Christmas Planning that will Help Beat the Stress (2021)

I love Christmas and over the years I’ve learned that a little bit of intentionality goes a long way during this busy time of year.

There are many departments that need organising. From food, presents, decorations and not to mention keeping the kids occupied with all the festivities. 

So what should you do leading up to Christmas?

How early should you plan for Christmas?

We are going to answer all those burning questions for you.

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HAVE A PLAN

Start early.

I personally like to begin late October, because in all honest time flies and before you know it you have no time to wrap your presents.

Take a few hours to journal out your goals for this holiday season. Life changes and it’s unrealistic to assume that each year will look the same.

What new constraints do you need to take into consideration?

What special experiences do you want your kids to have this year?

Who do you want to see this year? 

FOCUS ON THE LONG GAME

There are so many fun things we can do this time of year with our kids but they do not all have to happen this year.

Pick 1 or 2 traditions that you want to happen every year for your family and then pick 1 or 2 new things you want to do this year.

It will help you think wisely about when is the right time to do the bigger things on your holiday memory wish list and eliminate some of the “mom guilt” of needing to fit so many activities into your life.

HAVE A LIST

Write out a list of you are buying gifts for this year and a few ideas of what you want to get them.

For my kids, I limit myself to 3-4 gifts for each of them.

Having a list and taking time to brainstorm ideas of what they really want prevents me from buying random things even if they are on sale.

I also am able to make better use of my shopping time and look for specific deals on those items.

Try this free app to stay organised:

With the Cozi app, you can now organise everyday family life on the go. You can create handy shopping lists, set reminders, share calendars and also meal plan – yes recipes included!

Try the Cozi app here for free.

PICK A DEFAULT GIFT 

Write out a list of all the neighbours, teachers, co-workers, extended family, etc. that you want to give something to this year. Brainstorm a default gift idea that would be a nice gesture to all of them.

A few ideas: a Starbucks gift card in a mug, movie gift cards, a homemade treat, a fuzzy blanket, or a candle. I personally make up a movie night goodie bag with a code for a free Redbox rental.

You may also like:

Smart ideas to get yourself free Amazon gift cards

BUILD ANTICIPATION

As parents, it can sometimes feel like there is so much pressure to overdo it with presents at Christmas.

I personally want to teach my kids to be thankful and appreciative for all the things I do for them.

Last year we had planned a trip to Salt Lake City for Spring Break and told our kids about that for Christmas.

On Christmas morning, they got new winter coats and duffle bags for the trip. It was things we already needed but helped them see the future trip as something to be excited about and a privilege.

Has your child been wanting to do gymnastics? Sign them up as their gift and wrap up a new leotard.

GET HELP

It’s not all on you!

Are you hosting a meal for your family or planning a party?

We are all grown-ups and know how hard and expensive it can be to host.

Plan out the meals where you have the main course but then ask others to contribute specific items.

You can also plan an assembly style meal where everyone brings different items for the buffet. I love using websites like SignupGenius where guests can sign up to bring specific items.

$5 a month meal plan:

Yes, its $5 for an entire month of lunch, dinner meal ideas. Also included are snack and dessert ideas, with occasional meatless recipes, freezer meals and slow cooker recipes.

Bonus 14 free trial of the $5 meal plan here.

BUY BIG AND THINK DUAL PURPOSE

We put our Christmas tree up Black Friday and my kids wear their Christmas jammies that night.

I know it’s silly but I do feel like Christmas jammies are a necessity. #FIRSTWORLDPROBLEMS. I opt for buying them a size too big and going for a plaid print that they can wear year-round.

I bought my big boys (8 and 4) jammies from Macy’s last year on sale and will get our 1-year-old a matching set this year. I also bought the boys bright red polo shirts from Target last year which still fit.

They wore them for Valentine’s day, 4th of July, Apple day at school and they will be their go-to “Christmas shirt” this year for parties and events. 

Guest Blogger:

Amy is a mom of three young kids, a foster mom, and an entrepreneur living in Melbourne, Florida. She’s an enneagram 2 who loves helping others and giving big hugs. She’s the founder of Creating Capacity and is on a mission to lighten the mental load of motherhood by helping women find solutions that work for them to manage their lives. She has a FREE E-BOOK to help you stay organized this holiday season. I hope that it helps you enjoy every minute of this special time of year. 

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