USE NEXT XMAS How to plan for a stress free holiday!
I love everything about the holidays - spending time with family, decorating the tree, going to nice dinners, bundling up around the fireplace, it’s so cozy and nice! But I know how hectic it gets when you try to do everything last minute.
Lists and organizing is my jam so today I wanted to share how I’m planning to have a stress free December while getting it all done.
I’m a big believer in planning! Whether it’s in my bullet journal, google calendar or Trello. We will usually plan out the week every Sunday and fine tune the next days’ to-do list the night before so it’s ready to go on my desk.
It’s the only way I’m able to juggle multiple deadlines, shoots, travels, events, and friends and family time.
With Christmas and New Years around the corner and so much I want to accomplish before the end of the year, I’m hitting the ground running with a big to-do list, a clear mind, healthy body and goals to accomplish!
GIFTS
Plan a day (earlier December) to write a gift list. Jot down names, set a budget and start taking notes on gift ideas for each person.
Next, plan a weekend (maybe a day or two) to shop! Pro tip - try to shop for everything online and don’t forget to get gift wrap, bows and cards too- I just use Amazon Prime for this and it all comes around the same time so i can start wrapping, writing cards and getting everything together early.
Plan Reservations ahead of time
Don’t wait til the very last minute to book a cabin for the Christmas or a nice dinner reservation for the new year. Do it now! Time block an hour for research into your day and make that reservation because chances are your options are already slim! Eek!
If you’re planning on getting a Christmas tree and decorate your home in a festive way ( I love doing this bc it sets the mood) - Plan a weekend and make a reservation in advance for a pick up truck if you need one. Spend the day getting ornaments, wreaths, holiday pillows, stockings and fireplace decor and make a fun night out of it with some wine and holiday music. i live for this!
Plan a weekend to declutter, deep clean and donate things you don’t need. This is a tradition that i do every year because i don’t want to hold onto anything that no longer serve me into the new year. Cue Marie Kondo. New Years are for fresh starts and there’s no better way than a deeply cleaned home and less clutter. I take all my things to a woman’s shelter and I feel good donating my things because then it’s actually getting used :) oh and I’ll do giveaways on my IG too!
Prioritize self care
Above all, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Schedule in a 1/2 hour or hour of self care daily. It’s a non negotiable! A lot of the time you’re doing things for everyone else but yourself especially during the holiday and if you neglect taking care of yourself, it’s so easy to get sick! I take an elderberry supplement daily to keep my immune system strong. Don’t wait until you’ve gotten sick to start taking these. The Emergen-C Immune+® Elderberry gummies taste good, are convenient to take and has 50mg of elderberry, 750 mg of Vitamin C plus Vitamin D and Zinc in every serving! It’s convenient to take on the go because you don’t need any water- I’ve taken these everyday and see no signs of getting sick this winter :) knock on wood! They have no artificial sweeteners, they're vegetarian, gluten-free, and caffeine-free. I’m planning to include them as a stocking stuffer too:)
There you have it! If you plan and time block what you want to accomplish into your calendar down to the knitty gritty details - you will get more done than you ever thought imaginable and will feel so good!
Hope you guys enjoyed this blog post and have a merry Christmas!
