Christmas can be stressful but it doesn’t have to be. Planning early can help you have a stress-free Christmas without having to give up the things you enjoy.
It’s only a few months until Christmas. How did this happen? I wrote about planning ahead for Christmas back in July so you’d think I’d be on top of things. However, things have been crazy and I have done very little. Thankfully there is still a lot of time to be prepared early for the holidays.
Yes, I know many of you don’t even want to hear about Christmas yet. I’ve seen many people ranting about Christmas decor already being out. I like seeing Christmas decor come out early because it allows me to prepare early and enjoy the holiday season more.
My best holidays have always been the ones where I stayed on top of prep work and was done by December. Many Christmases have been stressful because I didn’t prepare early. One year I didn’t even get Christmas cards sent out. I don’t want to let that happen again this year. This year I want to do the fun stuff in December, not rush around getting everything done.
I’m going to keep this simple and give you just a few things to do for now. This short list will make a big difference when the holidays are here.
7 Ways to Prepare Early for a Stress-Free Christmas
1 ) Sign up for my mailing list. As we get closer to the holidays I will be sending out more tips.
2 ) Read A Stress-Free Christmas: A Complete How-To Guide. You will find everything you need to have a stress-free Christmas in the book.
3 ) Finish getting your Christmas Planner set up. This is a great place to keep your budget, gift lists, and all of those things. Get it ready so you can start filling it out.
4 ) Get your Christmas cards ordered. If you are ordering Christmas cards get them now so you won’t be rushed. If you take family photos or make your own cards, get those started now.
5 ) Keep an eye on sales, especially for high priced items on your list. This can save you a lot of money and time. No one wants to rush to buy gifts. When shopping online use Ebates to get cash back so you can save money for the holidays.
6 ) Check out my Christmas website The Stress-Free Christmas. I have shared a lot of great tips over there.
7 ) Prepare Your Decor Ideas. Go through your Pinterest or magazine clippings and make notes of decor that you would like to find before you decorate. If you are the crafty type have a list of supplies you need.
Be sure to also check out my other tips on Reducing Your Holiday Stress. The holidays should be a time of joy, not stress. Doing a little work now will help you relax and enjoy your friends and family during the holidays.
Want to have a stress-free Christmas this year? Check out A Stress-Free Christmas: A Complete How-To Guide.
Teresa
These are some great tips that I am definitely going to try and follow. I don’t need another stressful holiday like last year. Thanks for including my link in your list 🙂 I will be pinning this to read again soon.
Lisa Sharp
Glad you enjoyed it. I was so disappointed with myself last holiday season. I want to improve this year!
Shannon @ Of The Hearth
Just 90 days? Where does the time go?
Thanks for the reminder. I need to get started on our Christmas letter. I’ll check out some of these other resources while I’m at it. 🙂
Lisa Sharp
I know, right? I was hoping to have more done by now. Every year it sneaks up on you.
Deanna
I tried to buy Christmas stamps at the post office a week or so ago but they only had some rather childish ones left from last year. I’ve bought a couple of stocking stuffers but that’s all.
Lisa Sharp
I think I still have stamps since I didn’t end up sending cards last year. ha
Sarah
Great tips Lisa, I can’t believe it’s only 90 days. Time to start prep! Thanks for including my book in your list.
Lisa Sharp
It’s crazy! I love your book, it’s helping motivate me.
GiGi Eats
Ha! I haven’t even thought ONCE about the holidays!
Lisa Sharp
I think about the holidays all year to be honest haha. I LOVE Christmas and I want this one to be the best ever. 🙂
steffanie
creating an extensive budget and (if you haven’t already), start saving for gifts now. I love finishing up the holidays debt-free, so knowing how much I can save by Christmas makes sticking to a budget a lot easier. Love all the tips and additional recommended readings!
Lisa Sharp
Great tips! I’ve been saving up for the last several months. It’s so much easier to save a bit at a time instead of having to find all the money at once!
Becki S
Thanks for sharing, I signed up for the 14 days ready. I will take any tips avaliable because I am always so stressed when dealing with my in-laws. I have been coming up with my content for the month of December because I know how stressful it will be. I also have already started shopping and I use a santa app to keep track of everything.
Lisa Sharp
I hope you enjoy it. Sorry there is stress for you around the holidays. I’m sure being prepared will help.
Tianna
this is awesome! I need to be more organized about the holidays for sure – gonna go sign up for that challenge now! thanks!
stop by and chat with me ?
Lisa Sharp
Glad you like it! Hope you enjoy the challenge.
Alexandra @ My Urban Family
I can’t believe how much more quickly the holidays seem to come each year! This year my family is making a huge effort to have it be much less stress than in the past. These are great tips as well 🙂
Lisa Sharp
Glad you liked the tips. It does seem faster every year.
Farrah
Augh! I can’t believe it’s coming up so soon! Staying on top of everything and planning ahead definitely help a lot!
Lisa Sharp
Right? Every single year it sneaks up on me.
Jessica Cangiano
Great tips!!! I find that lists, lists and more lists are a must for me, as is doing some cooking/baking of things that can be frozen and/ore that will be needed early in the holiday season to be a great help. I also try to buy gifts for people throughout the year, if I see something right then and there that I think they’ll love. I have a designated drawer for just such buyers (that can fit into a drawer, the others go on a closet shelf) and will sometimes even wrap the presents, if I have the time, well in advance, too (with gift tags of course to remember who gets what! :)).
Big hugs & happy start of October wishes,
? Jessica
Lisa Sharp
Lists are so important! I have a gift drawer but don’t fill it as often as I should. 🙂 I also keep notes of what I have bought in my planner so I don’t forget, because I will! ha
Norm Brown
Excited and frightened at the same time. Less than 90-days to go! Love your tips – need to get those cards ordered on recycled paper right away.
Thanks again.
Lisa Sharp
I need to get mine made! 🙂 I was hoping to have them done by now, oops!
Emily
I love seeing the Christmas decorations out at stores too! Thanks for the reminder to get started on my lists for the Christmas season. I definitely don’t want to be stressed when the time comes!
Lisa Sharp
I’m such a Christmas nut. It’s such a fun time of the year. 🙂
Kim
Love your list! I need to do some of these things. I’m working on crafts ahead of time this year to keep the stress low. Here is my list! www(dot)daytodayadventures(dot)com/blog/15-homemade-christmas-gifts-to-make-in-july Found you at Learning from Each other!
Lisa Sharp
Thanks for the list!
Rose Marie B
I do have a few stocking stuffers stacked up in my closet already, but this year my plan is to simplify. Drawing names for gifts. Having celebrations at different times to avoid the Christmas Day rush, thinning out the decorations that I unpack and pack up each year out of obligation…oh yeah, and maybe I’ll take my tree down before Valentine’s Day in 2016 – that would be the biggest accomplishment of them all! 🙂
Lisa Sharp
I’ve started to get my gift list all ready and supply list for handmade gifts. Hope to start getting things ordered next week. 🙂 My grandma left her tree up at least until July 4th one year because I remember flags on the tree haha.