The Countdown For The Holiday Season
The holiday season brings with it, many associations and memories. Among the most common are of family, warmth, joy, and beauty. The reality is that it is often a time of busyness, anxiety, and stress. The key to a meaningful holiday is a little planning and a little more action. It is not enough to just think about what it takes to manage a successful family holiday. Scheduling time into your day to accomplish tasks early will bring the kind of peace to December that makes the song true: It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Creating a guide of things to accomplish before the rush of the season is a great way to get started.
Actually including your goals on your calendar will help you hold yourself accountable. Knowing that whatever steps you take to prepare for the holiday season will make you feel that much more confident.
There are four main ways to divide and conquer your holiday preparation: fortress, family/friends, food, and festivities. Breaking your tasks down will help you make this holiday season your best yet.
Fortress
Home never feels as “homey” as it does during the holidays. If you are hosting any holiday celebrations then you will likely be readying your home and outfitting it for the season. There will be decorations to array/hang and surfaces/furnishings to clean so scheduling time for these to-dos is an absolute must.
Family/Friends
One of the best parts of the holiday season is getting together with family and friends. What are the holidays if not an opportunity to recognize and relish the meaningful connections in our lives? Many will meet and exchange thoughtful tokens of love and appreciation. For those who will not have a chance to see loved ones face-to-face, holiday cards may be a consideration.
Food
The holiday table brings humans together like none other. It offers nourishment, elements of tradition, fodder for conversation, and pure pleasure. Planning a menu, shopping for the right ingredients, and preparing for a feast is a tremendous demonstration of love and friendship.
Festivities
December brings a slew of activities: holiday plays, programs, and events along with parties, exchanges, and teas. The best way to prepare yourself for the myriad of goings-on is to consider the details (attire, gifts, tickets, etc) and mark them on your calendars as soon as possible.
Jennifer Tankersley is the creator of ListPlanIt.com, which has hundreds of lists, checklists, and planning pages that you can create & manage at home or on the go to put your world-and your holidays-in order. She also writes 100DaystoChristmas.com, which begins September 16 (exactly 100 days to Christmas) and offers a daily dose of inspiration and motivation to get you through the busy holiday season.
