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Holiday Planning Tips: 5 Ways to Get Ahead of the Hustle
It’s the week of Halloween, and you’re probably not thinking about the holidays yet. That’s okay. But if mid-December usually finds you with a stacked calendar, an endless to-do list, and an empty tank, these holiday planning tips are for you. In this episode, I’m sharing five small shifts you can make right now to create more peace later. Plus, registration is officially open for the Sleigh the Season Challenge, my 5-day live coaching experience happening November 9 to 13.
Key Takeaways
- Get clear on what you want this holiday season to look and feel like.
- Put your biggest holiday anchors on the calendar before November fills up.
- Protect your energy with a few boundaries you decide ahead of time.
- Create simple systems that save you from reinventing the wheel.
- Find support so you’re not white-knuckling the season on your own.
Why Holiday Planning Tips Work Best Before November
By the time December arrives, the overwhelm has already set in. You’re in survival mode, reacting to whatever is right in front of you. That’s why the best time to make these shifts is now, while you still have a little breathing room.
In other words, peace takes prep. If you want calm in December, you don’t wait until December.
5 Holiday Planning Tips to Use Now
Step 1: Get Clarity Now
What do you want this holiday season to look and feel like? Not the Pinterest-perfect version, and not your neighbor’s version. Yours.
Take 10 minutes to write down your top three non-negotiables. Maybe it’s family dinners, a candlelight service, or downtime after work. Without clarity, everything feels urgent. With clarity, you know what deserves a yes and what gets a guilt-free no.
Step 2: Plan Ahead Before the Whirlwind
Right now is the perfect time to put the big pieces on your calendar: travel days, school events, work deadlines, and traditions. Once those anchors are in place, the smaller tasks have somewhere to land.
For example, my family takes our Christmas card photos in New Orleans City Park every year, and I get that session on the calendar as early as possible. We also buy tickets for a Brunch with Santa near my parents’ and brother’s homes in north Louisiana every October, so a December weekend together is locked in.
Think of it like a puzzle. You start with the edges first.
Step 3: Protect Your Energy
The holidays drain us when we say yes to everything. So, pre-decide a few boundaries. Maybe you commit to one big event per weekend, or you block off Sunday afternoons for rest.
Your personality matters here, too. If you’re more extroverted, plan time to wind down after events that leave you amped up. If you’re more introverted, carve out space to recharge after lots of small talk. Either way, protecting your energy isn’t selfish. It’s what lets you enjoy the moments you’re showing up for.
Step 4: Create Simple Systems
The word “systems” can sound intimidating, but simple is key. It might be a gift checklist in your Notes app or a quick Sunday night look at the week ahead.
A system can even be as small as deciding what to do with holiday cards. At our house, we keep a roll of blue painter’s tape in the junk drawer where we open the mail. When a card arrives, I pop a piece of tape on the back, and one of my girls adds it to our collection on the side of the kitchen cabinet. No more piles on the kitchen island.
Step 5: Don’t Do It Alone
You can have all the clarity, plans, and systems in the world. However, if you try to white-knuckle the season by yourself, the stress will creep back in. We need accountability, community, and guidance.
Looking for more ways to slow down this season? Listen to Ep. 58 – From Holiday Hustle to Silent Night: 5 Ways to Slow Down and Savor the Season.
Put These Holiday Planning Tips Into Action
That’s exactly why I created the Sleigh the Season Challenge. If you joined last year’s Take Back Your Time Challenge: Stress-Free Holiday Edition, this is the same challenge with fancy new wrapping paper.
From November 9 to 13, I’ll go live every day at 12 PM Central to walk you through clarity, priorities, boundaries, systems, and protecting your peace. You’ll get printable worksheets, daily action steps, and a pop-up community so you’re never doing this alone.
General Admission is $47 and includes replays for two weeks, plus two bonuses: the Stress-Free Holiday Quick-Start Kit and the Ultimate Holiday Checklist Collection. VIP is $97 and adds daily small-group coaching with me and the Holiday Setup Session. There are only 50 VIP spots, so grab yours soon.
Episode Links + Resources
- Sleigh the Season Challenge: My 5-day holiday planning challenge, November 9 to 13.
- Free time management coaching session: Apply at freetimecall.com
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