Preparing for the Holidays with Style and Ease
The holiday season is here—the most wonderful time of the year! It’s the perfect opportunity to fill your home with warmth, welcome loved ones, and embrace the joy of the season. But, let’s face it, the busy season can sometimes feel overwhelming with its increased demand for our time and energy. With a little planning and a focus on personal style, you can create a stress-free holiday experience that’s both stylish and manageable.
I am a “pre-planner” as many of my long-time readers know. I don’t like to leave things to the last minute! As a young woman, I had elaborate holiday plans which often left me exhausted by the big day. Among my misguided ideas was, that I should decorate every room in the house. I made all the food we served from scratch, and I even hand-made my Christmas cards. I learned the hard way that most people didn’t care whether I made everything from scratch, nor did they notice that every room was decorated to the hilt. Most people came to our home during the holiday season to visit and share holiday cheer. After falling sick at Christmas several times, I revisited my thinking and worked out a healthier approach to our celebrations.
Here are some helpful tips to make your holiday preparations seamless and enjoyable.
1. Start Early for a Stress-Free Holiday
The best way to stay ahead of the holiday rush is to start early. By late October or early November, you can tackle tasks like updating your address book for holiday cards and planning your gift shopping. This gives you plenty of time to personalize your holiday season without feeling rushed. I built a spreadsheet to track my Christmas shopping so I could get some of the shopping done early, and take advantage of sales as they arise. I can also see what I have purchased in the past so I don’t duplicate gifts. I also print out a calendar so I can see the activities and plan ahead for food or gifts I might need to bring.
- Designate a corner of your home as Santa’s workshop to organize gifts and homemade gifts.
- Create shopping lists for food items and decorations to avoid last-minute panic.
- Don’t forget to schedule quality time for yourself—whether it’s a spa treatment or reading a good book by the fire.
2. Style Your Home with Holiday Décor
Your home decor sets the tone for the holiday spirit, so take time to plan a cohesive color palette or color scheme. Whether it’s the living room, dining room, or guest room, simple yet elegant touches can transform your space. Remember, sometimes less is more when it comes to decorations. A small Christmas Cactus and a festive fingertip towel in the bathroom speak volumes, a simple bowl of oranges with a couple dotted with cloves for the kitchen, and a simple red velvet ribbon tied to the stem of wine glasses create a holiday feel without having dedicated Christmas wine glasses. I found that simple elegance goes a long way–and it is much easier. elegance and sanity go well together!
- Adorn the front door with a seasonal wreath and fresh flowers.
- Place an essential oil diffuser in the guest bathroom to welcome overnight guests with seasonal fragrances.
- Add thoughtful holiday decorations like twinkling lights on your Christmas tree or a festive floral arrangement on the dining table.
For a stress-free holiday ambiance, declutter unnecessary items and embrace a minimalist approach to decor.
3. Organize Your Holiday Gatherings
Whether you’re hosting holiday parties, family gatherings, or accommodating large groups, having a plan makes everything smoother. Create a to-do list and assign tasks to team members or a helpful family member. When I realized that I could enlist the help of friends it made a huge difference in my entertaining. Pot lucks are great–but don’t forget hosting a simple holiday coffee with cookies and coffee or an afternoon with light snacks are just as lovely as going all out and hosting a big get-together. We have also hosted luncheons at restaurants which are great too.
- For holiday meals, prepare simple recipes and include store-bought shortcuts for easy access.
- Set up a designated space for holiday cooking supplies.
- Offer bottled water and snacks in the guest room to meet the needs of your guests.
Don’t forget to confirm your guest list early and communicate any fewer commitments you’d like to make to keep your mental space clear.
4. Find Joy in the Present Moment
Amidst the holiday activities, it’s essential to savor the present moment. Small gestures like random acts of kindness or spending quality time with loved ones can help combat family tensions or the stress of large crowds.
- Use social media to share gratitude or connect with faraway loved ones. Or turn it off completely and simply enjoy the season unhindered by the need to post or keep up with what is going on in cyberland.
- Indulge in different ways to relax, like lighting candles with seasonal fragrances or enjoying a hot cup of tea.
- My daughter and I would often plan pamper days where we would simply relax, and do at-home facials, pedicures, and manicures.
- Plan an easy movie day or movie night–nothing but a bowl of popcorn and cozy pajamas required. We like to sprinkle these types of activities into our holiday plan–it helps immensely.
- Saying “no” during the holiday season is difficult, but I have done it as a last resort when our calendars get too full. Mind you, I try to accommodate as many friends and family members as possible–sometimes it’s the only time of the year we get to see them. Get creative–I once had an unexpected visitor who turned up last minute on a day I had planned to do food shopping. I invited the person to shop with me and it turned out to be a fun experience. I got a chore I couldn’t put off finished, and got to enjoy the company of my friend. Was it completely ideal? no, but it was a way to spend time with the person–I would have otherwise had to turn down the visit.
Remember, the most important thing is to nurture the spirit of the season while creating memories you’ll cherish next year.
5. Reflect and Prepare for Upcoming Holidays
Take a moment to look back at past years and previous years to identify what worked and what didn’t. Perhaps last year you found holiday travel too stressful or wished you had more mental space. Adjust your approach this year to make things easier. At the end of each holiday, I used to make a little scrapbook highlighting the various holiday memories. That, combined with my spreadsheet and notes helped me see what worked and what didn’t as far as activities, meals, and gifts. Doing a gentle review at the end of the season and the beginning of the new season has been a big help.
In September, I always do a big clearout and house cleaning, This helps to lay the ground for the upcoming holidays. As I put out my fall decor, I look toward getting rid of old decor items so I am not storing items from season to season. In October, I get out my gift spreadsheets, update my address book, and print out monthly calendars for November and December. During this time I also start planning gatherings I will be hosting, and begin looking for hostess gifts, and gifts for loved ones–especially if I know what they want. This lead time gives me a chance to space out shopping which is easier on my budget, as well as think through how to mindfully use my time.
In some seasons we have traveled for the holidays, which has its pros and cons, but focusing on keeping things simple and remembering the true meaning of the season keeps me in check.
Also, remember, you are the one who is at the helm of your holiday experience. You help to shape the traditions for your family and friends as well as how you experience it. Some people get great joy out of elaborate holidays, while others like things quiet and slow. If you are experiencing stress, remember to slow down and examine the cause of your stress, so you can reduce or eliminate it’s cause in the future.
- Declutter unnecessary items to create room for good things.
- Create a simple plan for a holiday event that celebrates your traditions.
Preparing for the festive season doesn’t have to be complicated. With a little thought and preparation, you can enjoy the joy of the season while spending time with those who matter most.
Wishing you happy holidays filled with ease, style, and the spirit of the season!
