Holiday Planning

The holiday season is just around the corner. This is generally a time of love and laughter with family and friends, but it can also be a slippery slope to stress and overwhelm.

If there’s anyone that understands the stress of a poorly organized holiday get-together, it’s Clark Griswold.

Our extended family has grown exponentially over the years, and we always get together over the holidays. What used to be a small, simple get-together turned into a large-scale planning event! It’s fun, loud, and a bit crazy for this introvert (if I can be quite honest); however, I’m extremely grateful to be a part of a large, loving family.

It’s exciting when it’s our turn to host. I enjoy it, but I also want to be relaxed and fully present. Over the years I’ve tweaked a 7-step plan that pulls it all together with clarity and ease, allowing me to savor the holidays — or any get-together I’m hosting!

Step 1 | Envision what you’d like the day to be like.

This is a commonly skipped step, but I promise it’s the key to making your holiday smooth, successful, and easy on yourself. Like any goal in life, without a vision it’s difficult to prepare and follow through. Every goal needs a target!

Sit down, brainstorm, and jot down any and all ideas that come to mind. This is where I let my imagination run wild. Don’t worry about being practical, just write.

Prompts to get your wheels turning:

• What activities are going on?

• How are people having fun?

• What does the decor look like?

• What’s on the menu?

• Who’s invited?

Step 2 | Break down each idea.

Once all your ideas are written down, pull out a new sheet of paper for each idea. Make a list of exactly what you’ll need to bring each one into fruition.

Prompts to get your wheels turning:

• What ingredients are needed for each component of the meal?

• What supplies are needed for each activity?

• How many people are you planning for?

• What can be made ahead of time?

• What would need to be done last minute?

Step 3 | Narrow down your ideas.

This is where you’ll figure out what is doable for you with the time, money, and energy you have available. Step 2 is crucial for this step, as it’ll help you clarify the work and investment involved in each idea, and help you narrow things down.

Prompts to get the wheels turning:

• How many of these ideas are realistic?

• Do any of these ideas require very little time or energy?

• Do any of these ideas require very little or no money?

• Do any of these ideas compete with each other?

• What is my financial budget?

• How much time and energy can I devote to this event?

Step 4 | Consider ways to make each chosen idea easier on you.

I have the perfect story to illustrate this step! One year, I wanted to add an extra kids activity every age would enjoy, and I imagined having a cookie decorating bar at Thanksgiving. I knew I wouldn’t be able to oversee it, so I asked one of my older girls if she would be willing to take over the activity. She was thrilled to put it all together. We planned to make large batches of cookie dough ahead of time, but I knew I could also grab rolls of dough at the store as a back-up plan. On Thanksgiving Day, she kept all the kids’ cookies baking and happily helped them decorate for several hours. The day went without a hitch, the kids had fun, and I had the joy of watching them decorate while completing the rest of my responsibilities with ease.

Prompts to get your wheels turning:

• Is there anything that can be delegated?

• In what ways can you involve everyone?

• What can be prepared ahead of time?

• What can be purchased already made?

• What tasks are optional and could be left out, if needed?

• Are there any tasks that would benefit from having a Plan B?

Step 5 | Prepare for needs that might arise.

Consider needs that might arise throughout the day, and how you can prepare for them ahead of time.

Prompts to get your wheels turning:

• Will there be babies in diapers?

• Will you need to babyproof anything in your home?

• Is anyone in a wheelchair?

• Does anyone coming have special food considerations or allergies?

• Do you need a designated space for purses and coats?

• Will the kids need special seating?

Step 6 | Plan the event out backwards.

Now that all the to-dos are written out for each part of the get-together, break them down into weekly lists. Start with the week of the event and write everything that must be done that week. Then, create a list for the week prior to the event, and so on and so forth. Start with only the non-negotiables — the things that have to get done at that time. Once those are planned, fill in any other to-dos that are flexible or not time-sensitive.

Prompts to get your wheels turning:

• What tasks are non-negotiable?

• What tasks are flexible or not time-sensitive?

• What is the best time for each task to get scheduled?

• Are there any tasks that can be eliminated or moved to a different week?

• How many weeks do I need to prepare for this idea?

Step 7 | Implement

Follow through with ease and enjoy your time with family and friends!

I hope these steps help you entertain your friends and family with ease! Join me on Facebook or comment below with some of your favorite get-together activities or recipes!