Favorite Holiday Traditions

[River&MountainRN, ADN, RN]

Turning the Grinch thread on its head, what are some of your favorite holiday traditions? What helps put a smile on your face and get you through the holidays, as difficult as they may be at times? And, so that it's nursing thread appropriate, how has being a nurse influenced your traditions?

I wrote of my extensive decorating tradition in the Grinch thread. I'm super into enriching my senses around the holidays:

Sights-I absolutely have to decorate, even if it takes me a while to set everything up. It's super important to me because it doesn't matter whether I'm stuck working the actual holidays or not---I can come home after a rough day and just chill in front of my tree and other decorations.

Smells/Taste-It wouldn't be the holidays without baking at least one batch of cookies!!! When I was working with a healthcare team and not just on my own in home care, my coworkers had a love-hate relationship with me this time of year because I'd be bringing in so many baked goods. Speaking of which, my scrubs aren't too fond of this time of year, either! Haha!

Sounds-I can turn on Pandora or pull up my own special Christmas playlist on my computer and listen to Christmas/Winter/Holiday songs (I'm pretty equal opportunity) while decorating and baking.

Emotions-I genuinely enjoy giving to others. It truly warms my heart to make others happy, even if it is with a service, homemade gift, or baked goods.

[MiralaxOnIceRN, BSN, RN]

I have been collecting holiday appropriate work wear since my first year of nursing 6 years ago. For the entire month of December I wear some holiday themed attire to work.

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

I love baking at least a batch of cookies, fudge, lort other dessert for the holidays - so calming and tasty. I have gift giving anxiety, always worried I will fail at getting people anything good, but somewhere in there Christmas shopping becomes kind of pleasant and fun. : )

Every year I HAVE to watch It's a Wonderful Life and the Muppet Christmas Carol. I'm not huge into Christmas movies, but those two are the bomb.

[BrisketRN, BSN, RN]

Holiday baking with my mom is my favorite tradition. This year it's on Christmas Eve. Turn the Christmas music up high, spend HOURS baking for the whole family (we're Irish Catholic...so there's a lot of us). My husband and I also recorded a bunch of cheesy Christmas movies this year and have been watching one every night when we're both home. Rudolph, The Santa Claus, Jingle All the Way, Elf. I love them all.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I bake my grandmother's sugar cookies and display a four foot tall leg lamp (It's a Major Award!) in my front window.

Three of my neighbors have followed suit with the leg lamp- my goal is to convert everyone in the HOA to the true spirit of Christmas (without shooting their eyes out- of course!)