7 Ways to Prep for the Holidays
While Halloween is not my favorite holiday of the year, it is one that I always look forward to, as it marks the start of the holiday season. I know that Christmas decor has been up and for sale in the stores for well over a month now, but to me, it is not really the holiday season until Halloween. Thanksgiving is a little more than three weeks away, and Christmas will soon follow.
I love this time of year, but at the same time, I dread the stress that it can bring. Parties, baking, decorating, visiting family and friends, shopping…the list goes on. I love doing all of those things, but on top of an already busy schedule, sometimes it can seem like just too much.
My quest this year is to figure out a way to make the holiday season less crazy, without cutting out the things I enjoy. With my husband overseas for the holidays, this seems like an impossible task, but I’m determined to make it happen! I want to make this time enjoyable for my kids, and knowing that they are missing their dad, I also want to find ways to include him in the holidays, even from so far away.
While I haven’t completely figured out how to make all this happen, I have begun formulating a plan:
1. Make lists. I am a huge list person. I have lists of lists that I need to make, and they work for me. So far, I have lists for gifts I need to purchase, things I need to do for decorating, places/parties we will attend, and regular to-do lists. I’m sure there will be more.
2. Make a budget. It’s so hard for me to do this during the holidays. I love giving gifts. Finding the perfect gifts for the important people in my life gives me such a happy feeling, but sometimes, this can lead to spending beyond the budget. If you didn’t have a budget set in place beforehand, oh boy…bad news. This year, I am setting a budget and sticking to it. It’ll be kind of like going on a treasure hunt…
3. Make homemade gifts. The kids are excited to be able to help make gifts for family this year, especially for their dad. I can’t give away what we have planned though (maybe they will read this!), but I think this will be a way for them to feel like their dad is a part of the holidays, too. And it will cut back on my shopping time! Interested in making your own? Check out this post all about homemade gifts.
4. Use my calendar. I have a wonderful planner begging to get used, and this is the perfect opportunity. I am going to write all of our activities and to-do items for each day down on the planner; that way, I don’t over-schedule our weeks.
5. Cut back. I have a hard time saying “no.” It’s probably one of my biggest flaws. I love to get together with friends, and I love to take on cute projects, but all of those things add to my forever growing lists. This year, I am going to think twice about every invitation and every project to see if it is really worth my time. While I would love to be able to do everything and be the crafty mom that makes the perfectly decorated cookies for the holiday party, I don’t have that time this year. No offense to any friends or family, but this year as the solo parent running the show, I’m going to have to learn to say “no.”
6. Prioritize. Spending time with my kids is the most important thing this year. I always feel the constant need to clean the house and feel guilty sitting down to play, but this is what my kids need most. They won’t remember that their house was perfectly clean and they don’t care. What they will remember is that their mom took time to read to them and play with them, so I will be prioritizing that “to-do” list this year!
7. Remember the reason for the season. Whatever your beliefs are, the holiday season is about family and loved ones. Sharing love with each other and spending time together is so much more valuable than toys, fancy feasts, and perfectly baked goodies. This year, I am going to worry less about cleaning the house and baking cookies, and make it a point to slow down and remember why we celebrate the holidays.
