Every year, the holidays seem to get here faster and faster! Once the end of summer rolls around, it’s a fast race to the end of the year. Although the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, they can get crowded quickly. And, if we are not careful, we can lose the truth The joy of the moment.
Christmas planning is one easy way to reduce stress and ensure you have more fun with your family. It allows you to avoid running to the store on Christmas Eve to buy those last minute gifts. Instead, you can sit back and relax when the holidays are here, knowing you’ve got it all covered.
Here’s how I’m planning the holidays now so I can save my sanity (and my family’s!).
8 tips for planning a stress-free Christmas
Christmas Day is the same day every year… so why did it sneak up on us? We know it’s coming, and things are a lot less stressful when we plan ahead. So do yourself (and your family) a favor by planning ahead this year. I know it’s hard to start thinking about the holiday season without Thanksgiving. Trust me, your future self will thank you!
1. Think about your ideal (but practical) holiday season
You probably have a picture in your mind of how you want the holidays to be. But every year, it looks different. Some years, we have had many Christmas parties and sent Christmas cards. In other years, we’ve kept it more low-key. Make sure your Christmas plan is something you can actually do (and actually want to do).
You may enjoy spending a lot of time decorating the tree, baking cookies, and sending Christmas cards. Or maybe you want to Simple yet You don’t want to do everything you feel you “have to do” this time of year and for the actual holidays. Forget duplicating what you see on Pinterest and Instagram. Remember, it’s your holiday, and you can do as little or as much as you want!
To start planning for Christmas, think about your ideal holidays and what you can realistically do. Don’t forget to include any Christmas traditions or travel you want to do this year.
- How much time and money should you spend this year?
- Is work busy and demanding this season?
- Are you doing other things like taking care of sick family members or moving to a new city?
Now that you have the big picture of what you want the holidays to look like and feel like, it’s time to think about the details.
2. Create a budget
Before planning any events or buying anything, the best way to start planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas is to create a budget. If you’re anything like me, the holidays always cost more than expected! This is why creating a budget is a great idea.
You’ll have a better idea of what you need and how much to spend than buying things as you see them (hello, Black Friday on Amazon!). That way, there won’t be too many surprises (or guilt) in January.
I start by creating a list of all the things I need to buy based on these subcategories:
- Gifts – Gifts for kids, extended family and hostesses. Don’t forget the other special people you buy Christmas gifts for, like teachers, neighbors, or family and friends. Find a complete list of ideas here.
- Decorations – If any Christmas decorations need to be replaced or I need something new, I will add it to my budget. If you buy a new one every year, don’t forget the Christmas tree.
- foods – Holiday meals always cost more than regular meals. Creating a budget helps me decide whether to serve filet mignon or turkey for Christmas dinner.
- Activities – Consider any activities that require a budget. This could include an ugly knitting party, building gingerbread houses, or visiting Santa.
Once you have a budget, you can plan the (more fun) holiday stuff!
3. Assess your jewelry needs
If decorating the house is a big part of your holiday, now is a good time to take stock of what you have and what you need. If funds are tight, this is an easy place to cut costs – simply use what you have.
I put down a list of our jewelry. In the notion (Or use the Notes app on your phone). This allows me to see what I have and what needs replacing/updating.
We keep it very simple (no one ever accused me of being Martha Stewart!). To get you inspired, even on a budget, here are some easy DIY holiday-themed decorating ideas.
All of these ideas meet my criteria for 1) small supplies to make, 2) small long-term storage, and 3) re-use for other seasons. Win!
4. Plan Christmas cards
If you’re a Christmas card person, this could be the highlight of the season for you. Make sure you plan now to avoid being overwhelmed. If Christmas cards aren’t your thing, feel free to skip to the next section.
Here are my tips for stress-free Christmas cards:
- Prepare a list of Christmas card recipients and updated mailing addresses.
- Decide what kind of card to send. Need to take a family photo? If so, take the time to take pictures. Don’t forget to include cards and stamps in your budget.
- Mark your calendar for the day you want to send the cards. To ensure on-time delivery, however, consider shipping the first full week of December very early.
Preparing the cards before Thanksgiving will save you from worrying about them. As soon as Thanksgiving is over, you can start sending and receiving their addresses.
Remember that if holiday cards are a burden, it’s okay to let them go this year (or every year!). You can divert that time and money to other holiday activities.
5. Make a gift list
Gift giving can be overwhelming! The best way to tackle this part of Christmas shopping is to create a gift list. If you’re on a budget (or want to Making the holidays easier), a gift list is a great way to stay organized and not overbuy.
I start by listing the items I want to buy for each person. The pressure to buy more gifts can overwhelm us. Several years ago, I started a new tradition with my family. I follow the “need, wear, read” gift giving philosophy. Each child will receive:
This simple gift-giving philosophy has greatly reduced stress levels during the holidays. I do the same with my family members. Grandparents love going on dates or spending one-on-one time with the grandkids…and the grandkids love it too!
Don’t forget about other people who want to buy for… teachers, friends, neighbors, etc. These can be easy DIY gifts (see the next section for more on that).
6. Collect DIY gift ideas and tutorials
I love making homemade gifts! Not only does it make a special gift, but it also doubles as a fun family holiday activity. DIY gifts are a great way to save money without sacrificing the wow factor. My children look forward to it every year Special photo books I work for each of them.
If you plan on making gifts, now is the perfect time to get organized. Some gifts take a little time to prepare, so you need to start early. Here’s what I recommend:
- Choose which gifts you want to make. (These DIY gift ideas It will inspire you!)
- Determine how long each project will take (including curing / drying / mounting time).
- Mark your calendar for when the project will start so that it is ready in time to pack and ship (if necessary). Aim to send gifts in the first week of December. If you don’t want to mail it, you can wait a week.
- Create a shopping list (enter your budget).
- Mark your calendar for a day to shop for items… and then go!
Another fun DIY project is making your own. Gift wrapping. It’s a great way to recycle things in your home. Or, make wrapping paper with brown paper and paint or stamps. This is a great project for the kids to help out with.
Our favorite DIY recipes (eg Body scrub recipe Or Homemade lotion bars) family and friends like to receive.
7. Schedule holiday activities
Once the presents and decorations are out of the way, it’s time to plan fun holiday activities. So none of us will lose. Favorite holiday activities I will make a point to put it on the calendar in advance. It’s fun to sit down with the family and brainstorm together.
Here are some ideas that usually make the list.
- Bake Holiday foods
- Going to a friend’s birthday party
- Driving around to see the Christmas lights Hot cocoa
- Choosing a Christmas tree
- Decorate the house and the tree
- Watch your favorite Christmas movie
- to drink Enough domestic eggs And listening to the Christmas playlist
If there are Thanksgiving activities I want to include, I brainstorm these events a week or two before Thanksgiving. I leave some free time in our calendar for things that pop up at the last minute. I also try to schedule. New Year’s events as planned.
8. Plan holiday meals
The last thing I plan for a holiday is the food. If I’m hosting, I prepare the entire meal. If we are visiting family, I plan to bring a meal or two.
Here’s what I do:
I use it. Real plansMy favorite meal planning app. It saves a lot of time!
By making my shopping list ahead of time, I can pick up extra butter one week and maple syrup the next while doing my weekly grocery shopping. This helps spread out purchases over a few weeks or months instead of one shopping trip (and cuts down on my shopping list just before the holidays).
Bottom line for holiday and Christmas planning
We all know it’s true… many of us moms look forward to the end of the holidays because it creates stress.
Taking time to plan is a great way to truly enjoy the season with your family. Unfortunately, it can help us avoid the excessive stress that can come with the season. When you’re stressed about the holidays, take a deep breath and revisit these steps.
See the schedule below or Click here Printable version for more details!
What will you do to reduce stress this year? Leave a comment and let us know!
