How to get yourself in the holiday spirit if you've never really been in the mood for it

Lately, no one is surprised by complaints from friends and family about the complete lack of a festive spirit… But let’s try to pull ourselves together, take a deep breath, and remember that our life—this very moment—is happening right now. And if you don't want anyone or anything to take away even the slightest hope you have for a miracle, then we have the power to fix this situation.

New Year’s is the biggest holiday of the year, so expectations for it are naturally high. We long for miracles, fairy tales, and magic, but what can you do if everyone around you is caught up in the pre-New Year’s hustle and bustle, and you don’t feel the holiday spirit?

When we were children, our parents made the holidays special for us. When our children were little, we created the holidays for them and for their sake. But if we’re adults ourselves, and our children are either old enough to celebrate New Year’s with friends or aren’t even on the horizon yet, then we can only create the holiday ourselves—and just for ourselves.

Let's go to the New Year's decorations section

The best way to get into the holiday spirit is to visit the sections with New Year’s decorations. Wander among the colorful, sparkling tinsel, feel all kinds of decorations, and pick out something new and beautiful for your home: an unusual string of lights, a few new Christmas tree ornaments, candles, and a pretty tablecloth with snowflakes or snowmen.

Decorating the House

Your surroundings set the mood, and it all comes down to the little things. Today, there’s such a wide variety of fabulously beautiful New Year’s decorations that just a few well-chosen pieces can completely transform your interior. Just hang a string of lanterns on the window and light a few candles, and your home will take on a whole new look—and your mood will lift right along with it. Or you can recall your childhood and paint white snowflakes on the windows or cut them out of paper.

Let's Put Up the Christmas Tree

No matter how you look at it, the Christmas tree is still the main symbol of the holiday. Once you’ve put up the tree, consider half the work done. Ideally, of course, it should be a real one—so that the scent of fresh pine needles helps bring back long-lost childhood memories—or you can simply put some fir branches in a vase. But an artificial one will do, even a very small one—the main thing is to decorate it thoroughly, making sure to buy new Christmas tree ornaments.

Let's Create a New Year's Playlist

To make an impact on all fronts, you can’t do without some music, which means you’ll need to put together a playlist of your favorite New Year’s songs. Of course, each of us has our own story, our own associations, and our own favorite tunes. It could be “Let It Snow,” “A Little Christmas Tree Was Born in the Forest,” or soundtracks from old New Year’s movies—it doesn’t matter what you prefer; just let it play in the background throughout these pre-holiday days.

Let's watch some New Year's movies

Another way to get into the holiday spirit is — Play New Year's movies, preferably the old ones, to recapture that special holiday feeling from childhood. Again, everyone has their own favorites—from classics like *Harry Potter* and *Home Alone* to the less obvious *Die Hard 2*.

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Adding Flavors

In the days leading up to the holiday, it’s a good idea to fill your home with pleasant scents associated with the New Year: buy tangerines, cinnamon-spiced pies, and gingerbread cookies, and light plenty of scented candles.

Let's buy ourselves a gift

To get into the holiday spirit, it doesn't hurt to spend a little time walking around the shopping malls. Yes, it’s noisy and crowded there right now, but it’s precisely this hustle and bustle—combined with the New Year’s tunes playing everywhere and the festive decorations—that will help you feel part of the celebration and get you in the right mood. And don’t just wander aimlessly: be sure to buy yourself a gift—even if it’s just a little something—wrap it up nicely, and put it under the tree.

Let's Make a Plan

To do this, you need to decide exactly how you want to celebrate New Year’s Eve. If a family dinner is your priority, plan the menu, make a grocery list, and pick out an outfit. If you really don’t want to spend time in the kitchen, consider ordering ready-made meals from a catering service. If you’re spending the holiday alone, think about the movies you’ve been wanting to watch for a while and treat yourself to some tasty snacks. If you’re afraid of being alone, there’s always somewhere to go in the city on New Year’s Eve just to hang out among people: from the central Christmas tree to any open venue—on New Year’s Eve, the atmosphere is so friendly that you’ll feel comfortable even without company. Especially since the most important thing is having the right mindset. Happy New Year!