The holiday season can be a stressful one. In addition to planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I have one child with a birthday in December and another soon after in January. I have learned that if I do not begin early, I will not get everything done. The importance of planning increases the closer you get to the holidays. It is so easy to forget something, if you do not have a plan. If you are hosting any holiday events then you really do need to begin to plan now. Here are five easy steps to make your holiday easier.
1) Simplify as much as possible. This can mean different things to different people. It may mean completing you holiday shopping online, and paying the extra for free gift-wrapping. It may mean printing out address labels for your Christmas cards instead of hand addressing each one. If this seems impersonal, you can still write a quick note inside each card. It may mean eating Thanksgiving dinner out, or buying a precooked ham or turkey.
2) It is important to create a timeline for each project you want to complete. It is also important to order the tasks correctly. If you neglect Thanksgiving while you are preparing for Christmas, you may end up with a disaster on your hands. Begin by writing down the major projects, and then put them in order of which one needs to be completed first.
3) Begin early and try to get as much done before the holidays actually hit. You can save a lot of time by completing your shopping before the crowds begin to shop as well. You will also enjoy the holidays more if you have completed most of your stressful projects before the general rush sets in.
4) Consider moving certain projects to a different time of year. I know many people are beginning to send out their family letters and updates during January or February instead of at Christmas. This may be easier for you. You can also mix up dough and freeze it in November to use during your December baking. You can shop for the holidays throughout the year, so you can save money by getting the best deals available.
5) It is okay to let some things slide. If you realize that you have taken on too much, then you will need to sit down and see what you can cut out of your schedule. It may mean that you do things a little differently, but you will enjoy the holidays more if you