The holidays are often imagined as a perfect picture: a long table surrounded by laughter, the scent of something delicious from the kitchen, and twinkling lights casting a warm glow. But in reality, the season can feel crowded. Not only with people and plans, but with expectations. There is the rush of buying, wrapping, cooking, and hosting, and somehow, in all that bustle, we forget to notice the small, golden moments that make this time truly magical.

Yet for some of us, this year will feel different. There may be one space at the table that remains empty, a quiet reminder of someone we miss. If that is the case, allow yourself the time and permission to remember, to feel, and to connect in your own way. That tenderness is part of what makes the season meaningful.

It is often in these quiet moments, when joy and longing sit side by side, that we begin to see what truly matters. Slowing down is not only about finding calm; it is about making space for the full shape of the season, for both its warmth and its ache, and for the connection between the past, the present, and the future.

Because what truly holds the holidays together is not the schedule or the setting, but the people. It is the shared laughter, the stories told again, and the small rituals that bind one year to the next. When we slow down, we make room for those moments to grow, for memory to meet the present, and for connection to become something we can feel.

Here are three gentle ways to create a calmer Christmas this year, ways to be present in the season and share it more deeply with the people you love.

Instead of filling every evening with plans, try setting aside a few unscheduled days in December.These are your no-rush days, small pockets of time where the day unfolds slowly.

You might spend them:

The most memorable gifts are rarely the most expensive ones. They are the ones that carry meaning and are made or chosen with thought.

When we gift with intention, we step away from last-minute panic buys and overconsumption. We make space for joy in the giving itself.

If you want to plan this in a calm and thoughtful way, use a simple tool like the Mood Organizer to map out your list early and gather or create gifts at your own pace.

In the middle of all the preparation, it is easy to forget why we gather in the first place. Try creating a small tradition that centres connection.

Ideas for moments that bring people together:

If you are missing someone this year, light a candle in their honour at the table or cook one of their favourite dishes. These small rituals bridge the distance between past and present, keeping them woven into the celebration in a way that feels warm and grounding.

A calmer Christmas is not about stripping away the joy. It is about making space for it.

By protecting quiet moments, giving with intention, and keeping connection at the heart of your celebrations, you offer yourself and those you love something far more valuable than any wrapped present: presence.

A calmer Christmas also reminds us that not every gift needs to be wrapped. The most lasting gifts are the ones that live in our memories — the shared meals, the conversations that linger, the laughter that stays with us. Choosing to give in this way is part of what sustainable gifting truly means. It is a way of honoring both the planet and the people we love by focusing on what endures.

This is the heart behind Our Family’s Table, a book created to help you capture these moments as they unfold — the meals shared, the stories told, and the small traditions that grow into memories worth keeping.

Because the best gifts are not bought. They are made in moments, shared across the table, and remembered for years to come.

Not every gift needs to be held in your hands. It can be 

These moments do not need packaging. They live on in memory and remind us what giving is really about.

Let this season be a time to give differently. Let it be slower, more grounded, and filled with care for the people and the planet that make life beautiful.

At Glimmery Moments, we create small-batch Paper Moments sensory-rich offline experiences made to be kept, used, and loved. Every product is designed to bring a sense of calm and connection to everyday life. A reminder that giving can be both meaningful and gentle on the world.

Our impact is built on honesty and care. We produce locally, using sustainable materials and working with partners who share our respect for quality and craft. Sustainability, for us, is not only about process but about creating things that endure, both emotionally and physically. 

Glimmery Moments exists to remind people that life is not something to chase, but something to notice. To hold, to write down, to remember. 

Our mission is simple: to design with empathy, to make with honesty, and to inspire a slower, more connected way of living through the everyday beauty of paper.