Holidays and the time leading up to the holidays can be stressful, especially for moms! There seems to be a never-ending to-do list and it can just feel like chaos! But let me tell you a secret… IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE! Here are some great holiday hacks for moms to help you stay organized and decrease your stress.
The holidays can be fun and exciting again. You can get to the point where you look forward to the holidays instead of dreading all the work you have to do. I want to help you get into the holiday spirit and enjoy the holidays and enjoy watching how excited your kids get! I want to help you decrease your stress levels. Here are some ways for moms to help decrease stress. I am going to give you some great holiday hacks for moms to help overcome holiday stress and stay organized.
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The biggest tip I have for you is… PLAN AHEAD!
To start, I make a list of all things I need to do.
- My list includes decorating, baking, presents I need to buy, meal prep, Christmas programs/activities, cleaning, and Christmas traditions I like to do with my family.
- I try to start my list at the end of October and get started on it in early November.
- This may sound crazy and it may sound early, but I really think it is the key to decreasing stress levels!
- Seriously the key is to start early and stay organized!
I have a planner for all year… I LOVE planners! There is something about having it on paper that I love! I have a large monthly calendar (And I mean large.. check out that beauty!) on the wall at home, and I also have a smaller daily planner for my to-do list. I write all important things/activities for my whole family on the monthly calendar. I use my daily planner for my to-do list. Look how cute this thing is and it is so great to help me stay organized!
What I am trying to say is you need some sort of calendar or planner.
Here are the steps I take to start getting organized:
- I start by putting all important activities, parties, Christmas festivities, etc. on the calendar. Those are dates that I cannot change and other things need to be scheduled around those dates.
- Then I like to make a list of things I need to do for those parties… whether it is making sure my kids have a certain outfit, bring a treat, a dish to share, etc.
- After that, I fill in other tasks that need to be done. I try to schedule as much stuff to be done in November and early December as possible.
I think that is one of the key elements to decreasing stress around the holidays… make a to-do list, prioritize your list, and get as much stuff done as early as you can!
Now, let’s dive a little deeper into each of the main tasks on my list…
Decorating-
This will probably drive many people crazy (but I don’t care!), but I like to start even before Thanksgiving and take my time! Then I can slowly put things up with my kid’s help and enjoy it.
Plus if I am going to go through the work of putting up decorations, I want to enjoy them! And I LOVE all things Christmas!
I have about 6 totes full of Christmas decorations. I usually bring up 1-2 totes at a time. Work on putting those totes out and then move on to the next tote.
By breaking it up, it’s more fun and it’s less of a “job” that I have to do. This way I look forward to it and enjoy doing it vs thinking of it as a task that I HAVE to do.
Let your kids help… it won’t be perfect but you will make so many memories!
Baking-
I have been doing less of this just due to time. I realized it wasn’t worth me stressing out about it. I enjoy baking when I have the time. If I don’t have time, it is just stressful for me!
I don’t want to do it just because I feel like I have to. I want to do it because I enjoy it. So, I have cut back a lot and since I have cut back, I enjoy it again. There might be things that you have to cut back on to help decrease your stress. It’s ok to do that!
I think as moms, we feel like everything needs to be perfect and we have to do all of the things for our kids. I realized, if I bake 2 or 3 kinds of cookies instead of 6, they don’t care! So cut back on something if you are stressed!
When I do bake, I try to do it in early December and freeze the cookies! Many cookies freeze just fine.
I also try to find easier recipes! I used to do cut-out sugar cookies… I love sugar cookies, but I do NOT love the work! Last year, I made sugar cookie bars… they were delicious and WAY less time-consuming! I let my kids decorate the bars and they loved it!
Here is an amazing recipe for sugar cookie bars. They are easy and delicious!
Gift buying-
I start by making a list of everyone I need to buy for. Once I have that list, I set my allotted total budget and then break that down for each person. Check out this post for ways to save money and stay on a budget.
After that, I gather a few ideas for each person. I usually get to work shopping in November. I like to shop at local businesses first. Then, what I can’t find at local businesses, I search for online.
There are so many benefits to shopping locally and I encourage everyone to try to do so! Plus you never know what cute gift you will find!
Here are the people I typically buy gifts for at Christmas time:
- Grandparents
- I like to make homemade gifts for grandparents and godparents. The kids love to make them and the grandparents love to get them. Plus it can help to save some money.
- Last year we made these cute handprint hand towels. We have also made these mugs for both grandparents and godparents. They were both easy and fun projects to do.
- I include a gift card or other gift in addition to the homemade gift.
2. Teachers
- Last year, our kid’s school started a great idea… if you want to get your teacher a gift, you can send whatever amount of money you choose to the school office. The money from all the students (for each teacher) gets put towards a gift card of the teacher’s choosing. This was amazing! I did not have to try to pick out a gift for a teacher. It was perfect and so easy!
- Before that, I typically bought each teacher a small gift (coffee, lotion, mugs, snacks, etc) and gave that to them along with a gift card to a local coffee shop or restaurant.
3. Godparents
- I do a small gift that the kids get to pick out in addition to a homemade gift.
4. Daycare provider
- I typically get them a small seasonal decoration or coffee along with a gift card to a local business.
5. Spouse
- We stopped getting each other gifts several years ago… instead of exchanging gifts, we use the money to pay for a cleaning lady to come 1 time a month and we pay her for the whole year. So we know we have her coming for the whole year. This helps decrease stress for both of us.
- We also go on a small weekend getaway without kids to spend time together.
- This is perfect because I don’t have to try to think of a gift, it’s one less thing to worry about buying, and we are decreasing our stress levels at the same time!
6. Kids
- We usually get our kids one gift for them to share… whether it is a game, bikes, a kids trampoline, or some type of gross motor toy. Here are some great ideas for gross motor gifts.
- Otherwise we don’t usually give our kids gifts. Instead, we try to give them experiences instead of a gift. Check out this post for great experience gifts to give kids.
- Santa usually gets the kids something smaller that they want (Legos, Barbies, craft stuff, etc.), something to wear, something to read, snacks, and socks.
7. Godchildren-
- I like to get my godchildren experience gifts and spend time with them instead of buying toys.
8. Gift Exchanges-
- My husband’s of family used to do a gift exchange. A couple years ago, we stopped doing that. We used to spend $25-30 a person on those gifts. Now, we put all that money in an envelope and give it to a local family in need. Since we started doing that, I don’t do gift exchanges anymore!
Meal prep-
Once I know what Christmases and parties I need to attend:
- I make a list of what I am responsible for bringing to each of those parties.
- Then, I make a list of what I need to buy for each recipe. I try to only go to the store once every 1-2 weeks. So, I plan ahead to get the items I need for the recipes.
- I try to buy nonperishable items in early December. I like to do this for a couple of reasons. The first is then it splits up the cost and spreads out the cost over several weeks versus all at once. Also, then I have the items and I don’t have to worry about it again.
I try to simplify menus and dishes as much as possible to decrease the time that I need to spend cooking. Often at holiday’s, I will try to bring an app I can just toss in the crockpot or bring an apple pie. I typically make 5-6 apple pies in the fall and freeze them. Then, all I have to do is take them out and bake them on the day of the party! Bring some ice cream and you are good to go.
Family Traditions:
- Watch Christmas movies-I do this whenever we get a chance and need some time to relax!
- Look at lights
- Attend local festivities
Christmas cards- I try to get these printed around Black Friday (there are usually great deals). I have addresses saved on my computer. So I just need to print labels, which I do when I order them. Then I address them and send them out within the week that I get them. Get those things out and you don’t have to worry about them again!
Cleaning:
- This is my least favorite thing about holidays but it is a necessity if you are planning on having people over at some point.
- I know I sound like a broken record, but again try to get as much as you can do as early as you can. Check out this Deep Cleaning schedule for your home to help.
- Honestly I do a little deep cleaning in each room throughout the year. I try not to let it build up. I don’t do a ton of deep cleaning before the holidays. I do typically do a really good dusting as I am putting up decorations, especially the tops of the cabinets.
- Before people come over, I do more of a surface clean… make sure the floors are clean, things are picked up, bathrooms are clean, etc. Check out this for how to keep your home organized and clean on a daily/weekly basis.
- I don’t stress too much about the cleaning but just make it look presentable. There will be lots of cleaning to do after your guests leave anyways!
Those are the biggest things I worry about getting done around the holidays. But also make sure to take the time to do stuff you enjoy around the holidays! Don’t just do things because you feel like you “have to” do them. Take your time and find joy in the holidays again! Spend time with family and/or friends. There are so many great things about the holidays, but I think we forget that because we feel so rushed to get everything in.
So, I think the biggest tip or takeaway from this should be…
PLAN AHEAD and GET ORGANIZED EARLY!
Trust me! You will feel so much less stress! I hope these holiday hacks help all moms enjoy the holidays!
What other tips do you have for making the holidays less stressful? What other things are your “must do” holiday list?
If you enjoyed this post, check out Ways to Easily Overcome Mom Guilt!
