This year, I found myself on the phone with my sister, going through our Christmas to-do lists.
As she spoke, I mentally ticked off everything we still had to organize: gifts, events, food, end-of-year school commitments, work deadlines, and the general chaos that seems to arrive every December, whether we’re ready or not.
I wondered if it was all worth it, especially as we all had to deal with our own mental loads at home: the half-finished projects, the cupboards that needed sorting, the storage unit that still hadn’t been built, the kid’s room that had outgrown itself months ago. I thought about all those things we keep pushing to the bottom of the list so we can show up for work, for our kids, and for creating that Christmas magic for everyone else.
That’s when I came up with the idea to prioritize our everyday to-do lists over the Christmas lists.
I pitched ‘Project Home’ to my family
I recently read about a growing trend called “life admin parties”—instead of socializing around meals or drinks, people get together to tackle the overwhelming tasks of adulthood, such as sorting finances. The appeal wasn’t just productivity; it was the relief of sharing the load.
That’s when I had a lightbulb moment; enter Project Home.
What if, instead of buying each other presents this year — at least the adults — we gave something else? What if we each gifted a day and helped one another with a home project?
There are three sisters in our family, plus my parents. When I floated the idea, my parents were immediately on board. Thrilled, actually. One sister loved it straight away. The other was…hesitant. Gift-giving is her love language, and the idea of no presents felt like something important was being taken away.
I sweetened the deal with the promise of good food and a nice bottle of wine waiting at each house.
The vision, I told them, was very Chip and Joanna Gaines — minus the cameras and the budget. The result surprised all of us.
We got a lot done this holiday season
Project No. 1 was at my sister’s place. We spring-cleaned her kitchen, organized her bathroom, and finally finished building out her new deck — something that had been sitting unfinished for weeks.
There was music on, coffee flowing, Krispy Kreme on demand, and that rare feeling of momentum you only get when you’re not tackling things alone.
Project number two was at my house. My outdoor areas finally got some serious love. Gutters were cleared. Storage was built into hallways that had always felt cluttered, and my son’s bedroom was properly reworked to suit the stage he is now at.
The real gift was being together
The best part, though, wasn’t the productivity. It was sitting on the floor with my 22-year-old niece, assembling a Temple & Webster piece, and talking about life — about where she’s heading, and about relationships, work, confidence, and the quiet pressures young adults carry.
Those conversations wouldn’t have happened over a rushed coffee or between Christmas errands. They happened because our hands were busy, our phones were away, and there was no pressure to perform or host. We were just together.
This was a great tradition, but it wasn’t easier than gift buying
The truth is, buying presents would have been much easier. But this felt like love in action. It felt generous in a way that went deeper than anything we could have exchanged under the tree.
My son adores his new room. My sister finally has a finished deck. Plus, I’ll still be thinking about those hours of shared effort long after the decorations have come down.
We’re only halfway through the projects — two down, two to go — but it’s already changed how I think about Christmas. This year, the spirit didn’t come from what we bought or wrapped. It came from building, cleaning, fixing, and being fully present with one another.
And honestly? That feels like the kind of tradition worth keeping.
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