It seems like the holidays approach faster and faster every year! As the end of summer approaches, the fast race to the end of the year begins. The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but they can get hectic quickly. And, if you’re not careful, you could miss out on the true joy of the season.
Christmas planning is one of the easy ways to reduce stress and enjoy the holidays more with your family. This will help you avoid running to the store late on Christmas Eve to buy last-minute gifts. Instead, when the holidays come around, you can sit back and relax knowing that everything has already been done.
Here’s how to plan your vacation now to save your sanity and the sanity of your family.
8 tips for planning a stress-free Christmas
Christmas falls on the same day every year, so why does it sneak up on us? We know it’s coming, and we also know that planning ahead makes the situation much less stressful. So make your plans early this year to do yourself and your family a favor. I know it’s hard to think about the holiday before we’ve even had Thanksgiving. But trust me. Your future self will thank you!
1. Think about your ideal (but practical) vacation season.
You probably have an image in your mind of how you want the holidays to be. But it seems to change every year. Over the years we have had many Christmas parties and sent Christmas cards. Other years I kept things a little more quiet. Make sure your Christmas plans are something you can realistically achieve (and something you really want to do).
You can spend a lot of time decorating the tree, making cookies, and sending Christmas cards. Or maybe you just want a simpler Christmas season this year and don’t want to do everything you feel you “should” do for the perfect holiday. Forget about replicating what you see on Pinterest and Instagram. Remember, it’s the holiday season, so you can do as much as you want!
To start planning for Christmas, brainstorm what your ideal holiday is and what you can realistically make happen. Don’t forget to include any Christmas traditions or trips you’d like to do this year.
- How much time and money should you spend this year?
- Is work busy and difficult this season?
- Are you doing something else, like caring for a sick family member or moving to a new city?
Now that you have the big picture of what your holiday will look and feel like, it’s time to think about the details.
2. Create a budget
Before you plan any events or make any purchases, the best way to start planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas is to create a budget. If you’re anything like me, holidays always end up costing more than expected! That’s why it’s a good idea to create a budget.
Instead of buying things on sight (hello, Amazon Black Friday!), you can get a better idea of what you need and how much you should spend. That way, there won’t be many surprises (or guilt) come January.
First, make a list of all the items you need to buy based on the following subcategories:
- gift – For gift to children, large family, hostess. Don’t forget the other special people you usually buy Christmas gifts for, like teachers, neighbors, family, and friends. Check out the full list of ideas here.
- decorations – If you need to replace your Christmas decorations or want new ones, add that to your budget. If you buy a new Christmas tree every year, don’t forget about the Christmas tree.
- meal – Holiday meals always cost more than regular meals. Creating a budget will help you decide whether to serve filet mignon or turkey for Christmas dinner.
- activity – Consider the activities that require a budget. This could include an ugly sweater party, building a gingerbread house, or visiting Santa.
Once you have your budget in place, you can start planning your (more fun) vacation!
3. Assess your decoration needs
If decorating your home has been a big part of your vacation, now is a great time to evaluate what you have and what you need. If you’re short on funds, you can easily cut costs. Just use what you already have.
I keep a list of decorations in Notion (or use the Notes app on my phone). This allows me to see what I have and what needs replacing/updating.
We keep it very simple (no one has ever accused me of being Martha Stewart!). If you’re looking for inspiration on a budget, here are some simple DIY holiday-themed decorating ideas:
All of these ideas meet the following criteria: 1) minimal consumables to make, 2) minimal long-term storage, and 3) easy reuse in other seasons. win!
4. Planning a Christmas card
If you’re someone who loves Christmas cards, this might be the highlight of the season. Make a plan now to avoid it becoming too overwhelming. If you don’t like Christmas cards, skip to the next section.
Here are some tips for stress-free Christmas cards:
- Create a list of recipients’ Christmas cards and updated mailing addresses.
- Decide what type of card you want to send. Do I have to take a family photo? If so, schedule a time to take photos. Don’t forget to include cards and stamps in your budget.
- Mark the date on your calendar that you would like to send the card. Aim to send it by the first week of December to ensure it is delivered on time and not too early.
If you prepare your cards before Thanksgiving, you won’t have to worry about them. You can address and ship them as soon as Thanksgiving is over.
If holiday cards are a burden, remember that it’s okay to let go this year (or every year!). You can put that time and money toward other vacation activities.
5. Create a gift list
Giving gifts can be overwhelming! The best way to tackle this part of Christmas shopping is to make a gift list. If you’re on a tight budget or want to simplify the holidays, organizing your gift list is a great way to avoid overbuying.
Start by listing the items each person wants to buy. The pressure to buy lots of gifts can be overwhelming. A few years ago, I started a new tradition with my family. I follow the “want it, need it, wear it, read it” gift giving philosophy. Each child gets:
This simplified gift-giving philosophy has greatly reduced my stress levels during the holidays. I do the same with my family. Grandparents love going out on dates or spending one-on-one time with their grandchildren. And the grandchildren enjoy it too!
Don’t forget the other people you need to buy for – teachers, friends, neighbors, etc. This could even be a simple DIY gift (see next section for more details).
6. Collect DIY gift ideas and tutorials
I love making gifts at home! Not only does it make a special gift, but it can also be used as a fun family holiday activity. DIY gifts are a great way to save money without sacrificing the wow factor. Every year our kids look forward to the next one. special photo book I make one for each of them.
If you’re planning on making gifts, now is the perfect time to get organized. Some gifts take time to prepare, so you’ll need to start early. Here’s what I recommend:
- Choose what gift you want to make. (These DIY gift ideas will inspire you!)
- Determine how long each project will take (including cure/dry/pouring time).
- Mark your calendar to start your project so you can pack and ship it on time (if necessary). Aim to mail your gift in the first week of December. If you don’t need to mail it, wait a week.
- Make a shopping list of supplies (check your budget).
- Mark the day on your calendar to purchase the items… and get started!
Another fun DIY project is making your own gift wrapping paper. It’s a great way to recycle things around the house. Or, make wrapping paper by adding paint or stamps to brown paper. This is a great project for kids to help with.
We always have fun creating DIY recipes that our family and friends love (like our body scrub recipe or homemade lotion bars).
7. Planning holiday activities
Once you’ve prepared your gifts and decorations, it’s time to plan some fun holiday activities. So together, we try to get our favorite holiday activities on the calendar early so we don’t miss them. It’s also fun to sit down with your family and discuss ideas together.
Here are some ideas that typically make the list:
- Baking Holiday Treats
- Going to a friend’s annual holiday party
- Driving to see Christmas lights with hot cocoa
- Choosing a Christmas Tree
- Decorate your house and tree
- Watch your favorite Christmas movies
- Drinking homemade eggnog and listening to a Christmas playlist
If there are any Thanksgiving activities you’d like to include, brainstorm and plan them a week or two before Thanksgiving. I leave extra time on my calendar for things that might come up at the last minute. I also try to plan my New Year’s events as planned.
8. Holiday Meal Planning
The last thing you plan for the holidays is eating. If I were hosting, I would plan the entire meal. If I’m visiting family, I plan on taking a dish or two with me.
Here’s what I do:
I use Real Plans, my favorite meal planning app. It saves a lot of time!
Making your shopping list early allows you to buy extra butter one week and maple syrup the next week during your weekly grocery shopping. This will help you spread out your purchases over several weeks or months instead of shopping all at once (it will also shorten your shopping list right before the holidays).
Conclusion on Holidays and Christmas Planning
We all know that’s true. Many moms look forward to the holidays being over because they can be stressful.
Taking the time to make plans is a great way to truly enjoy the season with your family. It can help relieve some of the overwhelm that unfortunately can come with the season. If you’re feeling stressed about the holidays, take a deep breath and revisit your next steps.
Check out our planning checklist below or click here for a more detailed printable version!
What do you do to feel less stressed this time of year? Let us know by leaving a comment!
