8 Tips for Effortless Holiday Planning

If you’re the kind of mom who makes a list and checks it twice before tackling Christmas, we’ve got a few tips for you. Orchestrating Christmas is no easy undertaking, here’s how you can do it, all while spreading holiday cheer.

Decorating 101

Christmas decorations started making appearances in stores around September, but you know that decorating too early is not an option. Decorating on the day after Halloween is acceptable, but still too eager. Instead of jumping for Christmas joy on the first day of November, wait until after Thanksgiving to throw up your holiday decorations.

Get an Early Start

While you may not be stringing up lights and singing Christmas carols just yet, late fall is the perfect time to start your holiday planning. Will you have a theme? What type of Christmas tree will you have this year? Who’s coming over for Christmas dinner? Plan out the logistics now to avoid headaches later.

Say Cheese

Sending a greeting card this year? Planning to send photos? Make sure that you have your family photos shot, printed and ready to send before the hustle and bustle of the holidays roll in. November is a good time to take photos as a family, and it’s also a good time to start thinking if the kids will get their photos taken with Santa Claus this year.

Make It a Family Affair

You may have your eyes on the prize, read: perfection, but there’s more to the holidays than a perfectly trimmed tree and impeccably lit home. Get the kids involved in the decorating process, talk to them about your own family traditions and how you and your husband celebrated as children. Give the kids minor responsibilities so that they can experience the magic of Christmas.

Party Planning

While joyous, the holidays can be a stressful time, too. When planning your parties remember to delegate. Instead of prepping and cooking an entire meal, have your favorite restaurant cater. Ask a close friend to pick up a few bottles of wine. And have your husband play DJ throughout the party, mixing in some Christmas music with your favorite songs, because too much Christmas music, is just too much.

Weekend Warrior

Saying that the holidays are a busy time is an understatement. And when it comes to being busy, moms are often the busiest. Be sure to make time to take a weekend for yourself, or plan to have the kids spend a night at grandma and grandpa’s so that you can wrap presents and check off your to-do list uninterrupted.

Make Time to Give

This year, be sure to make time to give and consider giving as an entire family. Donate to your favorite charity online, volunteer at a local shelter or give socks to a sock drive. Even if you can only give a little, you’re still giving something.

Expect the Unexpected

It’s rare that everything always goes according to plan. No matter how much you plan for something, there’s still the off chance that it just won’t end up how you envisioned it. Try not to invest too much thought into how you think things should go during the holidays. Every family is unique and we all experience ups and downs around the holidays. So what if Aunt Sue can’t make it to Christmas dinner. Or if Jan spilled wine at your holiday party. It can be cleaned up tomorrow. Don’t sweat the small stuff this year.