6 Helpful Holiday Planning Tips For Working Moms
Ah, the holidays. There’s an enticing aroma that fills the entire house. The Thanksgiving turkey comes out of the oven golden brown. Pumpkin pies are displayed on the dessert table. All the china is in pristine condition and not a single piece in the set is missing.
The family is gathered for holiday pictures, the children are poised perfectly; hands to themselves, not a hair out of place, and their smiles are shining brightly for the camera. And just as the photographer is about to capture the shot… you wake up!
Yep, a scene like that has GOT to be a dream!
Let’s be real ladies. Without proper planning, the holidays are anything but a holiday. Just look at the list of things that need to be done: shopping, cooking, cleaning, decorating, sending holiday mail. The list goes on and on.
Thankfully, there are some simple simplifiers that can help make this holiday season stress-free.
6 Holiday Planning Tips
Before the festivities, there are a few key questions that you should ask yourself in order to have a holiday season free of stress and worry. And instead, filled with fun, laughter, and memories.
What types of holiday celebrations do you want? For example: Do you want to have an immediate family-only holiday affair or an extravaganza including immediate and extended family plus a few friends?
Once you’ve thought everything through and decided on the type of holiday gathering you would like, you can then start making your plans.
If you are ready to get a head start on organizing yourself, your family, and your holiday checklists, then keep reading…
#1 Holiday Cards
Start early! I keep a holiday card list that has the names and addresses of holiday cards my family has received in past years. I created a simple list on a Word doc that is easy to edit and print onto address labels.
Be sure to stock up on stamps so that when you have your cards signed, stuffed, and addressed you can affix a stamp to them and make one, simple trip to the Post Office.
#2 Gifts
We all want to be generous when shopping for holiday gifts. But you don’t want to start the new year with a HUGE credit card bill either.
While your generosity will be appreciated at gift-giving time, keep in mind that it is very easy to give in to “impulse buying” and go all out on your holiday shopping. While your intentions may be good, your pocketbook may be singing a different song.
Set a budget and stick to it. Your bank account will thank you for it!
#3 Wrap It Quick
Wrap your gifts and place name tags on them immediately after you bring them home. Then store the gifts in a secure spot. This will cut down on those late-night wrapping sessions that I am sure we ALL have experienced a few times. If not every year! 🙂
#4 Baking & Cooking
If you will doing all the cooking during the holidays, it is important to plan your meals ahead of time. Be sure to stock up on all the necessary non-perishable baking ingredients such as flour, sugar and spices. That will avoid last-minute trips to the store.
Create a list of your holiday menus and a list of the ingredients you will need to prepare each of those meals. Also, try to think of a few dishes that can be prepared ahead of time and then frozen as an extra time-saving measure.
#5 Delegate
This is one of my favorite tips for saving time. Be sure to enlist the help of your family or friends. Sit down and discuss what needs to be done then ask for volunteers. If no hands are raised, simply assign small tasks to each of them.
It could be anything like arranging for a babysitter so that you can escape for a child free day of shopping. Maybe a friend or family member can help with the shopping list by picking up items for you. Or letting the children decorate your home.
When you get the whole family involved in the holiday preps, you will not be overwhelmed. And you just might get to be a part of the holiday fun!
#6 Enjoy Yourself!
This is the most important tip. Whatever you decide to do, remember to relax and enjoy yourself. Put work aside. You and your family will have great memories of this holiday season if you are not spending it pulling your hair out!
Wrapping It Up These Holiday Planning Tips
I hope you found these holiday planning tips helpful. If you’ve got a tip to share, tell us in the comments below!
Happy Holidays!
