Close your eyes and picture the upcoming holiday season. Are you dreaming of snowflakes softly falling and smelling cinnamon? Picturing kids ripping open gifts with glee and imagining your mother in law gushing over the perfect present you picked out?

If you’re like many adults, the actual image in your mind is one of traffic, crowded shopping malls, endless gift lists and themed dress-up days at school. Holiday stress has ramped up due to hustle and bustle that’s hard for even the most festive among us to manage. Between the overburdened schedules, endless to-do lists full of cooking, baking, shopping, and wrapping, and sometimes stressful family gatherings, the holidays might make you feel less than merry.

The pressure to create the perfect holiday experience can leave many feeling overwhelmed, but we want to help you take back some of the comfort and joy of this magical season. With a little planning, organization, and holiday budgeting, you can navigate this busy time with ease and enjoy the festivities to the fullest.

Key Takeaways:

• In a report shared by the American Psychological Society (APA), 38% of people said they feel a lot of holiday stress. In fact, only 8% of people said their stress level decreases during the holiday.
• “How to get organized during holidays” is one of the most commonly searched terms online this time of year. This article covers actionable strategies to limit holiday stress and help you to limit holiday stress.
• Simplify shopping and scheduling with several handy apps listed in the article. There are lots of creative ways to use tech to your advantage in streamlining your entire holiday season.

Plan and Prioritize

Effective organization during the holidays begins with a solid plan and clear priorities. Start by creating a comprehensive to-do list that encompasses all tasks you need to complete, from gift shopping to meal preparation. Once your list is in place, prioritize these tasks based on urgency and importance, tackling high-priority items first. Remember, holiday budgeting is key here—ensure that your budget aligns with your priorities. If budgeting for Christmas is top of mind, allocate funds for each task accordingly.

Setting realistic goals is equally crucial; identify essential tasks and consider simplifying or delegating others to lighten your load. You may not be able to do everything on your family’s holiday wish-list, but you can choose a few of the most special experiences. Utilizing a shared digital calendar can further enhance coordination, allowing you and your loved ones to stay aligned on holiday events and commitments.

With a structured approach to planning and prioritizing, you can navigate the holiday season with confidence and clarity.

Related Post: How to Use the Eisenhower Matrix for Maximum Productivity

Master To-Do List

Start by creating a comprehensive to-do list that includes everything you need to accomplish this holiday season. Once you have your list, prioritize the tasks. Focus on high-priority items first, such as purchasing gifts for loved ones or planning holiday meals. By tackling the most important tasks first, you'll feel a sense of accomplishment that can motivate you to continue. If you're wondering how to stay organized during the chaos of the season, the key is breaking down larger tasks into manageable steps.

Set Realistic Goals

It's essential to set realistic goals for yourself. Decide which tasks are absolutely necessary and consider simplifying or delegating others. For instance, if cooking a big holiday meal feels daunting, enlist the help of family members or friends. Remember, the holidays are about togetherness, and sharing responsibilities can make the experience more enjoyable.

Utilize a Shared Calendar

How many times have you had the experience of having your spouse say “Don’t forget we have my company party on this night” - and it’s the first you’ve heard of it? Or, “Did you grab the gift for our exchange Saturday?” and you think “Since when do we exchange gifts at that gathering?”

Utilizing a shared digital calendar, like Google Calendar, can help keep everyone on the same page. You can coordinate holiday events, send reminders, and ensure that no important dates are overlooked. This shared resource can alleviate stress and help manage everyone's schedules effectively. It may feel like an extra step, but it’s a valuable one that can keep your commitments and the tasks that accompany them in order.

Related Post: How to Organize Your Digital Calendars

Simplify Shopping

Unless you are a die-hard shopping lover, you probably don’t relish the endless present-giving that the season brings. Gifting has steadily increased in recent years, reaching an astounding $72 billion in 2024. Unfortunately, the average person wastes $71 on gifts that aren’t appreciated.

Interestingly, people are expected to tighten their belts and spend less on gifts this year. For many people, though, that just means even more shopping - bargain browsing, deal hunting, and making gifts from scratch. While we decrease the financial amount we spend on gifts, we increase the time commitment spent finding them.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to streamline this process and make your life easier. You can simplify shopping while also saving a few bucks - which everyone could use this time of year!

Holiday Budgeting and Spending

Before diving into holiday shopping, set a budget to keep your spending in check. Use budgeting apps to track your expenses and stick to your financial plan. This will help you avoid the post-holiday financial hangover and allow you to enjoy the season without guilt.

You can keep things pretty straightforward by plugging everything into Excel or a Google Doc. Make a list of everyone you need to buy for, some gift ideas, and what you actually spent. Use formulas to automatically calculate the totals and see how you’re doing with your budget. You can also create more detailed budgets and have more robust tracking with tools like:

• Mint - This popular app allows you to connect your bank accounts and credit cards to track your spending in real-time. You can set budgets for various categories, including holiday shopping, and receive alerts when you're nearing your limits.
• YNAB (You Need A Budget) - YNAB focuses on proactive budgeting by encouraging users to assign every dollar a job. It helps you plan for upcoming expenses, making it ideal for managing holiday spending.
• PocketGuard - This app simplifies budgeting by showing you how much disposable income you have after accounting for bills, goals, and necessities. It can help you allocate funds specifically for holiday shopping.

Let Online Shopping Tools Help

Take advantage of online shopping tools to save time and money. We recently wrote a comprehensive article about the various apps and platforms that can help you save money during the holiday season and beyond. Check it out if you want a deep dive on shopping apps.

Some of the top suggestions include websites like Honey, which can help you find coupons, or Rakuten that offers cash back on purchases. By utilizing these tools, you can streamline your shopping experience and make the most of your budget.

Batch Similar Tasks

Group Tasks Together

One effective way to stay organized is to batch similar tasks together. Dedicate specific days for gift wrapping, cooking, or shopping. By concentrating on similar activities, you’ll prevent task overload and maintain focus, making each task feel less daunting. How to get organized becomes easier when tasks are grouped together in a manageable way.

You may even want to treat your holiday planning as a project and get uber-organized with apps. Try using something like Todoist, Trello, or Evernote to take notes, create checklists, set specific tasks and update their status, and develop a visual board so you can see what needs to be done. We find Trello particularly helpful this time of year, as you can use their board and card system to visualize tasks and projects. Create boards for different aspects of holiday planning like shopping, cooking, or events. Then move the tasks through various stages of completion to increase your sense of satisfaction as you check items off.

Make it a Team Sport

It’s easy to forget that part of the joy of holidays is being with loved ones. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or to request company in cruising through your to-do list. For example, get together with your aunties for a baking day where everyone brings the supplies for their favorite cookies. Set up a shopping day with your bestie and give honest opinions on each others’ picks. Take a cooking class with your spouse so that you’re ready to prepare the perfect meal when it’s your turn to host. Look for ways to incorporate some companionship and togetherness into your tasks, and you’ll get a lot more joy out of the season.

Note: for some introverted people, the holiday season is already way too much togetherness. If this sounds like you, then the opposite advice applies. Rather than looking for more ways to connect with others, prioritize your social calendar and pick a few things that you can comfortably sit out. Decline by saying simply that the season is so busy and you just can’t attend everything, though you wish you could.

Related Post: Staying Connected During the Thanksgiving Holiday

Practice Self-Care

In the midst of holiday preparations, it's essential to prioritize self-care. The hustle and bustle can lead to stress and burnout, making it vital to take intentional breaks to recharge. Unfortunately, many people really struggle with taking these breaks, particularly this time of year.

Mindfulness Breaks

Amid the craziness, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Incorporate mindfulness breaks into your day to breathe and de-stress. Apps like Calm or Headspace offer guided meditations that can help you regain focus and calm your mind. Try these tips as well:

• Schedule downtime - Keep a calendar or other visual representation of your days, and make sure to include some pockets of time with nothing scheduled.
• Stay active - Incorporate physical activity into your day to remain healthy. A short walk outside or some brief stretching each morning can really help.
• Eat healthy - This feels nearly impossible with all of the holiday baked goods and heavy meals, but it’s good to try. Have a salad once in a while and drink your water!
• Limit screen time - Make sure all of your down-time is not in front of a device. Pick out a few books, take up a hobby like crochet, or just sit quietly to meditate.
• Practice gratitude - Sometimes just being mindful of the great things in your life can be a huge mood-booster. Try a daily gratitude journal, or recap each day with a few things that went well.
• Get creative - Using your hands and expressing your creativity can also be a mood-booster. The holidays offer tons of opportunities for crafting, baking, decorating, and much more. Choose an activity that appeals to you!

Set Social Boundaries

With so many events and gatherings, it’s easy to overcommit. Prioritize the events that matter most to you and set boundaries to protect your time and energy. It’s okay to say no to some invitations to maintain your well-being during the holidays. And remember: no is a complete sentence. You don’t need an in-depth excuse if an activity isn’t appealing to you.

Enjoy Seasonal Activities

Make time for fun activities that keep you in the holiday spirit. Whether it’s watching classic holiday movies, baking cookies, or attending festive events, embracing the joyful aspects of the season can help reduce stress and enhance your overall experience.

Organize with Shift

To maximize your organizational efforts during the holidays, consider utilizing Shift. This powerful tool centralizes various aspects of your holiday planning, including emails, calendars, shopping lists, and budgeting, all in one convenient location. By consolidating these elements, you can streamline your workflow and minimize the risk of overlooking important details.

Use Shift for Centralized Planning

Shift offers several clever ways to streamline your holiday planning. Use it to keep track of everything from email to shopping apps to calendars all from a central location. It’s much easier to keep track of everything when you only have one platform to worry about, instead of toggling between your shopping app, your budget spreadsheet, and Amazon.

Quick App Access

You can integrate all of the useful apps we mentioned like Honey, Trello, or Mint within Shift for seamless shopping and budgeting. This integration allows you to save time and effort, ensuring that you can focus on enjoying the holidays rather than getting bogged down by logistics.

Staying organized during the holidays doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By planning effectively, simplifying shopping, batching tasks, practicing self-care, and utilizing tools like Shift, you can reduce stress and fully embrace the joy of the season. Remember, the holidays are a time for celebration, and with the right approach, you can create lasting memories with your loved ones.

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