Creating a Holiday Plan
Start as soon as you can – 1- 2 months before
Take a few moments to reflect what the holiday season means to you and what traditions are most important to you and your family. Sit down as a family and discuss, brainstorm or free write about the holidays past or your ideal holiday season to get in touch with what really matters to you.
Now it’s time to write down all the things you usually do, or think you should do for the holiday season. Take a black marker and start crossing off things that don’t support your ideal holiday, any traditions that you don’t want to do, aren’t realistic or don’t support your morals. What I’m suggesting here is that just because you spend hours baking every year, like mom always did, doesn’t mean you have to. On the other hand, if banking brings you joy, make enough time.(don’t just squeeze it in, really set aside time to enjoy it) Maybe this is the year you draw family member’s names instead of giving gifts to everyone or make charitable donations instead of gifts. Maybe this year, you’ll set aside time for the people that matter most to you instead of gifts all together. Plan for the holiday traditions that are important to you or create new ones that represent what the season means to you.
Create a Holiday Budget. Now stick to it. If this is an area that you struggle with, carry cash and leave your credit cards at home. Once the cash is gone you’re done! Don’t forget to include hair cuts, food, dry cleaning, shipping costs, gift wrap, taxi cab money, airport snacks and the rising cost of gas.
Firm up travel plans and set party dates. This can be done a few months in advance and the sooner it’s done the less you’ll have to worry about and the more prepared you’ll feel
Enlist the help of professionals - carpet cleaners, house cleaners, personal chefs, or party planners. Set appointments for manicures, haircuts and yard maintenance now.
It’s in the mail, or is it? Decide whether or not you’re sending cards and get them this week. Consider all the holidays in the season, Christmas cards aren’t you’re only option – send Thanksgiving cards, Hanukkah cards, winter Solstice cards, Christmas cards, Kwanzaa Cards, Boxing Day Card or New Year’s Cards. Schedule the following steps for holiday mailings:
1. Decide what kind of card you’ll send.
2. Get your list of recipients ready. I recommend typing your list into your computer and printing labels.
3. If you’ll be sending a photo card, take the photo.
4. Make or buy your cards. Use your local printer, Kinko’s or an online store like www.shutterfly.com, zazzle.com or www.vistaprint.com. *zazzle.com also makes
personalized stamps!
5. Create a holiday letter or opt for a quick personalize note.
6. Buy stamps
7. Start with those cards traveling the farthest
Option 2. Skip the above this year and send cards too! Allow Send Out Cards to help you, they print, stamp and send the cards of your choice, with your photo, your handwriting and your signature. www.Sendoutcards.com/serendipity. I am so thrilled with Send Out Cards, I am a rep. Call me and I'll help you send stress free greetings this year.
Making your lists and checking them twice…. List all people you intend to give a gift to this year, include service people and teachers. Make notes in your planner or PDA or make index cards for those people you might want to buy clothing or shoes for (e.g. sizes/colors) Make a least one copy of your list, one for a desk drawer, holiday notebook and one to travel with you.
Include all holiday shopping on this list, clothing you plan on buying to wear to parties, dry cleaning to drop off and pick up, grocery lists for any cooking or baking you plan on doing Refer to your calendar for dinners and events as you plan.
Now that you’ve planned you’re dinners and know when most events are taking place, have your lists in hand; it’s time to schedule when and where you’ll need to go to execute your plans. Clump errands based on location and schedule a time to do everything. Take a minute to think about meals for the next month. Buy some easy to prepare meals or fix some ahead of time for those busy evenings when you’re low on energy.
Put on your slippers and shop in the comfort of your own home. Start with your gift closet. You don’t have a gift closet? That’s ok, but look around your house for those things you bought during the year, on sale or because your uncle Bob would just love it! Find these gifts and wrap them. Cross them off your list. Shop online. Save time, gas and have it shipped directly to recipient. Give the gift of organization instead of more clutter. Consider giving the gift of choice, with gift cards or gift catalogs.