It feels like the holidays are coming earlier and earlier each year. As summer draws to a close, the end of the year is quickly approaching. The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but things can get busy quickly. And if you’re not careful, you can miss out on the real joy of the season.
Planning for Christmas is one of the easy ways to reduce stress and enjoy the holidays more with your family. This eliminates the need to rush to the store late on Christmas Eve to buy last-minute gifts. Instead, during your vacation, you can sit back and relax knowing that everything is already done.
Here’s how I plan my vacations to stay sane (and my family!).
8 tips for stress-free Christmas planning
Christmas Day is the same day every year, but why does it sneak up on us? We know it’s coming, and we know it’s much less stressful if you plan ahead. This year, do yourself (and your family) a favor and start planning early. We know it’s hard to start thinking about the holiday season before Thanksgiving is over. But trust me, your future self will thank you!
1. Brainstorm your ideal (but practical) holiday season.
You probably have an image in your mind of what kind of holiday you would like to have. But every year it seems to change its appearance. Some years we had a lot of Christmas parties and sent out Christmas cards. Other years, I’ve been more conservative. Make sure your Christmas plans are something you can realistically achieve (and something you really want to do).
You might enjoy spending lots of time decorating the tree, making cookies, and sending Christmas cards. Or maybe you’re hoping for a simpler Christmas season this year and don’t want to do all the things you feel you “must” do for the perfect holiday. Forget about replicating what you see on Pinterest or Instagram. Remember, it’s the holiday season, so you can do whatever you want.
Start planning for Christmas by brainstorming your ideal vacation and what is realistically achievable. Don’t forget to include any Christmas traditions or trips you’d like to do this year.
How much time and money do you have to spend this year? Are you busy with work this season? Are you dealing with other things like caring for a sick family member or moving to a new city?
Now that you have a general idea of how you want to spend your holidays and how you want to spend them, it’s time to think about the details.
2. Create a budget
Before you plan any events or purchase anything, the best way to get a head start on your Thanksgiving or Christmas planning is to create a budget. If you’re like me, vacations always end up costing more than you expected. That’s why creating a budget is a great idea.
Instead of buying things as you see them (it’s Amazon’s Black Friday!), you can get a better idea of what you need and how much you have to spend. That way, you won’t have so many surprises (or guilt) come January.
First, make a list of everything you need to buy based on the following subcategories:
Gift – A great gift for children, extended family members, and hostesses. Don’t forget about other special people who often buy Christmas presents, such as teachers, neighbors, family and friends. See the full list of ideas here. Decorations – If you need to replace your Christmas decorations or want something new, add that to your budget. If you buy a new Christmas tree every year, don’t forget about the Christmas tree. Meals – Holiday meals are always more expensive than regular meals. Creating a budget will help you decide whether to serve filet mignon or turkey for Christmas dinner. Activities – Consider the activities that require a budget. This could include things like an ugly sweater party, building a gingerbread house, or a visit from Santa.
Once you have a budget, you can start planning your (more fun) holiday.
3. Evaluate your decorating needs
If decorating your home is an important part of your vacation, now is a good time to evaluate what you have and what you need. If money is tight, this is an easy place to cut costs. Just use what you already have.
I manage my ornament inventory in Notion (or use the Notes app on my phone). This will tell you what you have and what needs to be replaced/updated.
We keep it very simple (no one has ever accused me of being Martha Stewart!). Here are some easy holiday-themed DIY decorating ideas to help you get inspired even if you’re on a budget.
All of these ideas meet my criteria: 1) minimal materials to make, 2) minimal long-term storage, and 3) easy to reuse in other seasons. win!
4. Plan your Christmas card
If you’re someone who’s into Christmas cards, this might be the highlight of the season for you. Start planning now so it doesn’t get too overwhelming. If you’re not interested in Christmas cards, skip to the next section.
Here are some tips for making stress-free Christmas cards.
Create a list of Christmas card recipients and updated addresses. Decide what kind of card to send. Do I need family photos taken? If so, please reserve a time to take photos. Don’t forget to include cards and stamps in your budget. Mark the date on your calendar when you want the card to be sent. Try to ship within the first week of December to ensure on-time delivery, but not too early.
If you prepare your cards before Thanksgiving, you won’t have to worry about them. As soon as Thanksgiving is over, you can address and start shipping.
If holiday cards are a burden, remember that it’s okay to let them go this year (or every year). You can free up that time and money for other holiday activities.
5. Create a gift list
Giving gifts can be a challenge. The best way to approach this part of Christmas shopping is to create a gift list. If you’re on a budget (or want to simplify your holiday), a gift list is a great way to avoid overbuying and stay organized.
First, make a list of items that each person would like to purchase. The pressure to buy so many gifts can be overwhelming. A few years ago I started a new tradition with my family. I follow a gifting philosophy of “I want it, I need it, I wear it, I read it.” Each child gets:
This simplified gifting philosophy has greatly reduced my stress levels during the holidays. I do the same with my family. Grandparents love going on dates and spending one-on-one time with their grandchildren. And my grandchildren enjoy it too.
Don’t forget about others who may need to buy, such as teachers, friends, and neighbors. These can also be simple DIY gifts (see the next section on this).
6. Collect DIY gift ideas and tutorials
I love making handmade gifts! Not only does it make a special gift, but it’s also a fun family holiday activity. DIY gifts are a great way to save money without sacrificing the wow factor. Every year, my children look forward to the special photo books I create for each of them.
If you’re planning on making a gift, now is the perfect time to get ready. Some gifts take time to prepare, so you need to start preparing early. Here’s what I recommend:
Choose the gift you want to make. (These DIY gift ideas will inspire you!) Determine how long each project will take (including curing/drying/infusion time). Mark your calendar for when to start the project so you’re prepared in time for packaging and shipping (if necessary). Please aim to have your gift shipped the first week of December. If you don’t need to mail it, you can wait a week. Make a shopping list for supplies (check your budget). Mark the dates on your calendar to purchase supplies…and go!
Another fun DIY project is making your own gift wrap. It’s a good way to recycle things you have around the house. Or make wrapping paper out of brown paper and add paint or stamps to it. This is a good project for children to help with.
We’re always having fun creating our favorite DIY recipes (like body scrub recipes or homemade lotion bars) for our family and friends to enjoy.
7. Schedule holiday activities
After preparing the presents and decorations, it’s time to plan some fun holiday activities. We try to mark it on our calendars early so we don’t miss out on our favorite holiday activities together. It’s also fun to sit down with your family and brainstorm ideas.
Here are some ideas that usually make it onto the list.
Bake some holiday treats Go to a friend’s annual holiday party Drive to see Christmas lights with hot cocoa Choose a Christmas tree Decorate the house and tree Watch your favorite Christmas movie Drink homemade eggnog and listen to a Christmas playlist
Brainstorm and schedule these events a week or two before Thanksgiving in case you want to include Thanksgiving activities. I keep free time on my calendar for last-minute appointments. I also try to schedule New Year’s events as planned.
8. Plan your holiday meals.
The last thing I plan on vacation is food. If I’m the host, I plan the entire meal. If you’re visiting family, plan on bringing one or two dishes with you.
What I do is:
I use my favorite meal planning app, Real Plans. It will save you a lot of time.
By making your shopping list early, you can buy extra butter one week and extra maple syrup the next while doing your weekly grocery shopping. This allows you to spread out your purchases over weeks or months instead of one time (and also reduces your last-minute holiday shopping list).
Holiday and Christmas planning essentials
We all know that to be true…many of us mothers look forward to the holidays being over because it’s stressful.
Taking the time to plan is a great way to truly enjoy this season with your family. It can help you let go of the feeling of overwhelm that unfortunately comes with the season. If you’re feeling stressed during the holidays, take a deep breath and revisit these steps.
Check out the planning checklist below or click here for a more detailed printable version.
What do you do to reduce stress during this time? Let us know by leaving a comment.
