From gift shopping to preparing festive meals and getting ready for the next party, the "most wonderful time of the year" can easily turn into the most draining. So, how can you truly enjoy time with friends and family without feeling completely overwhelmed? It’s easier than you think. You don’t need huge efforts, like organizing another event. Just make plans and be present. Here are five simple, low-energy ways to spend more time with your loved ones during the holidays.
Play a Nostalgic Board Game Together
Holiday family gatherings often include extended relatives—great aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents—which can push real quality time with your immediate family to the background. Relationship and communication expert Colette Jane Fehr suggests carving out some gadget-free moments to connect the "old-fashioned" way.
“Traditional family activities offer a genuine chance to be fully present. These simple, low-tech moments unplug everyone from digital devices and help you laugh, play, and be together. You could put together a 1,000-piece puzzle, play charades, or enjoy classic board games like Monopoly.”
Even a short game can be a refreshing break amid the holiday rush.
Get Moving Together
Between parties, shopping, work, and endless errands, it’s tough to find time to exercise or catch up with friends. Why not combine both? Rebecca Stewart, ISSA Elite-certified personal trainer and nutrition expert, recommends joining a workout together.
“If you’re already planning to move, invite someone along. An after-work walk, a Saturday morning class, or even a half-hour stretch-and-chat session in the living room. It doesn’t have to be a big event. Sometimes just sweating, laughing, and reminding each other you’re there for one another is enough.”
If you want variety, try something new like dance, Pilates, or go ice skating.
Take a Festive Shopping Stroll
Sometimes the real gift is just spending a couple of hours together.
“Errands feel totally different when you’re laughing over a peppermint latte with a friend,” Stewart says. “You might even joke about who came up with the weirdest holiday candle names as you slowly check off your to-do list. Christmas shopping doesn’t have to be stressful or lonely—let someone be there with you.”
And you don’t have to hit the mall. Try a Christmas market or a craft fair instead.
“In fact, you don’t have to buy anything! Just stroll, browse, smell the roasted almonds, sip hot chocolate, and enjoy the lights with someone who brightens your world.”
Even easier: have an online shopping "date" and sip something tasty on the couch together.
Try Working Together
In December, it can sometimes feel impossible to step away from work. Instead of fighting it, create shared work time. Stewart suggests sitting together at a table with your laptops, planners, or to-do lists.
“You don’t even have to chat the whole time. Just having someone nearby makes tasks easier. Research shows this kind of productivity boosts performance because it offers company and accountability. I especially love pairing it with a coffee meetup. We quickly share what we’re working on, then everyone gets to it. Perfect combo!”
You can do this at home, a café, or even a coworking space.
Plan a "Walk and Talk" Session
If you have loved ones who live too far away to meet during the holidays, this tip is a must-try.
“Bundle up, put on your headphones, and take them along on your afternoon or evening walk. It’s a simple experience that doesn’t require meeting in person,” Stewart says. “Hearing a familiar voice while you walk rhythmically can be deeply soothing, plus you get the mood-boosting benefits of movement.”
