Stress-Free Guide to Surviving the Holidays

The holiday season is a time of togetherness and fun. It can also be a headache if you don’t have a game plan. From Thanksgiving to New Year's, it feels like a nonstop roller coaster of family, food, and stress. 

With careful planning, you can enjoy an easy and stress-free holiday season. Here are a few ways to prepare for the holiday season.

Holiday Preparedness

Before you start holiday planning, you need to make a clear and realistic budget. Figure out how much you're willing to spend on gifts, decor, food, and travel expenses. Once you have your budget, start creating a to-do list for the holiday season. Brainstorm the different tasks you’ll need to get done such as shopping for gifts, cooking, travel plans, and decorating the house. Try to break down your tasks into smaller steps to reduce stress. I’m a big fan of creating a list of your expenses and beginning to prioritize them. This helps you keep a straight-forward idea of what you’ll need to save and what you’ll need to spend, and keep you from too much guilt or impulse shopping.

Photo-Related Gift Ideas

Gift shop as soon as you have a priority list and budget. Last-minute shopping is stressful and can be more expensive. Booking a small holiday family photo session can be both a great gift to give your partner, and it lets you create personalized holiday cards, which you can send with gift cards or other easy-to-mail gifts.

You’ll also want to make a list of who you want to send out holiday cards to. Holiday cards are a great way to get all your friends and family caught up on what you’ve been up to over the last year. Everyone loves getting mail, be it business holiday cards or christmas cards, so don’t forget to send yours this year.

Planning ahead is a crucial and often overlooked part of preparing for the holidays. You’ll have a much less stressful holiday season if you can follow a well-thought out  plan. By setting a budget, creating a to-do list, and getting shopping done early you can stay organized and focused on what truly matters. The holidays are a time for making cherished memories with loved ones. Don't let stress get in the way of having fun with the people you love.

Keep in mind that the holidays are supposed to be fun, not work. Setting boundaries and expectations will help you have a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season.