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Written by: Stephanie Scott
Easy ways to streamline your holiday to-do list
So you’ve survived back-to-school, Halloween, and everything in between, but now it’s time to gear up for the busiest time of year. Follow these time-saving tips to stay grounded and – hopefully – leave room to breathe!
Make a Plan
- Start early and prioritize.
- Use a free online holiday planner.
- Delegate tasks. This can range from decorating to dishwashing!
- If you follow Elf on the Shelf, fill your calendar with ideas before they arrive. Preassemble what you’ll need for your Elf’s shenanigans the month prior.
- Divvy up your stocking goodies into separate recipient bags before Christmas Eve night. This will make stocking-stuffing much quicker when the time comes.
Batch Cooking
- Make a meal plan and stick to it.
- Your slow cooker, pressure cooker, and air fryer can be your best friends this season. Make a list of family-favorite recipes that favor these appliances.
- Pick a day to meal prep for the following week.
- If you don’t have time to meal prep, consider doubling recipes when you cook dinner and freezing one portion for future use.
Holiday Food
- Make easy, no-cook appetizers for gatherings like caprese skewers, pear-brie-and-honey crostini, California roll sushi bites, and feta dip with a sliced baguette.
- Supply the ingredients and have your kids put together a charcuterie board for you.
- Precook side dishes and reheat when needed.
- Don’t be afraid to purchase ready-made options.
- Have a potluck instead of a traditional meal. Create a list to keep track of who’s bringing what so as to prevent overlap.
- Spend a weekend doing all your holiday baking.
- Opt for simple holiday treats such as chocolate chip shortbread, thumbprint cookies, or gingerbread fudge.
- Cookies and pies can be frozen and thawed when needed.
Practical Shortcuts for Cards
- Send a Christmas postcard instead of a Christmas card and envelope.
- Take a fun family photo and then use a website like Canva to create your own holiday card for free. Download it as a PNG file and email it instead of printing.
- Write a holiday newsletter and email it out. Let friends and family know how the past year went, and what you’re looking forward to in the new year.
- If you just can’t resist sending physical cards, use envelopes with your return address printed on them, or buy address labels for quick and easy addressing.
Decorations
- Don’t decorate your entire house. Focus on specific areas. For instance, the entryway, kitchen, and living room.
- Make it a family occasion: ask your little elves to help spruce up your home.
- A strand of twinkle lights here and there can make your space instantly magical.
- Make a festive garland by stringing together holiday cards you’ve received.
- Use removable adhesive hooks to hang decorations including stockings. They will be easy to remove post-holiday.
- Preplan your holiday dinner tablescape, and assign table-setting to the kids.
Make Gift-Giving Uncomplicated
- Shop online, and start early.
- If you shop online, take advantage of the gift- wrapping option.
- Put together wish lists for all the people on your shopping list. Keep track of everything using a handy app, like the Santa’s Bag app, or take advantage of Amazon Wish Lists.
- Set a gift limit. For example, follow the rule of four gifts: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. Add that one special gift from Santa Claus to this, a filled stocking, and voilà, you’re done!
- If you have a large extended family, consider gift exchange games.
- When you spy Christmas chocolates on sale, stock up. You’ll have an easy gift on hand if you need a last minute present.
Gift Wrapping
- Use gift bags. It’s much faster to plop a gift inside and tuck a fold of tissue paper on top than to wrap gift after gift. But if you prefer wrapping…
- Then throw a gift wrapping party. Invite like-minded family and friends and have everyone bring an item, such as one roll of paper and tape. Set up an assembly line. Just remember not to bring any gifts you don’t want someone to see!
- After Christmas, hold on to any gift bags and tissue paper. Next year, reuse them. You’ll save money on wrapping paper, not to mention tape!
Teacher Gifts
- What do teachers prefer? If possible, gift cards! It doesn’t have to be a lot – even a five-dollar gift card is appreciated. Add a personalized handmade card and you can check Teachers off your list.
- Keep an eye out for holiday gift card deals. Sometimes you can buy a bundle of gift cards from Costco at a reduced price.
- Purchase e-gift cards online and send them through email. Remember to send a follow-up email to alert your teacher to be on the lookout for the gift card. You don’t want it lost in a junkmail folder.
- Gift cards many teachers like include Starbucks, Michaels, Dollarama, and Indigo.
- Lastly, if you’re overwhelmed with all the tasks on your plate, don’t be afraid to say no if you’re asked to do just one more thing. After all, this is your holiday season, too!
Born in the prairies, Stephanie is a mother, cancer-survivor, cat lover, and avid traveler. Stephanie is also the creator of the family travel blog Next Family Getaway, nextfamilygetaway.com, where she shares trip ideas and travel advice for those traveling with kids.
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