The holiday season is in full swing, and emotions are mixed. Kids are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Santa Clause, teens are excited for a week or two off from school, college students are recovering from finals stress, and adults are trying to manage their busy lives with their holiday preparations.

As a child, you can never have enough Christmas. It’s a time of pure joy and excitement. The fanciful tales of Santa, elves, and reindeer bring a magical feeling I wish would last through adulthood, but unfortunately it fades away.

I always thought I would believe in the spirit of Santa and the magic of Christmas even as I got older, but this year, I’ve hit a rough patch. Life is getting harder, and budgets are getting tighter. It seems kind of pointless to give a gift just to get one in return.

This is especially true of my most recent family tradition. Now that most of the “kids” are in their 20s, we do a grab bag, secret Santa, or white elephant type gift exchange. Everyone is spending a set amount, just to receive a present of the same amount that they may not even enjoy because the buyer didn’t specifically purchase it with the receiver in mind. It’s especially hard to shop for these types of gifts, that must transcend all age and gender groups.

It’s hard for older people to be in the Christmas spirit throughout the whole season because it is a time filled with stressful shopping, baking, and party-throwing, instead of the hot-cocoa drinking, pajama-wearing, and present-opening, we enjoyed during our younger years. Christmas is the most joyous day ... because the hard part is finally over.

So, what can us older folks do to be more present in the Christmas spirit throughout the whole holiday season? (And by the whole season, I mean starting December first, not the day after Halloween.) We can encourage the start of new traditions, give back to our communities instead of only those close to us, try to smile instead of pout while standing in line for an hour, and take some cues from the younger ones in our lives. Spike your egg nog, cuddle by the fire, and watch your favorite Christmas movie. You’ll forget what annoyed you earlier in the day as you were preparing for the holiday.

Remember, even if it sometimes seems trivial or pointless to exchange gifts as we get older, we are lucky to have people to exchange gifts with. Enjoy the company of your friends and family on Christmas day, and relish in the joy that you have a whole year before you have to do it all over again.