Stress-Free Christmas Planning Tips for a Relaxing December
Are you able to fully enjoy the holiday season without any worries, or does this time of year tend to be overwhelming and stressful for you? If it’s the latter, don’t worry. My Christmas planning guide offers some useful tips and tricks that will help you stay on track, reduce stress, and fully enjoy the month of December.
The holiday season is a time when we cherish everything around us, but for some of us, it can also be the busiest and most hectic time of the year. The month of December can bring a lot of uncertainty and make it even more challenging.
Don’t worry; we can work on it together and make it possible. Let’s get started!
This post is about Christmas planning.
Tips to Prepare & Survive the Holiday Season
1. First Self-Care
It’s been said that everything works better if you feel better. However, when our to-do list is long and we feel pressed for time, we often tend to remove self-care from our list of priorities to get other things done.
During this time of the year, it can be tough to maintain healthy habits, but let’s make a commitment to change that this holiday season. Set an intention that’s kind and caring towards yourself.
Taking care of ourselves should be our top priority when planning Christmas. It helps us to stay energized and tackle the December to-do list with enthusiasm. Self-care is a personal choice; these are some ways to maintain self-care during the holidays:
- Stay grounded with morning and evening routines.
- Commit to walking for 15-30 minutes daily to clear your head.
- Make healthier meal choices and enjoy the treats of the season with zero guilt.
- Hydrate by drinking more water.
2. Make a Christmas Plan
One of my favorite ways to get organized is through a brain dump. This involves taking all your ideas, commitments, to-dos, and anything else running through your mind and putting them down on paper.
To prepare for the holidays, take a few moments to write down everything you need to do. Don’t hold back – let your thoughts flow freely.
It’s important to have a Christmas planning checklist to ensure that everything is in order. Some of the things that you may want to include in your checklist are:
- Holiday Cards
- Gift List & Shopping Plans
- Holiday Menu & Grocery Shopping
- Holiday Decorating
- Travel Plans
- Preparing for Guests
- Gift Wrapping
- House Cleaning
- Holiday Baking
- What to wear
Sort & Schedule
To make things happen in an enjoyable and productive way, it’s best to prioritize and plan ahead.
Start by breaking down your Christmas planning list into weeks and then days. If you find that shopping at the last minute causes you to feel overwhelmed, try to avoid it and set a timeline to have all your gifts bought by a specific date, such as December 10th.
Being mindful of each task can help you enjoy them instead of feeling like they’re a burden.
3. Create a Budget when Christmas Planning
The holiday season can be stressful for many people when it comes to their finances. Overspending during this time of year is a common thing, which can lead to financial stress in the present and future. However, if you plan ahead and stick to a budget, you can enjoy the month of December without worrying about money.
Moreover, this will help you start the new year off on the right foot without the added weight of holiday debt. During Christmas, it’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of gift-giving and decorating. However, it’s important to remember the true meaning of the season.
4. Create Positive Energy
Make time for activities that bring you joy – it can improve your mood and energy levels. Ensure to include activities like this in your Christmas planning:
- Watch your favorite holiday movie
- Put on some music, sing, and dance like nobody is watching
- Go outside and grab some sunshine.
- Use your favorite essential oils or candles.
- Laughter is the best medicine
- Call or spend time with positive family or friends.
5. Christmas Planning: The Choice is Yours
At the end of the day, we all have choices. We can choose to take care of ourselves or not, we can plan ahead or be disorganized, we can budget wisely or overspend, and we can choose to be positive or negative.
But let’s not allow our choices to become excuses. Let’s make every effort and take the time to enjoy the holiday season to the best of our ability. Make the right choices for you!
The holidays are a special time when we create traditions, cherish time with our loved ones, and hold on to what is most precious and meaningful to us. The memories we make during this time stay with us forever, and there is no better way to celebrate than being present in the moment.