few will get you started. Don’t get overwhelmed. Choose one, two or a few and Sell More Books this Holiday!

Cheers!

I. Love. The. Holidays…

I. Love. The Holidays.

The hustle and bustle of the season. Families come together. The air is different. Nature speaks. Music and lights sounds in sweet accord. Travel soars. Food Galore. Delightful Gifts drolls stress for those in retail yet brings smiles as currencies are exchanged for sales. The beauty of the season can be seen through eyes of purpose.

Yep. It’s Christmas and I. Love. The Holidays!

Cheers!

I Hear The Waves A-Calling…

Tis the Season. I hear the sounds of the waves A-Calling. It’s getting louder. Now shouting for some well needed time to relax. Time to rejuvenate. It’s time to listen to the waves. It’s Time for quiet, peace, and serenity. I hear Footsteps of the waves a-calling.

Do you hear it too?

Cheers.

The Holidays Arrgh Here! How To Handle Employee Time Off Requests…

I️ received a call with an enquiry about the holidays, and time off. No doubt a pain for employers and an avid desire for team…

I️ received a call from a business owner about time off during the holidays. “Everyone wants to take time off at the same time. What’s the best way to handle this during the holidays?” she Dubiously asked.

Time off during the holidays can be a Riff issue for employers, and an emotional desire for team members. Employers fear absence will impact business results. Meeting the demand often prove overwhelming for small business owners who operate in the hospitality, retail, and other industries that service holiday needs.

On the other hand, employees wish to spend time with family, especially those visiting from out-of-town. Let’s not forget the busy preparations involved, amidst the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

So how can we balance the two? You don’t have to be mean about it. I concur with Kim Scott’s recommendation on the topic. Here’s my take on the issue.

The Balancing Act. Try the trade-off. Employees know the drill. Share holiday coverage needs and let them work it out amongst themselves. Only step-in if you absolutely must.
Comp days. Give them half/full day off at less demanding times. You will find this works very well, and shows compassion to those who must work.
Flex-Basket. Try a flex-basket of Goodies from which they can choose. This would include a selection of delights such as lunch, dinner, drinks, partnership with vendors for relaxation/rejuvenation goodies (e.g. mani/pedi, movie tickets, etc.). Believe me, this works wonders.

So there you have it! Three simple tips that will bring delight to your team, and smooth your business over the stressful holidays.

Noticed anything missing that you would add to best manage this issue during the holidays? Do share!

Cheers!