Christmas is supposed to be a time of ‘Comfort and Joy,’ a time when our days are ‘Merry & Bright’ and our nights filled with ‘Heavenly Peace.’ More often than not, however, these end up being the most hurried, busy, and chaotic days of our year.
With a little intentional planning and strategic time management (and dare I add limitations), your holiday season CAN leave you feeling ‘Holly & Jolly’ rather than ‘Bah Humbug!’
Take some time to PLAN & PREPARE before even beginning tasks surrounding Holiday festivities.
Do your best to ‘batch tasks‘ into small easy-to-complete steps that can span over a few days. This will serve to keep you from feeling overwhelmed and will guarantee to keep you more productive in the long run.
~Greeting Cards~
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| {image via lime crime} |
- Compile a list of names and addresses of who you’d like to send a card/photo or greeting to
- Purchase enough cards and envelopes
- Purchase postage
- Begin addressing envelopes only (even if it’s just a few a night)
- Another day/time stuff all of the envelopes (again, just a few at a time is still progress)
- Seal envelopes
- Attach postage
- Mail!
*Some services like Shutterfly and SendOutCards will take care of steps 2-8 for you!
~Gift Purchasing~
- Consider your overall budget for gift giving
- Compile a list of names of friends/family/neighbors you’d like to give a gift to
- Brainstorm options of gifts for everyone on your list. (Give similar clutter-free gifts to multiple recipients where possible)
- Set aside a day (or a few days) to purchase gifts on your list plus any wrapping materials staying within your budget
- Wrap gifts and label with recipients name
- Prepare for shipping or set aside for personal delivery
*Click on image above to print your own Master Gift Checklist.
(found via Christmas.organizedhome.com.)
~Holiday Parties, Activities & Celebrations~
Try to limit your holiday parties and activities so that you and your family are not overwhelmed. A couple of events a week may be fine, but having an obligation every day can quickly lead to Holiday stress and anxiety (especially in children).
Choose a few of your favorite activities as a family and don’t feel as though you have to attend each and every celebration you’re invited to.
If you are hosting a Holiday gathering, I would encourage you to also check out the article,
‘5 Tips for Avoiding Mistakes in Holiday Entertaining’
