Christmas Prep: 7 Steps to a Stress-Free Season

The earlier you start holiday prep, the more time you'll have to relax and enjoy the season.

Small traditions, such as baking cookies, help set the tone for holiday gatherings. Madeleine Steinbach/Shutterstock

If you’re the magic maker in your family—the one who makes the holidays special each year—you know it’s never too early to prepare. The earlier you start, the more likely you’ll afford yourself the time and space to soak in and enjoy the holidays alongside your loved ones.

Here are some ways you can reduce stress and enjoy the spirit of the season.

Start Preparing to Be Prepared

Turn on your favorite holiday tunes and prepare to prepare. As quickly as possible, declutter your home. Go through each room and closet with a donation bag and a garbage bag and refresh the space, making way for the inevitable new items that will likely arrive this season. Setting up a clean slate first makes each subsequent step easier.

If you’re hosting this year, you might want to give some attention to your landscaping, your decor, your linens, and your bathrooms. Do what you can to add welcoming touches to your home.

If your family enjoys advent calendars or matching pajamas, secure those early. The most sought-after ones sell out quickly every year. Similarly, if you’re going to be gifting a very popular toy or tech gadget, shop early and store it away, knowing you’ve got it covered.

Consider your calendar and what holiday activities or events your family might take part in this year. Do you need to secure travel reservations, event tickets, or coordinate with friends and family? There’s no better time than the present to begin tackling those details.

Send Cards Early

Holiday cards can be a project in and of themselves. Your card to-do list might include hiring a photographer, gathering coordinating outfits, taking the photo, ordering the cards, purchasing stamps, addressing the cards, and sending them out. Give yourself a deadline and get this done early.

Gather Gifts

Presents are often the most time-consuming part of the holidays. Make a gift list—complete with a budget—and begin providing the items (or experiences) you wish to give your loved ones. Keep a detailed list of what you’ve got, what you still need, and even what you might want to reconsider. So often, we go overboard in the gift department when what matters most lies elsewhere.

Work Ahead

You might be planning to take some time off of work for the holiday season. Do what you need to do to feel sure that your absence will not cause a problem and your return will be smooth.

Set Up the New Year

Similarly, take a look at the first couple of months of next year and do what you need to do to prepare for any responsibilities that lie there. The goal here is to enjoy the cookie-filled holiday week with family and friends, knowing that you don’t have a long to-do list waiting for you on the other side.

Make Cookies

Speaking of cookies, make cookies! As the holiday season gets underway, make an event out of making cookies for friends and family. Gather your ingredients, crank the holiday tunes, and revel in the delightful smells that will waft through your house as you and your family carry on this tradition.

Christmas Morning Details

When it comes to ensuring that you’ve got every detail ready for the big day, take time to think it through. Think through the morning, afternoon, and night. What can you do to make the day feel easy? What can you do to make the day fun?

Everything will come together like it always does. By getting started early, you’ll be able to enjoy and focus on what means the most to you.