7 Easy Ways To Get Ahead of Holiday Stress

If you’re overwhelmed with holiday plans and don’t even know where to start, READ THIS! This is how to prevent holiday stress – fast!

The best way to get ahead of holiday stress is to start at the bottom – with new habits! This guide will look closer at that, but first, make sure to check out the Change Your Habits Guided Workbook! It takes you step-by-step through forming (and sticking to) healthy habits.

One of the best ways to avoid holiday stress is to know when to decorate. We have a complete guide that tells you when to decorate for each season. Check it out!

Sources Of Holiday Stress

What stresses you out the most about the holidays? Identifying the problem is the first place to start. In fact, if you can accurately identify what’s stressing you out, you’ll be able to nip it in the bud.

Read through this list and pick out what’s stressing you out the most. Then, read through the solutions to find the one that will help you the most.

• Family Expectations: Speak up to your family. Tell them what is stressing you out the most and tell them the ways that they could help your holidays be more enjoyable.
• Agreeing to Too Much: Set your boundaries. Look at your calendar and only agree to things that you have time to do.
• Full Calendar: Write everything down and practice saying no when you already have something scheduled.
• Lack of Storage Spaces: Go throughout the house and give away anything that doesn’t bring you joy or you don’t use. This one action will give you so much more storage space.
• Lack Of Self-Care: This is such a busy time of year that it’s easy to put yourself last. Put one act of self-care at the top of your to-do list every day!
• Last-Minute Plans: Do as much prep work as you can ahead of time. Also, reserve free time on your calendar every day. That way, if last-minute plans come up, you will be able to do them.

Easy Ways To Prevent Holiday Stress

Here you go! Here are seven easy ways to get ahead of holiday stress before it drags you down.

1. Write It All Down

Don’t waste energy trying to remember everything. As soon as something enters your mind, write it down. This is where a detailed and helpful planner comes in handy.

The Clutter Keeper Holiday Planner has everything you need! It’s full of checklists, calendars, shopping lists, and room for you to write things down as you think of them.

Print out the holiday planner put it in a 3-ring binder, and get ready to tackle the holidays with less stress!

2. Start your holiday baking.

Believe it or not, you can now prepare the dough for many of your favorite cookie recipes and freeze it in individual balls. Then when it’s time to prepare cookie trays in December, pop some dough balls out of the freezer to bake them up. These Sparkly Chocolate Fudge Cookies are one of our favorites to make in advance.

3. Prep your holiday cards.

Don’t wait until the middle of December to finally get around to ordering and mailing your Christmas cards. You can get them ready in early November when you have extra time, so when December rolls around, all you have to do is drop them in the mail. This holiday card checklist has lots of tips and ideas to help.

4. Create a gift-wrapping station.

Gather all of your wrapping supplies and set up a gift wrapping station somewhere in your home. A hanging organizer will do the trick to keep your collection of gift bags, wrapping paper, bows, and ribbons in order this holiday season!

Look for one with big pockets to keep bulky wrapping paper rolls and gift bags at bay. A hanging organizer can be hung in a closet or on the back of a door, keeping it out of the way but quick to access whenever you need to wrap a present.

5. Follow Checklists.

With all the craziness of parties and family get-togethers, it’s easy to forget about home organization. That’s the beauty of checklists. Don’t worry about making your own checklists either, we already have some fantastic ones for you!

The Take Action Printables Binder has more than 35 charts, planners, and lists. All you have to do is fill them out. Plus, you can print out as many as you need, as often as you need!

6. Prioritize Self-Care

All those checklists you make? Put yourself on there! Write down at least one way you’ll care for yourself each day. It can be as simple as a shower or as luxurious as a facial or manicure.

Your mind will be clearer, your thoughts less muddled, when you know you’re taking care of yourself.

7. Buddy Up And Divvy It Out

Don’t do everything by yourself. That’s the fastest way to feeling overwhelmed and in a pile of anxiety. Reach out and ask for help. Delegate things and do tasks as a family.

No matter what you do, remind yourself that you are supported and that the holidays are about love and family. Set firm boundaries and ask for help keeping them.

Holiday Organization Will Save You Time

It might seem like a lot of extra work, but I promise you, getting organized before Christmas will save you stress and anxiety. When you plan and prepare, you avoid last-minute surprises. Plus, you’ll be better able to respond to requests for your time if you know how much you have to give.

Create new memories with your family this year. Plan everything out in your Clutter Keeper Holiday Planner and then take time to enjoy the people that make it worth it.

Struggling to get motivated? Sign up to get our FREE guide, The 30-Minute Organizing Secret, and discover easy ways to overcome the chaos of clutter – even with kids at home!