Every year, it seems like the holidays come faster and faster! Once the end of summer hits, it’s a quick race to the end of the year. Although the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, they can get hectic quickly. And, if we’re not careful, we can miss out on the true joy of the season.
Christmas planning is a simple way to ensure you stress less and enjoy the holidays with your family more. It allows you to avoid running to the store late on Christmas Eve to buy those last minute gifts. Instead, you can sit back and relax when the holidays arrive, knowing that you’ve already got everything covered.
This is how I plan vacations now so I can save my sanity (and my family’s too!).
8 tips to plan Christmas without stress
Christmas Day is the same every year…so why are we surprised? We know it’s coming and we also know that things are much less stressful when we plan ahead. So this year, do yourself (and your family) a favor by planning ahead. I know it’s hard to start thinking about the holiday season before we’ve even had Thanksgiving. Trust me, your future self will thank you!
1. Think about your ideal (but practical) holiday season
You probably have a picture in mind of what you want the vacation to be like. But every year it seems different. Some years we have had many Christmas parties and sent Christmas cards. In other years, we have kept it more discreet. Make sure your Christmas planning is what you can realistically achieve (and what you really want to do).
You may enjoy spending a lot of time decorating the tree, making cookies, and sending Christmas cards. Or maybe you want a simpler holiday season this year and don’t want to do all the things you feel like you “have to do” to have a perfect holiday. Forget about replicating what you see on Pinterest and Instagram. Remember, it’s your holiday season and you can do whatever you want.
To start planning for Christmas, think about your ideal holiday and what you can realistically make happen. Don’t forget to include any Christmas traditions or trips you want to take this year.
- How much time and money do you have to spend this year?
- Is work busy and demanding this season?
- Are you coping with other things like caring for sick family members or moving to a new city?
Now that you have a general idea of what you want your holidays to look and feel like, it’s time to think about the details.
2. Create a budget
Before planning any event or purchasing anything, the best way to start your Thanksgiving and Christmas planning is to create a budget. If you’re like me, vacations always end up costing more than expected! That’s why creating a budget is a great idea.
Instead of buying things as you see them (hello, Black Friday on Amazon!), you have a better idea of what you need and how much you have to spend. That way, there won’t be as much surprise (or guilt) when January rolls around.
I start by creating a list of all the things I need to buy according to these subcategories:
- Gifts – For gifts for children, family and hostesses. Don’t forget other special people you normally buy Christmas gifts for, like teachers, neighbors, or family and friends. Get a full list of ideas here.
- Decorations – If any Christmas decorations need replacing or I want something new, I add it to my budget. Don’t forget a Christmas tree if you buy a new one every year.
- Meals – Christmas meals always end up costing more than regular meals. Creating a budget helps me determine whether we will 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 Claus.
Once you have a budget, you can plan (more fun) things for the holidays!
3. Evaluate your decorating needs
If decorating your home is an important part of your vacation, now is a good time to assess 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 Notion (or use the Notes app on your phone). This allows me to see what I have and what I need to replace/upgrade.
We keep it pretty simple (no one has ever accused me of being Martha Stewart!). To inspire you even on a limited budget, here are some easy DIY Christmas-themed decorating ideas:
All of these ideas meet my standards of 1) minimal supplies for crafting, 2) minimal long-term storage, and 3) easy to reuse for other stations. Gain!
4. Plan Christmas cards
If you like Christmas cards, this may be the 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 list of Christmas card recipients and updated 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 photos. Don’t forget to include cards and stamps in your budget.
- Mark your calendar for the day you want to send the cards. Try to ship them the first full week of December to ensure they are delivered on time, but not too early.
Having your cards ready before Thanksgiving will allow you to not have to worry about them. As soon as Thanksgiving is over, you can start tackling and shipping them.
Remember that if Christmas cards become a burden, it’s okay to give them up this year (or every year!). You can redirect that time and money to other holiday activities.
5. Make a gift list
Giving gifts can be overwhelming! The best way to approach this part of Christmas shopping is to create a gift list. If you’re on a tighter budget (or want to keep the holidays simple), 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 of buying many gifts can overwhelm us. Several years ago, I started a new tradition with my family. I follow the “want, need, use, read” gift-giving philosophy. Each child receives:
This simplified gift-giving philosophy has greatly decreased my stress level during the holidays. I do the same with my family members. Grandparents love going on dates or spending time alone with the grandkids…and the grandkids enjoy it too!
Don’t forget about other people you need to buy from…teachers, friends, neighbors, etc. These can even be simple gifts you make yourself (see the next section for more information on this).
6. Gather DIY Gift Ideas and Tutorials
I love making homemade gifts! Not only does it make a special gift, but it also serves as a fun family Christmas 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 albums I make for each of them.
If you plan to give gifts, now is the perfect time to get organized. Some gifts take a while to prepare, so start early. This is what I recommend:
- Choose what gifts you want to give. (These DIY gift ideas will inspire you!)
- Determine how long each project takes (including curing/drying/infusion time).
- Mark your calendar when to start the project so you’re ready in time to pack and ship (if necessary). Try to mail gifts the first week of December. You can wait a week if you don’t need to mail them.
- Create a shopping list for supplies (check your budget).
- Mark your calendar for a day to purchase supplies…and then get going!
Another fun DIY project is to make your own wrapping paper. It’s a good way to recycle things in your home. Or, make wrapping paper with butcher paper and paint or stamps. This is a good project for kids to help with.
We always have fun making our favorite homemade recipes (like a body scrub recipe or homemade lotion bars) that family and friends love to receive.
7. Schedule Christmas Activities
Once you’ve taken down the gifts and decorations, it’s time to plan fun holiday activities. So that we don’t miss out on any of our favorite holiday activities together, I make it a point to put them on the calendar ahead of time. It’s also fun to sit down with the family and brainstorm ideas together.
Here are some ideas that usually appear on the list:
- Bake Christmas Delights
- Go to a friend’s annual party
- Driving to look at the Christmas lights with hot chocolate
- Choosing a Christmas tree
- Decorating the house and the tree.
- Watch a favorite Christmas movie
- Drink homemade eggnog and listen to a Christmas playlist
I brainstorm and schedule 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 schedule for things that may come up at the last minute. I also try to schedule New Year’s events as planned.
8. Plan Christmas meals
The last thing I plan for the holidays is meals. If I am the host, I will plan the entire meal. If we visit family, I plan to bring a dish or two.
This is what I do:
I use Real Plans, my favorite meal planning app. Save a lot of time!
By making my shopping list ahead of time, I can buy extra butter one week and maple syrup the next while I do my weekly shopping. This helps spread out shopping over a few weeks or months instead of in one shopping trip (it also shortens my shopping list right before the holidays).
Conclusion for Christmas and Holiday 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 truly enjoy the season with your family. It can help us let go of the overwhelm that, unfortunately, can come with the season. When you’re feeling stressed about the holidays, take a deep breath and review these steps.
Check out 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!
