Every year, it seems like the holidays get here faster and faster! Once the end of summer comes, 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 busy quickly. And, if we are not careful, we can miss the truth the joy of the season.
Planning for Christmas is an easy way to make sure you stress less and enjoy the holidays more with your family. This allows you to avoid racing to the store late on Christmas Eve to buy those last minute gifts. Instead, you can sit back and relax when the holidays are here, knowing you've already got it all covered.
Here's how I plan vacations now, so I can keep my sanity (and my family's too!).
8 tips for planning a stress-free Christmas
Christmas Day is the same day every year… so why does it sneak up on us? We know it's coming, and we also know that things are a lot less stressful when we plan ahead. So this year, do yourself (and your family) a favor by planning early. I know it's hard to start thinking about the holiday season before we even have Thanksgiving. Trust me though, your future self will thank you!
1. Think about your ideal (yet practical) holiday season
You probably have an image in your mind of how you want the holidays to be. But every year it seems to look different. Some years, we have had many Christmas parties and sent Christmas cards. In other years, we have kept it lower. Make sure your Christmas planning is what you can realistically achieve (and what you really want to do).
You can enjoy spending a lot of time decorating the tree, making cookies and sending Christmas cards. Or maybe you want one The simplest Christmas season this year and don't want to do all the things you think you “must do” for the perfect vacation. Forget repeating what you see on Pinterest and Instagram. Remember, it's your holiday season and you can do as little or as much as you want!
To start planning Christmas, think about your ideal holiday and what you can realistically achieve. Don't forget to include any Christmas traditions or trips you want to take this year.
- How much time and money should you spend this year?
- Is work busy and demanding this season?
- Are you navigating other things like caring for sick family members or moving to a new city?
Now that you have a big picture of what you want the holidays to look and feel like, it's time to think about the details.
2. Create a budget
Before you plan any events or buy anything, the best way to start planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas is to create a budget. If you're anything like me, vacations always end up costing more than expected! This is why creating a budget is such a great idea.
Instead of buying things as you see them (hello, Amazon Black Friday!), you have a better idea of what you need and how much you should spend. That way, there won't be as many surprises (or guilt) in January.
I start by creating a list of all the things I need to buy based on these sub-categories:
- The gift – For children, extended family and gifts for the lady. Don't forget the other special people you usually buy Christmas presents for, such as teachers, neighbors or family and friends. Get a full list of ideas here.
- Decoration – If any Christmas decorations need to be replaced or I want something new, I add it to my budget. Don't forget a Christmas tree if you buy a fresh one every year.
- Foods – Holiday meals always end up costing more than regular meals. Creating a budget helps me determine whether to serve filet mignon or turkey for Christmas dinner.
- ACTIVITIES – Consider any activity that needs a budget. This could include an ugly sweater party, building gingerbread houses or visiting Santa.
Once you have a budget, you can plan (more fun) things for the holidays!
3. Assess your decorating needs
If decorating your home is a big part of your vacation, 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 – just use what you already have.
I keep an inventory of our decorations in the Notion (or use the Notes app on your phone). This allows me to see what I have and what needs to be replaced/updated.
We keep it pretty simple (no one has ever accused me of being Martha Stewart!). To inspire you even on a budget, here are some easy DIY holiday themed decorating ideas:
All of these ideas meet my standards for 1) minimal supplies to make, 2) minimal long-term storage, and 3) easy to reuse for other seasons. Win!
4. Plan Christmas cards
If you're a Christmas card person, this could be a highlight of the season for you. Make sure you plan now so it doesn't become overwhelming. If Christmas cards aren't your thing, feel free to skip to the next section.
Here are my tips for stress-free Christmas cards:
- Make a Christmas card list with up-to-date recipients and mailing addresses.
- Decide what type of card you will send. Do you need to take a family photo? If so, schedule a time to take the pictures. Don't forget to include cards and stamps in your budget.
- Mark your calendar for the day you want to send the cards. Aim to send them the first full week in December to ensure they are delivered on time, but not too early.
Having the cards ready before Thanksgiving allows you to not worry about them. Once Thanksgiving is over, you can start addressing and mailing them.
Remember that if holiday cards become a burden, it's okay to let them go this year (or every year!). You can redirect that time and money to other vacation 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 tighter budget (or want to simplify vacations), a gift list is a great way to stay organized and not buy too much.
I start by listing the items I want to buy for each person. The pressure to buy too many gifts can overwhelm us. A few years ago I started a new tradition with my family. I follow the “want, need, wear, read” philosophy of gift giving. Each child receives:
This simplified gift-giving philosophy has greatly reduced my holiday stress levels. I do the same with my family members. Grandparents love going out on dates or spending one-on-one time with their grandkids…and the grandkids love it too!
Don't forget about the other people you have to buy for…teachers, friends, neighbors, etc. These can also be simple DIY gifts (see the next section for more on this).
6. Gather gift ideas and instructions
I love making homemade gifts! Not only does it make a special gift, but it doubles as a fun family holiday activity. DIY gifts are a great way to save money without sacrificing the wow factor. Every year my kids look forward to it special photo books I do for each of them.
If you're thinking of giving gifts, now is the perfect time to get organized. Some gifts take a while to prepare, so you should start early. Here's what I recommend:
- Choose which gifts you want to give. (These DIY gift ideas will inspire you!)
- Determine how long each project takes (including drying / drying / infusion time).
- Mark your calendar for when the project should start so it's ready in time to pack and ship (if necessary). Aim to send gifts the first week of December. You can wait a week if you don't need to mail them.
- Create a shopping list of supplies (check with your budget).
- Mark your calendar for a day to shop for supplies… and then get started!
Another fun DIY project is to do it yourself gift wrap. It is a good way to recycle things in your home. Or, make wrapping paper with brown paper and ink or stamps. This is a good project to help children.
We always have fun making our favorite DIY recipes (like a recipe for cleansing the body OR homemade lotions) that family and friends like to receive.
7. Schedule Vacation Activities
After you've lost the gifts and decorations, it's time to plan fun holiday activities. So we don't lose any of ours favorite holiday activities together, I make a point to put them on the calendar early. It's fun to sit down with the family and brainstorm together too.
Here are some ideas that usually make it to the list:
- Baking treats holidays
- Going to a friend's annual party
- Driving around to see the Christmas lights with him hot cocoa
- Choosing a Christmas tree
- Decorating the house and the tree
- Watch a favorite Christmas movie
- Drinking enough homemade eggs and listening to a Christmas playlist
I think about and plan these events about a week or two before Thanksgiving in case there are any Thanksgiving activities I want to include. I leave some free time in our calendar for things that might pop up at the last minute. I also try to plan New Year's events as planned.
8. Plan holiday meals
The last thing I plan on vacation is meals. If I'm expecting, I'll plan the whole meal. If we're visiting family, I plan a dish or two to bring.
Here's what I do:
I use Real plansmy favorite meal planning app. This saves so much time!
By making my grocery list early, I can pick up extra butter one week and maple syrup the next while doing my weekly grocery shopping. This helps spread out shopping over a few weeks or months instead of one shopping trip (it also reduces my shopping list just before the holiday).
The ultimate in holiday and Christmas planning
We all know it's true… many of us moms look forward to the end of the holidays because it's stressful.
Taking the time to plan is a great way to really enjoy the season with your family. It can help us let go of the overwhelm that, unfortunately, can come with the season. When you find yourself stressed about the holidays, take a deep breath and review these steps.
See the planning checklist below or click here for a more detailed printable version!
What do you do to stress less during this time of year? Leave a comment and let us know!
