For Christians and almost everyone else, Christmastime has a special spirit about it. Everyone seems to be more helpful, more hopeful, and more eager to serve. Maybe we’ll never be able to perfectly replicate the Christmas spirit in every month, but there are lots of things we can do to bring more peace on earth and goodwill toward men for more than just December.
- Think ahead with presents
Christmas is certainly a time of giving, but the year also includes birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and more. What if we took a little more time to come up with thoughtful presents for all of these days? If we watch and listen closely, our loved ones often tell or show us what will help them and make them happy.
- Help out with a nonprofit organization
Local charity groups often receive 
lots of attention during Christmastime but very little for the rest of the year. Why not help more often? It’s easy to find a list of local nonprofit organizations online. Most communities have everything from animal shelters to after-school leadership programs. You can choose a cause and volunteer your time as often as you choose!
- Plan service-oriented FHEs
One of the most important things we can teach our families is how to help our fellow men. But how often does your family perform service together for Family Home Evening? You could try setting aside one week per month to have an activity focused on blessing someone else. Your children will cherish those times forever.
- Catch up with faraway friends
For some of our loved ones, the only 
interaction we have with them all year may be a Christmas card. Life certainly gets busy, but it doesn’t take long to reach out to someone you haven’t seen for a while. Write a letter, send a text message, make a phone call—whatever you like. Just help your friends know that you think about them more than once a year.
- Create a new tradition
One thing that makes Christmastime so special are the traditions your family or friend groups do together every year. Why not include some at other times? Maybe your family can go out to dinner together every fourth Thursday, or you and your friends could go bowling whenever someone aces a test. Anything will do, as long as it’s a unifying experience!
- Keep a gratitude journal
It’s a common practice in November 
and December to pause and remember the reasons we have to be thankful. Imagine how happy we could be if we did that more often! Whether we write a daily entry in a book or take pictures to keep in a special album, finding ways to regularly commemorate our blessings can bring us a lot of hope.
- Study the life of Christ
Luke 2 and other scriptures about Jesus are read in many Christian families every Christmas. But taking President Nelson’s challenge to study all of Jesus’ words and actions is big enough to teach us lessons for a long time. The more we learn about Christ, the stronger the Spirit grows in our lives and the better servants we can be for him.
While there will always be something unique about Christmas, our priorities can help the Christmas spirit stretch far beyond New Years. What other things have you tried to stay kind, happy, and unified all year long? Share your ideas in the comments!
Photos by Gareth Harper, Tim Marshall, Uger Akdemir, and Alejandro Escamilla
