I love the Holiday season. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve. All of it. Time with family, lots of food, presents, games, traditions, parties, celebrations. It all brings me joy! My only problem: I want to do it all. Ugh.
After three kids, I have discovered that doing it all is just not possible. Sometimes even doing the bare minimum seems stressful and overwhelming. So, I have created a few strategies to help me better manage this time of year.
First of all, I keep a calendar. Most moms have a calendar, but is everything on it? I mean everything. My work hours, doctor appointments, holiday parties, school commitments, sports commitments, family get-togethers, everything. If even one thing is not on my calendar, it usually creates a snowball effect and a schedule that starts unraveling causes me more overwhelm than I want to deal with on any given day. Even if I have something on my calendar already booked at the same time as another event that comes up, I put the new event on my calendar right along side the other event. This might mean my calendar looks super full. It does not mean that I will attend all of the things on my calendar.
But, the multiple things on my calendar gives me options! As the days roll by, I notice the things on my calendar that catch my eye. Are there certain things that I am looking forward to? Certain things that I am dreading?
I am going to lean in to those events that I am looking forward to. This might mean that events that have been on my calendar for a while, get bumped for something newer but that will bring me more joy. And that is okay!
I also look at the events and commitments on any given day and ask myself if I can handle it all or if I need to trim some things off of my calendar. Again, I am going to lean in to those things that will bring me the most joy.
The second thing that I do to help me better manage the stress of the holidays, I make a list of all of the things that I will need for the basic requirements of baking, cooking, wrapping presents, entertaining, etc. This means I also have to go ahead and set the menu for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve, and any parties that I will attend and be responsible for a dish. After I make the list, I do an inventory of everything that I have, and make a shopping list for things that I don't find. Then, I can plan when and where I need to buy things.
For instance, I discovered last week that I did not have any name tags for gifts. I put that as a priority item so that I can wrap presents as I buy them. I picked up name tags the next day. I also checked off that I have plenty of wrapping paper, gift bags, and tissue paper so I don't have to buy any of that this year.
I discovered that I was out of chocolate chips and a few other baking staples, so I have added those to the grocery list. Some of these items I will need for Thanksgiving, some for Christmas, and some for New Years, so I can prioritize when I need to pick them up at the store and balance out the expense. Doing it this way, means I won't be scrambling with everyone at the last minute and navigating empty shelves to get the things that I need.
The third thing that I do is create a comprehensive list of everyone on my gift list. From teachers to the kids. I have a notebook with a page for each member of my family and lines to list the gift, the price, and whether it has been wrapped. This will help me keep track of expenses and what presents I still need to buy. This helps me keep from rushing at the last minute to try to find an appropriate gift for every person on my list. Setting a price point for each person is also helpful in sticking to my budget for the holidays. Checking off whether things have been wrapped also helps me figure out if there is still work that needs to be done. Historically, I am a Christmas Eve, Christmas Day wrapper, but I have been working to get better at this. I have also lost gifts in the past (I tend to buy presents through the year). Writing everything down in the binder helps me keep track of it all. I started using the binder last year (October 2023) and am using it again this year because it worked so well in keeping my gift giving organized . I printed my pages and got it together in August so I can easily track it all.
The final thing that I do is double check the calendar and adjust my shopping lists accordingly. Is there a party that will require a white elephant gift? Add it to the list. Is there a charity event that will require a gift card, or toy? Put it on the list.
All of these steps will be revisited as the days go by and the Holidays keep moving along, but by keeping an eye on the calendar, and adjusting the shopping list, I can be better prepared which helps me be less overwhelmed when little surprises pop up.
If you haven't approached the holidays this way, what approaches have you found that work best for you? What, if any, of these strategies appeal to you? How can you implement them into your Holidays?
Whatever you choose, I pray you and your family have a festive and Happy Holiday Season!
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