The holiday season is upon us, and while it brings joy and festive cheer, it can also come with its fair share of stress. From gift shopping and meal planning to navigating family gatherings and decorating, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But what if you could approach this holiday season with a sense of calm and organization? In this post, we’ll explore some practical strategies to help you stay organized and reduce stress, ensuring that you can fully embrace the magic of the season without the chaos. This year, take a step back and organize your way to a peaceful holiday. Here are ten essential strategies to keep the holiday stress at bay. And if it’s a bit late to implement some of these tips this season, keep them in mind for next year to make the holidays even more enjoyable and stress-free. Whether you’re a holiday planner extraordinaire or just looking for ways to simplify your schedule, these tips will help you make the most of every moment. Let’s get started!
Create a Holiday Planner
A holiday planner is a fantastic tool to keep track of all your seasonal to-dos in one place. Use a notebook, binder, or digital planner to organize everything from your gift list and meal plans to your travel itinerary and event schedule. Begin by creating sections or tabs for each aspect of the holiday season, such as gifts, budget, meals, and events. Add calendars and checklists to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. Even if it’s a bit late to start one this year, take notes on what works well or what could be improved—this will make setting up next year’s planner a breeze. Having all your details in one spot will make the holiday prep feel more manageable and help you enjoy a more peaceful season.
Next year, I plan to use a holiday planner to stay organized. This year, I kept a rough outline of what I spent and bought, but being more prepared will make a big difference. Since I enjoy using Excel, I'll work on creating a custom spreadsheet that really suits my needs.
Set a Budget Early
Holiday expenses can add up quickly, and the last thing anyone wants is to start the new year with financial stress. Before diving into shopping, decide how much you can comfortably spend on gifts, travel, meals, and decorations. To make budgeting easier, consider dividing your total holiday budget into categories and assigning a specific amount to each one. Track your spending to make sure you’re staying within budget, and consider setting aside a little extra for any unplanned expenses. If you missed this step earlier this year, take some time to calculate what you’ve spent so far. This awareness will help you adjust as necessary and guide your planning for next year. An early, well-thought-out budget ensures a season filled with joy instead of stress.
I didn’t have a set budget this year, but I did have a rough estimate for what I wanted to spend on each person I was buying for. I made an effort to stay within my limit for each gift purchased.
Make a Gift List (and Check It Twice!)
Gift shopping can feel like a massive task, but creating a detailed gift list can simplify the process. Start by listing everyone you plan to buy gifts for, including family, friends, co-workers, and any holiday host gifts. Next, jot down gift ideas for each person and set a spending limit for each gift. This approach prevents overspending and saves time because you won’t need to search for gift ideas on the spot. Include a column to track purchases, so you know exactly what you’ve bought and what’s still needed. If you’ve already done some holiday shopping this season, creating a list now can help you stay organized and avoid duplicate purchases. For next year, creating your list early allows you to shop gradually, especially when deals pop up, making holiday shopping stress-free.
I find making lists incredibly helpful. This year, I had a list of gift ideas for my sister, but for my parents, I already knew what I was getting. Lists make gift shopping so much easier—even asking the person you’re buying for to give you some ideas can be a big help.
Plan Your Decor and Shopping Schedule
Holiday decorating is a fun way to get into the festive spirit, but it can quickly feel overwhelming if left to the last minute. Start by deciding on a theme, color scheme, or decor style that fits your space and budget. List any items you need to replace or add and note where you’ll place each decoration. If you’ve already decorated this year, keep track of what you love or want to change for next year. Shopping early for decorations, even after the season when sales are on, can help you avoid last-minute stress and save money. Consider using labeled storage bins for each type of decoration (lights, ornaments, wreaths) to make setting up and tearing down easier each year.
When it comes to decorating and holiday shopping, I still live at home, so my mom takes care of most of the decorating each year. That said, I have a few decorations I’ve bought at the end of past Christmas seasons, and I use them to decorate my room. As for shopping, especially for holiday meals, my mom and I usually work together to make sure we have everything we need.
Get a Head Start on Meal Prep
Holiday meals and gatherings often mean elaborate cooking, which can take up a lot of time and energy. Start by planning your holiday menu and listing ingredients for each dish. For larger meals, try preparing certain dishes or components in advance and storing them in the freezer—this could include baking and freezing cookie dough, making sauces, or chopping vegetables. You could also batch-cook appetizers or sides a few days before the event. If you’re already well into holiday prep, consider planning a few make-ahead meals for when life gets extra busy. For next year, note which meals are crowd-pleasers and any prep steps that worked well, and use these notes to streamline your holiday meal planning even further.
I love meal prepping, but I don’t usually do it around the holidays. My family doesn’t host parties or anything like that. The only thing we typically make and freeze are desserts, like cookies and tarts.
Set Boundaries for Your Calendar
Holiday gatherings and parties are a wonderful part of the season, but with so many events to attend, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Decide which events are most important or meaningful to you, and set realistic boundaries around how many gatherings you can attend. Prioritize the ones that bring you the most joy, and remember that it’s okay to say no to invites that add stress rather than happiness. If you feel obligated to attend every event, consider compromising by attending briefly or scheduling time for yourself immediately afterward. Setting clear boundaries ensures that you enjoy the season’s celebrations without feeling over-committed or burned out.
Personally, I’m not much of a party person, but this is definitely a great tip. You don’t want to over-commit and end up dreading the parties or feeling resentful toward the people who invited you.
Streamline Wrapping Supplies
A chaotic wrapping area can turn what should be a fun task into a stressful one. Gather all your wrapping supplies—paper, ribbon, scissors, and tape—in one designated spot for easy access. Set up a wrapping station if you have space or create a portable wrapping kit in a box or tote. For quick, last-minute wrapping, consider using pre-made gift bags and tissue paper. Organize supplies in bins or drawers to keep things tidy and reusable for next year. As you wrap gifts, take note of any supplies you need to restock for next season to make setting up next year’s wrapping station a breeze.
I’m just now getting started on wrapping my gifts this year, and I’ll definitely be using these tips. They’re going to make the process so much easier.
Use Apps for Gift Tracking
Tracking your gift purchases can quickly become overwhelming, especially if you’re buying for multiple people and need to keep track of different budgets and shopping statuses. Use a gift-tracking app or digital spreadsheet to monitor what you’ve purchased, how much you’ve spent, and any shipping information. Many apps allow you to organize by recipient, category, and budget, so you always know what’s left to buy. Even if you’re mostly done with shopping this year, trying out a tracking app now can help you stay organized next year. Not only will this help you stay on budget, but it also ensures that you don’t accidentally forget anyone on your list.
This tip goes hand in hand with budgeting! Instead of using a separate app, you can absolutely use the same spreadsheet if that’s what you’re comfortable with, or choose another method that suits you best. If keeping budgeting and gift tracking separate works better for you, then go with that. The key is to use a system that feels right for you.
Schedule Self-Care
During the holidays, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement and forget to take care of yourself. But a little self-care can go a long way in managing holiday stress and keeping your spirits high. Schedule small moments for yourself each day, whether it’s a few minutes of reading, a walk outside, a warm bath, or simply enjoying a cup of tea. Setting aside time for yourself, even during the busiest days, helps you recharge and keeps the holiday stress at bay. Remember, when you’re well-rested and relaxed, you’re better able to enjoy the season with those you love.
I really appreciate this tip, as I often struggle with prioritizing self-care. I’m making a conscious effort to put it first, and it’s a reminder that taking care of yourself is never a bad idea—it deserves to be at the top of your daily priorities.
Prepare for Post-Holiday Cleanup
The last thing you want after the holidays is a big cleanup job. To make things easier, start organizing your decorations and holiday items as you take them down. Use labeled storage bins for each type of decoration (e.g., lights, ornaments, wreaths) to make setting up next year faster and more organized. Consider placing seasonal items in an accessible spot so you can reach them easily when the holidays come around again. If you didn’t organize much last year, creating a cleanup system now will save you hours next season and help keep your space organized year-round.
I love organizing, so this tip is perfect for me! I might even organize my mom’s Christmas decorations when we take everything down in January—though I think she already has hers somewhat sorted. But I can definitely organize my own decorations (haha).
As the holiday season approaches, staying organized can be the key to enjoying a stress-free and joyful celebration. By planning ahead, budgeting, and keeping self-care in mind, we can fully embrace the season without feeling overwhelmed. Remember, these tips aren’t just about getting through the holidays; they’re about finding ways to make the experience easier and more enjoyable. And if some of these strategies don’t fit into this season’s preparations, keep them in mind for next year to build an even smoother holiday routine. Here’s to a season filled with warmth, happiness, and the peace that comes from feeling truly prepared!
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