The Truth About Holiday Stress and How To Conquer It Plus The Home for the Holidays Christmas Planner

START EARLY

I’m starting at the top with perhaps the most controversial bit of advice. I know that many people hate the idea of beginning Christmas prep before Thanksgiving. Here’s the thing…we’re all looking for balance. Waiting until after Thanksgiving puts a TON of weight on December, and there’s not one good reason why you should do that.

I’m not suggesting to skip over Thanksgiving. Quite the contrary. Begin your Thanksgiving prep three to four weeks before the big day, but put the wheels in motion for Christmas as well. There’s not one of you out there who isn’t great at multi-tasking! Starting early allows you to really enjoy the entire process. Shopping isn’t as frustrating because everything is still in stock. You won’t feel frazzled…and you won’t fall into bed at night wondering how in the world you are going to get everything finished. 

Christmas Porch Decor Made Easy

MAKE LISTS

This tip goes along with the “start early” tip. Lists are super important, so start making them now. What you want to bake, a gift buying list, update your Christmas card list, etc. I included handy printables in the Home for the Holidays Christmas Planner that will help with this. Sometimes my mind is such a jumble of things I need to do…but if I take the time to put everything on paper, it all doesn’t seem so overwhelming. And you have admit…it sure feels good to check off those jobs!

SET A BUDGET

This is something we should do every year, no exceptions. Decide well in advance how much to spend on kids, friends, spouse, etc. Tell your family what their budget is, so they know what they can and can’t ask for. You should have a pretty good idea from years past how much is spent on groceries. Personally, my biggest weakness is Christmas décor. I tell myself every year that I need to just use what I have…but that never happens. Setting an amount helps keep me in line because I could definitely get carried away. So make sure to budget for your favorite aspect of Christmas. You will definitely earn it!

Simple & Festive Christmas Bedroom Decor

DECIDE ON A THEME

If you like to decorate with a theme, decide that now. Some years I use a theme (like the red & black buffalo check) and other years it’s a free-for-all. This is definitely a personal choice, but it’s helpful to decide in advance, so if you need to purchase anything, you have plenty of time.

A Buffalo Check Christmas Porch

INVENTORY YOUR DECORATIONS

Take a look at your decorations and decide if there is anything you want to donate. Doing that ahead of time helps to clear out your stash and you can better see what you have. If you have a theme, decide what you can use and then make a list of what you need to purchase. (There’s a page for this in the Home for the Holidays Christmas Planner.)

At this point, it’s helpful to organize your decorations and put everything you are using this year together. I did this last year and it was so much easier than rummaging through multiple bins looking for something.

Cloved Oranges

GATHER WRAPPING SUPPLIES

When Thanksgiving is behind us, it will be time to set up a wrapping station. (If you have the space, set up your wrapping station before that and wrap as you buy.) Look at your supplies now and decide if you need anything new. Wrapping presents is my favorite part of Christmas, so I go all out. Every gift is boxed with tissue paper. Each present is adorned with a beautiful bow. If this isn’t your cup of tea, just go the easy route. Pre-made bows have come a long way since the 80’s!

Christmas Gift Wrap Ideas

BAKE AND FREEZE

This is such a time and sanity saver. Baking ahead of time not only reduces stress as it gets closer to the big day, but it makes the task much more enjoyable. Take one thing at a time. Plan everything out with the Home for the Holidays Christmas Planner. Try to have everything finished and in the freezer by mid-December. You will feel so accomplished and relieved!

Traditional Pecan Tassies

PLAN YOUR CHRISTMAS CARD

I know Christmas cards aren’t as popular as they were in the past, but if you still send one, get things going now. Take your picture, buy the cards, gather your addresses. I have had my list on a spreadsheet for several years, so I was able to print mailing labels. Last year, my daughter-in-law helped me upload my list to Minted.com, so I was able to have my cards AND envelopes printed. Oh my gosh. What a time saver! The presentation was beautiful and the process was so easy. The very best thing is that this year, with just a few address updates, my list is ready to go. All I need to do is upload our new picture and order. Click {HERE} for more information.

How to Make Clay Tag Ornaments

SHOP ONLINE

Shopping online, at least for me, has become a way of life. I live in a small town in Ohio, with the nearest Target an hour away. Good shopping is not available, so being able to find what I want online has made such a difference. Make sure to always check Google for a coupon code, and don’t pay shipping unless you have no other choice.