Do This Now To Prepare for a Stress Free Christmas

If you’ve ever noticed how some people seem to absolutely glow during the holidays, chances are it’s not by accident—they’ve simply given themselves a head start so that they can enjoy a stress free Christmas. A little planning now can mean a lot more peace, joy, and cookie-baking fun later. Over the years, I’ve found that the secret to really savoring December is getting as much of the behind-the-scenes work done before the season begins. Today I want to share one of my favorite tools for keeping the holly-jolly chaos in check: my Holiday Control Journal.

Start Your Holiday Control Journal Now

Think of it as a gift to your future self. Yes, it might take a few hours (or even a weekend) to set up, but once it’s in place, you’ll thank yourself when December rolls around and you can actually enjoy it. Mine is inspired by the FlyLady Holiday Control Journal. I keep everything digital but also like having a printed copy for quick reference, and updates from one year to the next.

What to Include in Your Holiday Stress-Busting Journal

Your journal will look different from mine—after all, your family’s traditions are unique—but here’s a peek at what I keep in mine to get you started:

• An Excel sheet with Christmas card names and addresses (and labels ready to print)
  
• A gift list for recipients and a spot for your own wishlist (because mama deserves a treat, too!)
  
• A to-do list for seasonal prep, like:
  
  • Planning traditions or get-togethers
    
  • Prepping and mailing Christmas cards
    
  • Stocking up for the hot cocoa bar
    
  • Checking your wrapping paper stash
  • Stringing up the lights and/or decorating.
    
  • Buying gifts, stockings, and batteries (don’t forget the batteries!)
    
  • Planning Christmas dinner and groceries.
    
• A checklist for each tradition or event you host—like timelines, meal ideas, and cleaning tasks so nothing sneaks up on you.
• Favorite recipes.

Reading through a list like this might feel a little overwhelming at first, and that’s exactly why the Holiday Control Journal is such a lifesaver. It takes the guesswork out of repeating traditions year after year, leaving you free to focus on the fun parts.

Tackling the To-Dos Early

Once your journal is started, you can decide what to tackle early. Personally, I like to knock out the less “festive” chores ahead of time—things like addressing card envelopes or finishing up most of the shopping. That way, when December arrives, I can cozy up with a Christmas movie or a favorite record, knowing the big stuff is already done.

Post Event-Notes

Another section that I like to include in my Holiday Control Journal is post-event notes. Particularly after I’ve hosted a celebration, I like to keep track of what worked and what didn’t, that way I can avoid the same mistakes next year. For instance, the first time that I hosted Christmas, the crockpot mac and cheese was a major hit–but I should’ve started cooking it earlier to avoid a dinnertime delay. 

How do you currently approach the holiday season? Is it working for you, or might you benefit from a Holiday Control Journal too in order to have a stress free Christmas?