Our Top Tips For an Organized Holiday Season

The Holiday’s add a whole other layer to our already packed schedules and to-do lists. 

As parents, we’re responsible for bringing the magic in addition to everything else we already have to do. It can feel hard to enjoy the season if we are constantly catching up, so we’re sharing our top tips to keep you organized this Christmas and holiday season.

That includes the support you need from other people and the boundaries you need to set around your own time to keep you happy. Make sure you communicate these well with the people in your life, and you're off to a successful start.

2. Keep Gift Giving Simple It can be so tempting to go over the top and get super personal about gift giving that we forget what it’s really all about. It’s the thought that counts and a gift should bring joy to both the giver and the receiver.

So if it’s killing you to find the perfect gift, it defeats the purpose. Simplify gift giving by choosing a few local businesses to buy all your gifts from and share something that represents you. Use our handy holiday planner to keep track of who you have to buy for and stay on budget.

3. Bake in Bulk If you’re like me, there’s a lot of baking happening in your home in December. Make it easier on you by clearing space in your deep freezer, buying ingredients in bulk and doubling or even tripling your recipes.

Then freeze all the goodies until you’re ready to share them.

4. Meal Plan This one is huge! We meal plan for regular weeknight dinners, but often forget to apply the same logic to big holiday feasts. I am in full-support of holiday pot-lucks, where the host makes the main and everyone attending brings a side or dessert.

However, that’s probably not happening this year because of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

So if you’re taking on the feast preparation solo, make sure to plan it out and spread out the cooking. You can make your desserts ahead of time and freeze and prepare side dishes the day before. See our two-week game plan in our Holiday Planner that includes an example of how to plan out your feast preparation.

5. Prioritize Family Time This is what it’s all about, so make it count. Make a point of pre-scheduling in time for special family activities like baking, decorating or going to see the lights and feel free to say “No” to invitations that take you away from spending time with your own family.

The time we have with our kids is a gift and being able to fully tune in with them for 20-minutes undistracted is far more valuable than an hour of your time if you’re pre-occupied. Make sure to share your plans with family outside of your home to help manage their expectations as well.

6. Minimize Christmas Clutter If you’re not careful Christmas can throw all your decluttering efforts right out the window. To minimize the clutter that comes in with Christmas, follow the tips above for simple gift giving.

Consider limiting the number of gifts per person in your own home too.

(In our house we do “something you want, something you need, something to share, and something to read.”)

If people outside your home ask for gift ideas for you or your kids, consider experience ideas, things you actually need, or items that will keep everyone organized at home.

When kids are making their lists to Santa, encourage them to pick out toys they no longer play with, so Santa can give them to other kids.

When it comes to wrapping paper and decorations and everything in between, use what you have. Take stock of what you have and use it up before you buy more.

7. Set Goals for a Smashing New Year! It’s never too early to start thinking about your goals for the year ahead. Don’t wait until Christmas is over before you start goal setting for 2021. Goal set now and use those goals as motivation to get you through the holidays.

Ask yourself what you want to call in in 2021, what you want to accomplish and how you plan to do it.

If you're aiming for a more balanced and organized life in 2021, consider joining us in The Organize Collective. We Start January 13th!