Every year, it seems like the holidays get here faster and faster! Once the end of summer rolls around, it’s a quick race to the end of the year. Even though the holidays are the most wonderful time of year, they can get hectic fast. And, if we aren’t careful, we can miss the true joy of the season.
Christmas planning is one easy way to make sure you stress less and enjoy the holidays with your family more. It 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 that you’ve already got it all covered.
Here’s how I plan for the holidays now so I can save my sanity (and my family’s, too!).
8 Tips for Stress-Free Christmas Planning
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 much 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’ve even had Thanksgiving. Trust me though, your future self will thank you!
1. Brainstorm Your Ideal (But 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’ve had a lot of Christmas parties and sent Christmas cards. In other years, we’ve kept it more low-key. Make sure your Christmas planning is what you can realistically accomplish (and what you really want to do).
You might enjoy spending a lot of time decorating the tree, making cookies, and sending Christmas cards. Or maybe you want a simpler Christmas season this year and don’t want to do all the things you feel like you “have to do” for the perfect holidays. Forget about replicating 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 Christmas planning brainstorm your ideal holidays and what you can realistically make happen. Don’t forget to include any Christmas traditions or travel you want to do this year.
- How much time and money do you have to 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 planning any events or buying anything, the best way to get a head start on Thanksgiving and Christmas planning is to create a budget. If you’re anything like me, the holidays always end up costing more than expected! That’s why creating a budget is such 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) come January.
I start by creating a list of all of the things I need to buy based on these sub-categories:
- Gifts: – For kids, extended family, and hostess gifts. Don’t forget other special people you typically buy Christmas gifts for, like teachers, neighbors, or family and friends. Get a complete list of ideas here.
- Decorations: – If any Christmas decorations need to be replaced or I want something new, I add that to my budget. Don’t forget a Christmas tree if you buy a fresh one each year.
- Meals: – Holiday meals always end up costing more than regular meals. Creating a budget helps me determine if we’ll be serving filet mignon or turkey for Christmas dinner.
- Activities: – Consider any activities that need 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) holiday things!
3. Assess Your Decoration Needs
If decorating the house is a big part of your holiday, now’s a great time to assess what you have and what you need. If funds are tight, this is an easy place to cut costs — simply use what you already have.
I keep an inventory of our decorations in Notion (or use the Notes app on your phone). This lets me see what I have and what needs replacing/updating.
We keep it pretty simple (no one has ever accused me of being Martha Stewart!). To get you inspired even on a budget, here are some simple DIY holiday-themed decor ideas:
All of these ideas meet my standards for 1) minimal supplies to make, 2) minimal long-term storage, and 3) easy to repurpose for other seasons. Win!
4. Plan Christmas Cards
If you’re a Christmas card person, this may be a highlight of the season for you. Make sure to plan now so it doesn’t become overwhelming. If Christmas cards aren’t your thing, feel free to move on to the next section.
Here are my tips for stress-free Christmas cards:
- Make a Christmas card list of recipients and updated mailing addresses.
- Decide what kind of card you’ll send. Do you need to have a family photo taken? If so, schedule a time to get the pictures taken. Don’t forget to include the cards and stamps in your budget.
- Mark your calendar for the day you want to send the cards out. Aim to send them the first full week in December to ensure they get delivered on time but not too early.
Having the cards ready before Thanksgiving allows you not to have to worry about them. As soon as Thanksgiving is over, you can start addressing and sending them out.
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 into other holiday activities.
5. Make a Gift List
Gift-giving can get 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 the holidays), a gift list is a great way to stay organized and not overbuy.
I start by listing items I want to buy for each person. The pressure to buy lots of gifts can overwhelm us. Several years ago, I started a new tradition with my family. I follow the “want, need, wear, read” gift-giving philosophy. Each kid gets:
This simplified gift-giving philosophy has greatly decreased my stress level during the holidays. I do the same with my family members. Grandparents love to go on dates or have one-on-one time with the grandkids… and the grandkids enjoy it, too!
Don’t forget about other people you need to buy for… teachers, friends, neighbors, etc. These can even be simple DIY gifts (see the next section for more on this).
