Make Next Year’s Holiday Prep a Breeze

Well, we are almost through the holiday craziness! How are you managing it? Are you feeling the stress? Are you still purchasing gifts and running around, getting stuck in traffic at peak times, and feeling like you are running on empty? 

Save this article and refer to it when the holidays are over. Think about the following and how you can make the holidays next year a little less stressful and overwhelming and more enjoyable and relaxing.

Did you do any of the following this year?

Create a Holiday Binder: Keep all your holiday plans, lists, and schedules in one place. This can include recipes, gift lists, and event plans. Having everything in one binder makes it easy to reference and keeps you organized. You’ll be able to use this every year as a guide and continue to update it as needed.

Plan Ahead. If you know you have to bake, cook, or host a party, prepare anything ahead of time that you can. Write out menus and food shopping lists. If you have many gifts to purchase, start keeping a list of whom you have to buy for and what you might like to buy them. 

Prepare in Advance. Anything you can prepare ahead of time, do it! This includes wrapping gifts, setting the table, or even prepping ingredients for meals. Keep a list for next year of things you can prepare for in advance.

Maintain a calendar. Get everything out of your head and onto paper. Eliminate the mental clutter. Jot down everything from cleaning your home, laundry, exercise, and errands. Never forget an important date again during the holidays. 

Use to-do lists. Using daily to-do lists will keep you on track. Crossing items off the list will give you a feeling of accomplishment. Brain dump everything you need to tackle, then organize your written thoughts and break them out into daily to-do lists. 

Keep your home clutter-free and organized. If your home is organized, it’s one less thing you have to worry about during the holidays. You won’t be shoving items in a closet when you know company is arriving. Imagine never having to do that again. You can now focus on other holiday preparations. 

Avoid unnecessary trips. Make your list and check it twice. Do you really want to head out during peak traffic hours during the holidays because you forgot the most important ingredient in your recipe or that special gift you were supposed to purchase? Batch your errands to save time and reduce stress.

Save money. You will waste money if you are disorganized. You will probably be searching for items in a rush during the holiday season, and when you can’t find it, you will just go out and purchase another item, which will lead to wasted money. Keep an inventory of holiday supplies to avoid duplicate purchases.

Reduce stress. The holidays bring unwanted stress. You could eliminate one unnecessary stressor in your life just by becoming organized. Practice mindfulness and take breaks to recharge. Delegate tasks to family members to share the workload.

Set Realistic Expectations: Don’t aim for perfection. Focus on what’s most important and let go of the rest. Prioritize your well-being and enjoy the holiday season.

Even if you choose two of the above and work on them next year, it will be effective! Make notes, save this, and refer to it next year. Take small baby steps, and those baby steps will get you motivated and energized to have a stress-free holiday season.