If you are like me, day to day life can be busy, crazy, and stressful. Then when the holidays came around and add even more activities and to-dos to your already full list things can get hectic, to say the least. Holidays were busy with my large family before I had kids, and now with my own little ones…well, we get a little busy. I thought I would share with you some of my tricks and ideas to help with time management during the holidays. I can’t guarantee that it will eliminate all the stress, but, hopefully, I can ease a little burden. Here are my time management tips during the busy holiday season.

“Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance — each beautiful, unique, and gone too soon.” -Deborah Whipp

“Christmas waves a magic wand over the world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” -Norman Vincent Peale

Time Management Tips During the Busy Holiday Season

Make a List

My first task, every year, starting around November 1st, is creating a list of dates and times for all activities coming up during the holiday season. I have a large family and we usually do a lot of traveling. I write down when everyone is celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s on a list. The hard part is trying to figure out what to do if certain family members are celebrating on the same days…then you basically have a hard decision to make.

Type Up a Schedule

Once I figure out what my extended family is doing and what we plan on doing, I type up a schedule to email to my family. This way everyone knows what our plans are and where and when we will be somewhere. Not all our family members live in the same town, so it is nice to let people know when we will be out of town, especially if we need someone to keep an eye on our home while we are gone.

Try to Have Some “Me Time”

I know this is funny for most moms, even when it isn’t the holiday season. However, it is important. You don’t want to let yourself get too wound up that you aren’t able to enjoy the holiday season. Christmas is my favorite time of the year and I don’t want to be so wrapped up in “do this” or “do that” that I don’t enjoy it with my boys. It is a fine line for me. I want to stay organized because it does help with stress, but I don’t want to be so caught up in a schedule that I am not able to enjoy the season and really enjoy quality time with my family, especially since I only get to see some family members once or twice a year.

Prepare for Delays and Downtime

If you are traveling, especially by plane, prepare for delays and downtime. You are not in control of the weather or plane delays or cancellations, so mentally prepare yourself that anything can happen. Leave extra early for the airport so that you aren’t late. Make sure you always have things on hand to keep your little ones busy. Tablets, books, coloring books, etc…are great ways to keep your children busy if you are delayed.

Learn You Can Say No

This one is huge for me. I find it very hard to say no. You don’t want to overextend yourself. Don’t take on so much that your holidays begin to feel like work instead of vacation. One rule that my family always had when I was growing up was we always had Christmas Eve and Christmas morning at home so that Santa could visit. We have this rule with our boys now. We want them to be able to have Santa at home.

“I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.” -Harlan Miller

Few More Tid Bits

• Don’t set impossible goals. Be reasonable.
• Prioritize. Finish the things that are important to you.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family and friends.
• Have fun!!! Make memories!!

I hope these time management tips for the busy holiday season help you get through the season with little stress and lots of wonderful new memories.

Related Posts:
Organization Tips For The New Year
Cleaning Tricks for the Busy Holiday Season

“For unto us a child is born, unto us, a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” -Isaiah 9:6