It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Well, almost! Haha but let me tell you, I am already prepping for it!
In fact there are actually a lot of little things that I do every holiday season as well as throughout the entire year, to make sure that I am as prepared and organized as possible!
I’ve found that being intentional about the way I organize and plan means less time stressing, and more time being present to enjoy every glorious moment of the season!
So keep reading for tips and tricks that are sure to help you stay organized during the holidays too!
Set a budget!
Gifts, decor, travel, alllll the food, it can add up a lot quicker than you think!
Be sure to plan your budget ahead of time, and then track your purchases throughout the month to avoid overspending!
I actually created an easy to use printable holiday gift budget that you can download for FREE!
Just sign up to the newsletter using the form above, confirm your subscription, and you will have it instantly delivered straight to your inbox!
Shopping on a budget definitely doesn’t have to be a downer during the holidays, in fact I’ve found that I am usually far more intentional and creative about what gifts I buy when I’m on a budget!
Plus some of the best gifts I’ve ever given/ received have been DIY!
(If you need some great DIY ideas be sure to check out my Pinterest board on DIY gifts for kids!)
And DIY decorations can also add a charming touch to your home!
All you need is a quick Pinterest search to find guides on DIYing everything from tree ornaments to wreaths!
Write down gift ideas all year long!
This is probably one of my favorite ways to help simplify the holiday madness!
The next time your kids go crazy for a toy they see in the store, or your mom mentions how much she needs a new cast iron skillet….take note!
And I mean literally take a note haha
That way when the holidays come around you will know what they need or want the most!
This is a great way to take your gift giving to the next level, haha!
Your friends and family are sure to be amazed that you knew exactly what to get!
And if you want to go a step further, another great tip is to keep a gift ideas list for yourself too!
Ever draw a complete blank when someone asks what to get you?
Or maybe you just tell them something generic? Not anymore!
Don’t schedule more than you can handle!
I know I know, you want to do all the things!
But sometimes you need to remember that there are only so many hours in the day.
Pick the things that are most important to you, and don’t stress over saying no to the rest!
And if you are constantly trying to figure out how to see your own family as well as your in-laws for every holiday, try taking turns!
Spend Thanksgiving with one side, and Christmas with the other, then switch it around next year!
Whatever you do, make sure that your schedule still includes enough down time to occasionally just do nothing but cozy up with a warm drink and watch your favorite Christmas movies!
Make a list (or two), check it twice!
No, not a list of who’s naughty or nice!
But a list of what you need to get done, who you still need to buy for, and what important traditions you don’t want to forget!
It can be so easy to miss something in the whirlwind of festivities, so writing it all down is a great way to avoid that!
Planners can be a big help with this (you can even find free or inexpensive planners specifically for the holidays!)
Another great tool to use are gift planning apps!
You can use these to keep track of what gifts you’ve purchased for who, what you still need to get, and how much you’ve spent on each person!
Some apps even have a way to check whether you’ve wrapped a certain gift yet or not!
Another type of list I like to make is a list of what each gift is wrapped in (size of box or bag, color of wrapping paper, type of tag) that way I at least know which gifts I want the kids to open first and last.
This is really helpful if you have multiple kids!
Whenever I haven’t done this (thinking there’s no way I would forget by Christmas!) I forgot what was inside pretty much every single one haha!
So when it comes to lists remember, the more the merrier!
Buy ahead of time!
There’s nothing wrong with having to pick up a few last minute things, but aim to have the majority of your shopping done at least a few weeks in advance!
There are so many benefits to buying early!
By shopping early, you can:
- Avoid last minute crowds
- Shop black friday and other sales
- Buy online with enough time to receive your orders
- More likely find what you’re looking for in stock
And it also makes it so much easier to focus on the joy of the season when you don’t have to stress over getting your shopping done in time!
Create a wrapping station!
Have you ever torn your house apart looking for the tape or scissors in the middle of a gift wrapping session?
I’ve probably done this too many times to count, so my solution this year was to create a gift wrapping station to hold all the necessities!
You can store tape, scissors, pens, etc. all together and conveniently close by in a cute holiday container!
You can use a gift box or bag, or any other kind of container that works for you.
And you can even tuck it under the tree!
If you have young kids just be sure that they can’t open whatever container you use, or place it somewhere safely out of their reach.
Declutter/Organize Holiday Decorations!
Let me tell you, throwing everything in a few tubs and telling yourself that you’ll “worry about it next year” is a terrible idea!
I know because I’ve done it far too many times myself!
But when next year’s holidays have arrived, and you have a million and one things to do, you are going to wish you didn’t have to dig through a tangled mess of Christmas lights to find what you’re looking for!
Try to declutter and organize your decorations every year, it will be so much easier for you next time!
This means you’ll have one less thing to worry about, and it also makes decorating more fun!
Don’t compare!
Social media can definitely leave you feeling like you’re the only one who isn’t nailing this holiday thing, but remember that there’s always more to the story than what you see!
There could be messes, unwrapped presents, and family drama hiding just out of sight.
Most importantly of all remember that the holidays are about so much more than the things you buy, or how Instagram worthy your tree is!
Baking cookies with your kids will probably be a huge mess, and you may not have time to get your holiday decor just right, but no matter what just remember to cherish every moment (yes, even the gloriously imperfect ones!)
I hope these tips and tricks have inspired you to get more organized about your holiday planning!
Stay tuned for more holiday posts coming soon, and if you haven’t already then be sure to sign up for the newsletter and grab your FREE printable gift budget!
How do you stay organized during the holiday season?
Share your own tips and tricks in the comments section below!
