Introducing... The Joyful Advent

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Christmas. I love the music, the parties, the excuse to buy special gifts for your loved ones. I get giddy at the sight of fairy lights, and putting my Christmas tree up is always one of the highlights of the year for me.

I love the magic that lingers in the air in December, but it’s true that this season can be pretty stressful too. The to do lists get longer, our diaries get fuller, and if we’re not careful, we can end up running head first into burnout.

And so this year, I wanted to put something together that would encourage us all to slow down a little and enjoy the festive period. Enter: The Joyful Advent!

What is The Joyful Advent?

So, what exactly is The Joyful Advent, I can hear you asking? Well, it’s a little project that I’ve put together to help us squeeze a little more joy out of the Christmas countdown. In short, there are 24 daily prompts, each designed to help you slow down, check in, and focus on the joy that December can bring.

There will be lists to make, actions to take and thoughts to ponder. And because December is a busy old month, all of the prompts will be easy and quick to complete.

How will it work?

When you sign up to The Joyful Advent, you’ll be added to an exclusive mailing list. Everyone on that mailing list will receive an email from me next Friday (29th November) with a list of all of the prompts.

That email will also contain a link to a private Facebook group where I’ll release the prompt each day. We can also use that group to share our thoughts, spread joyful ideas, and generally celebrate the month together. Think of it as a positive little haven during a hectic and stressful month.

To get the full benefit of the project I’d really recommend joining the group, however, if you don’t use Facebook, you’ll still receive all 24 prompts so that you can take part.

How much does it cost?

I really wanted to make this project as accessible as possible, which means that there won’t be any charge to join in. Think of this as an early Christmas gift from me to you, and a big old thank you for supporting me and my business this year.

However, if you would like to make a charity donation in exchange for the time and costs I’ll incur running this project, I’ll be collecting donations for Blossom’s Legacy. For those of you who don’t know, Blossom’s Legacy is a charity that my family set up in memory of my cousin, Blossom, and our aim is to teach young children life saving water safety skills. 

Drowning is the biggest cause of death of children under 7 in the UK, and the charity is working hard to change that statistic by offering much needed water safety and survival lessons to children, and CPR lessons to parents and guardians. 

This is a cause that’s incredibly close to my heart, and all donations will mean the world to myself and my family. Whether you can spare a quid or a tenner, you’ll help us in moving closer to our ultimate goal of building a dedicated water safety centre, which will enable us to roll out our programmes out to even more children.

How do I sign up?

If this sounds like something you would like to be involved with, you can sign up by completing the form below. Keep your eyes peeled for that email from me next Friday with all the prompts and Facebook group details, and then we’ll get started on Sunday 1st December. 

And if you’d like to make a charity donation, you can do so here.

Any questions?

I think that’s it, but if you have any questions then feel free to leave a comment below, send me a DM on Instagram, or send me an email at sophiecliff@live.com.

I’m so looking forward to getting started with The Joyful Advent and hope that lots of you will be able to join in - let’s make this December our most joyful one yet!