Relaxed holidays in 7 steps

Celebrating holidays in a relaxed way sounds easier than it is. Because on social media channels you are driven crazy with what you should look like, what your house should look like and what is completely hip and happening to serve to your guests. That doesn't make us happy and you probably won't either.

Step 1 to celebrate relaxed holidays: SKIP social media or take it with a grain of salt. The copy and paste behavior on social media is HUGE and authenticity is hard to find, you don't want to identify with that, do you?

Step 2: Ask yourself what makes you happy. Is that about cooking extensively or eating easy food, dressing yourself nicely or hanging out in your suit? A richly decorated house or the tranquility of a sleek and tidy house? CHOOSE for yourself and do what you feel like.

Step 3: Do you have social obligations around the holidays? GO as yourself and don't adjust your behavior to what you think others expect of you. As a result, the tension disappears and you will see that it becomes casually fun!

Step 4: Turn your attention to the people you love. Spend time together, have fun and make memories for later.

Step 5 to 7: Are no longer necessary.

What makes us happy ourselves?

Lisette: I like the decoration of life. So in and around the house we have as many Christmas lights, candles and other decorations as possible. It makes me happy every time I look at it and I just love having a cozy atmosphere at home.

Cooking food is not for me so I prefer to outsource that to my partner or family ;) Most of the holidays I walk in comfortable clothes, but during social obligations I like to warm myself (and my daughter). dull!

Monique: Indian food makes me very happy and I do that by making a large rice table for my family. That means that I spend two days in the kitchen for this and I think that's a very nice way to clear my head. Moreover, I think eating together is a nice way to celebrate life, especially now that both my parents are gone.

I also like to do NOTHING and watch a movie with a blanket on the couch. And of course I hope for snow every year! Because then I go out with my photo camera to make beautiful images of Makkum and surroundings.